cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GPS determination of current Pacific–North American plate motion

Global Positioning System (GPS) data, collected by campaign-style GPS experiments at five sites along the Gulf of California in 1996 and 1998, determine a locally based estimate for current relative motion between the Pacific and North American plates. At the mouth of the Gulf of California, the Pacific plate moves 50.4 ± 3.4 mm/yr, along an azimuth of N59.0°W ± 2.7°, relative to mainland Mexico. These estimates substantiate and refine previous locally based GPS-determined rates, and agree with GPS determinations of global plate motion. A reexamination of magnetic anomalies in the gulf used in the widely accepted NUVEL-1A global plate model has yielded an average Pacific–North American relative velocity from 0.78 Ma to the present of 51.1 ± 2.5 mm/yr. The new GPS-determined velocity agrees with this estimate, supporting the ideas that the transfer of Baja California to the Pacific plate continued until ca. 1 Ma, and that the current Pacific–North American rate is greater than the 3.16 Ma average. The azimuth determination is ∼5° west of the NUVEL-1A results calculated from earthquake slip vectors and azimuths of gulf transforms offsetting both oceanic and continental crust. The Tamayo fracture represents the only fault zone used in the NUVEL-1A model that offsets solely oceanic crust. This fault zone trends N60°W, consistent with the GPS-determined azimuth at the mouth of the gulf.
Quantum convolutional codes design and their encoder architectures

In this paper, design of quantum convolutional codes and their encoder architectures have been investigated. We claim that rate-1/(n+1) quantum systematic convolutional codes can be constructed from rate-1/n classical nonsystematic convolutional codes, where n is greater than or equal to 2. The free distances (d/sub free/) of proposed rate-1/(n+1) quantum systematic convolutional codes are larger than that of original rate-1/n classical nonsystematic convolutional codes. A quantum convolutional code encoder can be implemented by using quantum linear feed-forward shift registers and quantum exclusive-OR (controlled-NOT: CNOT) gates. A quantum memory may be used as a quantum state delay element of a quantum register. It is also shown that different encoder architectures one needed for quantum nonsuperposition and superposition state inputs. For quantum superposition state input, additional Hadamard gates should be used in conjunction with a quantum convolutional code encoder for quantum nonsuperposition state input.
Copy or Coincidence? A Model for Detecting Social Influence and Duplication Events

In this paper, we analyze the task of inferring rare links between pairs of entities that seem too similar to have occurred by chance. Variations of this task appear in such diverse areas as social network analysis, security, fraud detection, and entity resolution. To address the task in a general form, we propose a simple, flexible mixture model in which most entities are generated independently from a distribution but a small number of pairs are constrained to be similar. We predict the true pairs using a likelihood ratio that trades off the entities' similarity with their rarity. This method always outperforms using only similarity; however, with certain parameter settings, similarity turns out to be surprisingly competitive. Using real data, we apply the model to detect twins given their birth weights and to re-identify cell phone users based on distinctive usage patterns.
CUL-2 is required for the G1-to-S-phase transition and mitotic chromosome condensation in Caenorhabditis elegans.

CUL-2 is required for the G1-to-S-phase transition and mitotic chromosome condensation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Chromium(VI) Oxide–3,5‐Dimethylpyrazole

(CrO3) [1333-82-0] CrO3 (MW 99.99) InChI = 1S/Cr.3O InChIKey = WGLPBDUCMAPZCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N (C5H8N2) [67-51-6] C5H8N2 (MW 96.13) InChI = 1S/C5H8N2/c1-4-3-5(2)7-6-4/h3H,1-2H3,(H,6,7) InChIKey = SDXAWLJRERMRKF-UHFFFAOYSA-N (oxidizing agent for alcohols;1 oxidant for saturated carbons α to unsaturation2-5) Physical Data: see Chromium(VI) Oxide. Solubility: sol dichloromethane; slightly sol ether and pentane. Form Supplied in: formed in situ from widely available reagents. Preparative Method: drying of the CrO3 over P2O5 is recommended; rapid addition of DMP (1 equiv) to a suspension of chromium(VI) oxide (1 equiv) in dry CH2Cl2 (−20 °C) results in a dark red homogeneous solution after 10 min; the solution is then treated with the organic substrate (0.05–0.5 equiv).1, 2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: chromium salts are carcinogenic; this reagent should be used in a fume hood.
‘I’ll sing with my buddies’ — Fostering the possible selves of male choral singers

The stories of three high school boys about their experiences in school-based choral music provide the framework for a discussion of the role music educators can play in retaining male singers. The ‘possible selves’ construct (Markus & Nurius, 1986) is explored alongside research-based implications about specific steps toward developing boys’ identities as choral musicians. Possible selves are future conceptions of the self that are either positive (hoped-for) or negative (feared). The changing of the adolescent male voice occurs at approximately the same time as major social, academic, and other physical changes. It is thought that these issues coincide in a manner that discourages boys from participation in choral music (Freer, 2007). Drawing upon a successful non-musical model, the author proposes a variant of the ‘Possible Selves Program’ (Hock, Deshler, & Schumaker, 2006) for use in music settings.
To Devalue or to Defend? The Political Economy of Exchange Rate Policy

Speculative currency attacks are a regular feature of the international political economy. Nevertheless, not all speculative attacks result in a devalued currency. In many cases, politicians were willing and able to defend the exchange rate peg. I develop a model of strategic interaction between speculators in currency markets and policymakers in governments. This model indicates that speculative attacks occur when economic fundamentals are weak or when there is uncertainty about the capability and/or willingness of governments to defend the currency peg. I show that the government’s decision to defend the peg reflects institutional, electoral, and partisan incentives. I test hypotheses from this model on a sample of 90 developing countries between 1985 and 1998 using a strategic probit model.
Closed type families with overlapping equations

Open, type-level functions are a recent innovation in Haskell that move Haskell towards the expressiveness of dependent types, while retaining the look and feel of a practical programming language. This paper shows how to increase expressiveness still further, by adding closed type functions whose equations may overlap, and may have non-linear patterns over an open type universe. Although practically useful and simple to implement, these features go beyond conventional dependent type theory in some respects, and have a subtle metatheory.
ALTERATIONS IN THE GROWTH PLATE ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH MODULATION BY SUSTAINED COMPRESSION OR DISTRACTION

Sustained mechanical load is known to modulate endochondral growth in the immature skeleton, but it is not known what causes this mechanical sensitivity. This study aimed to quantify alterations in parameters of growth plate performance associated with mechanically altered growth rate. Vertebral and proximal tibial growth plates of immature rats and cattle, and rabbit (proximal tibia only) were subjected to different magnitudes of sustained loading, which altered growth rates by up to 53%. The numbers of proliferative chondrocytes, their rate of proliferation, and the amount of chondrocytic enlargement occurring in the hypertrophic zone were quantified. It was found that reduced growth rate with compression and increased growth rate with distraction were associated with corresponding changes in the number of proliferative chondrocytes per unit width of growth plate, and in the final (maximum) chondrocytic height in the hypertrophic zone (overall correlation coefficients 0.38 and 0.56 respectively). According to multiple linear regression coefficients for these two variables (0.72 and 1.39 respectively), chondrocytic enlargement made a greater contribution to altered growth rates.
MCMCpack: Markov chain Monte Carlo in R

We introduce MCMCpack, an R package that contains functions to perform Bayesian inference using posterior simulation for a number of statistical models. In addition to code that can be used to fit commonly used models, MCMCpack also contains some useful utility functions, including some additional density functions and pseudo-random number generators for statistical distributions, a general purpose Metropolis sampling algorithm, and tools for visualization.
Energy-Efficient Video Transmission Over a Wireless Link

Energy minimization is an important design goal in wireless video transmission. We examine how the RF energy and the analog circuit energy, which account for a large part of the energy consumption for wireless video transmission, can be controlled with physical-layer parameters (e.g., modulation level, bit rate, bit error rate, and multiple access interference) and link-layer specifications (e.g., the buffer status, idle time, and active time). Building on these insights, we develop three energy-efficient video transmission schemes for the single-user system, i.e., frame-by-frame transmission, group of pictures (GOP)-by-GOP transmission, and client-buffer-related energy-efficient video transmission (CBEVT). Our simulations indicate that energy savings of up to 85% is achievable in the radio frequency (RF) front end using the CBEVT algorithm. We also present an energy-efficient optimal smoothing algorithm for reducing the RF front-end energy consumption and the peak data rate. For CDMA-based multiuser systems, we propose an RF front-end energy model that assumes perfect power control. We find the signal-to-interference-noise ratio (SINR) for the entire system that minimizes the total energy consumption. We propose the multiuser-based energy-efficient video transmission (MBEVT) algorithm, which can achieve energy savings of up to 38% for a six-user CDMA system with an independent 16-MB buffer for every uplink.
Trazodone generates m-CPP: In 2008 risks from m-CPP might outweigh benefits of trazodone

Since deleterious effects of m-CPP, the primary catabolic metabolite of trazodone, were last reviewed 2 years ago, research data continue to accrue showing that clinically significant levels of m-CPP (a) are generated in patients using trazodone for sleep and (b) are present 24 h a day and (c) have potentially serious ill effects. This commentary argues that the documented potential for harm and multiple risks of m-CPP outweigh potential benefits of trazodone, given the development and marketing of many safer alternatives since trazodone's introduction in the 1980s.
Loss of Usp14 results in reduced levels of ubiquitin in ataxia mice.

The ataxia (ax J ) mutation is a spontaneous recessive mutation that results in reduced expression of ubiquitinspecific protease 14, Usp14. Mice homozygous for the ax J mutation are retarded for growth and exhibit several behavioral disorders, including a resting tremor and hindlimb paralysis. Although pathological defects appear to be limited to the central nervous system, reduction of Usp14 expression was widespread in the ax J mice. Usp14 co-fractionated with proteasomes isolated from livers and brains of wildtype mice. Proteasomes isolated from the ax J brains still possessed deubiquitinating activity and were functionally competent to hydrolyze 20S proteasomal substrates in vitro. However, the levels of monomeric ubiquitin were reduced approximately 35% in most of the ax J tissues examined. These results indicate that Usp14 functions to maintain the cellular levels of monomeric ubiquitin in mammalian cells, and that alterations in the levels of ubiquitin may contribute to neurological disease.
Unraveling bed slope from relative roughness in initial sediment motion

Understanding incipient sediment transport is crucial for predicting landscape evolution, mitigating flood hazards, and restoring riverine habitats. Observations show that the critical Shields stress increases with increasing channel bed slope, and proposed explanations for this counterintuitive finding include enhanced form drag from bed forms, particle interlocking across the channel width, and large bed sediment relative to flow depth (relative roughness). Here we use scaled flume experiments with variable channel widths, bed slopes, and particle densities to separate these effects which otherwise covary in natural streams. The critical Shields stress increased with bed slope for both natural gravel (ρ_s = 2.65 g/cm^3) and acrylic particles (ρ_s = 1.15 g/cm^3), and adjusting channel width had no significant effect. However, the lighter acrylic particles required a threefold higher critical Shields stress for mobilization relative to the natural gravel at a fixed slope, which is unexpected because particle density is accounted for directly in the definition of Shields stress. A comparison with model predictions indicates that changes in local velocity and turbulence associated with increasing relative roughness for lighter materials are responsible for increasing the critical Shields stress in our experiments. These changes lead to concurrent changes in the hydraulic resistance and a nearly constant critical stream power value at initial motion. Increased relative roughness can explain much of the observed heightened critical Shields stresses and reduced sediment transport rates in steep channels and also may bias paleohydraulic reconstructions in environments with exotic submerged densities such as iron ore, pumice, or ice clasts on Titan.
Endovascular Treatment of Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injuries

Background Although a large proportion of patients with traumatic thoracic aortic injury die before undergoing definitive repair, those who survive still face ongoing risk of death and morbidity. Endovascular therapy may offer a minimally invasive alternative in the repair of the aortic injury. Study Design We reviewed our experience with endovascular repair of traumatic aortic injuries using medical records, imaging studies, and a prospectively maintained endovascular and institutional trauma database. Results Twenty-two patients underwent thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) of traumatic aortic injuries over 44 months. The mean (SD) age was 34±12 years and 68% were men. Among the 16 patients registered with our trauma database, the mean Injury Severity Score was 33±16 (range, 13 to 45). All injuries were sustained from blunt trauma; 95% of patients had nonaortic thoracic injuries, and 64% and 55% had extremity and abdominal injuries, respectively. Intraoperatively, 91% were repaired under general anesthesia, the mean procedure time was 80±52 minutes, and mean blood loss was 219±72 mL. The mean fluoroscopy time was 13±5 minutes and contrast volume 98±23 mL. Twenty-one patients (95%) required coverage of the left subclavian artery to achieve an adequate proximal landing zone. There were no in-hospital or 30-day deaths. The median length of stay was 8 days (range, 1 to 62 days), and 11 (50%) patients were able to be discharged home (versus to another extended care facility). At a mean followup of 7.7 months (range, 0 to 40 months) there were 2 patients (9%) who required endograft-related reintervention at 1 and 6 months. One was an access-related complication, and the second was complete device collapse with acute aortic occlusion, resulting in the patient's death. Conclusions Although patients who undergo endovascular repair of traumatic thoracic aortic transections typically have significant concomitant injuries, the procedure itself is well tolerated and can be performed rapidly with minimal blood loss and contrast administration. But close followup is necessary given the risk of late complications.
Increased Intracranial Pressure

Increased intracranial pressure is a life-threatening condition and almost always signals the presence of serious neurological disease. Rapid and efficient evaluation of any child presenting with signs or symptoms of intracranial hypertension is mandatory, and treatment must be prompt and effective.
Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Regulates Lineage Fidelity during Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) catalyzes histone H3 lysine 27 tri-methylation (H3K27me3), an epigenetic modification associated with gene repression. H3K27me3 is enriched at the promoters of a large cohort of developmental genes in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Loss of H3K27me3 leads to a failure of ESCs to properly differentiate, making it difficult to determine the precise roles of PRC2 during lineage commitment. Moreover, while studies suggest that PRC2 prevents DNA methylation, how these two epigenetic regulators coordinate to regulate lineage programs is poorly understood. Using several PRC2 mutant ESC lines that maintain varying levels of H3K27me3, we found that partial maintenance of H3K27me3 allowed for proper temporal activation of lineage genes during directed differentiation of ESCs to spinal motor neurons (SMNs). In contrast, genes that function to specify other lineages failed to be repressed in these cells, suggesting that PRC2 is also necessary for lineage fidelity. We also found that loss of H3K27me3 leads to a modest gain in DNA methylation at PRC2 target regions in both ESCs and in SMNs. Our study demonstrates a critical role for PRC2 in safeguarding lineage decisions and in protecting genes against inappropriate DNA methylation.
Effects of structured mid-spatial frequency surface errors on image performance

Optical designers are encouraged to adopt aspheric and free-form surfaces into an increasing number of design spaces because of their improved performance. However, residual tooling marks from advanced aspheric fabrication techniques are difficult to remove. These marks, typically in the mid-spatial frequency (MSF) regime, give rise to structured image artifacts. Using a theory developed in previous publications, this paper applies the fundamentals of MSF modeling to demonstrate how MSF errors are evaluated and toleranced in an optical system. Examples of as-built components with MSF errors are analyzed using commercial optical design software.
Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase-ς Is a Novel Member of the Functional Family of α-Latrotoxin Receptors

Receptor-like protein-tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPvarsigma) is essential for neuronal development and function. Here we report that PTPvarsigma is a target of alpha-latrotoxin, a strong stimulator of neuronal exocytosis. alpha-Latrotoxin binds to the cell adhesion-like extracellular region of PTPvarsigma. This binding results in the stimulation of exocytosis. The toxin-binding site is located in the C-terminal part of the PTPvarsigma ectodomain and includes two fibronectin type III repeats. The intracellular catalytic domains of PTPvarsigma are not required for the alpha-latrotoxin binding and secretory response triggered by the toxin in chromaffin cells. These features of PTPvarsigma resemble two other previously described alpha-latrotoxin receptors, neurexin and CIRL. Thus, alpha-latrotoxin represents an unusual example of the neurotoxin that has three independent, equally potent, and yet structurally distinct targets. The known structural and functional characteristics of PTPvarsigma, neurexin, and CIRL suggest that they define a functional family of neuronal membrane receptors with complementary or converging roles in presynaptic function via a mechanism that involves cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interaction.
A Tribute to Dr. Sally Davis Comer: December 25, 1945–September 24, 2014

ABSTRACTHonoring Dr. Sally Comer allows us to recognize her noteworthy achievements as a highly skilled practitioner, educator, and leader in the field of clinical social work. This tribute provides an opportunity to celebrate her distinctive accomplishments.
Anthelmintic efficacy against tissue-arrested larvae of Ancylostoma caninum in murine hosts.

Third-stage larvae of the major human and canine Ancylostoma hookworm species have the capacity to undergo developmental arrest in the somatic tissues of an infected host. Arrested larvae reactivate at opportune periods such as pregnancy, which results in the transmammary transmission of infection to the nursing neonates. Using murine paratenic hosts to focus specifically on tissue-arrested stages of Ancylostoma caninum, the present study found that neither recommended nor elevated doses of commonly used anthelmintics were effective in eliminating latent infections at the accepted standard of greater than 90% reduction in parasite burden. Of the drugs tested, i.e., pyrantel, fenbendazole, ivermectin, and milbemycin, ivermectin was the most effective and engendered an 80% reduction in the burden of tissue-arrested A. caninum larvae but only if administered repeatedly or at elevated doses. Studies in 2 inbred mouse strains, BALB/c (H-2b) and C57BL/6 (H-2d), that typically display divergent immune responses to various infections showed no significant differences in the efficacies of the drugs tested. The results of this study indicate that there is still a need for effective strategies of eradicating latent infections with tissue-arrested hookworm larvae.
Sequential sampling plan for scheduling control of lepidopteran pests of fresh market sweet corn

Counts of com plants infested by European com borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), and com earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), were described by binomial and beta-binomial probability distribution functions. Two sequential classification sampling plans were constructed using thresholds of 15 and 5% infested plants. Stop lines for these sampling plans were constructed using a binomial model. The precision with which these plans classified the proportion of infested plants when sample counts were distributed according to a beta-binomial distribution was determined using simulation. When counts were beta-binomially distributed, precision was reduced. Sampling plans were judged to be acceptable though because the overall operating characteristic function obtained after repeatedly sampling a population 2 or 3 times was shifted to the left on the proportion of infested plants scale resulting in an increased likelihood of reaching a decision to intervene. Field evaluation of the sampling plans revealed that they classified pest infestation very precisely and on average, resulted in a 45% savings in sample costs when compared with a fixed sample size.
Enzymology and the mucopolysaccharidoses

By reference to heparan and dermatan sulphates, the degradation of mucopolysaccharides (MPS) is shown to be a strictly sequential process governed by a group of highly specific lysosomal enzymes, many of which can be determined in leucocytes, fibroblasts and other tissues. Some of these enzymes are concerned with just one species of MPS; others are concerned with two or even more species. It thus follows that an in vivo deficiency of one enzyme may lead to the accumulation or excretion of one species of MPS; the deficiency of another may lead to the storage and/or excretion of several. From this it would appear reasonable that the clinical phenotype of an enzyme deficient patient depends upon the nature of the deficiency and the basic MPS composition of the tissues of the various organs. Thus a failure to degrade heparan sulphate affects principally the central nervous system and leads to mental retardation; the effect of impairment of the degradation of dermatan sulphate is mainly somatic rather than neurologic; impairment of the degradation of both heparan and dermatan sulphates leads to various mixes of the first two effects. Consideration of the closely related Sanfillipo (MPS III) phenotypes which are associated with the accumulation and excretion of heparan sulphate shows that at least three specific enzyme deficiencies have been demonstrated and that others can be predicted. However, a very broad spectrum of phenotypes is associated with the deficiency of just one enzyme (a-L-iduronidase), and the accumulation of both heparan and dermatan sulphates. The most recent biochemical evidence is tending to demonstrate clear biochemical polymorphisms within the mutant (deficient) iduronidase enzymes. The fact that an in vitro quantitative gross deficiency of one enzyme can result in a wide range of clinical phenotypes—varying from the severe and very deleterious to the mild, can present the clinician or genetic counsellor with a very difficult prognostic problem when the deficiency is discovered early in infancy before a clearly recognizable phenotypic pattern has emerged. Simple quantitative enzymology is no help: there are now suggestions that qualitative enzyme measurements may serve to resolve some of these dilemmas and also lead to a more precise and prognostically useful classification of the Mucopolysaccharidoses.
Advanced Verification Techniques for Airborne Safety Critical Hardware

RTCA/DO-254 defines the verification process used to assure that the designed hardware meets the requirements and identifies additional verification processes that should be performed for DAL A hardware where failure could result in the loss of the aircraft. While RTCA/DO-254 identifies potential verification methods, it does not define any criteria to determine when the verification process is sufficient or complete. This work compares the DO-254 verification process to what is used in other industries and identifies advanced verification coverage methods and applicable coverage metrics suitable for use on safetycritical hardware. The verification methods considered include requirements based verification, functional verifications, constrained-random verification and formal methods. The suitability of various coverage metrics to assess the verification completeness are discussed and a robust verification flow is defined.
The Industrial Organization of the Global Asset Management Business

The dynamics of the asset management business are complex and geographically diverse. Products and vendors compete within and across markets and often shade into each other. Regulation can differ dramatically according to financial systems and functions. Here are discussed the major asset management sectors — pension funds, mutual funds, alternative investment vehicles, and private wealth management. Despite the complexity of the industry, common threads run through the discussion — growth, risk, and cost — that cannot be ignored by asset managers hoping to be sustainably profitable. What is required to excel includes distribution in leading markets, product breadth and consistency, global money management expertise, and capital strength. Also needed are technological capability, marketing and customer service skills, defensible pricing, low-cost production, and a strong brand. All these characteristics must be rooted in an affirmative culture with cohesive senior management and a talented and motivated staff.
Mechanical valve obstruction: Review of diagnostic and treatment strategies

Prosthetic valve obstruction (PVO) is a rare but feared complication of mechanical valve replacement. Diagnostic evaluation should focus on differentiating prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) from pannus formation, as their treatment options differ. History of sub-optimal anti-coagulation and post-op time course to development of PVO are useful clinical characteristics in differentiating thrombus from pannus formation. Treatment of PVT is influenced by the patient's symptoms, valve location, degree of obstruction and thrombus size and may include thrombolysis or surgical intervention. Alternatively, pannus formation requires surgical intervention. The purpose of this article is to review the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnostic approach and treatment options for aortic and mitral valve PVO.
Compliance Verification Paths for Residential and Commercial Energy Codes

This report looks at different ways to verify energy code compliance and to ensure that the energy efficiency goals of an adopted document are achieved. Conformity assessment is the body of work that ensures compliance, including activities that can ensure residential and commercial buildings satisfy energy codes and standards. This report identifies and discusses conformity-assessment activities and provides guidance for conducting assessments.
Language of Diagnosis

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is considered to be the gold standard for diagnosis in social work practice. This chapter provides an overview of the DSM, including basic information on the multiaxial assessment and diagnostic coding. Then, the chapter focuses on substance-related disorders. This involves making a distinction between substance use disorders (i.e., abuse and dependence) and substance-induced disorders (i.e., intoxication, withdrawal, and substance-induced mental disorders). The chapter concludes with recommendations for further study of the DSM.
Minimizing Some Of The Mesh Errors InBoundary Element Method

The discretization of the boundary in Boundary Element Method (BEM) requires several decisions that affect the accuracy of the BEM solution. These decisions include: the order of polynomial in each element, the continuity requirement at the element end, the location of the nodes inside the element, the size of the element, the location of the element end nodes, and the location of collocation points where the boundary conditions are imposed. The errors that are generated from these decisions are referred to as the mesh errors in this paper. In Ammons and Vable* the errors from continuity and collocation were discussed in detail and will not be considered here. But how to numerically determine an interpolation functions of a given order to satisfy a given continuity requirement will be discussed. The presentation will briefly describe three algorithms that minimize the LI norm of the mesh error from the remaining sources. These algorithms are applicable two-dimensional problems of Poisson's equation, Plate-Bending, Elastostatic, and Fracture mechanics formulated using direct or indirect BEM. Numerical examples will be presented showing the validity of these algorithms.
SECTION 5.12 – Elastic-Viscoplastic Deformation of Polymers

This chapter provides an overview of elastic-viscoplastic deformation of polymers. The strain-rate- and temperature-dependent inelastic deformation of glassy polymers has important applications in solid phase forming processes near the glass transition temperature, such as blow molding and film stretching; in impact absorption during large strain deformations; and in microscale deformation processes such as crazing. This chapter uses the established and speculated physics of amorphous polymer deformation together with continuum mechanics formulations of finite strain kinematics to develop and implement a three-dimensional representation of the strain-rate-, temperature-, and pressure-dependent response of glassy polymers. The three-dimensional constitutive model for glassy polymer deformation is a finite strain elastic-viscoplastic adaptation of the standard linear solid model from viscoelasticity. The model elements include: a linear spring used to characterize the initial response as elastic, acting in series with a Kelvin element which is a parallel arrangement of a thermally activated viscoplastic dashpot used to represent the rate- and temperature-dependent yield that monitors an isotropic resistance to chain segment rotation, and a non-Gaussian molecular network spring that models the molecular orientation-induced anisotropic strain hardening. Constitutive descriptions for each of these elements are summarized within the context of a general finite strain deformation framework.
Basis for Fluoride Salt–Cooled High-Temperature Reactors with Nuclear Air-Brayton Combined Cycles and Firebrick Resistance-Heated Energy Storage

The fluoride salt–cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR) with a nuclear air-Brayton combined cycle (NACC) and firebrick resistance-heated energy storage (FIRES) is a new reactor and plant concept. T...
Emergence of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry: Emphasis on the application of silica nanoparticles

Abstract The application of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry is on the rise as evidenced by the number of researches undertaken in the past few years. The quest to develop more game-changing technologies that can address the challenges currently facing the industry has spurred this growth. Several nanoparticles, of different sizes and at different concentrations, have been used in many investigations. In this work, the scope of the study covered the application of nanotechnology in drilling and hydraulic fracturing fluids, oilwell cementing, enhanced oil recovery (which includes transport study, and foam and emulsion stability), corrosion inhibition, logging operations, formation fines control during production, heavy oil viscosity reduction, hydrocarbon detection, methane release from gas hydrates, and drag reduction in porous media. The observed challenges associated with the use of nanoparticles are their stability in a liquid medium and transportability in reservoir rocks. The addition of viscosifier was implemented by researchers to ensure stability, and also, surface-treated nanoparticles have been used to facilitate stability and transportability. For the purpose of achieving better performance or new application, studies on synergistic effects are suggested for investigation in future nanotechnology research. The resulting technology from the synergistic studies may reinforce the current and future nanotechnology applications in the oil and gas industry, especially for high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) applications. To date, majority of the oil and gas industry nanotechnology publications are reports of laboratory experimental work; therefore, more field trials are recommended for further advancement of nanotechnology in this industry. Usually, nanoparticles are expensive; so, it will be cost beneficial to use the lowest nanoparticles concentration possible while still achieving an acceptable level of a desired performance. Hence, optimization studies are also recommended for examination in future nanotechnology research.
Overview of fire following earthquake: historical events and community responses

Purpose This paper aims to present a literature review on the problem of fire following earthquake (FFE) as a potential hazard to communities in seismically active regions. The paper is important to work toward resilient communities that are subject to extreme hazards. Design/methodology/approach The paper lists and reviews the historical FFE events (20 earthquakes from 7 countries), studies the available analytical tools to evaluate fire ignition and spread in communities after an earthquake, discusses the available studies on performance of individual buildings under post-earthquake fires and summarizes the current literature on mitigation techniques for post-earthquake fires. Findings FFE can be considered a potential hazard for urban communities that are especially not prepared for such conditions. The available analytical models are not yet fully up to the standards that can be used by city authorities for decision-making, and therefore, should be further validated. Limited structural analyses of individual buildings under FFE scenarios have been completed. Results show that the drift demand on the building frame increases during post-earthquake fires. Despite the mitigation actions, there are still urban cities that are not prepared for such an event, such as certain areas of California in the USA. Originality/value The paper is a complete and an exhaustive collection of literature on different aspects of FFE. Research in earthquake engineering is well advanced, while structural analyses under fire load and performance of communities under FFE can be further advanced.
Barriers to Entry: Who Builds Fortified Boundaries and Are They Likely to Work?

The passion with which both proponents and opponents of the US-Mexico border wall cling to their views is surprising given how little we actually know about when such walls are effective and what drives states to build them. Our goal in this preliminary study is to begin examining these questions. First, we elaborate the concept of “fortified boundaries,” which are asymmetrical, physical barriers for the purposes of border control. These boundaries are more formidable in structure than conventional boundary lines but less robust than militarized boundaries. The states that construct fortified boundaries tend to do so unilaterally, to prevent the flow of peoples or goods into their territory from a neighboring state that does not share parallel concerns. Second, we briefly review the literature pertaining to fortified boundaries, and offer some preliminary speculation on the reasons why such boundaries might actually succeed in impeding cross-border human flows. We argue that although in some cases fortified boundaries may indeed lead to blowback effects on the state erecting the boundary, more generally such boundaries slow the flow of would-be entrants by raising the cost to those entrants of attempting to cross the border. Third, we introduce a novel dataset that includes all post-1945 fortified boundaries worldwide, a total of 28 cases, and identify salient commonalities and differences across them. Among other things, we show that whatever the arguments against such barriers, states continue to build them, and at an accelerating rate. Three-quarters of all post-World War II barriers have been initiated since 2000. Moreover, several of these barriers cover greater distances, traverse more challenging terrain, and place a far greater burden on the finances of the initiating states than the proposed U.S.-Mexico border fence.
Acute Effect of Virtual Reality Exercise Bike Games on College Students' Physiological and Psychological Outcomes

Abstract Commercially available virtual reality (VR) exercise systems are extensively used in many health domains among clinical populations. However, evidence regarding the efficacy of this technology on healthy adults' health-related outcomes is unknown. This pilot study compared physiological and psychological responses following exercise on a VR-based exercise bike (VirZoom) and traditional stationary exercise bike. Twelve healthy college students (9 females; Mage = 25.01, SD = ± 4.74; MBMI = 22.84, SD = ± 3.68) completed two separate 20-minute exercise sessions on the VR-based exercise bike and traditional stationary exercise bike. Blood pressure (BP), ratings of perceived exertion, self-efficacy, and enjoyment were assessed as primary outcomes. Dependent t-tests indicated no significant differences in mean systolic or diastolic BP changes from pre to postexercise between the VR-based exercise and traditional stationary biking sessions (all p > 0.05). Notably, participants reported significantly high...
Crowd-Sourced Iterative Annotation for Narrative Summarization Corpora

We present an iterative annotation process for producing aligned, parallel corpora of abstractive and extractive summaries for narrative. Our approach uses a combination of trained annotators and crowd-sourcing, allowing us to elicit human-generated summaries and alignments quickly and at low cost. We use crowd-sourcing to annotate aligned phrases with the text-to-text generation techniques needed to transform each phrase into the other. We apply this process to a corpus of 476 personal narratives, which we make available on the Web.
An experimental and modeling study to investigate brine-rock interactions during low salinity water flooding in carbonates

Abstract Injection of brines with carefully designed ionic compositions into oil-wet carbonate rocks at high temperatures has shown to alter their wettability towards a water-wet state and improve oil recovery. Various mechanisms have been postulated for this wettability alteration such as mineral dissolution and interaction of potential determining ions, such as Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO42−, with the carbonate surface. In this study, experimental and modeling work was performed to gain further insights into the geochemical interactions between carbonate rocks and modified brines. Single-phase static (equilibrium) and transport experiments were performed with various brines in limestone cores at 120 °C. The ionic compositions of the effluent samples were monitored using ion chromatography. A mechanistic model for the wettability alteration process was developed in UTCHEM-IPHREEQC based on key geochemical interactions. The calcite surface was assumed to consist of positive and negative sites and their interactions with potential determining ions were considered assuming local equilibrium. The model assumed the degree of oil-wetness to depend on the amount of organic acid attached on the surface, which in-turn was dependent on the geochemistry of the system. Results of static experiments performed with crushed limestones and brines showed an increase in calcium concentration and a decrease in magnesium concentration in the supernatant brines. The effluent concentrations from single-phase brine corefloods in limestone cores showed an increase in calcium concentration, a decrease in magnesium concentration and a delay in sulfate concentration. Three key geochemical interactions were identified based on these results: mineral dissolution, surface dolomitization and sulfate adsorption. A good qualitative agreement was observed between single-phase experiments and simulations, suggesting that the model was able to accurately capture the geochemistry. The simulation results showed good agreement with zeta potential and oil recovery results reported in the literature.
Polarimetric calibration of the SMAP L-band radiometer using cold-sky calibration maneuvers

In this paper we discuss a polarimateric calibration technique applied on the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) L-band radiometer. We take advantage of the SMAP antenna rotation and varying incidence angle during pitch maneuvers performed by the spacecraft for periodic cold-sky calibration. We present initial comparisons between the polarization corrected ocean signal at various incidence angles and the expected polarization signal. The difference between the two signals is utilized to back-out cross-polarization coupling parameters. We also discuss factors such as Faraday rotation that impact cross-polarization calibration at low L-band frequencies.
Utility of Invasive Electrophysiology Studies in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation remains common after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Invasive electrophysiology studies (EPSs) may reduce PPM implantation rates by identifying patients who do not require long-term pacing. At our institution, a new strategy in which patients with equivocal indications for pacing underwent EPSs to determine the need for PPM implantation was adopted. We compared baseline demographics, TAVI procedural details, and outcomes in patients without any conduction disturbance after TAVI, patients with new PPM implantation, and patients with EPS ± new PPM implantation. After exclusion for preexisting PPMs, of a total of 614 consecutive TAVI patients, 117 (19.1%) required new PPM implantation for unequivocal pacing indications, and 95 (15.5%) underwent EPSs. Of those patients who underwent EPSs, 28 (29.5%) required PPM implantation and 67 (70.5%) did not. The overall rate of new PPM implantation was higher for self-expanding versus balloon-expandable valves (34.0% vs 19.9%, p = 0.0011). PPM implantation increased intensive care and hospital length of stay compared with patients without any conduction disturbance (10.7 ± 8.3 vs 8.5 ± 6.4 days, p = 0.003). A negative EPS did not prolong length of stay. There were no significant differences in 30-day and 1-year mortality between groups. In conclusion, among TAVI patients with new-onset conduction disturbance, EPS is a safe strategy to identify those who require PPM implantation and those in whom PPMs can be avoided.
44-OR: HLA CLASS II (HLA II) LIGATION BY ANTIBODIES (Ab) INDUCES SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND CYTOSKELETON REORGANIZATION IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS (EC)

Aim The presence of HLA Ab in the allograft is associated with transplant vasculopathy (TV). Ligation of HLA class I elicits signaling events and induces the remodeling of actin cytoskeleton leading to cell survival, migration and proliferation in EC. However, the mechanism by which anti-HLA class II Ab contribute to TV development is not clear. We hypothesize that HLA II ligation induces signaling cascades mediating cytoskeleton reorganization. Methods To express HLA II, human aortic EC were infected with adenoviruses encoding Class II transactivator (Ad-CIITA). Expression of HLA II was determined by flow cytometric analysis using Ab against a monomorphic epitope on HLA II or locus specific Ab against HLA-DR, DQ and DP. Ad-CIITA infected EC were stimulated with anti-HLA II Ab and protein phosphorylation was examined by Western blot. Stress fiber formation was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy in EC stained with Texas Red-phalloidin. The FAK siRNA was utilized to deplete FAK expression. Results Infection with Ad-CIITA for 2d induced expression of HLA II in 80% of EC. Staining with locus specific Ab showed HLA-DR was expressed at the highest level with comparable levels of DP and DQ. Treatment of EC with HLA II Ab significantly increased the phosphorylation of FAK, Src, ERK and p70 S6 kinase (S6K). Ligation of HLA II also significantly augmented formation of stress fibers in EC compared to isotype control IgG [Fig. 1] Knockdown of FAK attenuated phosphorylation of Src, ERK and S6K and also abolished class II-mediated stress fiber formation. Download : Download full-size image Conclusions Ab ligation of HLA II molecules stimulates signal transduction and induces actin cytoskeleton remodeling in EC in a FAK dependent manner.
Physicochemical Properties of Fluorapatite

Fluoride (F) is a subject of great interest in dental caries research because F, applied in various ways, is the most effective factor in reducing caries. The cariostatic mechanisms of F are complex and have been studied extensively for several decades, and the large body of information in the literature on this subject was reviewed recently.1,2
Additional Conceptual Issues: Achievement Motivation, Helplessness, and Egotism

In Chapter 10 we presented a theoretical model of the consequences of impediments in self-regulation. In Chapters 11 and 12 we reviewed evidence that indicates the model’s applicability to persistence, performance, and fear-related behaviors. In this chapter, we stand back a bit from our theoretical position and consider its relationship to three other areas of research and theory in personality and social psychology. Inasmuch as many of the applications discussed earlier were to achievement-related behavior, a comparison between our model and theories of achievement motivation would seem to be of interest. Aspects of the achievement literature are discussed in the first section below. A second area in which theories have a conceptual similarity to our own model is the study of human helplessness. Comparison between theories of helplessness and our theory is undertaken in the middle section of the chapter. Finally, we consider a theory which focuses on the assumption that people choose their actions in such a way as to protect and enhance their self-esteem. Though that sort of analysis has quite a different starting point than does our own, there are also important similarities between the two. An examination of these similarities and differences is undertaken in the final section of the chapter.