The Structural Performance of Stone-Masonry Bridges

The structural performance of old stone-masonry bridges is examined by studying such structures located at the North-West of Greece, declared cultural heritage structures. A discussion of their structural system is included, which is linked with specific construction details. The dynamic characteristics of four stone bridges, obtained by temporary in situ instrumentation, are presented together with the mechanical properties of their masonry constituents. The basic assumptions of relatively simple three-dimensional (3-D) numerical simulations of the dynamic response of such old stone bridges are discussed based on all selected information. The results of these numerical simulations are presented and compared with the measured response obtained from the in situ experimental campaigns. The seismic response of one such bridge is studied subsequently in some detail as predicted from the linear numerical simulations under combined dead load and seismic action. The performance of the same bridge is also examined applying 3-D non-linear numerical simulations with the results used to discuss the structural performance of stone-masonry bridges that either collapsed or may be vulnerable to future structural failure. Issues that influence the structural integrity of such bridges are discussed combined with the results of the numerical and in situ investigation. Finally, a brief discussion of maintenance issues is also presented

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Studies of Organotin(IV) Derivatives with o- or p-hydroxybenzoic Acids

Organotin(IV) complexes with o- or p-hydroxybenzoic acids (o-H2BZA or p-H2BZA) of formulae [R2Sn(HL)2] (where H2L = o-H2BZA and R = Me- (1), n-Bu- (2)); [R3Sn(HL)] (where H2L = o-H2BZA and R = n-Bu- (3), Ph- (4) or H2L = p-H2BZA and R = n-Bu- (5), Ph- (6)) were synthesized by reacting a methanolic solution of di- and triorganotin(IV) compounds with an aqueous solution of the ligand (o-H2BZA or p-H2BZA) containing equimolar amounts of potassium hydroxide. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, Far-IR, TGA-DTA, FT-Raman, Mössbauer spectroscopy, 1H, 119Sn-NMR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and Mass spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 have also been determined. Finally, the influence of these complexes 1–6 upon the catalytic peroxidation of linoleic acid to hydroperoxylinoleic acid by the enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX) was kinetically studied and the results showed that triorganotin(IV) complex 6 has the lowest IC50 value. Also complexes 1–6 were studied for their in vitro cytotoxicity against sarcoma cancer cells (mesenchymal tissue) from the Wistar rat, and the results showed that the complexes have high activity against these cell lines with triphenyltin((IV) complex 4 to be the most active one

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure

Study of the supporting system for the CLIC Two-Beam Module

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) study aims at the development of a Multi-TeV e+ e-collider. The micro-precision CLIC structures will have an accelerating gradient of 100 MV/m and will be aligned on so-called girders. The girder construction constrains are mainly dictated by the beam physics and RF requirements. The study of such girders is a challenging case involving material choice, mechanical design as well as prototype fabrication and experimental testing

Serum adiponectin concentrations in relation to maternal and perinatal characteristics in newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To assess serum adiponectin levels of neonates in relation to ponderal index and birth length with and without adjustment for potential confounding factors including maternal factors and perinatal characteristics. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: Three hundred and three newborns (Caucasian, singleton, full term, with a birth weight of > or =2500 g, and apparently healthy) were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from the newborns no later than the fifth day of life for measurements of adiponectin and major IGF system components (IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3)). The data were analyzed using simple and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Adiponectin is substantially higher in neonates than in adults, with no evidence of the gender dimorphism observed among adults. We found an inverse association between neonatal adiponectin levels and newborn ponderal index and a positive association with newborn length by univariate analysis. We also found a statistically significant inverse association of adiponectin with jaundice/bilirubin, and a marginally significant positive association of this hormone with IGFBP-3 but no significant association with any maternal factors. In multivariate analysis, the inverse association between serum adiponectin and ponderal index does not remain significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In contrast, neonatal adiponectin levels correlate inversely significantly and independently with liver maturity and IGF-II and tend to remain positively associated with IGFBP-3 and increased birth length. CONCLUSIONS: An inverse association of adiponectin with ponderal index by univariate analysis is not independent from confounding factors. In contrast, the positive association between serum adiponectin and birth length may reflect either a direct effect of adiponectin or an adiponectin-mediated increase in the sensitivity of tissues to insulin and components of the IGF system, and needs to be explored further

Chemotherapy disrupts learning, neurogenesis and theta activity in the adult brain

Experience-based approaches to software development promise to capture critical knowledge from software projects that can be used as a basis for continuous improvement of software development practices. Putting these ideas into practice in the quickly evolving discipline of software engineering has proven elusive. Techniques and tools are needed that help software practitioners apply past knowledge to current projects while engaging in knowledge creation processes. This paper outlines the experience factory and organizational learning approaches, both of which explore how experience-based approaches to software development can be used to improve software development practices. A software tool is used to investigate how these two approaches can be integrated to create an approach that addresses many issues of knowledg

Recent progress in neutrino factory and muon collider research within the Muon collaboration

We describe the status of our effort to realize a first neutrino factory and the progress made in understanding the problems associated with the collection and cooling of muons towards that end. We summarize the physics that can be done with neutrino factories as well as with intense cold beams of muons. The physics potential of muon colliders is reviewed, both as Higgs Factories and compact high energy lepton colliders. The status and timescale of our research and development effort is reviewed as well as the latest designs in cooling channels including the promise of ring coolers in achieving longitudinal and transverse cooling simultaneously. We detail the efforts being made to mount an international cooling experiment to demonstrate the ionization cooling of muons