bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Film Cooling Effectiveness With a Round Film Cooling Hole Embedded in a Contoured Crater
Authors: Kalghatgi Prasad , Acharya Sumanta
Published: April 2015

Studies of film cooling holes embedded in craters and trenches have shown significant improvements in the film cooling performance. In this paper, a new design of a round film cooling hole embedded in a contoured crater is proposed for improved film cooling effectiveness over existing crater designs. The proposed design of the contour aims to generate a pair of vortices that counter and diminish the near-field development of the main kidney-pair vortex generated by the film cooling jet. With a weakened kidney-pair vortex, the coolant jet is expected to stay closer to the wall, reduce mixing, and therefore increase cooling effectiveness. In the present study, the performance of the proposed contoured crater design is evaluated for depth between 0.2D and 0.75D. A round film cooling hole with a 35 deg inclined short delivery tube (l/D = 1.75), freestream Reynolds number ReD = 16,000, and density ratio of coolant to freestream fluid ρj/ρ∞ = 2.0 is used as the baseline case. Hydrodynamic and thermal fields for all cases are investigated numerically using large eddy simulation (LES) technique. The baseline case results are validated with published experimental data. The performance of the new crater design for various crater depths and blowing ratios are compared with the baseline case. Results are also compared with other reported crater designs with similar flow conditions and crater depth. Performance improvement in cooling effectiveness of over 100% of the corresponding baseline case is observed for the contoured crater.
Pumps for Low Lubricity and Corrosive Fuels
Authors: Hamilton L. P. , Sparks B. E.
Published: April 2015

One of the advantages of the Gas Turbine is that it can burn almost any kind of flammable liquid. The aim of the fuel system engineer must therefore be to provide equipment which can pump and meter any fuel which is acceptable to the engine, without limiting the engine performance, life or reliability. The reasons why the authors believe this aim to be of particular importance at the present time, and the kind of engine to which it is most relevant, are outlined. The principal topic, the design and development of pumps able to achieve this “multi-fuel capability,” is also discussed.
Digital Fuel Control of Industrial Gas Turbines
Authors: Hill M. L.
Published: April 2015

This paper shows how the significant developments available today can bring digital controls within the price range of all but the very simplest control systems and at the same time provide very significant flexibility not possible hitherto, except in the most complicated installations. New development in the form of the microprocessor chip has made it possible to design digital fuel controls at a cost equivalent to current analog systems. These developments free the control system designer from many of his previous limitations, but they also impose new constraints.
Development of Real Time High Energy X-Ray Imaging System for Use in Dynamic Fluoroscopy of Aero Gas Turbines
Authors: Stewart A. E.
Published: April 2015

This paper discusses the development of a real-time high energy x-ray imaging system for use in dynamic fluoroscopy of aero gas turbines. In order to cover the range of subjects on gas turbines, over ten combinations of film and screen types are used. Three different types of x-ray imaging systems were considered for use: direct type intensifiers (cesium iodide phosphors), and indirect type intensifiers — Marconi “Marionette” and the Oude Delft “Delcalix.”
Rotor Burst Protection Program: Statistics on Aircraft Gas Turbine Engine Rotor Failures That Occurred in U. S. Commercial Aviation During 1973
Authors: Mangano G. J. , DeLucia R. A.
Published: April 2015

This paper presents statistical information on the aircraft gas turbine engine rotor failures that occurred in U.S. commerical aviation during 1973. Based on FAA data, results are presented that establish (1) the incidence of rotor failure, (2) the type of fragments generated, (3) whether or not these fragments were contained, (4) the causes of failure, (5) where in the engine failure occurred, (6) what engines were affected and (7) what flight conditions prevailed at failure. The rate of uncontained rotor burst was considered to be significantly high.
Gas Turbine Train Development in France
Authors: Garde M. R.
Published: April 2015

This paper presents a discussion on aircraft type gas-turbine train development. For railway traction purposes, the turbo-engines used on aircraft would improve the quality of the services provided in the electrified lines. The gas turbine should insure high speed and satisfactory acceleration. It would enable relatively lightweight construction to be carried out and run at a higher speed than trains on non-electrified lines. The gas turbine will not completely replace the diesel engine, but it will enable rolling stock to be constructed for which the diesel is unsuitable, especially in the case of high-speed, lightweight trainsets and, in the future, very high-powered units.
Survey of Turbine Bucket Erosion, Deposits, and Corrosion
Authors: Fraas A. P.
Published: April 2015

The possibility of employing hot gas from a fluidized bed coal combustion system to drive a gas trubine appears attractive except that ash particles are likely to give serious trouble with turbine bucket erosion, deposits, and corrosion. This paper summarizes the principal information obtained from a comprehensive survey of the literature coupled with personal discussions with men who have worked on these problems. The information available indicates that the problems are formidable indeed, but that there is reason to hope that the superior characteristics of the fluidized bed coal combustion system will give both less abrasive particles and sufficiently better retention of the ash, particularly the alkali metal sulfates, that such a system might be developed.
What’s U. P., D. O. C.?
Authors: Kaufman R. E.
Published: April 2015

Some extremely valuable data was compiled in the ‘60s on sea salt aerosol average concentrations that could be expected over the oceans at various wind speeds. This data is still valid, but implication of how variant concentrations, concentration excursions or transient concentrations, which are completely masked by averaging type sampling collections, ignored before because of inadequate instrumentation, can now be discussed. Hopefully now, it is possible, with sodium monitors now available, to take a continuous concentration recording, integrate the total sea salt ingested and see the magnitude of the transients. This could enable the concept evolution from MAC (Maximum Acceptable Concentration) to MAD (Maximum Acceptable Deterioration), which would correlate sea Salt concentration, temperature and time. MAC implies constant concentration and constant temperature which we see now as very difficult to achieve in actual experience.
Engine Health Monitoring for the Gas Turbines in Royal Naval Ships
Authors: Cooke A. V.
Published: April 2015

Details are given of an integrated engine health monitoring (EHM) program for use by the staffs of Royal Naval ships primarily aimed eventually at engine removal “on condition” rather than on fixed overhaul life. The logic behind the choice of particular EHM methods is given followed by a description of the data collection and analysis procedures. Emphasis is placed on fault diagnosis, using formal charts to reduce the time and effort involved.
Investigation of the Axial Velocity Density Ratio in a High Turning Cascade
Authors: Starken H. , Breugelmans F. A. E. , Schimming P.
Published: April 2015

Subsonic cascade tests of a stator blade row are presented. A 48-deg cambered double circular arc blade section has been investigated at different inlet Mach numbers (M1 = 0.5, 0.64, 0.74), different inlet flow angles and various axial velocity density ratios. Optimum cascade performance has been obtained at negative incidence angles and near two-dimensional flow condition. The cascade results are compared with stator tests of the same blade section at corresponding flow conditions.
Early Experience With a 31,050-Hp Regenerative Cycle Gas Turbine
Authors: Kennedy C. A. , Lang R. P.
Published: April 2015

To gain the economic advantages of size, the trend has been to use larger and larger compressor/driver units in many types of service. Coupled with this “economy of size” trend, the recent sharp increase in the cost of fuel has made driver efficiency a major consideration. This paper describes the application, and discusses the early experience, of a recent installation of a very large, efficient gas turbine driven compressor unit in a natural gas transmission pipeline station. The task of the compressor/driver unit and the station arrangement are described and details of the turbine and compressor are presented. Then a brief account of the operating history is given.
Interactive Graphics: A New Tool for All N C Part Programmers
Authors: Grimmer G. A.
Published: April 2015

Part programming by interactive graphics is a technique of communicating with a computer by means of simple words and diagrams on a cathode ray tube. A basic mini-computer system is described and an example of geometry input and tool path generation is given. The toolpath of a production lathe tape and examples of future 3 and 5 axis milling applications are shown. The current benefits of the system are also outlined.
Observations of Separated Laminar Flow on Axial Compressor Blading
Authors: Walker G. J.
Published: April 2015

This paper describes some detailed observations of separated laminar flow regions on the rotating and stationary blading of a single-stage axial compressor operating at low speed. The data covers the “critical” Reynolds number range where “bursting” of laminar separation bubbles causes a sharp increase in blade profile losses. The experimental results are compared with various empirical correlations and theoretical models proposed by other workers. Horton’s semi-empirical model of separation bubble bursting is broadly supported by the present investigation. However, it appears that some aspects of Horton’s theory require significant modification in order to give an accurate description of the separation bubble behavior on the blades in an axial compressor. It is stressed that correlations of the critical Reynolds number for axial compressor cascades in terms of overall performance parameters should be applied with caution, as they are only likely to be valid for a narrow range of conditions.
Exhaust Emissions From a 25-MW Gas Turbine Firing Heavy and Light Distillate Fuel Oils and Natural Gas
Authors: Carl D. E. , Obidinski E. S. , Jersey C. A.
Published: April 2015

Heavy and light distillate fuel oils and natural gas were compared during this emissions test. As expected, the emissions using natural gas were normally much less than with No. 2 oil. The noteworthy differences of this test relate to the two distillate oils. There were no significant differences between the emission levels of NOx, CO, or unburned hydrocarbons for the two. Using the heavy distillate oil, there were higher SO2 emissions (which is in agreement with the fuel sulfur levels), lower smoke levels, and higher particulate levels than with No. 2 oil.
Residual Fuel Treating and Handling for Base Load Gas Turbines
Authors: Byam J. W. , Dreymann S. S. , Pitrolo A. A.
Published: April 2015

This paper is a discussion of the methods of heavy fuel treatment for industrial gas turbines and the effects of fuel characteristics on washability. A summary of recent experience with burning heavy fuels by a typical industrial user is presented. The paper includes a discussion of the latest design improvements in fuel treating equipment and the resulting improvements in washed fuel quality. The effect of fuel parameters on system size, cost and performance is evaluated.
Operating and Maintenance Experience for Base Load Gas Turbines Using Heavy Fuels: A Case Study
Authors: Patterson J. R.
Published: April 2015

This paper reviews the operating and maintenance experience of heavy fuel fired gas turbines used for base load power generation in an industrial complex. The data presented are based on over a quarter of a million fired hours of heavy fuel burning experience for ten gas turbines located in the Rhone Progil chlorine plant of Pont-de-Claix, France. A brief description of the turbine being studied and the arrangement of the power generation equipment in the chlorine plant is given. Three prime factors affecting maintenance/operation of the plant are discussed: physical and chemical properties of the fuel; environmental conditions of the site; and mode of operation for the power generation equipment. A description of the type of maintenance inspections performed on the gas turbine is given in detail. The logged maintenance data for the plant is discussed as well as the maintenance performed on both the turbine and the turbine auxiliary components. Specific data are presented showing the causes of the forced outages and the year by year availability from the time of commissioning through 1973.
Trends™: An Automatic Gas Turbine Diagnostic System
Authors: Passalacqua J. R.
Published: April 2015

This paper describes the development, operation and performance of an automatic engine condition monitoring system by Hamilton Standard Division of United Aircraft. This development is a direct outgrowth of Airborne Integrated Data Systems (AIDS), which have been developed for commercial and military aviation. Application of this technology to an installation at Hartford Electric Light Company’s South Meadow facility led to the development of the system currently being installed at several major utilities and marketed by Hamilton Standard. Field results of the HELCO testing are presented herein. As current installation information becomes available it will be made available to industry.
A Progress Report to Late 1974 on Gas Turbine Operating Experience in the Canadian DDH 280 Class Destroyer
Authors: Davies K. , Brannam I. , Amundrud G. L.
Published: April 2015

The four destroyers of the Canadian Armed Forces DDH 280 Class have, since commissioning, accumulated a diverse spectrum of operational experience in widely varied geographical theatres ranging from the Tropics to the Arctic and from the Western Atlantic to the Mediterranean. A technical narrative is presented that confirms the original decision to opt for gas turbine propulsion and discusses some of the more significant problems encountered. Areas are highlighted where further system and component development is necessary in the DDH 280 Class in order to maximize the advantages of the aero-derivative gas turbines as a prime mover in our Naval Ships.
Trailing Edge Flows Over Turbomachine Blades and the Kutta-Joukowsky Condition
Authors: Gostelow J. P.
Published: April 2015

The work of Kutta and Joukowsky on trailing edge conditions is reviewed and the “Kutta-Joukowsky condition” is stated. It is shown that for most turbomachine blades, having a rounded trailing edge, this condition has no meaning and that any meaningful condition must include the effect of viscosity. The question of trailing edge conditions in an unsteady flow environment is raised and some low frequency parameter experimental evidence on this question is presented.
Effect of Outer Casing Treatment and Tip Clearance on Stall Margin of a Supersonic Rotating Cascade
Authors: Fabri Jean , Reboux Jean
Published: April 2015

Use of grooved outer casing to improve stall margin of high aspect ratio, high pressure ratio axial flow compressors has already been reported in the literature. Tests were made on a low aspect ratio supersonic compressor simulating a rotor of one of the last stages of an advanced multistage compressor to show the gain in performance due to deep grooves in the outer casing. The gain in stall margin is similar to the one that can be obtained by reducing the tip clearance of the rotor; however, with grooves there is a gain in pressure ratio whereas a decrease in pressure ratio was detected when testing the smaller tip clearance. The gain in performance due to outer casing grooves was observed for a wide range of tip Mach numbers, even in the high supersonic regime.
Fast segmentation of the femoral arteries from 3D MR images: A tool for rapid assessment of peripheral arterial disease
Authors: Chen Weifu , Xu Jianrong , Chiu Bernard
Published: April 2015

Purpose:

The peripheral arterial disease is a powerful indicator of coexistent generalized atherosclerosis. As plaques in femoral arteries are diffused and can span a length of 30 cm, a large coverage of the arteries is required to assess the full extent of atherosclerosis. Recent development of 3D black‐blood magnetic resonance imaging sequences has allowed fast acquisition of images with an extended longitudinal coverage. Vessel wall volume quantification requires the segmentation of the lumen and outer wall boundaries, and conventional manual planimetry would be too time‐consuming to be feasible for analyzing images with such a large coverage. To address this challenge in image analysis, this work introduces an efficient 3D algorithm to segment the lumen and outer wall boundaries for plaque and vessel wall quantification in the femoral artery.

Methods:

To generate the initial lumen surface, a user identified the location of the lumen centers manually on a set of transverse images with a user‐specified interslice distance (ISD). A number of geometric operators were introduced to automatically adjust the initial lumen surface based on pixel intensity and gradient along the boundary and at the center of each transverse slice. The adjusted surface was optimized by a 3D deformable model driven by the local stiffness force and external force based on image gradient. The optimized lumen surface was expanded to obtain the initial outer wall surface, which was subsequently optimized by the 3D deformable model.

Results:

The algorithm was executed with and without adjustment of the initial lumen surface and for three different selections of ISD: 10, 20, and 30 mm. The segmentation accuracy was improved in a statistically significant way with the introduction of initial lumen surface adjustment, but was insensitive to the ISD setting. When compared with the manual segmentation, the settings with adjustment have, on average, mean absolute differences (MADs) of 0.28 and 0.36 mm, respectively, for lumen and outer wall segmentations, which are significantly lower than those obtained when the adjustment operators were not applied (MAD = 0.43 and 0.59 mm for lumen and outer wall segmentations). The algorithm took about 1% of the time required for manual segmentation to complete segmenting the whole 3D femoral artery.

Conclusions:

The proposed semiautomatic algorithm generated accurate lumen and outer wall boundaries from 3D black‐blood MR images with few user interactions, thereby allowing rapid and streamlined assessment of plaque burden in the femoral arteries.
Failure behavior after stepwise uniaxial extension of entangled polymer melts
Authors: Sun Hao , Lin Panpan , Liu Gengxin , Ntetsikas Konstantinos , Misichronis Konstantinos , Kang Namgoo , Liu Jianning , Avgeropoulos Apostolos , Mays Jimmy , Wang Shi-Qing
Published: April 2015

This work studies how stepwise extension of various well-entangled polymer melts produce mechanical/structural breakdowns during stress relaxation. Depending on how stepwise extension is imposed on five different styrene-butadiene random copolymers, two different forms of specimen failure are observed. When a step extension is produced with a low Hencky rate or to a low strain below some thresholds, the sample breaks up rather sharply after an appreciable period of induction during which the stress relaxes quiescently. After step extension, the sample draws and undergoes unsustainable necking due to shear yielding, if the step extension is produced with a Hencky rate higher than the Rouse relaxation rate and the magnitude is beyond a Hencky strain of 1.5. Moreover, introduction of long-chain branching suppresses the elastic breakup, postponing it to Hencky strains beyond 2.5. The clearly identifiable characteristics of the elastic yielding may be understood in terms of some speculative interpretations. More convincing explanations have yet to come from future computer experiments that hopefully the present work is able to motivate.
Potential biodiversity impacts of forest biofuel harvest: lichen assemblages on stumps and slash of Scots pine
Authors: Hämäläinen A. , Kouki J. , Lõhmus P.
Published: April 2015

Harvesting stumps and logging residues for energy production may have negative impacts on forest species, especially those associated with dead wood. We assessed the potential impact of biofuel harvest on epiphytic lichens by studying the lichen assemblages on stumps and downed fine woody debris (FWD) of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in clear-cut, mature managed, and old-growth forest stands in eastern Finland. We also examined the impact of tree retention level and prescribed burning on these assemblages. A total of 102 lichen species (including 13 red-listed species) were observed, with 95 species on stumps and 69 species on downed FWD. Composition of the species assemblages differed between stumps and downed FWD and between stumps of different age. Tree retention (in comparison with clear-cut sites) and prescribed burning resulted in a slightly higher species richness on cut stumps 12 years after harvest but did not affect the assemblages on downed FWD or older stumps. We conclude that stumps and downed FWD of Scots pine can host high numbers of lichen species, including red-listed ones. Most of the species occurred also on other substrates and are, therefore, not likely to be affected by biofuel harvest. However, for dead wood dependent lichen species, intensive biofuel harvest is potentially harmful, though the severity of this impact likely depends on the landscape-level availability of other woody substrates.
The animal gut as a melting pot for horizontal gene transfer
Authors: Shterzer N. , Mizrahi I.
Published: April 2015

In this minireview, we examine horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract and their role in the evolutionary adaptation of microorganisms to the gut environment. We explore the notion of the mammalian gut as a melting pot of genetic exchange, resulting in the large extent of HGT occurrence.
Ambient Vibration Test, Modal Identification and Structural Model Updating Following Bayesian Framework
Authors: Yang J. , Lam H. F. , Hu J.
Published: April 2015

Structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil engineering structures based on vibration data includes three main components: ambient vibration test, modal identification and model updating. This paper discussed these three components in detail and proposes a general framework of SHM for practical application. First, a fast Bayesian modal identification method based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is introduced for efficiently extracting modal parameters together with the corresponding uncertainties from ambient vibration data. A recently developed Bayesian model updating method using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation (MCMCS) is then discussed. To illustrate the performance of the proposed modal identification and model updating methods, a scale-down transmission tower is investigated. Ambient vibration test is conducted on the target structure to obtain modal parameters. By using the measured modal parameters, model updating is carried out. The MCMC-based Bayesian model updating method can efficiently evaluate the posterior marginal PDFs of the uncertain parameters without calculating high-dimension numerical integration, which provides posterior uncertainties for the target systems.
Multiscale Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis of Traffic Time Series Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Yin Yi , Shang Pengjian
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we propose multiscale detrended cross-correlation analysis (MSDCCA) to detect the long-range power-law cross-correlation of considered signals in the presence of nonstationarity. For improving the performance and getting better robustness, we further introduce the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to eliminate the noise effects and propose MSDCCA method combined with EMD, which is called MS-EDXA method, then systematically investigate the multiscale cross-correlation structure of the real traffic signals. We apply the MSDCCA and MS-EDXA methods to study the cross-correlations in three situations: velocity and volume on one lane, velocities on the present and the next moment and velocities on the adjacent lanes, and further compare their spectrums respectively. When the difference between the spectrums of MSDCCA and MS-EDXA becomes unobvious, there is a crossover which denotes the turning point of difference. The crossover results from the competition between the noise effects in the original signals and the intrinsic fluctuation of traffic signals and divides the plot of spectrums into two regions. In all the three case, MS-EDXA method makes the average of local scaling exponents increased and the standard deviation decreased and provides a relative stable persistent scaling cross-correlated behavior which gets the analysis more precise and more robust and improves the performance after noises being removed. Applying MS-EDXA method avoids the inaccurate characteristics of multiscale cross-correlation structure at the short scale including the spectrum minimum, the range for the spectrum fluctuation and general trend, which are caused by the noise in the original signals. We get the conclusions that the traffic velocity and volume are long-range cross-correlated, which is accordant to their actual evolution, while velocities on the present and the next moment and velocities on adjacent lanes reflect the strong cross-correlations both in temporal and spatial dimensions. We also reveal the similarity and uniqueness in the cross-correlation situations between velocities. Besides, signals on one lane show stronger long-range cross-correlation than that on adjacent lanes. Thus, the multiscale cross-correlation structure acquired by MS-EDXA is more close to the intrinsic mechanism of traffic system and reflects more accurate and more abundant traffic information.
Arithmetic functions at consecutive shifted primes
Authors: Pollack Paul , Thompson Lola
Published: April 2015

For each of the functions f ∈ {φ, σ, ω, τ} and every natural number K, we show that there are infinitely many solutions to the inequalities f(pn - 1) < f(pn+1 - 1) < ⋯ < f(pn+K - 1), and similarly for f(pn -1) > f(pn+1 - 1) > ⋯ > f(pn+K -1). We also answer some questions of Sierpiński on the digit sums of consecutive primes. The arguments make essential use of Maynard and Tao's method for producing many primes in intervals of bounded length.
Primes in short arithmetic progressions
Authors: Koukoulopoulos Dimitris
Published: April 2015

Let x, h and Q be three parameters. We show that, for most moduli q ≤ Q and for most positive real numbers y ≤ x, every reduced arithmetic progression a( mod q) has approximately the expected number of primes p from the interval (y, y + h], provided that h > x1/6+ϵ and Q satisfies appropriate bounds in terms of h and x. Moreover, we prove that, for most moduli q ≤ Q and for most positive real numbers y ≤ x, there is at least one prime p ∈ (y, y + h] lying in every reduced arithmetic progression a( mod q), provided that 1 ≤ Q2 ≤ h/x1/15+ϵ.
Detour eccentric and detour distance degree sequences in graphs
Authors: Sandeep Narayan K. R. , Sunitha M. S.
Published: April 2015

In this paper we define the detour eccentric sequences and detour distance degree sequences of graphs. Some of the properties of these sequences are analyzed. It is observed that certain of these properties behave differently to their counterpart if defined using detour distance and these facts are established by providing suitable counterexamples. The concept of detour distance distributions in graphs is also discussed.
The Influence of Metabolic Factors for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Women
Authors: Chung Goh Eun , Yim Jeong Yoon , Kim Donghee , Lim Seon Hee , Yang Jong In , Kim Young Sun , Yang Sun Young , Kwak Min-Sun , Kim Joo Sung , Cho Sang-Heon
Published: April 2015

Background/Aims. Women after menopause have increased insulin resistance and visceral fat, which may increase the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the pathogenesis of NAFLD in women has not been clearly defined. In this study, we aimed to determine the risk factors for NAFLD in women.Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Women who underwent abdominal ultrasonography and blood sampling for routine health check-ups were recruited.Results. Among 1,423 subjects, 695 women (48.9%) were in a menopausal state. The prevalence of NAFLD was higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (27.2% versus 14.4%,P<0.001). In premenopausal women, low HDL-cholesterol, central obesity, and homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance showed a significant association with the increased risk of NAFLD in multivariate analysis. In postmenopausal women, the presence of diabetes, triglyceridemia, and central obesity showed a significant association with the risk of NAFLD. The presence of menopause and hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women were not risk factors for NAFLD.Conclusions. Our findings showed different metabolic factors for NAFLD in pre- and postmenopausal women. However, the key issues are the same: central obesity and insulin resistance. These results reemphasize the importance of metabolic factors irrespective of menopausal status in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in women.
Seismic Response Analysis of Continuous Multispan Bridges with Partial Isolation
Authors: Tubaldi E. , Dall’Asta A. , Dezi L.
Published: April 2015

Partially isolated bridges are a particular class of bridges in which isolation bearings are placed only between the piers top and the deck whereas seismic stoppers restrain the transverse motion of the deck at the abutments. This paper proposes an analytical formulation for the seismic analysis of these bridges, modelled as beams with intermediate viscoelastic restraints whose properties describe the pier-isolator behaviour. Different techniques are developed for solving the seismic problem. The first technique employs the complex mode superposition method and provides an exact benchmark solution to the problem at hand. The two other simplified techniques are based on an approximation of the displacement field and are useful for preliminary assessment and design purposes. A realistic bridge is considered as case study and its seismic response under a set of ground motion records is analyzed. First, the complex mode superposition method is applied to study the characteristic features of the dynamic and seismic response of the system. A parametric analysis is carried out to evaluate the influence of support stiffness and damping on the seismic performance. Then, a comparison is made between the exact solution and the approximate solutions in order to evaluate the accuracy and suitability of the simplified analysis techniques for evaluating the seismic response of partially isolated bridges.
The Effects of Bromocriptine on Preventing Postpartum Flare in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients from South China
Authors: Qian Qiu , Liuqin Liang , Hao Li , Shiwen Yuan , Zhongping Zhan , Dongying Chen , Fan Lian , Hanshi Xu , Xiuyan Yang , Yujin Ye
Published: April 2015

Objective. Prolactin plays an important role on the disease flare of postpartum SLE patients. 76 pregnant SLE patients were enrolled in this study to evaluate the efficacy of bromocriptine (an inhibitor of prolactin secretion) on preventing the postpartum disease relapse.Methods. Patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (bromocriptine, 2.5 mg oral, twice a day for 14 days after delivery) and the control group. All the patients were followed up for 12 months. Clinical features were recorded every 4 weeks. Serum prolactin and estradiol levels were measured at the second week and the second month after delivery. The endpoint of the study was disease relapse and defined when SLEDAI score increased by ≥3 points from the antenatal baseline.Results. (1) Serum levels of prolactin and estradiol decreased significantly in bromocriptine treatment group at the second week (P<0.001) and second month (P<0.05) after delivery compared to control group. (2) The relapse rate of the treatment group was lower than the control group (χ2=4.68,P=0.0305).Conclusions. Two weeks of oral bromocriptine treatment in postpartum SLE patients may relieve the disease from hyperprolactinemia and hyperestrogenemia and may be beneficial in preventing the patients from disease relapse.
Epigenetic-Mediated Downregulation of μ-Protocadherin in Colorectal Tumours
Authors: Mateusz Bujko , Paulina Kober , Małgorzata Statkiewicz , Michal Mikula , Marcin Ligaj , Lech Zwierzchowski , Jerzy Ostrowski , Aleksander Siedlecki Janusz
Published: April 2015

Carcinogenesis involves altered cellular interaction and tissue morphology that partly arise from aberrant expression of cadherins. Mucin-like protocadherin is implicated in intercellular adhesion and its expression was found decreased in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study has compared MUPCDH (CDHR5) expression in three key types of colorectal tissue samples, for normal mucosa, adenoma, and carcinoma. A gradual decrease of mRNA levels and protein expression was observed in progressive stages of colorectal carcinogenesis which are consistent with reports of increasing MUPCDH 5′ promoter region DNA methylation. High MUPCDH methylation was also observed in HCT116 and SW480 CRC cell lines that revealed low gene expression levels compared to COLO205 and HT29 cell lines which lack DNA methylation at the MUPCDH locus. Furthermore, HCT116 and SW480 showed lower levels of RNA polymerase II and histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) as well as higher levels of H3K27 trimethylation at the MUPCDH promoter. MUPCDH expression was however restored in HCT116 and SW480 cells in the presence of 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (DNA methyltransferase inhibitor). Results indicate that μ-protocadherin downregulation occurs during early stages of tumourigenesis and progression into the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in this silencing.
On the Robustness of the Weakening Effect of Anthropogenic Aerosols on the East Asian Summer Monsoon with Multimodel Results
Authors: Wang Hongli , Xie Xiaoning , Liu Xiaodong
Published: April 2015

Using outputs from 10 CMIP5 models with fixed sea surface temperature, we investigate the fast response of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and summer precipitation in East China to anthropogenic aerosols. To address this topic, we employ two commonly used EASM indices that can represent zonal and meridional land-sea thermal contrast, respectively. The results reveal that the notion of a weakened EASM in response to increased anthropogenic aerosols is a robust one, as well as decreased precipitation in East China. The ensemble mean of decreased precipitation in the aerosol run was about 6.6% in comparison to the CTL run and could be enlarged to 8.3% by excluding the experiments with the aerosol direct effect only. Convective precipitation was found to be the primary contributor (>80%) to the reduction of total precipitation. The combination of direct and indirect effects of aerosols can decrease solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface and eventually modulate large-scale EASM circulation and suppress summer precipitation in East China. The uncertainties and discrepancies among the models highlight the complexity of interaction in aerosol-precipitation processes when investigating present and future changes of the EASM.
A Case of Neglected Bilateral Anterior Shoulder Dislocation: A Rare Entity with Unusual Mechanism of Injury
Authors: Choulapalle Raghuram , Chokkarapu Ramu , Kolluri Ravi Kanth , Anne Sreedhar Reddy , Perumal Shanmuga Raju , Avadhanam Pavan Kumar , Bheemanathuni Ramesh
Published: April 2015

Bilateral shoulder dislocations are rare, and if they occurred, posterior type of dislocations is common. Bilateral anterior shoulder dislocations are very rare and occur due to trauma with unique mechanism of injury. We report a case of unreduced simultaneous bilateral anterior dislocations of shoulder without associated fractures in a forty-year-old man following a unique mechanism of injury; both hands of the patient were pulled from either side. To the best of our knowledge, this unusual mechanism of injury has not been reported in the literature.
Integrated Supply Chain Cooperative Inventory Model with Payment Period Being Dependent on Purchasing Price under Defective Rate Condition
Authors: Yang Ming-Feng , Kuo Jun-Yuan , Chen Wei-Hao , Lin Yi
Published: April 2015

In most commercial transactions, the buyer and vendor may usually agree to postpone payment deadline. During such delayed period, the buyer is entitled to keep the products without having to pay the sale price. However, the vendor usually hopes to receive full payment as soon as possible, especially when the transaction involves valuable items; yet, the buyer would offer a higher purchasing price in exchange of a longer postponement. Therefore, we assumed such permissible delayed period is dependent on the purchasing price. As for the manufacturing side, defective products are inevitable from time to time, and not all of those defective products can be repaired. Hence, we would like to add defective production and repair rate to our proposed model and discuss how these factors may affect profits. In addition, holding cost, ordering cost, and transportation cost will also be considered as we develop the integrated inventory model with price-dependent payment period under the possible condition of defective products. We would like to find the maximum of the joint expected total profit for our model and come up with a suitable inventory policy accordingly. In the end, we have also provided a numerical example to clearly illustrate possible solutions.
SEMA6D Expression and Patient Survival in Breast Invasive Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Dongquan , Li Yufeng , Wang Lizhong , Jiao Kai
Published: April 2015

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer diagnosed in American women and is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Research has focused heavily on BC metastasis. Multiple signaling pathways have been implicated in regulating BC metastasis. Our knowledge of regulation of BC metastasis is, however, far from complete. Identification of new factors during metastasis is an essential step towards future therapy. Our labs have focused on Semaphorin 6D (SEMA6D), which was implicated in immune responses, heart development, and neurogenesis. It will be interesting to know SEMA6D-related genomic expression profile and its implications in clinical outcome. In this study, we examined the public datasets of breast invasive carcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We analyzed the expression of SEMA6D along with its related genes, their functions, pathways, and potential as copredictors for BC patients’ survival. We found 6-gene expression profile that can be used as such predictors. Our study provides evidences for the first time that breast invasive carcinoma may contain a subtype based on SEMA6D expression. The expression of SEMA6D gene may play an important role in promoting patient survival, especially among triple negative breast cancer patients.
Design and Performance Analysis of 1‐Bit FinFET Full Adder Cells for Subthreshold Region at 16 nm Process Technology
Authors: Abdul Tahrim ‘Aqilah binti , Chin Huei Chaeng , Lim Cheng Siong , Tan Michael Loong Peng
Published: April 2015

The scaling process of the conventional 2D‐planar metal‐oxide semiconductor field‐effect transistor (MOSFET) is now approaching its limit as technology has reached below 20 nm process technology. A new nonplanar device architecture called FinFET was invented to overcome the problem by allowing transistors to be scaled down into sub‐20 nm region. In this work, the FinFET structure is implemented in 1‐bit full adder transistors to investigate its performance and energy efficiency in the subthreshold region for cell designs of Complementary MOS (CMOS), Complementary Pass‐Transistor Logic (CPL), Transmission Gate (TG), and Hybrid CMOS (HCMOS). The performance of 1‐bit FinFET‐based full adder in 16‐nm technology is benchmarked against conventional MOSFET‐based full adder. The Predictive Technology Model (PTM) and Berkeley Shortchannel IGFET Model‐Common Multi‐Gate (BSIM‐CMG) 16 nm low power libraries are used. Propagation delay, average power dissipation, power‐delay‐product (PDP), and energy‐delay‐product (EDP) are analysed based on all four types of full adder cell designs of both FETs. The 1‐bit FinFET‐based full adder shows a great reduction in all four metric performances. A reduction in propagation delay, PDP, and EDP is evident in the 1‐bit FinFET‐based full adder of CPL, giving the best overall performance due to its high‐speed performance and good current driving capabilities.
Correlation between Saliva and Plasma Levels of Endothelin Isoforms ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3
Authors: Gurusankar Roma , Kumarathasan Prem , Saravanamuthu Anusha , Thomson Errol M. , Vincent Renaud
Published: April 2015

Although saliva endothelins are emerging as valuable noninvasive cardiovascular biomarkers, reports on the relationship between isoforms in saliva and plasma remain scarce. We measured endothelins in concurrent saliva and plasma samples (n=30 males; age 18–63) by HPLC-fluorescence. Results revealed statistically significant positive correlations among all isoforms between saliva and plasma: big endothelin-1 (BET-1, 0.55 ± 0.27 versus 3.35 ± 1.28 pmol/mL; r=0.38, p=0.041), endothelin-1 (ET-1, 0.52 ± 0.21 versus 3.45 ± 1.28 pmol/mL; r=0.53, p=0.003), endothelin-2 (ET-2, 0.21 ± 0.07 versus 1.63 ± 0.66 pmol/mL; r=0.51, p=0.004), and endothelin-3 (ET-3, 0.39 ± 0.19 versus 2.32 ± 1.44 pmol/mL; r=0.75, p<0.001). Correlations of BET-1, ET-1, and ET-3 within each compartment were positive in both plasma (p<0.05) and saliva (p≤0.1), whereas ET-2 was not significantly correlated with other isoforms in either plasma or saliva. For all isoforms, concentrations varied on average fivefold between individuals (90th/10th percentiles); individuals with high plasma endothelin levels generally had high saliva endothelin levels. Our results reveal that salivary ET isoform profiles portray the plasmatic profiles and support the view of coordinated regulation of ET-1 and ET-3, but distinct regulatory pathways for ET-2.
Lactobacillus acidophilusSuppresses Colitis-Associated Activation of the IL-23/Th17 Axis
Authors: Chen Linlin , Zou Yiyou , Peng Jie , Lu Fanggen , Yin Yani , Li Fujun , Yang Junwen
Published: April 2015

The aim of this paper is to determine the modulatory effects ofLactobacillus acidophiluson the IL-23/Th17 immune axis in experimental colitis. DSS-induced mouse models of UC were to be saline, hormones, and different concentrations ofLactobacillus acidophilusintervention. The expression of interleukin- (IL-) 17, tumor necrosis factorα(TNFα), IL-23, transforming growth factorβ1 (TGFβ1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and phosphorylated (p)-STAT3 was examined by RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical analysis. And the results showed that administration ofL. acidophilussuppressed Th17 cell-mediated secretion of proinflammatory cytokine IL-17 through downregulation of IL-23 and TGFβ1 expression and downstream phosphorylation of p-STAT3.
High Structural Stability of Textile Implants Prevents Pore Collapse and Preserves Effective Porosity at Strain
Authors: Klinge Uwe , Otto Jens , Mühl Thomas
Published: April 2015

Reinforcement of tissues by use of textiles is encouraged by the reduced rate of recurrent tissue dehiscence but for the price of an inflammatory and fibrotic tissue reaction to the implant. The latter mainly is affected by the size of the pores, whereas only sufficiently large pores are effective in preventing a complete scar entrapment. Comparing two different sling implants (TVT and SIS), which are used for the treatment of urinary incontinence, we can demonstrate that the measurement of the effective porosity reveals considerable differences in the textile construction. Furthermore the changes of porosity after application of a tensile load can indicate a structural instability, favouring pore collapse at stress and questioning the use for purposes that are not “tension-free.”
Oxidative Stress during the Progression ofβ-Amyloid Pathology in the Neocortex of the Tg2576 Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Porcellotti Sara , Fanelli Francesca , Fracassi Anna , Sepe Sara , Cecconi Francesco , Bernardi Cinzia , Cimini AnnaMaria , Cerù Maria Paola , Moreno Sandra
Published: April 2015

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized by progressive neurodegeneration. Pathogenetic mechanisms, triggered byβ-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, include oxidative stress, derived from energy homeostasis deregulation and involving mitochondria and peroxisomes. We here addressed the oxidative stress status and the elicited cellular response at the onset and during the progression of Aβpathology, studying the neocortex of Tg2576 model of AD. Age-dependent changes of oxidative damage markers, antioxidant enzymes, and related transcription factors were analysed in relation to the distribution of Aβpeptide and oligomers, by a combined molecular/morphological approach. Nucleic acid oxidative damage, accompanied by defective antioxidant defences, and decreased PGC1αexpression are already detected in 3-month-old Tg2576 neurons. Conversely, PPARαis increased in these cells, with its cytoplasmic localization suggesting nongenomic, anti-inflammatory actions. At 6 months, when intracellular Aβaccumulates, PMP70 is downregulated, indicating impairment of fatty acids peroxisomal translocation and their consequent harmful accumulation. In 9-month-old Tg2576 neocortex, Aβoligomers and acrolein deposition correlate with GFAP, GPX1, and PMP70 increases, supporting a compensatory response, involving astroglial peroxisomes. At severe pathological stages, when senile plaques disrupt cortical cytoarchitecture, antioxidant capacity is gradually lost. Overall, our data suggest early therapeutic intervention in AD, also targeting peroxisomes.
Twelve Core Template Prostate Biopsy is an Unreliable Tool to Select Patients Eligible for Focal Therapy
Authors: Fumadó Lluís , Cecchini Lluís , Juanpere Nuria , Ubré Anna , Lorente Jose Antonio , Alcaraz Antonio
Published: April 2015

Introduction: To determine whether unilateral prostate cancer diagnosed at 12-core prostate biopsy harbours relevant prostate cancer foci in contralateral lobe in cases eligible for hemiablative focal therapy. Material and Methods: We analysed 112 radical prostatectomies of unilateral Gleason 6/7 prostate cancer based on prostate biopsy information. The presence of significant prostate cancer foci and/or the index lesion in the contralateral lobe is described. A subanalysis is performed in cases of Gleason score 6 and in cases of very-low-risk prostate cancer. Results: Contralateral prostate cancer was present in 69.6% of cases, fulfilling significant prostate cancer criteria in 33% and being the index lesion in 32%. No significant differences were found when analysing the Gleason 6 group (73% contralateral prostate cancer, 34% significant prostate cancer and 35% index lesion) or the very-low-risk prostate cancer group (80% contralateral prostate cancer, 29% significant prostate cancer and 45% index lesion). Conclusions: The assumption of unilateral prostate cancer based on 12-core template prostate biopsy information is unreliable. In about one third of the cases, there will be focus of significant prostate cancer or the index lesion in the contralateral lobe. This information should be taken into account when hemiablative focal therapies are considered.