cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer: An emerging option

The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has benefited from improved surgical techniques and from the implementation of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), which have markedly decreased the rates of local recurrence. However, distant metastatic disease remains the most significant cause of death for these patients. Although adjuvant chemotherapy (ChT) after neoadjuvant CRT and definitive surgery is commonly recommended, the value of adjuvant systemic therapy remains less clear. Trials evaluating adjuvant ChT for rectal cancer have been handicapped by poor compliance rates and inconsistent survival results. Shifting systemic therapy delivery to the neoadjuvant setting has the promise to improve compliance rates, reduce toxicity, and decrease distant relapse rates. Recently, multiple prospective trials have reported on the use of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for patients with LARC, incorporating both ChT and CRT in the neoadjuvant setting. Here, the authors review the promising results from those trials. Because the studies have largely focused on pathologic outcomes (primarily pathologic complete response rates), ongoing phase 2 and 3 trials are now underway assessing the long-term disease-related outcomes with TNT. In addition to improving survival, TNT has the potential to increase the pool of patients with LARC who are eligible for organ preservation, which is also being evaluated. Cancer 2017;123:1497-1506. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
After the harvest: A stewardship perspective on entrepreneurship and philanthropy

Abstract Entrepreneurs comprise the majority of the richest people in the world. Their venture exits, or more specifically harvests, often represent the events through which they accrue this great wealth. Following these harvests, entrepreneurs make critical decisions with their financial resources that can have a profound impact on society. Through content analysis of The Giving Pledge letters and in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, we explore how and why entrepreneurs redistribute their resources following harvests, and we reveal four mechanisms — intrinsic motivation, identification, personal power, and stewardship norms — that drive these philanthropic decisions. We extend stewardship theory and highlight a new avenue through which entrepreneurs can act as stewards of others and address societal concerns.
3-D printing provides a novel approach for standardization and reproducibility of freezing devices

Cryopreservation has become an important and accepted tool for long-term germplasm conservation of animals and plants. To protect genetic resources, repositories have been developed with national and international cooperation. For a repository to be effective, the genetic material submitted must be of good quality and comparable to other submissions. However, due to a variety of reasons, including constraints in knowledge and available resources, cryopreservation methods for aquatic species vary widely across user groups which reduces reproducibility and weakens quality control. Herein we describe a standardizable freezing device produced using 3-dimensional (3-D) printing and introduce the concept of network sharing to achieve aggregate high-throughput cryopreservation for aquatic species. The objectives were to: 1) adapt widely available polystyrene foam products that would be inexpensive, portable, and provide adequate work space; 2) develop a design suitable for 3-D printing that could provide multiple configurations, be inexpensive, and easy to use, and 3) evaluate various configurations to attain freezing rates suitable for various common cryopreservation containers. Through this approach, identical components can be accessed globally, and we demonstrated that 3-D printers can be used to fabricate parts for standardizable freezing devices yielding relevant and reproducible cooling rates across users. With standardized devices for freezing, methods and samples can harmonize into an aggregated high-throughput pathway not currently available for aquatic species repository development.
Oleandrin-mediated inhibition of human tumor cell proliferation: Importance of Na, K- ATPase α subunits as drug targets

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 1532 Oleandrin is a cardiac glycoside that affects the Na, K-ATPase pump and calcium influx in heart muscle. Although known for treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiac arrythmias, the potential use of cardiac glycosides for control of malignant disease is less well appreciated. We investigated the selective inhibition by oleandrin on growth of human and mouse pancreatic cancer cells. Oleandrin potently inhibited proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells (e.g. IC50 of 10 nM), but demonstrated a much weaker potency against mouse pancreatic cancer Panc-02 cells (IC50 values often exceeded 500 nM oleandrin). Among the four human pancreatic cancer cell lines tested, the relative sensitivity to oleandrin based on the IC50 values was Panc-1 > MiaPaca > BxPC3 and much > Panc-02. The selective inhibition of cancer cell growth corresponded to the level of Na, K-ATPase α3 isoform protein expression. Human pancreatic cancer cell lines were found to differentially express varying levels of Na, K-ATPase α3 isoform protein, but rodent pancreatic cancer cells lacked discernable expression of this Na, K-ATPase isoform evidenced by the relative ratio of α3 to α1 to be Panc-1 (39.5) > MiaPaca (32.1) >> BxPc3 (0.07) >>> Panc-02 (0). A correlation was observed between a high ratio of α3 to α1 isoforms and the level of oleandrin uptake during inhibition of cell growth with resulting initiation of cell death. Inhibition of proliferation of α3 expressing Panc-1 cells by oleandrin was significantly reduced when expression was knocked down by α3 siRNA. These data suggest that the relative α3 isoform expression is an important determinant of cell sensitivity to cardiac glycoside-induced cell death in human tumor cells. Furthermore, while the expression of α1 isoform was very similar in both human normal and malignant colon tumor biopsy samples, 9 out of 14 tumors expressed α3 isoform protein and only 3 normal tissues contained levels of α3 isoform that could be barely detectable, suggesting that when the normal colon epithelial cells develop become malignant, the subunit phenotype shifts and the tumor becomes a better target for oleandrin treatment. In conclusion, our data suggest that the lack of α3 in rodent tumor cells may explain unresponsiveness to cardiac glycosides; the α3/α1 ratio may help predict which human tumors are likely be responsive to treatment with potent cardiac glycosides such as oleandrin.
RGB-D Camera Network Calibration and Streaming for 3D Telepresence in Large Environment

With the advance of multimedia technology, traditional remote communication applications (e.g. video chat) may not satisfy the increasing demand for effective interactivity due to the lack of realistic experience of being physically present. Telepresence is a new form of communication that aims to strengthen the connection between people by creating more immersive and interactive environments. However existing telepresence systems often suffer from limited viewing space or failing to render realistic 3D contents on the display. In this paper, we present a novel system that can improve the interactive experience among remote users with dynamically generated virtual 3D environments. To support wide view rendering, an automated calibration system is developed for RGB-D camera network that is scalable to capture and reconstruct large environments. Our proposed client-server architecture is capable of transmitting and processing large volume of RGB-D data across the the network in real-time. Virtual 3D views are automatically synthesized by seamlessly fusing multiple video streams acquired by different cameras. Our experimental results demonstrate better visual effects that can be applied to existing telepresence systems for more motivating and engaging remote applications.
Robust GPS-INS Outlier Accommodation: A Soft-thresholded Optimal Estimator

Abstract Many highway vehicle applications require reliable, high precision navigation (error less than meter level) while using low-cost consumer-grade inertial and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The application environment causes numerous GNSS measurement outliers. Common implementations use a single epoch Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) combined with the Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) for GNSS outlier detection. However, if the linearization point of the EKF is incorrect or if the number of residuals is too low, the outlier detection decisions may be incorrect. False alarms result in good information not being incorporated into the state and covariance estimates. Missed detections result in incorrect information being incorporated into the state and covariance estimates. Either case can cause subsequent incorrect decisions, possibly causing divergence, due to the state and covariance now being incorrect. This article formulates a sliding window estimator containing multiple GNSS epochs. The approach solves the full-nonlinear Maximum A Posteriori problem with l1-regularization. By leveraging the resulting window of residuals from the nonlinear optimization, and exploiting the l1-regularization, an improved outlier accommodation strategy is implemented. Experimental sensor data is used to demonstrate the robust sliding window least soft-thresholded squares method and its performance.
Melting behaviour of poly (phenylene sulphide): 2. Multiple stage melt crystallization

Abstract We have studied the melting behaviour of poly (phenylene sulphide), PPS, that has been crystallized from the melt over a wide range of undercooling conditions. Two grades of PPS were used in the study: low molecular weight Ryton V-1 and an experimental medium molecular weight film grade. In this work we report the melting behaviour after a single stage of isothermal melt crystallization. In nearly all cases, dual or triple melting endotherms are seen, but the location and shape of the uppermost endotherm depend upon the degree of undercooling from the melt and on the prior thermal history. At a low degree of undercooling, for both materials, dual endotherms are observed and both melting points increase with the crystallization temperature. Using the immediate rescan technique, we show that the dual endotherms exist together very early in the crystallization process, when only a small fraction of crystals have formed. These results suggest that multiple crystal perfections form early on in the crystallization at low undercooling. As the degree of undercooling increases, the melting point of the uppermost endotherm becomes independent of the crystallization temperature. This result, and the appearance of a triple endothermic response for Ryton at the highest undercooling, indicate that now reorganization of imperfect crystals is dominating the observed endothermic response. We present a model in which the distribution of crystal perfections created during melt crystallization controls the multiple melting behaviour of PPS. At low undercooling conditions, a bimodal distribution of crystals can form which eventually may become two morphologies. At high undercooling conditions, a broad distribution of crystals can form, a part of which may melt and reorganize during the normal d.s.c. scan.
A Gneato nuclear genome.

A new genome sequence of the enigmatic seed plant Gnetum montanum reveals a nuclear genome that is as distinct as the rest of its biology.
Communicatively Constructing Birth Family Relationships in Open Adoptive Families: Naming, Connecting, and Relational Functioning

ABSTRACTOpen adoption (i.e., involving ongoing communication between birth and adoptive families) has become the predominant form of private domestic adoption. As such, an understanding of the communicative structures that create and sustain these families is needed. Grounded in discourse dependent family theorizing, we explored open adoptive parents’ (n = 298) construction of the birth family relationship through naming and connecting. Thematic analysis illuminated six address terms: identical derivative, familiar, cultural derivative, parallel derivative, first name, and no address term. Cluster and discriminant function analysis revealed four open adoption contact types: controlled, social, constant, and concise, which predict relational functioning.
Same habitat, different species: otolith microchemistry relationships between migratory and resident species support interspecific natal source classification

We tested the hypothesis that otolith trace elemental signatures (microchemistries) of mottled sculpin Cottus bairdi, slimy sculpin C. cognatus, and juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch were predictive of those of juvenile steelhead O. mykiss across many sites within the Lake Michigan basin. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to generate otolith microchemistry signatures for each individual fish. For each species pair, statistical correlations of mean otolith concentrations of Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb for each site were estimated. Linear equations describing these relationships were used to transform juvenile steelhead otolith microchemistry data to those of each of the other species. Transformed otolith microchemistry data were subjected to random forest classifications developed for mottled sculpin, slimy sculpin, and juvenile coho salmon to assess interspecific natal source assignment accuracies. Steelhead otolith concentrations of Sr were significantly correlated with those of each of the other species, whereas otolith concentrations of Ba and Mn were significantly correlated among some species pairs, but not others. Natal source assignment accuracies of juvenile steelhead to site and watershed generally decreased when otolith microchemistry data were transformed to those of mottled sculpin, slimy sculpin, and coho salmon. Miss-assigned fish often classified into nearby watersheds within larger hydrologic units, leading to higher assignment accuracies at coarser geographical resolutions (75–97% correct assignment to hydrologic unit for each species). These findings suggest that applications of otolith microchemistry data may extend beyond the species from which they are collected.
CHD4 and the NuRD complex directly control cardiac sarcomere formation

Cardiac development relies on proper cardiomyocyte differentiation, including expression and assembly of cell-type-specific actomyosin subunits into a functional cardiac sarcomere. Control of this process involves not only promoting expression of cardiac sarcomere subunits but also repressing expression of noncardiac myofibril paralogs. This level of transcriptional control requires broadly expressed multiprotein machines that modify and remodel the chromatin landscape to restrict transcription machinery access. Prominent among these is the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex, which includes the catalytic core subunit CHD4. Here, we demonstrate that direct CHD4-mediated repression of skeletal and smooth muscle myofibril isoforms is required for normal cardiac sarcomere formation, function, and embryonic survival early in gestation. Through transcriptomic and genome-wide analyses of CHD4 localization, we identified unique CHD4 binding sites in smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, fast skeletal α-actin, and the fast skeletal troponin complex genes. We further demonstrate that in the absence of CHD4, cardiomyocytes in the developing heart form a hybrid muscle cell that contains cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle myofibril components. These misexpressed paralogs intercalate into the nascent cardiac sarcomere to disrupt sarcomere formation and cause impaired cardiac function in utero. These results demonstrate the genomic and physiological requirements for CHD4 in mammalian cardiac development.
Pond Bottom Soil Analyses

Soil testing laboratories can make most of the common soil analyses. They are operated by universities, government agencies, or private business and can be found in most countries. Analyses usually are done on a fee basis. Although analyses can be made in soil testing laboratories, aquaculturists must know how to collect and prepare samples for delivery to laboratories. Some aquacultural workers may want to make their own soil analyses. Researchers have access to analytical laboratories, and they can conduct soil physical and chemical analyses by methods found in Jackson,1 Page et al.,2 Klute,3 and Soil Survey Investigations Staff.4 Some common and important pond soil analyses, such as moisture content, texture, bulk density, organic matter, soil respiration, pH, and lime requirement, can be made with little equipment. Many extension workers, consultants, and farm managers may find it convenient to conduct these analyses themselves. Apparatus and reagents for these analyses can be purchased for a reasonable price, and the analytical expertise for conducting these analyses is not great. Soil analysis kits may be purchased for making some key soil analyses.
The Excellence of IT: Conceptions of Quality in Academic Disciplines

The chapter approaches the subject matter, the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), from the perspective of the quasi-enthnographer.
Evaluating marketplace synergies of ingredient brand alliances

Abstract This research examines the marketplace performance of ingredient brand alliances (IBAs). In this type of alliance, a component or feature of a primary or focal brand is branded using a secondary brand. Performance is affected by both the primary and secondary brands, each of which has functional and emotional associations. Drawing on concept combination theory, the authors examine congruent and incongruent effects in both associations as a means of achieving synergy in the brand. While the extant literature largely focuses on consumer perceptions of ingredient brand alliance products as an outcome, the authors examine the market share and revenues for 126 ingredient brand alliances in 49 product categories of consumer packaged goods over 14 years. A generalized estimation equation shows that, on average, each brand's associations have positive main effects on ingredient brand alliance performance. However, congruent associations (such as the perceived functional associations of both brands) attenuate these effects, while incongruent associations (the perceived functional association of one brand with the perceived emotional association of another) were not significant. The article concludes with a simulation showing that managers can do better by picking a partner brand whose associations are more incongruent, rather than merely what seems to be the strongest partner on both associations.
Targeted deletion of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in dendritic cells prevents thymic atrophy in response to dioxin

In nearly every species examined, administration of the persistent environmental pollutant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin, TCDD) causes profound immune suppression and thymic atrophy in an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) dependent manner. Moreover, TCDD alters the development and differentiation of thymocytes, resulting in decreases in the relative proportion and absolute number of double positive (DP, CD4+CD8+) thymocytes, as well as a relative enrichment in the relative proportion and absolute number of double negative (DN, CD4−CD8−) and single-positive (SP) CD4+CD8− and CD4−CD8+ thymocytes. Previous studies suggested that the target for TCDD-induced thymic atrophy resides within the hemopoietic compartment and implicated apoptosis, proliferation arrest of thymic progenitors, and emigration of DN thymocytes to the periphery as potential contributors to TCDD-induced thymic atrophy. However, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. Our results show that administration of 10 µg/kg TCDD and 8 mg/kg 2-(1H-indol-3-ylcarbonyl)-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE) induced AhR-dependent thymic atrophy in mice on day 7, whereas 100 mg/kg indole 3-carbinol (I3C) did not. Though our studies demonstrate that TCDD triggers a twofold increase in the frequency of apoptotic thymocytes, TCDD-induced thymic atrophy is not dependent on Fas–FasL interactions, and thus, enhanced apoptosis is unlikely to be a major mechanistic contributor. Finally, our results show that activation of the AhR in CD11c+ dendritic cells is directly responsible for TCDD-induced alterations in the development and differentiation of thymocytes, which results in thymic atrophy. Collectively, these results suggest that CD11c+ dendritic cells play a critical role in mediating TCDD-induced thymic atrophy and disruption of T lymphocyte development and differentiation in the thymus.
Communicating Risks of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Getting Beyond the Laundry List

PURPOSE:According to the Institute of Medicine, high-quality cancer care should include effective communication between clinicians and patients about the risks and benefits, expected response, and impact on quality of life of a recommended therapy. In the delivery of oncology care, the barriers to and facilitators of communication about potential long-term and late effects, post-treatment expectations, and transition to survivorship care have not been fully defined.PATIENTS AND METHODS:We collected qualitative data through semistructured interviews with medical oncologists and focus groups with breast cancer survivors and applied the Theoretical Domains Framework to systematically analyze and identify the factors that may influence oncologists’ communication with patients with breast cancer about the long-term and late effects of adjuvant therapy.RESULTS:Eight key informant interviews with medical oncologists and two focus groups with breast cancer survivors provided data. Both oncologists and patients pe...
Synthesis and properties of fluorine tail-terminated cyanobiphenyls and terphenyls for chemoresponsive liquid crystals

A series of fluorine tail-terminated alkoxy and alkyl cyanobiphenyl compounds and some cyano-p-terphenyl derivatives were synthesised and mesogenic properties described. Comparison with the non-flu...
1,3-Benzothiaborolide: A New Heteroaromatic Anion

Lithium N,N-diisopropyl-3-amino-1,3-benzothiaborolide (5) was prepared by a multistep synthesis starting from thioanisole. The thiaborolide 5 was converted to a Cp*Ru η5-adduct, which was characterized by X-ray diffraction.
Co‐existent pilocytic astrocytoma with acute B‐cell leukemia within the cerebellum

Pilocytic astrocytomas are the commonest childhood brain tumor. They are typically benign and usually are solitary neoplasms. To our knowledge, only one report of a pilocytic astrocytoma with leukemia has been previously issued. We herein describe the first case with documented histopathology of a 2-year-old boy who had a cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma co-localized with an acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia. We speculate that chemotactic migration of leukemic cells to the pilocytic astrocytoma may be partly mediated through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors.
Acute Psychosis Following 1,1-Difluoroethane Inhalation.

Inhalants are often abused due to their ability to acutely induce feelings of euphoria. Difluoroethane is a toxic lipophilic hydrocarbon that crosses the blood-brain barrier and inhibits the central nervous system. Studies have shown the cardiac, renal, and respiratory effects it has when abused; however, our literature review yielded no previous report of acute psychosis after difluoroethane inhalation. In order to prevent poor outcomes by missed diagnosis, we present a case of difluoroethane-induced acute psychosis.
Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Patients Diagnosed with Cerebrovascular Accidents and Its Effect on Health Care Utilization: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background To assess prevalence and to determine the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on health care utilization in patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Methods We performed retrospective analysis of data from 12,102 patients who had diagnosis of CVA from 2014 to 2019 at tertiary medical center. We calculated the prevalence of COPD among patients with diagnosis of CVA. We performed unadjusted, covariate adjusted, and propensity-matched analysis to evaluate differences in health care utilization in patients with CVA and COPD compared to patients with CVA without COPD. Results 12,102 patients were diagnosed with CVA episodes. The prevalence of COPD among CVA patients was 7.65 % (95%CI: 7.18-8.13). The unadjusted and covariate adjusted analysis demonstrated that the average number of hospitalizations among CVA patients with a diagnosis of COPD was significantly higher than CVA patients without COPD. After adjusting for modifiable and nonmodifiable confounders, CVA patients diagnosed with COPD have on average 1 more hospitalization (1.21; 95%CI: 1.12-1.30) than those who are not diagnosed with COPD. Subsequent analysis based on propensity-matched data suggests that CVA patients diagnosed with COPD have on average approximately 1 more hospitalization (1.44; 95% CI: 1.31-1.58) than CVA patients without COPD. Conclusions Our study suggests significant prevalence of COPD among CVA patients. The presence of COPD as a comorbidity resulted in patients with COPD and CVA having increased number of hospitalizations compared to CVA patients without COPD.
A Comparative Study of Uncertain Knowledge Representation Methods

In view of the wide application prospect of uncertain knowledge representation method and the lack of relevant literature in its comparative study, this paper briefly introduces the principles, advantages and disadvantages of the current typical uncertain knowledge representation methods, and constructs 11 indexes from three aspects of information perspective, application perspective and task perspective to qualitatively compare different methods, which provides some guidance for the selection of uncertain knowledge representation methods.
Community Pharmacists' Perceptions of Patient Care Services within an Enhanced Service Network.

Background: Pharmacists are positioned as an accessible source of patient care services (PCS). Despite the adversity community pharmacies continue to face, the expanding opportunity of offering PCS continues to be a pathway forward. Objective: To identify community pharmacists’ perceptions to deliver PCS within an enhanced service network. Methods: One-on-one semi-structured phone interviews were conducted as part of a mixed-methods approach. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a consensus codebook to draft thematic findings. Participants were recruited from an electronic survey targeting community pharmacists from the New York chapters of the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN). Results: Twelve pharmacists were interviewed with four main themes identified. The majority of study participants were pharmacy owners (92%) devoting an average of 15 h/week to PCS and 8 h/week addressing social barriers. The main themes identified include: (1) perceptions of pharmacy profession, (2) reimbursement models and sustainability of PCS, (3) provision of patient care services, and (4) how PCS address social determinants of health. Conclusions: Offering PCS opportunities for patients is a direction many community pharmacists have embraced and are working to succeed. Ongoing research is needed focusing on community pharmacists’ self-perceptions of the clinical impact and role they hold in an evolving healthcare system.
Synthesis and post-polymerization modification of poly(arylene ether sulfone)s containing pendant sulfonamide groups

Abstract A series of poly (arylene ether sulfone) (PAE) copolymers with pendant alkenes was synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization using benzenesulfonamides as comonomers. The substitution pattern of leaving groups on the monomer (e.g., ortho/ortho, ortho/para, and meta/meta) was varied in order to investigate its effect on the properties of the resulting polymer. The polymers were subsequently modified using thiol-ene chemistry to probe the effect of side-chain structure on polymer properties. We found that the thermal properties of the modified polymers depend on the choice of sulfonamide regioisomer. Copolymers with the ortho/meta and meta/meta benzenesulfonamides were insensitive to the functional group added by the thiol-ene reaction, while the properties of materials made with other substitution patterns varied considerably based on the identity of the functional group installed. The resulting materials were all completely amorphous and exhibited thermal stability dependent on the benzenesulfonamide regioisomer employed, with an onset of weight loss ranging from 372 to 496 °C and 392–524 °C for the un- and thiol-modified polymers, respectively.
Machine Learning for Revealing Spatial Dependence among Nanoparticles: Understanding Catalyst Film Dewetting via Gibbs Point Process Models

We combine in situ environmental transmission electron microscopy (E-TEM) with automated image processing and statistical machine learning to uniquely formulate interpretable mathematical models an...
The Contradictions of Platform Regulation

Everyone wants to regulate the big tech companies. The desire to regulate the private actors that control so much of our lives is understandable, and some ideas for regulation make sense. But the political consensus around regulating the tech industry is illusory. While everyone wants to regulate big tech, it turns out that they want to do so in very different, indeed contradictory, ways. These contradictions of platform regulation mean that it will be very hard to turn anti-tech popular sentiment into actual regulation, because the actual regulations some people want are anathema to others. They suggest caution in imposing regulation and an awareness of the difficult tradeoffs that are involved. But they also suggest a way forward: introducing competition to reduce the influence the tech giants have over our lives.
پهنه بندی سیلاب و مدلسازی شکست سد - مطالعه موردی: سد شهرچای ارومیه (Flood Routing, Modeling of Dam Failure, and Preparing Emergency Actions Plan (EAP) by Considering Sediment Transportation: A Case Study Regarding Urmia’s Shahrchai Dam)

Persian Abstract: سدها همواره در طول چندین قرن گذشته بنا به دلایل مختلف از جمله کمبود و کاهش تدریجی منابع آب شیرین مورد توجه قرار گرفته اند. بسیاری از سدها در نزدیکی شهرها و به منظور تامین آب شرب و صنعت ساخته شده اند. لذا بررسی این دسته از سدها چه از لحاظ ضریب ایمنی و چه از لحاظ ظرفیت های گنجایش سیلاب بسیار حائز اهمیت میباشد. شکست سد می بایستی از جهات مختلف مورد بررسی قرار گیرد. افزایش ناگهانی آب پشت سد ناشی از سیلابهای بزرگ، تراوش در بدنه سدخاکی، سرریز آب از تاج سد به دلیل عملکرد نامناسب سرریزها و... ممکن است باعث تخریب سدها شود. هدف اصلی در این پایان نامه مدلسازی شکست سد، روندیابی سیلاب و تعیین پهنه سیلاب حاصل از شکست سد با استفاده از نرم افزارهای HEC-RAS, HECGEO-RAS ,ARC GIS می باشد. در انتها و از نتایج خروجی نرم افزار در مرحله مدلسازی نیز برنامه اقدامات اضطراری (EAP) سد مربوطه تهیه و ارائه خواهدشد. طبق مطالعات صورت گرفته و تجربیات مهندسین در زمینه شکست سد مجموعه اقدامات قسمت دوم (بعد از تخریب سد) مورد توجه بیشتر قرار گرفته و سعی شده است با پهنه بندی سیل ناشی از شکست سد(به کمک مدلسازی)، مناطقی از شهر را که در معرض خطر سیل گرفتگی قرار دارند شناسایی شوند. برای این منظور یکی از سدهای خاکی کشور که در نزدیکی شهرها ساخته شده است را مورد بررسی قرار خواهیم داد. سد مورد مطالعه سد شهر چای در استان آذربایجان غربی است که در بالا دست شهر ارومیه بنا شده است. کلمات کلیدی: 1- پهنه بندی سیلاب 2- شکست سد خاکی 3- سد شهرچای ارومیه 4- HECRAS English Abstract: Dams had always been prominent during past centuries due to several reasons, such as water deficiency and the gradual reduction in water resources. Many dams are built close to cities to provide water for drinking and industries; thus, it’s vital to consider them in the aspects of safety factor and capacity to contain the overflow. Failure of the dames should include different features, for instance, a sudden increase in stored water behind the dam as a result of massive floods, leakage in the body of soil dams, overflow in the dam crest due to insufficient functionality of spillway, etc. The primary purpose of this thesis is to model dam failure, flood forecasting, and determination of the flooded regions using ArcGIS, HEC-GeoRAS, and HEC-RAS. The case study was a large dam, Shahrchai Dam, which is built on the upstream of Urmia City, a city on the NorthWest of Iran with more than one million population. The results from modeling were used to provide an emergency action plan (EAP) for Urmia City.
Internal structure of the Paleoarchean Mt Edgar dome, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia

Abstract The Paleoarchean East Pilbara Terrane of Western Australia is a dome-and-keel terrane that is often highlighted as recording a vertically convective tectonic regime in the early Earth. In this model, termed 'partial convective overturn', granitic domes diapirically rose through a dense, foundering mafic supracrustal sequence. The applicability of partial convective overturn to the East Pilbara Terrane and to other Archean dome-and-keel terranes is widely debated and has significant implications for early Earth geodynamics. A critical data gap in the East Pilbara Terrane is the internal structure of the granitic domes. We present field-based, microstructural, and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data collected within the Mt Edgar dome to understand its internal structure and assess its compatibility with existing dome formation models. Field and microstructural observations suggest that most fabric development occurred under submagmatic and high-temperature solid-state conditions. The AMS results reveal a coherent, dome-wide structural pattern: 1) Sub-vertical lineations plunge radially inward towards the center of the dome and foliations across much of the dome consistently strike northwest; 2) Shallowly plunging lineations define an arch that extends from the center of the dome to the southwest margin; and 3) Migmatitic gneisses, which represent the oldest granitic component of the dome, are folded and flattened against the margin of the dome in two distinct lobes. The structural relationships between rocks of different ages indicate that units of different crystallization ages deformed synchronously during the last major pulse of granitic magmatism. These data are broadly consistent with a vertical tectonics model, and we synthesize our structural results to propose a three-stage diapiric evolution of the Mt Edgar dome. The critical stage of dome development was between 3.3 and 3.2 Ga, when widespread, melt-assisted flow of the deep crust led to the formation of a steep-walled, composite dome. These data suggest that diapiric processes were important for the formation of dome-and-keel terranes in the Paleoarchean.
Beyond depression: examining the role of anxiety and anxiety sensitivity on subjective cognition and functioning in older adults.

Subjective cognitive difficulties in the elderly may serve as potential risk-factors for future, objective decline and conversion to neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., mild cognitive impairment [MC...
Using a Seeded Sample to Measure Response among Homeschooling Households

Estimates of the size of the homeschooling population derived from governmentsponsored surveys have been questioned because of concerns that homeschooling families may be less willing to participate in government studies. To estimate whether the response propensity of homeschooling households differs from that of non-homeschooling households, a sample of likely homeschooling households was seeded in a federal education survey. Cases in the seeded sample were treated to the same field procedures as the survey’s sample to allow comparisons of the two samples’ response patterns. While the seeded sample is an excellent method, in theory, for examining response propensity, the study revealed significant practical problems in implementing the study.
Searching for a light top squark at the Fermilab Tevatron

We describe a method to help the search for a light top squark ({tilde M}{sub t}+{tilde M}{sub LSP}{lt}m{sub t}) at the Fermilab Tevatron. Traditional search methods rely upon a series of stringent background-reducing cuts which, unfortunately, leave very few signal events given the present data set. To avoid this difficulty, we instead suggest using a milder set of cuts, combined with a {open_quotes}superweight,{close_quotes} whose purpose is to discriminate between signal and background events. The superweight consists of a sum of terms, each of which are either zero or one. The terms are assigned event-by-event depending upon the values of various observables. We suggest a method for choosing the observables as well as the criteria used to assign the values such that the superweight is {open_quotes}large{close_quotes} for the supersymmetric signal and {open_quotes}small{close_quotes} for the standard model background. For illustration, we mainly consider the detection of tops squarks coming from top quark decay, making our analysis especially relevant to the W+2 jets top quark sample. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Serial echocardiograms in patients with congestive cardiomyopathies: lack of evidence for thrombus formation.

We studied 90 patients with congestive myocardial disease documented at cardiac catheterization (46 idiopathic, 39 ischemic, and 5 hypertensive) who underwent M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiograms every 2-3 months for up to 7 years (mean 3.4 +/- 1.6 years, +/- 1 S.D.). All had angiographic evidence of severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%), and were on a variety of inotropic, diuretic, and vasodilating drugs. Only 9 were ingesting anticoagulants (5 warfarin and 4 aspirin), those on warfarin had documented pulmonary emboli or deep venous thrombosis. All but 4 patients were in normal sinus rhythm. Only one subject in this group was found to have a myocardial (left ventricular) thrombus. Postmortem examinations of 27 patients confirmed the ultrasound data. Thus, we conclude that cardiac thrombi are unusual in patients with congestive cardiomyopathies and rarely develop over the course of the illness even in the absence of chronic anticoagulation.
Celecoxib extends C. elegans lifespan via inhibition of insulin-like signaling but not cyclooxygenase-2 activity.

One goal of aging research is to develop interventions that combat age-related illnesses and slow aging. Although numerous mutations have been shown to achieve this in various model organisms, only a handful of chemicals have been identified to slow aging. Here, we report that celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used to treat pain and inflammation, extends Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan and delays the age-associated physiological changes, such as motor activity decline. Celecoxib also delays the progression of age-related proteotoxicity as well as tumor growth in C. elegans. Celecoxib was originally developed as a potent cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor. However, the result from a structural-activity analysis demonstrated that the antiaging effect of celecoxib might be independent of its COX-2 inhibitory activity, as analogs of celecoxib that lack COX-2 inhibitory activity produce a similar effect on lifespan. Furthermore, we found that celecoxib acts directly on 3'-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1, a component of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling cascade to increase lifespan.
Illegal harvest of renewable natural resources in North America: Toward a typology of the motivations for poaching

In many areas of North America, illegal hunting, fishing, and gathering of renewable natural resources are occurring with alarming and increasing frequency. Resource professionals, law enforcement officers, and the general public are becoming increasingly concerned about the poaching problem, as localized populations of wildlife, fish, and plant species are threatened with extirpation, and as legitimate users—consumptive and nonconsumptive alike—are deprived of resource utilization opportunities. An important step toward developing more effective environmental education, public information, and law enforcement programs to combat poaching is to develop an understanding of why people poach. Based on a literature review and content analysis, we summarized and classified the motivations for poaching that appeared in the literature into the following typology: (1) commercial gain, (2) household consumption, (3) recreational satisfactions, (4) trophy poaching, (5) thrill killing, (6) protection of self and prop...
A theoretical study of the hydrogen-storage potential of (H2)4CH4 in metal organic framework materials and carbon nanotubes

The hydrogen‐methane compound.H2/4CH4—or for short H4M—is one of the most promising hydrogen-storage materials. This van der Waals compound is extremely rich in molecular hydrogen: 33.3 mass%, not including the hydrogen bound in CH4; including it, we reach even 50.2 mass%. Unfortunately, H4M is not stable under ambient pressure and temperature, requiring either low temperature or high pressure. In this paper, we investigate the properties and structure of the molecular and crystalline forms of H4M, using ab initio methods based on van der Waals DFT (vdW-DF). We further investigate the possibility of creating the pressures required to stabilize H4M through external agents such as metal organic framework (MOF) materials and carbon nanotubes, with very encouraging results. In particular, we find that certain MOFs can create considerable pressure for H4M in their cavities, but not enough to stabilize it at room temperature, and moderate cooling is still necessary. On the other hand, we find that all the investigated carbon nanotubes can create the high pressures required for H4M to be stable at room temperature, with direct implications for new and exciting hydrogen-storage applications. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)
Synthesis of nanoscaled platinum particles (NSPP): their role in performance improvement of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) artificial muscles

In this work the synthesis of nano-scaled platinum particles by a chemical reducing technique within an ion-exchange membrane has been performed. It is desirable to gain a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the properties of small nano-scaled platinum particles within ion-exchange membranes, which can affect the performance of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) artificial muscles. In IPMC artificial muscle applications, the finite size of platinum particles is believed to strongly influence their properties. This might be related to a platinum surface effect originating from the electronic surface states of platinum particles that differ from the bulk states. In order to address this issue, we have attempted to synthesize small platinum particles having different size distributions by using protective agents. Further, we have characterized them as well. For IPMC artificial muscles, the presence of such nano-scale platinum particles minimizes the solvent- leakage from the surface electrodes. This in turn improves their performance dramatically. A successfully fabricated IPMC artificial muscle with nano-Platinum particles has shown a significantly improved force density as much as 100% than that of the conventional IPMC.
Low-emission diesel production by upgrading LCO plus SR diesel fractions

Abstract The performance of commercial hydrotreating units that use 15% LCO/85% SRGO as feed stock and a MoNi/Al2O3-type catalyst to produce 30-ppm sulfur diesel was followed along the cycle length. The products generated at the 1st, 8th and 14th months on stream were deeply characterized to enable understanding of the changes in quality along the cycle length. Three catalyst samples at the end of run were obtained from the reactor and characterized. Furthermore, a WNiPd/TiO2Al2O3 catalyst, deactivated in the pilot plant during 3 months in operation with 100% LCO as feedstock, was then used to process the same feedstock as in the commercial unit. A diesel engine test was done with the three products obtained along the cycle length as well as with others obtained in the pilot plant to check the effect of deactivation on emissions. The results confirmed metal and acid site deactivation, decrease of cetane number and increase in emissions along the cycle length. The test with a synthetic feed demonstrates that the metal sites on the catalysts deactivated more slowly than the isomerization and cracking ones.
Asynchronous Self-Localization of Sensor Networks with Large Clock Drift

Large clock offsets and drifts impose many difficulties on sensor self-localization. We have proposed a differential time-difference-of-arrival (dTDOA) localization method in [1] to overcome the problem caused by asynchronous clock offsets. In this paper, the dTDOA method is extended to combat clock drifts by a two-stage clock-drift cancellation method. Furthermore, based on the clock-drift cancellation, a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method that is theoretically optimal for sensor locations is derived. The method can achieve sensor localization using a single round of time-of-arrival (TOA) measurements, and thus greatly reduces the communications burden and timing constraint.
Si/Si1−xGex p-Channel Mosfets Fabricated Using a Gate Quality Dielectric Process

The use of Si 1−x Ge x alloys for p-channel high transconductance MOSFETs requires a high quality dielectric system. Direct oxidation of Si 1−x Ge x alloys or even low temperature deposition of SiO 2 directly on Si 1−x Ge x results in a very high interface state density. We show that low interface state densities (below 10 11 eV −1 cm −2 ) can be obtained using both thermal and PECVD oxides through the use of a thin (6–8 nm) Si cap between the oxide and the Si 1-x Ge x layer. The Si cap layer leads to a sequential turn-on of the Si 1−x Ge x channel and the Si cap channel, as clearly observed in low temperature C-V curves. We show that this dual channel structure can be designed to suppress the parasitic Si cap channel. High quality, fully isolated Si 1−x Ge x p-channel MOSFETs have been fabricated in an integrable, low Dt process using both thermal or PECVD gate oxides and selective UHV/CVD for the Si/ Si 1−x Ge x channels. We show that optimally designed Si/Si 1−x Ge x MOSFETs exhibit up to 70% higher transconductance at 300K than control Si devices fabricated on n-doped 10 17 /cm 3 Si substrates. Si/Si 1−x Ge x p-channel MOSFETs with thermal and PECVD gate oxides show comparable device characteristics.
From Quantum Wires to Quantum Loops: Enhancement of Nonlinear Optical Properties

We investigate a system of 1-D quantum wires confined to a plane, as building blocks of quantum loops, to study the role of geometry on their nonlinear optical (NLO) properties.
Increasing plantarflexion angle during landing reduces vertical ground reaction forces, loading rates and the hip’s contribution to support moment within participants

The ankle joint’s role in shock absorption during landing has been researched in many studies, which have found that landing with higher amounts of plantarflexion (PF) results in lower peak vertica...