Net Locality Adriana de Souza e Silva, Eric Gordon
2011, 2011-02-10, 20110101
eBook
The first book to provide an introduction to the new theory of Net Locality and the profound effect on individuals and societies when everything is located or locatable. * Describes net locality as ...an emerging form of location awareness central to all aspects of digital media, from mobile phones, to Google Maps, to location-based social networks and games, such as Foursquare and facebook. * Warns of the threats these technologies, such as data surveillance, present to our sense of privacy, while also outlining the opportunities for pro-social developments. * Provides a theory of the web in the context of the history of emerging technologies, from GeoCities to GPS, Wi-Fi, Wiki Me, and Google Android.
Mobile phones are no longer what they used to be. Not only can users connect to the Internet anywhere and anytime, they can also use their devices to map their precise geographic coordinates - and ...access location-specific information like restaurant reviews, historical information, and locations of other people nearby. The proliferation of location-aware mobile technologies calls for a new understanding of how we define public spaces, how we deal with locational privacy, and how networks of power are developed today.
In Mobile Interfaces in Public Spaces, Adriana de Souza E. Silva and Jordan Frith examine these social and spatial changes by framing the development of location-aware technology within the context of other mobile and portable technologies such as the book, the Walkman, the iPod, and the mobile phone. These technologies work as interfaces to public spaces - that is, as symbolic systems that not only filter information but also reshape communication relationships and the environment in which social interaction takes place. Yet rather than detaching people from their surroundings, the authors suggest that location-aware technologies may ultimately strengthen our connections to locations.
Gene therapy has emerged as an alternative for the treatment of diseases refractory to conventional therapeutics. Synthetic nanoparticle-based gene delivery systems offer highly tunable platforms for ...the delivery of therapeutic genes. However, the inability to achieve sustained, high-level transgene expression in vivo presents a significant hurdle. The respiratory system, although readily accessible, remains a challenging target, as effective gene therapy mandates colloidal stability in physiological fluids and the ability to overcome biological barriers found in the lung. We formulated highly stable DNA nanoparticles based on state-of-the-art biodegradable polymers, poly(β-amino esters) (PBAEs), possessing a dense corona of polyethylene glycol. We found that these nanoparticles efficiently penetrated the nanoporous and highly adhesive human mucus gel layer that constitutes a primary barrier to reaching the underlying epithelium. We also discovered that these PBAE-based mucus-penetrating DNA nanoparticles (PBAE-MPPs) provided uniform and high-level transgene expression throughout the mouse lungs, superior to several gold standard gene delivery systems. PBAE-MPPs achieved robust transgene expression over at least 4 mo following a single administration, and their transfection efficiency was not attenuated by repeated administrations, underscoring their clinical relevance. Importantly, PBAE-MPPs demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no signs of toxicity following intratracheal administration.
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Abstract Objectives A systematic review was conducted to determine whether the etch-and-rinse or self-etching mode is the best protocol for dentin and enamel adhesion by universal adhesives. Data ...This report followed the PRISMA Statement. A total of 10 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Sources Two reviewers performed a literature search up to October 2014 in eight databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, BBO, SciELO, LILACS, IBECS and The Cochrane Library. Study selection In vitro studies evaluating the bond strength of universal adhesives to dentin and/or enamel by the etch-and-rinse and self-etch strategies were eligible to be selected. Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.1 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). A global comparison was performed with random-effects models at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results The analysis of dentin micro-tensile bond strength showed no statistically significant difference between the etch-and-rinse and self-etch strategies for mild universal adhesives ( p ≥ 0.05). However, for the ultra-mild All-Bond Universal adhesive, the etch-and-rinse strategy was significantly different than the self-etch mode in terms of dentin micro-tensile bond strength, as well as in the global analysis of enamel micro-tensile and micro-shear bond strength ( p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions The enamel bond strength of universal adhesives is improved with prior phosphoric acid etching. However, this effect was not evident for dentin with the use of mild universal adhesives with the etch-and-rinse strategy. Clinical significance Selective enamel etching prior to the application of a mild universal adhesive is an advisable strategy for optimizing bonding.
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CMK, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Objective
To investigate whether genes in the Wnt pathway, which have been previously associated with both oral clefts and oral squamous cell carcinoma, are also associated with oral potentially ...malignant disorders (leukoplakia, erythroplakia and lichen planus).
Materials and Methods
Case–control study: Dataset consisted of clinical information linked to DNA samples from affected subjects diagnosed with oral potential malignant disorders and oral cancer and their matched controls. Individual samples, clinical history, and potential risk factors were obtained through the Dental Registry and DNA Repository project of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. The rs1533767 (WNT11), rs9879992 (GSK3B), and rs3923087 (AXIN2) were tested. After genomic DNA had been extracted, genotyping was performed blindly to clinical diagnosis status. Representation of genotypes and alleles in affected subjects in comparison to the unaffected individuals was determined using PLINK. Additional analysis was performed to investigate associations between environmental (socioeconomic/lifestyle) risk factors and the oral pathologies studied using STATA.
Results
Two of the SNPs tested (rs9879992 in GSK3B and rs3923087 in AXIN2) were statistically, significantly associated with the pathologies studied (p = 0.039 and 0.038, respectively).
Conclusion
Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in genes in the Wnt pathway were associated with oral potentially malignant disorders.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
•Inoculated fermentation presents higher well fermented seeds.•Influence in decrease of acidity, sugar concentration and free amino acids were detected in inoculated fermentations.•A comparison of ...eight different inoculums was provided.•Candida parapsilosis, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Pichia kluyveri presented physicochemical changes relevant to the flavor in this experiment.
In the present work we aimed to demonstrate the influence of inoculum starter in support high quality fermentation. Cocoa fermentations were performed in wooden boxes and eight yeasts strains were used in separated fermentations of fine cocoa, type Scavina, as starter inoculum. Temperature, pH, titirable acidity, reducing sugar and free amino acids were evaluated during or after fermentation. The influence of starters yeasts on the decrease of acidity, sugar concentration and free amino acids was significant. The strains Candida parapsilosis, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Pichia kluyveri showed greater changes in the reducing sugar and free amino acids in fermented cocoa beans. These results indicate the ability of yeast used as inoculum starter to modify the end condition and further enhance the quality of fine cocoa beans.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In recent years enormous progress has been made in understanding the role of epigenetic regulation response to environmental stimuli, especially in response to stresses. Molecular mechanisms involved ...in chromatin dynamics and silencing have been explained, leading to an appreciation of how new phenotypes can be generated quickly in response to environmental modifications. In some cases, it has also been shown that epigenetic modifications can be stably transmitted to the next generations. Despite this, the vast majority of studies have been carried out with model plants, particularly with Arabidopsis, and very little is known on how native plants in their natural habitat react to changes in their environment. Climate change has been affecting, sometimes drastically, the conditions of numerous ecosystems around the world, forcing populations of native species to adapt quickly. Although part of the adaptation can be explained by the preexisting genetic variation in the populations, recent studies have shown that new stable phenotypes can be generated through epigenetic modifications in few generations, contributing to the stability and survival of the plants in their natural habitat. Here, we review the recent data that suggest that epigenetic variation can help natural populations to cope to with change in their environments.
Pile design for X-rotor offshore wind turbine Dong, Jing; Silva, Adriana Correia Da; Muskulus, Michael
Journal of physics. Conference series,
10/2023, Volume:
2626, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Abstract
For the foundations of traditional offshore structures in oil and gas industry, the dominant load is in vertical direction. For wind turbines, especially for vertical axis wind turbines, the ...lateral loads are increased significantly, which makes them the key element of the pile design. The X-rotor offshore wind turbine is a novel concept which is a hybrid of vertical and horizontal axis wind turbines. This paper aims at giving a detailed solution for the pile design of X-rotor type offshore wind turbines based on the existing guidelines and to gain an insight in the influences of the cyclic loads on the pile parameter selection. The pile capacity design and the pile performance design are executed and then the influence of the piles to the natural frequencies of the wind turbine is evaluated.
Abstract
The X-rotor wind turbine is an X-shaped hybrid vertical axis wind turbine whose power take-off is done by horizontal axis rotors located at the tip of the lower blades. Based on an initial ...basic study, the present study developed a preliminary jacket design as the turbine support structure. Steady aerodynamic loads were obtained from an actuator cylinder model and dynamic load simulations including wave loads were performed. The structure was checked according to fatigue damage and maximum yielding for representative site-specific load cases for fatigue and ultimate limit states. Even though the use of a conventional jacket was shown to be feasible for the new turbine concept, the overall mass of the support structure obtained by the higher fidelity model was higher than the initial prediction. The design was driven by the fatigue damage, caused by large cyclical loads on every rotor rotation. The effect of a hypothetical aerodynamic load reduction on the jacket mass was investigated. The developed design methodology was also applied to the design of equivalent jackets after a load reduction of 75% and 50% and the mass of the structure was shown to be sensible, with a respective reduction of 25% and 48%. This result demonstrates that different design strategies that influence the magnitude of the aerodynamic loads (e.g. the control strategy) could lead to a more cost-efficient jacket design.