2,762 research outputs found
Music in the landscape : ban amphitheater and outdoor exhibit space for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Information is flowing around us constantly passing through the air; transmitting information, phone calls and Emails. Our interaction with digital media is becoming increasingly prevalent in our day-to-day lives and continues to permeate our offices, homes and play spaces. Yet few designs begin to interface with media and the processing or transmittal of information between the user and the surfaces, which define our world. This study proposes to create an outdoor digital landscape, which is part of a larger performance area. This space utilizes digital media to allow speakers, musical groups, and other performers another dimension to express their material. The performance space and digital presentation area should be viewed as an entire experience away from that of reality. The goal of the project is to continue to blur the lines between information and form, and to play with what we conceive of as reality. The project will provide an outlet for digital artists as well as a chance to experiment with form, space and information and our ability as humans to influence process and transmit information between surfaces.Music will be the ignition for this process; extracting bits of data and information from musical pieces and applying that to the design of this space. Music is a part of our daily lives and provides another dimension that can be implemented in the design process. Information will be extracted from musical pieces and implemented as abstracts within the final design. In addition to the experimental design and artistic expression, an educational component may be realized. In an educational environment, patron’s opinions and views of what music is and can be, would be expanded, and an additional respect for the music that drives design and serves as a soundtrack for our world.Thesis (B.L.A.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Radial glia in the proliferative ventricular zone of the embryonic and adult turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans.
To better understand the role of radial glial (RG) cells in the evolution of the mammalian cerebral cortex, we investigated the role of RG cells in the dorsal cortex and dorsal ventricular ridge of the turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans. Unlike mammals, the glial architecture of adult reptile consists mainly of ependymoradial glia, which share features with mammalian RG cells, and which may contribute to neurogenesis that continues throughout the lifespan of the turtle. To evaluate the morphology and proliferative capacity of ependymoradial glia (here referred to as RG cells) in the dorsal cortex of embryonic and adult turtle, we adapted the cortical electroporation technique, commonly used in rodents, to the turtle telencephalon. Here, we demonstrate the morphological and functional characteristics of RG cells in the developing turtle dorsal cortex. We show that cell division occurs both at the ventricle and away from the ventricle, that RG cells undergo division at the ventricle during neurogenic stages of development, and that mitotic Tbr2+ precursor cells, a hallmark of the mammalian SVZ, are present in the turtle cortex. In the adult turtle, we show that RG cells encompass a morphologically heterogeneous population, particularly in the subpallium where proliferation is most prevalent. One RG subtype is similar to RG cells in the developing mammalian cortex, while 2 other RG subtypes appear to be distinct from those seen in mammal. We propose that the different subtypes of RG cells in the adult turtle perform distinct functions
Variability and sources of the southeastern Atlantic circulation
The 1992–1993 Benguela Sources and Transport (BEST) time series provide a quantitative view of the Benguela Current transport and the eddy field crossing 30S, as well as an estimate of the relation between its barotropic and baroclinic components. This is done by a simultaneous analysis of the BEST data derived from inverted echo sounders, pressure sensors, current meter moorings, CTD, and ADCP stations. The analysis of the time series indicates that the annual mean baroclinic transport of the Benguela Current is 13 Sv with a total transport of 16 Sv. Through the combination of instruments the total baroclinic plus barotropic transport of the upper 2600 m was obtained without making any assumption about the level of no motion. Results from this calculation corroborated the assumption that 1000 m as a level of no motion could be used as a fairly good approximation. The stationary flow of the Benguela Current is mostly confined near the African Continent while a transient flow, composed by large eddies shed from the Agulhas retroflection, dominates the western portion of the Benguela Current. In the stationary part of the Benguela Current, both barotropic and baroclinic components are equally important while in the transient part, the barotropic is more substantial. Several rings were observed during the experiment that migrated toward the west. An initial speed of 12 km/day diminished to 6 to 7 km/day at the Walvis Ridge. The water mass source of the Benguela Current includes Indian and South Atlantic subtropical thermocline water; relatively saline, low oxygen tropical Atlantic water; and the cooler, fresher subantarctic water. Changes in thermocline salinity correlate with transport: in general when the northward transport is increasing the thermocline salinity also increases, without a decrease in oxygen. This indicates that the Benguela Current increases in strength by bringing in more subtropical thermocline water. As the Agulhas input is most effective in boosting the salinity of the upper thermocline (the South Atlantic Current water being deficit in salinity relative to the Indian Ocean source) we suggest that the spatial variations in transport are tied to Agulhas water influx, presumably associated with the eddy field
catena-Poly[[[bisÂ(N,N-dimethylÂformamide)iron(II)]-{μ-2,2′-bisÂ(diphenylÂphosphinoÂyl)-N,N′-[(1R,2R)-cycloÂhexane-1,2-diÂyl]dibenzamide}] bisÂ(perchlorate) N,N-dimethylÂformamide disolvate]
The title extended solid coordination compound, {[Fe(C44H40N2O4P2)(C3H7NO)2](ClO4)2·2C3H7NO}n, was crystallized unÂexÂpectedly from the reaction mixture containing the Trost ligand (1R,2R)-(+)-1,2-diaminoÂcycloÂhexane-N,N′-bisÂ(2′-diÂphenylÂphosphinobenzoÂyl) and Fe(ClO4)2·6H2O in a 1:1 ratio in dimethylÂformamide (DMF) under reflux conditions. The polymeric complex is characterized by FeII metal centers that are coordinated by two oxidized Trost ligands, each coordinated in a bidentate fashion in a square plane, along with two DMF molÂecules above and below the plane [average Fe—ODMF = 2.086 (4) Å], forming an overall pseudo-octaÂhedral geometry. The Trost ligand binds adjacent FeII centers, each FeII being bound through the O atom of one of the phosphine oxides [average Fe—OPPh2 = 2.115 (4) Å] and the carbonyl O atom of the adjacent amide [average Fe—Oamide = 2.192 (3) Å]. Disorder is observed in the co-solvated solvent: there are two DMF molÂecules per FeII centre, which were modeled as one DMF molÂecule with complete occupancy and the other being modeled in two positions with equal occupancy. Disorder was also observed with one of the perchlorate anions, which was modeled in two positions with 0.75:0.25 occupancy
Evolutionary History of a Specialized P450 Propane Monooxygenase
The evolutionary pressures that shaped the specificity and catalytic efficiency of enzymes can only be speculated. While directed evolution experiments show that new functions can be acquired under positive selection with few mutations, the role of negative selection in eliminating undesired activities and achieving high specificity remains unclear. Here we examine intermediates along the ‘lineage’ from a naturally occurring C12–C20 fatty acid hydroxylase (P450BM3) to a laboratory-evolved P450 propane monooxygenase (P450PMO) having 20 heme domain substitutions compared to P450BM3. Biochemical, crystallographic, and computational analyses show that a minimal perturbation of the P450BM3 fold and substrate-binding pocket accompanies a significant broadening of enzyme substrate range and the emergence of propane activity. In contrast, refinement of the enzyme catalytic efficiency for propane oxidation (not, vert, similar 9000-fold increase in kcat/Km) involves profound reshaping and partitioning of the substrate access pathway. Remodeling of the substrate-recognition mechanisms ultimately results in remarkable narrowing of the substrate profile around propane and enables the acquisition of a basal iodomethane dehalogenase activity as yet unknown in natural alkane monooxygenases. A highly destabilizing L188P substitution in a region of the enzyme that undergoes a large conformational change during catalysis plays an important role in adaptation to the gaseous alkane. This work demonstrates that positive selection alone is sufficient to completely respecialize the cytochrome P450 for function on a nonnative substrate
The role of discharge variability in determining alluvial stratigraphy
We illustrate the potential for using physics-based modeling to link alluvial stratigraphy to large river morphology and dynamics. Model simulations, validated using ground penetrating radar data from the RÃo Paraná, Argentina, demonstrate a strong relationship between bar-scale set thickness and channel depth, which applies across a wide range of river patterns and bar types. We show that hydrologic regime, indexed by discharge variability and flood duration, exerts a first-order influence on morphodynamics and hence bar set thickness, and that planform morphology alone may be a misleading variable for interpreting deposits. Indeed, our results illustrate that rivers evolving under contrasting hydrologic regimes may have very similar morphology, yet be characterized by marked differences in stratigraphy. This realization represents an important limitation on the application of established theory that links river topography to alluvial deposits, and highlights the need to obtain field evidence of discharge variability when developing paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Model simulations demonstrate the potential for deriving such evidence using metrics of paleocurrent variance
CarbonÂyl[trisÂ(3,5-diphenylÂpyrazol-1-yl-κN 2)methane]copper(I) hexaÂfluoridoÂphosphate–dichloroÂmethane–diethyl ether (4/3/1)
In the title compound, [Cu(C46H34N6)(CO)]PF6·0.75CH2Cl2·0.25C4H10O, the CuI atom is coordinated by three N atoms from the tridentate chelating trisÂ(3,5-diphenylÂpyrazol-1-yl)methane ligand (average Cu—N distance = 2.055 Å) and the C atom from a carbon monoxide ligand in a distorted tetraÂhedral coordination geometry. The average N—Cu—N angle between adjacent pyrazole-ring-coordinated N atoms is 88.6°, while the average N—Cu—C angle between the pyrazole-bound N atom and the C atom of carbon monoxide is 126.3°. One of the 3-phenyl rings of the trisÂ(pyrazolÂyl)methane ligand is disordered over two sites each with an occupancy factor of 0.50. The structure also exhibits disorder of the monosolvate that has been modeled with 0.75 CH2Cl2 and 0.25 Et2O occupancy
Hot topics, urgent priorities, and ensuring success for racial/ethnic minority young investigators in academic pediatrics.
BackgroundThe number of racial/ethnic minority children will exceed the number of white children in the USA by 2018. Although 38% of Americans are minorities, only 12% of pediatricians, 5% of medical-school faculty, and 3% of medical-school professors are minorities. Furthermore, only 5% of all R01 applications for National Institutes of Health grants are from African-American, Latino, and American Indian investigators. Prompted by the persistent lack of diversity in the pediatric and biomedical research workforces, the Academic Pediatric Association Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) was initiated in 2012. RAPID targets applicants who are members of an underrepresented minority group (URM), disabled, or from a socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged background. The program, which consists of both a research project and career and leadership development activities, includes an annual career-development and leadership conference which is open to any resident, fellow, or junior faculty member from an URM, disabled, or disadvantaged background who is interested in a career in academic general pediatrics.MethodsAs part of the annual RAPID conference, a Hot Topic Session is held in which the young investigators spend several hours developing a list of hot topics on the most useful faculty and career-development issues. These hot topics are then posed in the form of six "burning questions" to the RAPID National Advisory Committee (comprised of accomplished, nationally recognized senior investigators who are seasoned mentors), the RAPID Director and Co-Director, and the keynote speaker.Results/conclusionsThe six compelling questions posed by the 10 young investigators-along with the responses of the senior conference leadership-provide a unique resource and "survival guide" for ensuring the academic success and optimal career development of young investigators in academic pediatrics from diverse backgrounds. A rich conversation ensued on the topics addressed, consisting of negotiating for protected research time, career trajectories as academic institutions move away from an emphasis on tenure-track positions, how "non-academic" products fit into career development, racism and discrimination in academic medicine and how to address them, coping with isolation as a minority faculty member, and how best to mentor the next generation of academic physicians
Hurricanes and hashtags: Characterizing online collective attention for natural disasters
We study collective attention paid towards hurricanes through the lens of
-grams on Twitter, a social media platform with global reach. Using
hurricane name mentions as a proxy for awareness, we find that the exogenous
temporal dynamics are remarkably similar across storms, but that overall
collective attention varies widely even among storms causing comparable deaths
and damage. We construct `hurricane attention maps' and observe that hurricanes
causing deaths on (or economic damage to) the continental United States
generate substantially more attention in English language tweets than those
that do not. We find that a hurricane's Saffir-Simpson wind scale category
assignment is strongly associated with the amount of attention it receives.
Higher category storms receive higher proportional increases of attention per
proportional increases in number of deaths or dollars of damage, than lower
category storms. The most damaging and deadly storms of the 2010s, Hurricanes
Harvey and Maria, generated the most attention and were remembered the longest,
respectively. On average, a category 5 storm receives 4.6 times more attention
than a category 1 storm causing the same number of deaths and economic damage.Comment: 31 pages (14 main, 17 Supplemental), 19 figures (5 main, 14 appendix
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