bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical cardiovascular risk during young adulthood in offspring of hypertensive pregnancies: insights from a 20-year prospective follow-up birth cohort
Authors: Davis Esther F , Lewandowski Adam J , Aye Christina , Williamson Wilby , Boardman Henry , Huang Rae-Chi , Mori Trevor A , Newnham John , Beilin Lawrence J , Leeson Paul
Published: June 2015

Objectives

Offspring of hypertensive pregnancies have increased cardiovascular risk factors during childhood. We hypothesised that offspring of hypertensive pregnancies would demonstrate increased clinical levels of hypertension by young adult life, which would be proportional to the severity of the pregnancy complication.

Design

Prospective birth cohort study

Setting

Tertiary obstetric hospital.

Participants

2868 young adult offspring of women enrolled during pregnancy into the Western Australia Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study.

Main outcome measures

Cardiovascular risk, including incidence of hypertension and metabolic disease, in those born to hypertensive compared to normotensive pregnancies.

Results

Young adult offspring of hypertensive pregnancies were 2.5 times (95% CI 1.32 to 4.56, p=0.004) more likely to have global lifetime risk (QRISK) scores above the 75th centile. Thirty per cent of 20 year olds with hypertensive blood pressures were born following a hypertensive pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia or hypertension resulting in preterm birth associated with a threefold (95% CI 1.3 to 7.0, p=0.01) greater risk of being hypertensive by age 20 years, with no differences in body mass index. Whereas pregnancy-induced hypertension associated with a smaller 3±1 mm Hg blood pressure rise (p=0.001) and a twofold (95% CI 1.5 to 2.8, p=0.001) greater risk of being obese or overweight. Risk factor associations were consistent throughout early life and independent of other birth-factors.

Conclusions

Incidence of offspring hypertension was significantly increased in those whose mothers had a more complicated pregnancy history, including preterm birth and pre-eclampsia.
Prevalence and prognostic impact of chronic kidney disease in STEMI from a gender perspective: data from the SWEDEHEART register, a large Swedish prospective cohort
Authors: Sederholm Lawesson Sofia , Alfredsson Joakim , Szummer Karolina , Fredrikson Mats , Swahn Eva
Published: June 2015

Objectives

Gender differences in prevalence and prognostic impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have been poorly evaluated. In STEMI, female gender has been independently associated with an increased risk of mortality. CKD has been found to be an important prognostic marker in myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender differences in prevalence and prognostic impact of CKD on short-term and long-term mortality.

Design

Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting

The national quality register SWEDEHEART was used. In the beginning of the study period, 94% of the Swedish coronary care units contributed data to the register, which subsequently increased to 100%. The glomerular filtration rate was estimated (eGFR) according to Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD) and Cockcroft-Gault (CG).

Participants

All patients with STEMI registered in SWEDEHEART from the years 2003–2009 were included (37 991 patients, 66% men).

Main results

Women had 1.6 (MDRD) to 2.2 (CG) times higher multivariable adjusted risk of CKD. Half of the women had CKD according to CG. CKD was associated with 2–2.5 times higher risk of in-hospital mortality and approximately 1.5 times higher risk of long-term mortality in both genders. Each 10 mL/min decline of eGFR was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital and long-term mortality (22–33% and 9–16%, respectively) and this did not vary significantly by gender. Both in-hospital and long-term mortality were doubled in women. After multivariable adjustment including eGFR, there was no longer any gender difference in early outcome and the long-term outcome was better in women.

Conclusions

Among patients with STEMI, female gender was independently associated with CKD. Reduced eGFR was a strong independent risk factor for short-term and long-term mortality without a significant gender difference in prognostic impact and seems to be an important reason why women have higher mortality than men with STEMI.
Theoretical examination of competitive β-radical-induced cleavages of N–Cα and Cα–C bonds of peptides
Authors: Tang Wai-Kit , Leong Chun-Ping , Hao Qiang , Siu Chi-Kit
Published: June 2015

Selective cleavages of N–Cα and Cα–C bonds of β-radical tautomers of amino acid residues in radical peptides have been examined theoretically by means of the density functional theory at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level. The majority of the bond cleavages are homolytic via β-scission. Their energy barriers depend largely on the ability of the radical being stabilized in the transition structures and the availability of a mobile proton in the vicinity of the β-radical center. The N–Cα bond is less favorably cleaved than the Cα–C bond (except Ser and Thr) for systems without a mobile proton. It is because, firstly, the homolytic cleavage is less favorable for the more polar N–Cα bond than for the less polar Cα–C bond. Secondly, a less stable σ-radical localized on the amide nitrogen atom of the incipient N-terminal fragment is formed for the former, while a more stable radical delocalized in a π*(CO)-like orbital of the incipient C-terminal fragment is formed for the latter. In the presence of a mobile proton N-terminal to the β-radical center, some degrees of heterolytic cleavage character, as preferred by the polar N–Cα bond, are observed. Consequently, its barrier is reduced. If the mobile proton is located at the C-terminal amide oxygen of the β-radical center, the Cα–C bond cleavage will be significantly suppressed. It is because the radical in the incipient C-terminal fragment becomes more localized as a σ-radical on the carbon atom of its protonated amide group. With basic amino acid residues, the Cα–C bond cleavage can be reactivated. Heterolytic cleavage of the polar N–Cα bond can be largely facilitated if a mobile proton N-terminal to the β-radical center is available and the radical in the incipient C-terminal fragment is sufficiently stabilized, for instance, by the aromatic side chain of Trp and Tyr. Therefore, cleavages of the N–Cα bond induced by the β-radical tautomer of Trp and Tyr are often preferred as compared with cleavages of the Cα–C bond in peptide radical cations containing mobile protons.
Nonlethal assessment of freshwater mussel physiological response to changes in environmental factors
Authors: Fritts Andrea K. , Peterson James T. , Wisniewski Jason M. , Bringolf Robert B.
Published: June 2015

The development of effective nonlethal biomonitoring techniques is imperative for the preservation of imperiled freshwater mussel populations. Changes in hemolymph chemistry profiles and tissue glycogen are potential biomarkers for nonlethally monitoring stress in mussels. We sampled three species in the Flint River Basin over 2 years to evaluate how these hemolymph and tissue biomarkers responded to environmental changes. We used hierarchical linear models to evaluate the relationships between variation in the biomarkers and environmental factors and found that the responses of the hemolymph and tissue parameters were strongly related to stream discharge. Shifts in alanine aminotransferase and glycogen showed the largest relations with discharge at the time of sampling, while magnesium levels were most explained by the discharge for 5 days prior to sampling. Aspartate aminotransferase, bicarbonate, and calcium showed the strongest relations with mean discharge for 15 days prior to sampling. The modeling results indicated that biomarker responses varied substantially among individuals of different size, sex, and species and illustrated the value of hierarchical modeling techniques to account for the inherent complexity of aquatic ecosystems.
Effects of Temperature on Responses of the Gonads of Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) to Treatment with Carp Pituitaries and Testosterone Propionate
Authors: Kaya Calvin M.
Published: June 2015

Previous investigations have demonstrated that stimulation of gonadal recrudescence in the green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) depends on the concurrent presence of long photoperiods (15 hr) and elevated temperatures (> 15 C). The present investigation indicates that recrudescence can be stimulated in seasonally regressed ovaries and testes by injections of a crude extract of fish pituitary glands, and in testes by testosterone propionate, but only under elevated temperature. The low temperatures that block gonadal responses to long photoperiods also effectively prevent gonadal responses to administered hormones. These observations indicate that the responsiveness of the gonads of this species to stimulating hormones is markedly modified by temperature; however, the results do not obviate the possibility that secretion of gonadotropins by the brain–pituitary system may also be affected.
Identification of Supernatant and Mitochondrial Isozymes of Malate Dehydrogenase on Electropherograms Applied to the Taxonomic Discrimination of Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum), Sauger (S. canadense), and Suspected Interspecific Hybrid Fishes
Authors: Clayton J. W. , Harris R. E. K. , Tretiak D. N.
Published: June 2015

Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) and sauger (S. canadense) commonly yield four isozymes of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in electropherograms of white muscle extracts from individual homozygous fish. The heat stability of each isozyme as well as reactivity with nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and NAD analogues have been investigated by measuring the density of each isozyme directly on the electropherograms, after the usual specific staining procedure that links malate oxidation to tetrazolium dye reduction. At least two kinds of supernatant and one kind of mitochondrial MDH in individual fish of each species was demonstrated.Relative abundance of the various isozymes varies with the tissue of origin. In liver, only one heat stable isozyme is observed in both species, and it is likely constituted mainly of supernatant MDH. In heart tissue four isozymes are observed and the liver supernatant form also predominates. In white muscle the two kinds of supernatant MDH appear to be synthesized in comparable amounts and, including the mitochondrial MDH, four isozymes of nearly equivalent catalytic activity are produced. In walleye the three kinds of MDH homozygotes all showed similar enzymatic properties of their corresponding isozymes.In contrast to the polymorphic nature of walleye MDH isozymes the closely related sauger are monomorphic for MDH, and a number of analogous isozymes have identical electrophoretic mobility in the two species. More significantly, the major mitochondrial MDH isozymes have different mobility in each species. This fact is suggested as a taxonomic criterion to distinguish the two species. Some very rare fishes, evidently interspecific hybrids, produced three mitochondrial MDH isozymes. It was also possible to hybridize walleye and sauger MDH isozymes in vitro to produce phenotypes indistinguishable from presumed wild hybrid fishes.
Effect of Thermal Shock on Vulnerability of Juvenile Salmonids to Predation
Authors: Coutant Charles C.
Published: June 2015

Thermally shocked juvenile rainbow trout and chinook salmon were selectively preyed upon by larger trout in the laboratory when exposure times to elevated temperatures exceeded a minimum duration. This duration was 10% (chinook) and 20% (rainbow) of the exposure duration that caused obvious loss of equilibrium (complete body inversion) of half a test population at that temperature. Longer exposures increased vulnerability to predation relative to controls almost exponentially. Shorter exposures made shocked fish less susceptible to predation. Shocked fish showed some recovery from heat effects when returned to the initial holding temperature for [Formula: see text] or 1 hr prior to predation. Susceptibility of rainbows to predation (relative to controls) appears to follow the time- and temperature-dependant response pattern previously shown by others for death and visible equilibrium loss. Selective predation began at exposures about 10% of the median death time in the range 26 to 30 C.
Trophic Analysis of Juvenile Pink and Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha and O. keta) in Puget Sound
Authors: Kaczynski V. W. , Feller R. J. , Clayton J. , Gerke R. J.
Published: June 2015

Pink and chum salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha and O. keta) fry and Clarke–Bumpus plankton tows were collected from three beach areas in Puget Sound in spring 1970. Chum fry and benthic pump samples were taken in 1971. The diets of the young of the two species were similar. Epibenthic harpacticoid copepods were the chief prey of the chum and pink salmon (57 and 36%, respectively, in 1970). Distinct differences were apparent, the more notable being the preference for invertebrate eggs exhibited by the pinks and the higher preferences for small gammarid amphipods and harpacticoids exhibited by the chums. The stomach contents showed no resemblance to the plankton hauls taken in the same area. The onshore stage of development appears to be a distinct ecological stage in the life cycles of these species.
An Improved Method of Using One-way Glass to Assess Visual Discrimination in Fish
Authors: Sosiak A. J.
Published: June 2015

A method using one-way glass for presenting a test fish with a choice of two fish as visual stimuli was developed during a study to test visual discrimination by sunfish. This method is more effective than a previous one-way glass system in that it prevents habituation by test fish to their reflections in the one-way glass and makes nonvisual recognition cues less likely.
The pH Activity Relations of Two LDH Homotetramers From Trout Liver and Their Physiological Significance
Authors: Tsuyuki H. , Williscroft S. N.
Published: June 2015

The LDH homotetramers from the liver tissues of B″B″ and B′B′ steelhead trout phenotypes were each demonstrated to possess two pH optima, the usually described broad one spreading over 1.0 units in the alkaline region, and a new extremely narrow one spread over 0.128 units in the physiological range. The narrow pH optimum of LDH-B″4 in the lactate to pyruvate reaction exhibited an optimum at 7.302 and that of LDH-B′4 at 7.430. In the opposite reaction, LDH-B″4 and -B′4 passed through equally sharp minima at pH 7.331 and 7.428, respectively. At their respective narrow pH optima, LDH-B″4 exhibited a lactate conversion rate 3.6 times higher than that of LDH-B′4.The possible physiological significance of the narrow pH optima to poikilotherms and the differential lactate conversion rate to relative swimming endurance between the two phenotypes are discussed.
GREEN GROWTH: IMPORTANT DETERMINANTS
Authors: SAMAD GHULAM , MANZOOR RABIA
Published: June 2015

We discuss the important determinants requires to develop green patents, which eventually reinforce green growth. The theoretical framework examined four elements, the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs), research and development (R&D) expenditures, market size and environmental taxations. We empirically test the green patent data to test the interrelationship of green patents representing the green innovations and IPR, R&D expenditures, market size and environmental taxations. Keeping in view the availability of the data we studied 11 developed countries, which are Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Finland, Germany, Sweden, U.K and U.S. The panel data can better handled the technological change rather than the pure cross section or pure time series data. Therefore, this study used the Pooled Least Square estimation techniques like Fixed Effect Model (FEM) and random effect model (REM) for both balance period of 1995–2010 and unbalanced period from 1995–2010. We only interpreted the balance period results depicting the enforcement of IPRs has negative and significant impact on green patents while the R&D expenditures, market size and environmental taxations has positive and significant impact on the green patents e.g. development of green innovations. We believe that the enforcement of explanatory variables will eventually acquire green growth.
DOES GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP MATTER? COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN GLCS AND NGLCS IN MALAYSIA
Authors: TING IRENE WEI KIONG , LEAN HOOI HOOI
Published: June 2015

This study investigates whether government participation in firm ownership leads to better firm performance of publicly listed companies in Malaysia. The sample covers 257 companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia from 1997 to 2009. Multiple regression models with balanced panel data are used to examine the impact of government ownership (GOVN) on firm performance. We find a negative relationship between GOVN and firm performance, a finding that supports the negative public perception of government-linked companies (GLCs) in Malaysia. We conclude that government ownership is not an effective tool for improvement of firm performance in Malaysia.
Reliability Estimation Measure: Generic Discounting Approach
Authors: Samet Ahmed , Lefèvre Eric , Hammami Imen , Ben Yahia Sadok
Published: June 2015

In the belief function theory, several measures of uncertainty have been introduced. One of their possible use is unreliable source discounting before the fusion stage. Two different measures of uncertainty exist which are the intrinsic and extrinsic ones. The intrinsic measure makes it possible to assess the source's confusion whereas the extrinsic one measures the contradiction between sources. In this paper, we associate both measures in order to estimate the global reliability of a source. This method, named Generic Discounting Approach (GDA), is proposed in two different versions: Weighted GDA and Exponent GDA. Those reliability measures are integrated into a classifier. The method was tested, against to some pioneer approaches, on several UCI datasets as well as on an urban image classification problem and showed very encouraging results.
One-two step transfer observed in 16O+11B nuclear system
Authors: Hamada Sh. , Burtebayev N.
Published: June 2015

The angular distribution measurements for 16O ion beam elastically scattered from 11 B target of thickness 32.9μg/cm2 at energy 22.4 MeV had been performed in the cyclotron DC-60 INP NNC RK. The previous measurements for 16 O +11 B nuclear system at energies 27, 30, 32.5 and 35 MeV showed an increase in the differential cross-section at backward angles due to the contribution of cluster transfer. Such transfer process could not be described in terms of optical model (OM); it could be described within the framework of distorted wave Born approximation method implemented in FRESCO code. Both one (5 Li ) and two-step transfer (proton transfer followed by Alpha transfer) were taken into considerations. We have extracted the spectroscopic amplitude (SA) for the configuration 16 O →11 B +5 Li .
MODELING FOR HYDRAULIC PERMEABILITY AND KOZENY–CARMAN CONSTANT OF POROUS NANOFIBERS USING A FRACTAL APPROACH
Authors: XIAO BOQI , TU XING , REN WEN , WANG ZONGCHI
Published: June 2015

In this study, the analytical expressions for the hydraulic permeability and Kozeny–Carman (KC) constant of porous nanofibers are derived based on fractal theory. In the present approach, the permeability is explicitly related to the porosity and the area fractal dimensions of porous nanofibers. The proposed fractal models for KC constant is also found to be a function of the microstructural parameters (porosity, area fractal dimensions). Besides, the present model clearly indicates that KC constant is not a constant and increases with porosity. However, KC constant is close to a constant value which is 18 for ϕ > 0.8. Every parameter of the proposed formulas of calculating permeability and KC constant has clear physical meaning. The model predictions are compared with the existing experimental data, and fair agreement between the model predictions and experimental data is found for different porosities.
Heat and Mass Transfer in Unsteady Third-Grade Fluid with Variable Suction Using Finite Element Method
Authors: Poonia Minakshi , Bhargava R.
Published: June 2015

The heat and mass transfer in an unsteady boundary layer flow of an incompressible, laminar, natural convective third-grade fluid is studied. The flow is taken over a semi-infinite vertical porous plate with the temperature-dependent fluid properties by taking into account the effect of viscous dissipation and variable suction. The partial differential equations governing the problem are reduced into the nonlinear, coupled, nondimensional ordinary differential equations with the help of suitable similarity transformations. The Galerkin Finite Element Method is implemented to solve this acquired system. The effects of various significant parameters such as Grashof number, Prandtl number, Eckert number, Solutal Grashof number and Schmidt number on dimensionless velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are presented graphically. The Nusselt number is found to be depressed whereas the Sherwood number is observed to be enhanced with the increasing values of Grashof number and Prandtl number. The study has important applications in chemical process industries such as filtration in food industry, production of drinking water and recovering salts from solutions.
Symmetries from the solution manifold
Authors: Aldaya Víctor , Guerrero Julio , Lopez-Ruiz Francisco F. , Cossío Francisco
Published: June 2015

We face a revision of the role of symmetries of a physical system aiming at characterizing the corresponding Solution Manifold (SM) by means of Noether invariants as a preliminary step towards a proper, non-canonical, quantization. To this end, "point symmetries" of the Lagrangian are generally not enough, and we must resort to the more general concept of contact symmetries. They are defined in terms of the Poincaré–Cartan form, which allows us, in turn, to find the symplectic structure on the SM, through some sort of Hamilton–Jacobi (HJ) transformation. These basic symmetries are realized as Hamiltonian vector fields, associated with (coordinate) functions on the SM, lifted back to the Evolution Manifold through the inverse of this HJ mapping, that constitutes an inverse of the Noether Theorem. The specific examples of a particle moving on S3, at the mechanical level, and nonlinear SU(2)-sigma model in field theory are sketched.
Design, synthesis and photophysical studies of phenylethynyl-bridged phthalocyanine-fullerene dyads
Authors: Arero Jaro , Kodis Gerdenis , Schmitz Robert A. , Méndez-Hernández Dalvin D. , Moore Thomas A. , Moore Ana L. , Gust Devens
Published: June 2015

A zinc and a free base phthalocyanine-fulleropyrrolidine dyad in which the chromophores are linked by a phenylethynyl group have been prepared using a new synthetic route, and their photoelectrochemical properties have been investigated. The zinc dyad is readily soluble in a variety of solvents, and its spectroscopic properties have been determined in toluene and benzonitrile. In toluene, excitation of the zinc phthalocyanine is followed by rapid establishment of an equilibrium between the phthalocyanine and fullerene excited states. These excited states decay mainly to the ground state and the respective triplet states. The fullerene triplet then transfers its energy to form the phthalocyanine triplet. About 20% of the phthalocyanine excited states lead to formation of a charge-separated state. In benzonitrile, the same decay pathways are observed, but photoinduced electron transfer is much faster, and generates the charge separated state with a quantum yield of ≥85%. The charge separated state has a lifetime of 2.8 ns in toluene and 94 ps in benzonitrile.
A Comprehensive Comparison on Evolutionary Feature Selection Approaches to Classification
Authors: Xue Bing , Zhang Mengjie , Browne Will N.
Published: June 2015

Feature selection is an important data preprocessing step in machine learning and data mining, such as classification tasks. Research on feature selection has been extensively conducted for more than 50 years and different types of approaches have been proposed, which include wrapper approaches or filter approaches, and single objective approaches or multi-objective approaches. However, the advantages and disadvantages of such approaches have not been thoroughly investigated. This paper provides a comprehensive study on comparing different types of feature selection approaches, specifically including comparisons on the classification performance and computational time of wrappers and filters, generality of wrapper approaches, and comparisons on single objective and multi-objective approaches. Particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based approaches, which include different types of methods, are used as typical examples to conduct this research. A total of 10 different feature selection methods and over 7000 experiments are involved. The results show that filters are usually faster than wrappers, but wrappers using a simple classification algorithm can be faster than filters. Wrappers often achieve better classification performance than filters. Feature subsets obtained from wrappers can be general to other classification algorithms. Meanwhile, multi-objective approaches are generally better choices than single objective algorithms. The findings are not only useful for researchers to develop new approaches to addressing new challenges in feature selection, but also useful for real-world decision makers to choose a specific feature selection method according to their own requirements.
Optimal Generator Maintenance Scheduling Using a Hybrid Metaheuristic Approach
Authors: Bali N. , Labdelaoui H.
Published: June 2015

This paper presents an optimal approach for solving the generator maintenance scheduling (GMS) problem using a hybrid metaheuristic-based method. The GMS problem is formulated mathematically as a minimization problem of an aggregated objective function that handles both the reliability performance and the constraints violations. A new optimization approach, based on simulated annealing (SA) and ant colony optimization (ACO) is proposed to solve this problem. The optimization results for a 21-unit test system show that the proposed hybrid approach is more efficient than the standard SA and ACO methods and also genetic algorithms (GAs). It is also shown that the proposed approach is less sensitive to the variations of some control parameters and is more reliable than the other approaches.
Extractive Summarization Technique Based on Fuzzy Membership Calculation Using Rough Sets
Authors: Murali Krishna R. V. V. , Satyananda Reddy Ch.
Published: June 2015

Selection of important sentences from a document is an important task in Automatic text summarization systems. When these sentences are presented without any modification in their syntax and semantics, they form extractive summary of the given text document. Extractive summarization techniques based on statistical methods like word frequency, indicator phrases and word co-occurrence are language independent. Recent studies have shown that word co-occurrence information can improve the quality of extractive summaries. This paper presents a statistical technique to identify important sentences of a text document using word co-occurrence information. The proposed technique adopts the rough set approach of Reduct and Core calculation for a given data. Fuzzy core concept is used, when the Core is empty or whenever the Core has to be enhanced. The proposed technique is tested with DUC 2002 data Sets and has given good results.
Post-Buckled Vibration Characteristic of Composite Cylindrical Shell Panels Under Parabolic In-Plane Edge Compression
Authors: Panda S. K. , Kumar Rajesh , Ramachandra L. S.
Published: June 2015

In this paper, post-buckled vibration of cross-ply thick laminated cylindrical shell panels subjected to nonuniform (parabolic) uniaxial and biaxial compression is studied. The mathematical model is based on a higher order shallow shell theory incorporating von Kármán-type geometric nonlinearities and initial geometric imperfections. In the first step, the plate membrane problem is solved to evaluate the stress distribution within the plate in the pre-buckling range as the applied in-plane edge load is nonuniform. By using the above stress distributions, the governing shell panel post-buckling equations are derived through Hamiltonian principle. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are reduced into a set of nonlinear algebraic equations for post-buckling analysis and nonlinear ordinary differential equations in the case of free vibration analysis using Galerkin's method. The equilibrium paths through limit points are traced using Newton–Raphson method in conjunction with Riks approach. The free vibration frequency of pre-bucked and post-buckled cylindrical panels loaded with uniaxial or biaxial nonuniform in-plane edge load are studied. Free vibration frequency for symmetric (0/90/0) cross-ply laminated cylindrical shell panels under uniaxial and biaxial parabolic in-plane load with initial imperfections are presented for different post-buckled deflections. Limit loads and snap-through behavior of shell panels and corresponding free vibration results are co-related for better understanding of the problem.
The Interaction of the Plane Stress Mode I Crack with an Inhomogeneity Undergoing a Stress-Free Transformation Strain
Authors: Sun Yang , Yang Jin , Wang Biao , Liu Ma-Bao
Published: June 2015

Thin composite films containing inclusions are commonly being developed as corrosion resistant, wear resistant coatings and so forth. For systems where the composite film is under residual stresses properly designed, a controlled debonding process of the inclusions can be used to reduce the stress levels in the film lowering the risk of through cracks in the film as well as the risk for the film's delamination from the substrate. In this paper, on the basis of the Eshelby equivalent inclusion theory, a general solution is derived by treating an inhomogeneous inclusion as a homogeneous one with transformation strain for the configuration force (CF) and stress intensity factor (SIF) between mode I crack and an inhomogeneous inclusion of arbitrary shape which undergoes some degree of stress-free transformation strain under plane stress loading conditions. Then the CF associated with the transformation is calculated from the work done during the transformation, from which some simplified approximate formulae are also presented for common inclusion shapes in order to provide a quick estimate for the effects of inclusion shape, location and size on the CF of plane stress model I crack. In comparison to conventional numerical approaches, the present solution provides a novel approach to explain the behavior of crack deflection/penetration and can be used for the optimization design of the composite films.
Congruences for partitions with odd parts distinct modulo 5
Authors: Cui Su-Ping , Gu Wen Xiang , Ma Zhen Sheng
Published: June 2015

Hirschhorn and Sellers studied arithmetic properties of the number of partitions with odd parts distinct modulo powers of 3. In this paper, we focus on congruences for pod (n) modulo 5. For example, for α ≥ 2 and n ≥ 0, we have [Formula: see text] In addition, applying some equations given by Hirschhorn and Sellers [Arithmetic properties of partitions with odd parts distinct, Ramanujan J.22 (2010) 273–284], some new congruences are established.
Quantitative assessments of glycolysis from single cells
Authors: Shin Young Shik , Kim Jungwoo , Johnson Dazy , Dooraghi Alex A. , Mai Wilson X. , Ta Lisa , Chatziioannou Arion F. , Phelps Michael E. , Nathanson David A. , Heath James R.
Published: June 2015

The most common positron emission tomography (PET) radio-labeled probe for molecular diagnostics in patient care and research is the glucose analog, 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG). We report on an integrated microfluidics-chip/beta particle imaging system for in vitro 18F-FDG radioassays of glycolysis with single cell resolution. We investigated the kinetic responses of single glioblastoma cancer cells to targeted inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Further, we find a weak positive correlation between cell size and rate of glycolysis.
Sea Lion Field, North Falkland Basin: seismic inversion and quantitative interpretation
Authors: Francis A. , Lewis M. , Booth C.
Published: June 2015

Extensive use has been made of seismic-derived quantitative interpretation for mapping and predicting reservoir properties in the Sea Lion Field, North Falkland Basin. The Sea Lion sands are acoustically hard compared to the encasing shales, with fairly constant rock properties. The fans are typically 20–60 m in thickness and are predominantly seismically tuned events. Detection of hydrocarbon fluid effects from seismic data has proved elusive to date.

Extended elastic impedance (EEI) was selected as the appropriate seismic analysis tool. Almost all sands are visible on the full-stack seismic data. Coloured inversion of an EEI volume with a rotation angle (
χ
) of −70° (henceforth shown as EEI(−70)) was found to be an optimal sand predictor and is primarily sensitive to the shale volume of the sands. This EEI
χ
angle also allows detection of sand that is not observed on the full-stack seismic.

The EEI(−70) coloured inversion data were also used to estimate net sand thickness and the net-to-gross maps of the fans. Subsequently, a new algorithm termed DT-AMP was used to apply seismic amplitude detuning to the full three-dimensional (3D) seismic volume. This has proved useful in the evaluation of new exploration targets beyond the Sea Lion Field area.

A sand classification was performed using multiple EEI attributes, including lithology and fluid cubes. This indicates that there are differences in the amplitude v. offset (AVO) response across the main Sea Lion fan complex.

Pre-stack simultaneous inversion was also performed using both deterministic and stochastic schemes. A three-term inversion was tested but density estimation was considered to be unreliable.

Seismic data were tested at several stages to constrain the static reservoir model, using coloured, deterministic and stochastic inversion methods. The final static model incorporated a set of scenarios using net-to-gross maps inferred from the quantitative analysis of the EEI(−70) data.
Strong clockwise block rotation of the Ali-Sabieh/Aïsha Block: evidence for opening of the Afar Depression by a ‘saloon-door’ mechanism
Authors: Kidane Tesfaye
Published: June 2015

Palaeomagnetic investigations were carried out on tilted Jessoma sandstones in the Aïsha block. The average natural remanent magnetization intensity was 0.026A m
−1
with good behaviour on demagnetization both by thermal and alternating fields. The normalized magnetization intensity decay curves indicated that fine-grained, Ti-poor titanomagnetites were the carriers of magnetization. A well-defined single-component magnetization with a poorly defined secondary component was found. The latter was removed at temperatures below 300°C or at 10 mT. After these steps, a straight-line segment directed towards the origin was identified, which was interpreted as the characteristic remanent magnetization. Site mean direction coordinates of Dec
g
=227.8°, Inc
g
=–33.9° (
n
=7, α
95
=2.8°,
K
=478) (
in situ
) and Dec
s
=225.6°, Inc
s
=0.4° (
n
=7, α
95
=2.8°,
K
=478) (tilt-corrected) were obtained. Corresponding mean virtual geomagnetic pole coordinates of Lon
g
=117.5° E, Lat
g
=43.3° N (
A
95
=3.2°,
n
=7) (
in situ
) and Lon
s
=143.5° E, Lat
s
=43.3° N (
A
95
=2.8°,
n
=7) (tilt-corrected) were obtained. The corrected
in situ
mean pole position was compared with the African apparent polar wander path curve and a deposition age for the sandstone of 60±5 Ma was determined, which is consistent with previous reports. A vertical axis rotation (
R
±Δ
R
) of the Aïsha block of 29.1±4.06° was obtained, which is equivalent to an inferred 30° counterclockwise rotation of the Danakil block, in agreement with a ‘saloon-door’ mechanism for the opening of the Afar Depression.
Long-lasting facilitation of respiratory rhythm by treatment with TRPA1 agonist, cinnamaldehyde
Authors: Tani Mariho , Yazawa Itaru , Ikeda Keiko , Kawakami Kiyoshi , Onimaru Hiroshi
Published: June 2015

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system. We examined the effects of TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) agonists (cinnamaldehyde and allyl isothiocyanate) on respiratory rhythm generation in brainstem-spinal cord preparations from newborn rats [postnatal days 0–3 (P0–P3)] and in in situ-perfused preparations from juvenile rats (P11–P13). Preparations were superfused with modified Krebs solution at 25–26°C, and activity of inspiratory C4 ventral root (or phrenic nerve) was monitored. In the newborn rat, an in vitro preparation of cinnamaldehyde (0.5 mM) induced typically biphasic responses in C4 rate: an initial short increase and subsequent decrease, then a gradual recovery of rhythm during 15 min of bath application. After washout, the respiratory rhythm rate further increased, remaining 200% of control for >120 min, indicating long-lasting facilitation. Allyl isothiocyanate induced effects similar to those of cinnamaldehyde. The long-lasting facilitation of respiratory rhythm was partially antagonized by the TRPA1 antagonist HC-030031 (10 μM). We obtained similar long-lasting facilitation in an in situ-perfused reparation from P11–P13 rats. On the basis of results from transection experiments of the rostral medulla and whole-cell recordings from preinspiratory neurons in the parafacial respiratory group (pFRG), we suggest that the rostral medulla, including the pFRG, is important to the induction of long-lasting facilitation. A histochemical analysis demonstrated a wide distribution of TRPA1 channel-positive cells in the reticular formation of the medulla, including the pFRG. Our findings suggest that TRPA1 channel activation could induce long-lasting facilitation of respiratory rhythm and provide grounds for future study on the roles of TRPA1 channels in the CNS.
Mechanics of mouse ocular motor plant quantified by optogenetic techniques
Authors: Stahl John S. , Thumser Zachary C. , May Paul J. , Andrade Francisco H. , Anderson Sean R. , Dean Paul
Published: June 2015

Rigorous descriptions of ocular motor mechanics are often needed for models of ocular motor circuits. The mouse has become an important tool for ocular motor studies, yet most mechanical data come from larger species. Recordings of mouse abducens neurons indicate the mouse mechanics share basic viscoelastic properties with larger species but have considerably longer time constants. Time constants can also be extracted from the rate at which the eye re-centers when released from an eccentric position. The displacement can be accomplished by electrically stimulating ocular motor nuclei, but electrical stimulation may also activate nearby ocular motor circuitry. We achieved specific activation of abducens motoneurons through photostimulation in transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin in cholinergic neurons. Histology confirmed strong channelrhodopsin expression in the abducens nucleus with relatively little expression in nearby ocular motor structures. Stimulation was delivered as 20- to 1,000-ms pulses and 40-Hz trains. Relaxations were modeled best by a two-element viscoelastic system. Time constants were sensitive to stimulus duration. Analysis of isometric relaxation of isolated mouse extraocular muscles suggest the dependence is attributable to noninstantaneous decay of active forces in non-twitch fibers following stimulus offset. Time constants were several times longer than those obtained in primates, confirming that the mouse ocular motor mechanics are relatively sluggish. Finally, we explored the effects of 0.1- to 20-Hz sinusoidal photostimuli and demonstrated their potential usefulness in characterizing ocular motor mechanics, although this application will require further data on the temporal relationship between photostimulation and neuronal firing in extraocular motoneurons.
Proximal Tubular Injury in Medullary Rays Is an Early Sign of Acute Tacrolimus Nephrotoxicity
Authors: Cosner Diane , Zeng Xu , Zhang Ping L.
Published: June 2015

Tacrolimus (FK506) is one of the principal immunosuppressive agents used after solid organ transplantations to prevent allograft rejection. Chronic renal injury induced by tacrolimus is characterized by linear fibrosis in the medullary rays; however, the early morphologic findings of acute tacrolimus nephrotoxicity are not well characterized. Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is a specific injury biomarker that has been proven to be useful in the diagnosis of mild to severe acute tubular injury on renal biopsies. This study was motivated by a patient with acute kidney injury associated with elevated serum tacrolimus levels in whom KIM-1 staining was present only in proximal tubules located in the medullary rays in the setting of otherwise normal light, immunofluorescent, and electron microscopy. We subsequently evaluated KIM-1 expression in 45 protocol and 39 indicated renal transplant biopsies to determine whether higher serum levels of tacrolimus were associated with acute segment specific injury to the proximal tubule, as reflected by KIM-1 staining in the proximal tubules of the cortical medullary rays. The data suggest that tacrolimus toxicity preferentially affects proximal tubules in medullary rays and that this targeted injury is a precursor lesion for the linear fibrosis seen in chronic tacrolimus toxicity.
A New Approach for Symmetry Preserving Partial Eigenstructure Assignment of Undamped Vibrating Systems
Authors: Hu Zhigang , Zhang Jiafan , Yang Hongjun , Wang Guoquan
Published: June 2015

A new approach for the partial eigenvalue and eigenstructure assignment of undamped vibrating systems is developed. This approach deals with the constant output feedback control with the collocated actuator and sensor configuration, and the output matrix is also considered as a design parameter. It only needs those few eigenpairs to be assigned as well as mass and stiffness matrices of the open-loop vibration system and is easy to implement. In addition, this approach preserves symmetry of the systems. Numerical example demonstrates the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed approach.
On Games and Equilibria with Coherent Lower Expectations
Authors: De Marco Giuseppe , Romaniello Maria
Published: June 2015

Different solution concepts for strategic form games have been introduced in order to weaken the consistency assumption that players’ beliefs, about their opponents strategic choices, are correct in equilibrium. The literature has shown that ambiguous beliefs are an appropriate device to deal with this task. In this note, we introduce an equilibrium concept in which players do not know the opponents’ strategies in their entirety but only thecoherent lower expectationsof some random variables that depend on the actual strategies taken by the others. This equilibrium concept generalizes the already existing concept of equilibrium with partially specified probabilities by extending the set of feasible beliefs and allowing for comparative probability judgements. We study the issue of the existence of the equilibrium points in our framework and find sufficient conditions which involve the continuity of coherent lower expectations and a Slater-like condition for the systems of inequalities defining beliefs.
Power Quality Experimental Analysis on Rural Home Grid-Connected PV Systems
Authors: Pinto Rita Jorge Cerqueira , Pinto Simões Mariano Sílvio José , Calado Maria do Rosário Alves
Published: June 2015

Microgeneration is the small-scale generation of heat or electric power or both, by individuals or buildings to meet their own needs. Recently, microgeneration is being regarded as a means to decentralize the power production of renewable energies, reducing the impacts on the grid caused by unexpected energy demands. Given the increase in microgeneration facilities, determining the quantity of energy produced and the power quality assumes growing importance in low, medium, or high voltage facilities. This paper presents a power quality analysis of two different facilities with photovoltaic generation localized in a rural area of Portugal, describing the voltage and frequency behaviour, the harmonic contents, and the total harmonic distortion. Statistical data are presented regarding the number of voltage events and occurrence of dips and swells in both facilities as a percentage of rated voltage. We conclude that some PV systems can severely affect voltage quality, forcing the grid to work at and even above the maximum voltage standard limit.
An Investigation into CIGS Thin-Films Solar Cell P2 Layer Scribing Depth and Width Using Different Laser Process Parameters
Authors: Chen Dyi-Cheng , Chen Ming-Fei , Chen Ming-Ren
Published: June 2015

This study will be about UV (355 nm) laser processing system as a carrier. It studied electrode insulated characteristic using laser direct forming for CIGS solar cell technology P2 layer of stainless steel. It explored the impact of this process on the way to stainless steel substrate P2 film sizes using its laser different focus position, energy density, and scanning velocities. According to the experiment results, the scribing results are straight line and larger width under minus leave perpendicularity and positive leave perpendicularity and the laser scanning velocities at 10~1000 mm/s underline width about 0.96 μm~1.07 μm. The experiment results confirm that the laser apparatus is effective when applied to a stainless steel CIGS solar cell P2 layer.
Numerical Simulation of the Generalized Newtonian Free Surface Flows by a Density Reinitialization SPH Method
Authors: Ren Jinlian , Lu Weigang , Jiang Tao
Published: June 2015

A periodic density reinitialization smoothed particle hydrodynamics (PDRI-SPH) method is proposed to treat the generalized Newtonian free surface flows, which is based on the concept of Taylor series expansion. Meanwhile, an artificial stress term is also presented and tested, for the purpose of eliminating the unphysical phenomenon of particle clustering in fluid stretching. The free surface phenomena of a Cross model droplet impacting and spreading on an inclined rigid plate at low impacting angles are investigated numerically using the proposed PDRI-SPH method. In particular, the effect of the surface inclination and the different regimes of droplet impact, spreading and depositing on an inclined surface, are illustrated; the influence of surface inclination on the tensile instability is also concerned. The numerical results show that the accuracy and the stability of the conventional SPH are all improved by the periodic density reinitialization scheme. All numerical results agree well with the available reference data.