bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CIRCULAR WIRELENGTH OF GENERALIZED PETERSEN GRAPHS
Authors: RAJASINGH INDRA , AROCKIARAJ M. , RAJAN BHARATI , MANUEL PAUL
Published: June 2012

In this paper we formulate the Vertex Congestion Lemma leading to a new technique in computing the exact wirelength of an embedding. We compute the circular wirelength of generalized Petersen graphs by partitioning the vertices as well as the edges of cycles. Further we obtain the linear wirelength of circular ladders. Our algorithms produce optimal values in linear time.
MULTIPLICATIVE STOCHASTIC PERTURBATIONS OF ONE-DIMENSIONAL MAPS
Authors: IWATA YUKIKO
Published: June 2012

We consider random perturbations of some one-dimensional map S : [0, 1] → [0, 1] such that [Formula: see text] parametrized by 0 < ε < 1, where {Cn} is an i.i.d. sequence. We prove that this random perturbation is small with respect to the noise level 0 < ε < 1 and give a class of one-dimensional maps for which there always exists a smooth invariant probability measure for the Markov process {Xn}n≥0.
THE NUMERICAL AND EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE OF ELEVATED TANKS CONSIDERING SOIL–STRUCTURE INTERACTION EFFECTS
Authors: LIVAOGLU RAMAZAN , TURAN ALPER , EL NAGGAR M. HESHAM , DOGANGUN ADEM
Published: June 2012

Water tanks are an essential lifeline whose continuing availability and serviceability immediately after earthquake events are crucial for providing undisrupted emergency services. Their seismic performance is, therefore, of paramount importance. The seismic response of an elevated liquid tank situated on a soft soil deposit was studied by means of field vibration tests and numerical simulations. The ambient and forced vibration tests were conducted to identify the soil–structure interaction (SSI) effects on the small strain dynamic behavior of the structure. A series of time domain numerical analyses were performed to evaluate the seismic performance of these structures from a performance based design point of view. The results showed that consideration of SSI increased the displacement demand significantly. Thus, the calculated maximum displacement demand for supporting frame components of the tank may be underestimated significantly when the SSI effects are neglected. In addition, the seismic induced shear forces considering SSI effects were much smaller than the seismic shear forces for the fixed based case. For some soil types, the effect of this reduction on the overall response may become more prominent than the structural ductility mechanism. This resulted in the failure mechanism being initiated by a coupled compression — bending moment effect, rather than shear failure. Finally, the sloshing response is significantly increased due to the SSI.
TSUNAMI HAZARD AND CASUALTY ESTIMATION IN A COASTAL AREA THAT NEIGHBORS THE INDIAN OCEAN AND SOUTH CHINA SEA
Authors: SUPPASRI ANAWAT , IMAMURA FUMIHIKO , KOSHIMURA SHUNICHI
Published: June 2012

In the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, many hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost due to tsunami events, and almost half of the lives lost occurred following the 2004 Indian Ocean event. Potential tsunami case scenarios have been simulated in these regions by a number of researchers to calculate the hazard level. The hazard level is based on a variety of conditions, such as the tsunami height, the inundation area, and the arrival time. However, the current assessments of the hazard levels do not focus on the tsunami risk to a coastal population. This study proposes a new method to quantify the risk to the coastal population in the region that includes the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. The method is simple and combines the use of readily available tsunami data, far-field tsunami simulation models to determine the regional risk and global population data. An earthquake-generated tsunami was simulated, following an earthquake that had a magnitude larger than 8.5 Mwand occurred along a potential subduction zone. The 2004 Indian Ocean event seemed to be a "worst case scenario"; however, it has been estimated that a potential tsunami, occurring in a coastal region with a high population density, could cause significantly greater casualties.
An Implantable Release-on-Demand CMOS Drug Delivery SoC Using Electrothermal Activation Technique
Authors: Huang Yu-Jie , Liao Hsin-Hung , Huang Pen-Li , Wang Tao , Yang Yao-Joe , Wang Yao-Hong , Lu Shey-Shi
Published: June 2012

An implantable system-on-a-chip (SoC) integrating controller/actuation circuitry and 8 individually addressable drug reservoirs is proposed for on-demand drug delivery. It is implemented by standard 0.35-
μ
m CMOS technology and post-IC processing. The post-IC processing includes deposition of metallic membranes (200Å Pt/3000Å Ti/200Å Pt) to cap the drug reservoirs, deep dry etching to carve drug reservoirs in silicon as drug containers, and PDMS layer bonding to enlarge the drug storage. Based on electrothermal activation technique, drug releases can be precisely controlled by wireless signals. The wireless controller/actuation circuits including on-off keying (OOK) receiver, microcontroller unit, clock generator, power-on-reset circuit, and switch array are integrated on the same chip, providing patients the ability of remote drug activation and noninvasive therapy modification. Implanted by minimally invasive surgery, this SoC can be used for the precise drug dosing of localized treatment, such as the cancer therapy, or the immediate medication to some emergent diseases, such as heart attack. In vitro experimental results show that the reservoir content can be released successfully through the rupture of the membrane which is appointed by received wireless commands.
A Mathematical Model for Forecasting the Dam‐Break Flood Routing Process of a Landslide Dam
Authors: Xu Fugang , Zhou Hongwei , Zhou Jiawen , Yang Xingguo
Published: June 2012

Once a landslide dam bursts, its reservoir discharges quickly in a flood which will cause catastrophic damage to life and property downstream. For a specific landslide dam, the peak flow rate and the evolution of downstream flood are influenced by the shape and size of the dike breach when dam‐break occurs. According to the general nature of landslide dams and field observations of dike‐breach development patterns, a dike‐breach propagation mode has been determined. By combining an improved empirical equation with knowledge of the dike‐breach propagation mode, a mathematical model for forecasting dam‐break flood routing has been developed and is presented here. Sensitivity analysis was then carried out based on the computed results for peak flow rate and the flood evolution curve under different parameters. The computed results showed that the width coefficient and the depth coefficient had similar effects on the dam‐break flood but that the impact of the depth coefficient was more significant than that of the width coefficient. Finally, the proposed model was used to calculate the flood evolution for the Tangjiashan landslide dam. The computed results showed that the error between the simulated result and the measured data was less than 5%.
Detection of Bovine IgG Isotypes in a PPA-ELISA for Johne's Disease Diagnosis in Infected Herds
Authors: Fernández Bárbara , Gilardoni Liliana Rosa , Jolly Ana , Colavecchia Silvia Beatriz , Paolicchi Fernando Alberto , Mundo Silvia Leonor
Published: June 2012

Johne's Disease or Paratuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous enteritis disease affecting ruminants. Detection of subclinically infected animals is difficult, hampering the control of this disease. The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of detection of IgG isotypes in a PPA-ELISA to improve the recognition of cattle naturally infected withMapin different stages. A total of 108 animals from Tuberculosis-free herds were grouped as follows: exposed (n=30), subclinically infected (n=26), clinically infected (n=14), and healthy controls (n=38). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves of isotypes/PPA-ELISAs were constructed and areas under the curves were compared to evaluate the performance of each test. Our study demonstrated that the conventional PPA-ELISA (detecting IgG) is the best to identify clinically infected animals with high sensitivity (92.9%) and specificity (100%). Meanwhile, IgG2/PPA-ELISA improved the number of subclinically infected cattle detected as compared with conventional IgG/PPA-ELISA (53.8 versus 23.1%). In addition, it had the maximum sensitivity (65.0%, taking into account allMap-infected cattle). In conclusion, the combination of IgG and IgG2/PPA-ELISAs may improve the identification ofMap-infected cattle in different stages of disease. The usefulness of IgG2 detection in serological tests for Johne's Disease diagnosis should be further evaluated.
A First‐Principle Study of B‐ and P‐Doped Silicon Quantum Dots
Authors: Zeng Jieqiong , Yu Hong
Published: June 2012

Doping of silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) is important for realizing the potential applications of Si QDs in the fields of Si QDs‐based all‐Si tandem solar cells, thin‐film transistors, and optoelectronic devices. Based on the first‐principle calculations, structural and electronic properties of hydrogen terminated Si QDs doped with single Boron (B) or phosphorus (P) are investigated. It is found out that the structural distortion induced by impurity doping is related to the impurity characteristic, impurity position, and the QD size according to the structural analysis. The relative energetic stability of Si QDs with a single impurity in different locations has been discussed, too Furthermore, our calculations of the band structure and electronic densities of state (DOS) associated with the considered Si QDs show that impurity doping will introduce impurity states within the energy gap, and spin split occurs for some configurations. A detailed analysis of the influences of impurity position and QD size on the impurity levels has been made, too.
Physiochemical Characterization of Briquettes Made from Different Feedstocks
Authors: Karunanithy C. , Wang Y. , Muthukumarappan K. , Pugalendhi S.
Published: June 2012

Densification of biomass can address handling, transportation, and storage problems and also lend itself to an automated loading and unloading of transport vehicles and storage systems. The purpose of this study is to compare the physicochemical properties of briquettes made from different feedstocks. Feedstocks such as corn stover, switchgrass, prairie cord grass, sawdust, pigeon pea grass, and cotton stalk were densified using a briquetting system. Physical characterization includes particle size distribution, geometrical mean diameter (GMD), densities (bulk and true), porosity, and glass transition temperature. The compositional analysis of control and briquettes was also performed. Statistical analyses confirmed the existence of significant differences in these physical properties and chemical composition of control and briquettes. Correlation analysis confirms the contribution of lignin to bulk density and durability. Among the feedstocks tested, cotton stalk had the highest bulk density of 964 kg/m3 which is an elevenfold increase compared to control cotton stalk. Corn stover and pigeon pea grass had the highest (96.6%) and lowest (61%) durability.
On a Fixed Point for Generalized Contractions in Generalized Metric Spaces
Authors: Shatanawi Wasfi , Al-Rawashdeh Ahmed , Aydi Hassen , Nashine Hemant Kumar
Published: June 2012

Lakzian and Samet (2010) studied some fixed‐point results in generalized metric spaces in the sense of Branciari. In this paper, we study the existence of fixed‐point results of mappings satisfying generalized weak contractive conditions in the framework of a generalized metric space in sense of Branciari. Our results modify and generalize the results of Laksian and Samet, as well as, our results generalize several well‐known comparable results in the literature.
Psychobehavioural Factors Are More Strongly Associated with Successful Weight Management Than Predetermined Satiety Effect or Other Characteristics of Diet
Authors: Karhunen Leila , Lyly Marika , Lapveteläinen Anja , Kolehmainen Marjukka , Laaksonen David E. , Lähteenmäki Liisa , Poutanen Kaisa
Published: June 2012

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with weight management, especially whether satiety value of food as a part of a weight-maintenance diet would affect self-regulation of food intake and weight management. Altogether 82 obese subjects completed the study consisting of weight-loss and weight-maintenance (WM) periods. During the WM, subjects were randomized into higher- and lower-satiety food groups. No differences were observed in the changes in body weight, energy intake, or eating behaviour between the groups, even despite the different macronutrient compositions of the diets. However, when regarding all study subjects, success in WM was most strongly associated with a greater increase in the flexible control of eating and experience of greater easiness of WM and control of food intake and a greater decrease in uncontrollable eating and psychological distress. Psychobehavioural factors seem to be more strongly associated with successful weight management than the predetermined satiety effect or other characteristics of the diet.
Interactions betweenLeishmania braziliensisand Macrophages Are Dependent on the Cytoskeleton and Myosin Va
Authors: Azevedo Elisama , Oliveira Leandro Teixeira , Castro Lima Ana Karina , Terra Rodrigo , Dutra Patrícia Maria Lourenço , Salerno Verônica P.
Published: June 2012

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease with no effective vaccines. Actin, microtubules and the actin-based molecular motor myosin Va were investigated for their involvement inLeishmania braziliensismacrophage interactions. Results showed a decrease in the association index when macrophages were without F-actin or microtubules regardless of the activation state of the macrophage. In the absence of F-actin, the production of NO in non-activated cells increased, while in activated cells, the production of NO was reduced independent of parasites. The opposite effect of an increased NO production was observed in the absence of microtubules. In activated cells, the loss of cytoskeletal components inhibited the release of IL-10 during parasite interactions. The production of IL-10 also decreased in the absence of actin or microtubules in non-activated macrophages. Only the disruption of actin altered the production of TNF-αin activated macrophages. The expression of myosin Va tail resulted in an acute decrease in the association index between transfected macrophages andL. braziliensispromastigotes. These data reveal the importance of F-actin, microtubules, and myosin-Va suggesting that modulation of the cytoskeleton may be a mechanism used byL. braziliensisto overcome the natural responses of macrophages to establish infections.
PPARγSignaling Mediates the Evolution, Development, Homeostasis, and Repair of the Lung
Authors: Rehan Virender K. , Torday John S.
Published: June 2012

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions mediated by soluble growth factors determine the evolution of vertebrate lung physiology, including development, homeostasis, and repair. The final common pathway for all of these positively adaptive properties of the lung is the expression of epithelial parathyroid-hormone-related protein, and its binding to its receptor on the mesenchyme, inducing PPARγ expression by lipofibroblasts. Lipofibroblasts then produce leptin, which binds to alveolar type II cells, stimulating their production of surfactant, which is necessary for both evolutionary and physiologic adaptation to atmospheric oxygen from fish to man. A wide variety of molecular insults disrupt such highly evolved physiologic cell-cell interactions, ranging from overdistention to oxidants, infection, and nicotine, all of which predictably cause loss of mesenchymal peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression and the transdifferentiation of lipofibroblasts to myofibroblasts, the signature cell type for lung fibrosis. By exploiting such deep cell-molecular functional homologies as targets for leveraging lung homeostasis, we have discovered that we can effectively prevent and/or reverse the deleterious effects of these pathogenic agents, demonstrating the utility of evolutionary biology for the prevention and treatment of chronic lung disease. By understanding mechanisms of health and disease as an evolutionary continuum rather than as dissociated processes, we can evolve predictive medicine.
On Complete Convergence of Weighted Sums for Arrays of Rowwise Asymptotically Almost Negatively Associated Random Variables
Authors: Wang Xuejun , Hu Shuhe , Yang Wenzhi , Wang Xinghui
Published: June 2012

Let {Xni, i ≥ 1, n ≥ 1} be an array of rowwise asymptotically almost negatively associated (AANA, in short) random variables. The complete convergence for weighted sums of arrays of rowwise AANA random variables is studied, which complements and improves the corresponding result of Baek et al. (2008). As applications, the Baum and Katz type result for arrays of rowwise AANA random variables and the Marcinkiewicz‐Zygmund type strong law of large numbers for sequences of AANA random variables are obtained.
Consequences of Economic Deconcentration in Italy and Rome: Unplanned Processes in a Highly Regulated Country
Authors: Montanari Armando , Staniscia Barbara
Published: June 2012

This paper analyses the relationship between deconcentration processes, planning policies, and governance in the metropolitan area of Rome, Italy, from 1991 to 2001. It points out that Rome does not have an explicit policy either in favor of or against deconcentration and that the public authorities are not in fact aware of the problem. Deconcentration is mainly driven by market forces and business location decisions. These decisions are strongly influenced by material factors such as accessibility, land availability, and real estate prices, as well as immaterial factors such as the natural, cultural, and social environment. Public players can take action to influence these factors. Even though Italy has a very strictly regulated planning system, there has traditionally been a high degree of freedom in actual behaviors.
A Boundary Element Investigation of Liquid Sloshing in Coupled Horizontal and Vertical Excitation
Authors: Ning De-Zhi , Song Wei-Hua , Liu Yu-Long , Teng Bin
Published: June 2012

Sloshing flows in a two‐dimensional rigid rectangular tank under specified excitations in the coupled horizontal and vertical modes are simulated by using a higher‐order boundary element method (BEM). The liquid sloshing is formulated as an initial‐boundary‐value problem based on the fully nonlinear potential flow theory. And a semi‐mixed Eulerian‐Lagrangian technique combined with the 4th‐order Runge‐Kutta scheme is employed to advance the solutions in the time marching process. A smoothing technique is applied to the free surface at every several time steps to avoid the possible numerical instabilities. Numerical results obtained are compared with the available solutions to validate the developed model. The parametric studies are carried out to show the liquid sloshing effects in terms of the slosh frequencies and excitation amplitudes in horizontal and vertical modes, the second‐order resonance frequency, a bottom‐mounted vertical rigid baffle, free surface displacement, and hydrodynamic forces acting on the tank.
Adaptive Feedback Control for Chaos Control and Synchronization for New Chaotic Dynamical System
Authors: El-Dessoky M. M. , Yassen M. T.
Published: June 2012

This paper investigates the problem of chaos control and synchronization for new chaotic dynamical system and proposes a simple adaptive feedback control method for chaos control and synchronization under a reasonable assumption. In comparison with previous methods, the present control technique is simple both in the form of the controller and its application. Based on Lyapunov′s stability theory, adaptive control law is derived such that the trajectory of the new system with unknown parameters is globally stabilized to the origin. In addition, an adaptive control approach is proposed to make the states of two identical systems with unknown parameters asymptotically synchronized. Numerical simulations are shown to verify the analytical results.
Dealing with a Latent Danger: Parents Communicating with Their Children about Smoking
Authors: Small Sandra P. , Eastlick Kushner Kaysi , Neufeld Anne
Published: June 2012

The purpose of this study was to understand parental approach to the topic of smoking with school-age preadolescent children. In-depth interviews were conducted with 38 parents and yielded a grounded theory that explains how parents communicated with their children about smoking. Parents perceived smoking to be a latent danger for their children. To deter smoking from occurring they verbally interacted with their children on the topic and took action by having a no-smoking rule. There were three interaction approaches, which differed by style and method of interaction. Most parents interacted by discussing smoking with their children. They intentionally took advantage of opportunities. Some interacted by telling their children about the health effects of smoking and their opposition to it. They responded on the spur-of-the-moment if their attention was drawn to the issue by external cues. A few interacted by acknowledging to their children the negative effects of smoking. They responded only when their children brought it up. The parents’ intent for the no-smoking rule, which pertained mainly to their homes and vehicles, was to protect their children from second-hand smoke and limit exposure to smoking. The theory can be used by nurses to guide interventions with parents about youth smoking prevention.
PAPR Reduction of FBMC by Clipping and Its Iterative Compensation
Authors: Kollár Zsolt , Horváth Péter
Published: June 2012

Physical layers of communication systems using Filter Bank Multicarrier (FBMC) as a modulation scheme provide low out-of-band leakage but suffer from the large Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of the transmitted signal. Two special FBMC schemes are investigated in this paper: the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and the Staggered Multitone (SMT). To reduce the PAPR of the signal, time domain clipping is applied in both schemes. If the clipping is not compensated, the system performance is severely affected. To avoid this degradation, an iterative noise cancelation technique, Bussgang Noise Cancelation (BNC), is applied in the receiver. It is shown that clipping can be a good means for reducing the PAPR, especially for the SMT scheme. A novel modified BNC receiver is presented for SMT. It is shown how this technique can be implemented in real-life applications where special requirements must be met regarding the spectral characteristics of the transmitted signal.
Interleukin-1αInduction in Human Keratinocytes (HaCaT): AnIn VitroModel for Chemoprevention in Skin
Authors: Magcwebeba T. , Riedel S. , Swanevelder S. , Bouic P. , Swart P. , Gelderblom W.
Published: June 2012

Long-term exposure to UV irradiation and toxic chemicals is associated with chronic inflammation that contributes to skin cancer development with interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), constitutively produced by keratinocytes, playing a pivotal role in skin inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the modulation of IL-1α production in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate failed to induce IL-1α in HaCaT cells, and this might be associated with the specific deficiency known to affect downstream signalling of the MEK/ERK pathway in these cells. The calcium ionophore, ionomycin, slightly enhanced the production of intracellular (icIL-1α), but this resulted in a necrotic release at higher concentrations. UV-B exposure significantly increased the production of icIL-1α in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal induction exhibited at 24 h with minimal necrotic and apoptotic effects. Validation of the HaCaT cell model indicated that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen, and the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, inhibited icIL-1α production, and this was associated with a slight inhibition of cell viability. The UV-B-induced keratinocyte cell model provides anin vitrosystem that could, apart from phorbol ester-like compounds, be utilised as a screening assay in identifying skin irritants and/or therapeutic topical agents via the modulation of IL-1α production.
Successive Linearization Analysis of the Effects of Partial Slip, Thermal Diffusion, and Diffusion‐Thermo on Steady MHD Convective Flow due to a Rotating Disk
Authors: Motsa S. S. , Shateyi S.
Published: June 2012

We proposed a general formulation of the successive linearization method for solving highly nonlinear boundary value problem arising in rotating disk flow. The problem was studied under the effects of partial slip, thermal diffusion, and diffusion‐thermo. The governing fundamental conservation equations of mass, momentum, angular momentum, energy, and concentration are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations by means of similarity transformations. A parametric study illustrating the influence of the magnetic field, slip factor, Eckert number, Dufour and Soret numbers was carried out.
Performance Analysis of Compressive-Sensing-Based Through-the-Wall Imaging with Effect of Unknown Parameters
Authors: Duman Muhammed , Gurbuz Ali Cafer
Published: June 2012

Compressive sensing (CS) has been shown to be a useful tool for subsurface or through-the-wall imaging (TWI) using ground penetrating radar (GPR). It has been used to decrease both time/frequency or spatial measurements and generate high-resolution images. Although current works apply CS directly to TWI, questions on the required number of measurements for a sparsity level, measurement strategy to subsample in frequency and space, or imaging performance in varying noise levels and limits on CS range resolution performance still needs to be answered. In addition current CS-based imaging methods are based on two basic assumptions; targets are point like and positioned at only discrete grid locations and wall thickness and its dielectric constant are perfectly known. However, these assumptions are not usually valid in most TWI applications. This work extends the theory of CS-based radar imaging developed for subsurface imaging to TWI and outlines the performance of the proposed imaging for the above-mentioned questions using numerical simulations. The effect of unknown parameters on the imaging performance is analyzed, and it is observed that off-the-grid point targets and big modeling errors decreases the performance of CS imaging.
High and Low Temperature Properties of FT-Paraffin-Modified Bitumen
Authors: Fazaeli Hassan , Behbahani Hamid , Amini Amir Ali , Rahmani Jafar , Yadollahi Golazin
Published: June 2012

This paper presents the results of an experimental research on the effects of “Fischer Tropsch-Paraffin” (Sasobit) content on physical and rheological properties of Sasobit modified bitumen at various operational temperatures. For this purpose, bitumen with a Performance Grade (PG) of 58–22 is selected as the base and later it is modified with 1, 2, 2.5, 3, and 4 weight percent of FT-Paraffin (Sasobit). The performance of modified bitumen at high, intermediate, and low temperatures is evaluated based on Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) Superpave tests. Results of the study show that FT-paraffin improves the performance of bitumen at high temperatures in addition to increasing the resistance of mixture against permanent deformation. Despite the advantages of FT-paraffin on bitumen performance at high temperatures, it does not show a considerable influence on the intermediate and low temperature performance of bitumen. The effect of FT-paraffin content on the viscosity of modified bitumen is also investigated using Brookfield Viscometer Apparatus. Results show that increasing the additive content lowers the viscosity of modified bitumen. This in return can reduce the mixing and compaction temperature of asphalt mixtures.
The Adjacency Matrix of One Type of Directed Graph and the Jacobsthal Numbers and Their Determinantal Representation
Authors: Yılmaz Fatih , Bozkurt Durmuş
Published: June 2012

Recently there is huge interest in graph theory and intensive study on computing integer powers of matrices. In this paper, we consider one type of directed graph. Then we obtain a general form of the adjacency matrices of the graph. By using the well‐known property which states the

(i, j)
entry of Am (A is adjacency matrix) is equal to the number of walks of length m from vertex i to vertex j, we show that elements of mth positive integer power of the adjacency matrix correspond to well‐known Jacobsthal numbers. As a consequence, we give a Cassini‐like formula for Jacobsthal numbers. We also give a matrix whose permanents are Jacobsthal numbers.
Parseval Relationship of Samples in the Fractional Fourier Transform Domain
Authors: Li Bing-Zhao , Xu Tian-Zhou
Published: June 2012

This paper investigates the Parseval relationship of samples associated with
the fractional Fourier transform. Firstly, the Parseval relationship for uniform
samples of band‐limited signal is obtained. Then, the relationship is
extended to a general set of nonuniform samples of band‐limited signal associated
with the fractional Fourier transform. Finally, the two dimensional
case is investigated in detail, it is also shown that the derived results can be
regarded as the generalization of the classical ones in the Fourier domain to
the fractional Fourier transform domain.
Encapsulation of Liposomes within pH Responsive Microspheres for Oral Colonic Drug Delivery
Authors: Barea M. J. , Jenkins M. J. , Lee Y. S. , Johnson P. , Bridson R. H.
Published: June 2012

A novel liposome-in-microsphere (LIM) formulation has been created comprising drug-loaded liposomes within pH responsive Eudragit S100 microspheres. The liposomes contained the model drug 5-ASA and were coated with chitosan in order to protect them during encapsulation within the microspheres and to improve site-specific release characteristics.In vitrodrug release studies showed that LIMs prevented drug release within simulated stomach and small intestine conditions with subsequent drug release occurring in large intestine conditions. The formulation therefore has potential for oral colonic drug delivery.
Improved Refractive Index Sensitivity Utilizing Long-Period Gratings with Periodic Corrugations on Cladding
Authors: Lim Anthony , Ji Wen Bin , Tjin Swee Chuan
Published: June 2012

A new structure of Long-Period Gratings (LPGs) sensor is introduced as a sensitive ambient RI sensor. This structure consists of creating periodic corrugations on the cladding of the LPG. The experimental results show that this LPG structure has good performances in terms of linearity and sensitivity and serves as a highly sensitive and cost-effective sensor. It also has the advantage of portability as the corrugation can also serve as the reservoir for the specimen collection to be tested.
Er:YAG Laser: A New Technical Approach to Remove Torus Palatinus and Torus Mandibularis
Authors: Rocca J. P. , Raybaud H. , Merigo E. , Vescovi P. , Fornaini C.
Published: June 2012

Objective.The aim of this study was to assess the ability of Er:YAG laser to remove by excision torus mandibularis and to smooth torus palatinus exostosis.Materials and Methods.Torus mandibularis (TM) and torus palatinus (TP) were surgically eliminated via the Er:YAG laser using the following parameters: TM: output power ranging from 500 to 1000 mJ, frequency from 20 to 30 Hz, sapphire tips (diameter 0.8 mm), air-water spray (ratio 5/5), pulse duration 150 μsec, fluence ranging from 99592 J/cm2to 199044,586 J/cm2. TP: a peeling technique was used to eliminate TP, as excision by slicing being impossible here.Results.TM: excision was obtained after 12730 pulses. TP: smoothing technique took more time compared with excision. Once peeling was considered to be accomplished, the use of a surgical rasp was necessary to eliminate bone spicules that could delay the wound to heal in good conditions.Conclusion.Er:YAG excision (TM) or Er:YAG peeling (TP) are safe clinical techniques easy to practice even if the time required for excision or surface smoothing is more than the time required with bony burs and high speed instruments.
PGD Synthase and PGD2in Immune Resposne
Authors: Joo Myungsoo , Sadikot Ruxana T.
Published: June 2012

PGD2is formed from arachidonic acid by successive enzyme reactions: oxygenation of arachidonic acid to PGH2, a common precursor of various prostanoids, catalyzed by cyclooxygenase, and isomerization of PGH2to PGD2by PGD synthases (PGDSs). PGD2can be either pro- or anti-inflammatory depending on disease process and etiology. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory attributes of PGDS/PGD2provide opportunities for development of novel therapeutic approaches for resistant infections and refractory inflammatory diseases. This paper highlights the role of PGD synthases and PGD2 in immune inflammatory response.
Biocompatibility and Toxicity of Nanoparticles and Nanotubes
Authors: Li Xiaoming , Wang Lu , Fan Yubo , Feng Qingling , Cui Fu-zhai
Published: June 2012

In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have increasingly found practical applications in technology, research, and medicine. The small particle size coupled with their unique chemical and physical properties is thought to underline their exploitable biomedical activities. Its form may be latex body, polymer, ceramic particle, metal particles, and the carbon particles. Due to their small size and physical resemblance to physiological molecules such as proteins, NPs possess the capacity to revolutionise medical imaging, diagnostics, therapeutics, as well as carry out functional biological processes. But these features may also underline their toxicity. Indeed, a detailed assessment of the factors that influence the biocompatibility and toxicity of NPs is crucial for the safe and sustainable development of the emerging NPs. Due to the unique structure, size, and shape, much effort has been dedicated to analyzing biomedical applications of nanotubes.This paper focuses on the current understanding of the biocompatibility and toxicity of NPs with an emphasis on nanotubes.
Giant Fibrovascular Polyp of the Esophagus: A Novel Technical Approach
Authors: Trakál Juan José , Sarquis Guillermo Jorge , Muñoz Juan Antonio , Barril Sergio , Trakál Esteban , Armando Lucas , Gorordo Ipiña Rosa Carolina
Published: June 2012

Fibrovascular polyps (FVPs) of the esophagus are rare, and their course is usually indolent until reaching enormous proportions. It is a dramatic entity owing to its tendency to cause bizarre complications. We describe a 49-year-old female patient with sudden dyspnoea that required digital maneuvers to clear the airway. After diagnosing, an FVP of the esophagus, a video-assisted endocavitary surgery was made. Histopathological examination revealed a fibrovascular polyp. Endoscopic controls after excision show no mass or symptoms recurrence.
Taenia saginata: A Rare Cause of Gall Bladder Perforation
Authors: Hakeem Suhail Yaqoob , Rashid Arshad , Khuroo Suhail , Bali Rajandeep Singh
Published: June 2012

We report a case of biliary peritonitis caused by gall bladder perforation due toTaenia saginatainduced gangrenous cholecystitis. Although parasites are not unusual causes of biliary tract disorders, especially in disease endemic areas, but this is for the first time thatTaenia saginatahas been reported to cause gall bladder perforation.
Interpreting the Phase Spectrum in Fourier Analysis of Partial Ranking Data
Authors: Kakarala Ramakrishna
Published: June 2012

Whenever ranking data are collected, such as in elections, surveys, and database searches, it is frequently the case that partial rankings are available instead of, or sometimes in addition to, full rankings. Statistical methods for partial rankings have been discussed in the literature. However, there has been relatively little published on their Fourier analysis, perhaps because the abstract nature of the transforms involved impede insight. This paper provides as its novel contributions an analysis of the Fourier transform for partial rankings, with particular attention to the first three ranks, while emphasizing on basic signal processing properties of transform magnitude and phase. It shows that the transform and its magnitude satisfy a projection invariance and analyzes the reconstruction of data from either magnitude or phase alone. The analysis is motivated by appealing to corresponding properties of the familiar DFT and by application to two real-world data sets.
On the Modified Jump Problem for the Laplace Equation in the Exterior of Cracks in a Plane
Authors: Krutitskii P. A. , Sasamoto A.
Published: June 2012

The boundary value problem for the Laplace equation outside several cracks in a plane is studied. The jump of the solution of the Laplace equation and the boundary condition containing the jump of its normal derivative are specified on the cracks. The problem has unique classical solution under certain conditions. The new integral representation for the unique solution of this problem is obtained. The problem is reduced to the uniquely solvable Fredholm equation of the second kind and index zero. The integral representation and integral equation are essentially simpler than those derived for this problem earlier. The singularities at the ends of the cracks are investigated.
CT Scans in Young People in Great Britain: Temporal and Descriptive Patterns, 1993–2002
Authors: Pearce Mark S. , Salotti Jane A. , Howe Nicola L. , McHugh Kieran , Kim Kwang Pyo , Lee Choonsik , Craft Alan W. , Berrington de Gonzaléz Amy , Parker Louise
Published: June 2012

Background. Although using computed tomography (CT) can be greatly beneficial, the associated relatively high radiation doses have led to growing concerns in relation to potential associations with risk of future cancer. Very little has been published regarding the trends of CT use in young people. Therefore, our objective was to assess temporal and other patterns in CT usage among patients aged under 22 years in Great Britain from 1993 to 2002.Methods. Electronic data were obtained from the Radiology Information Systems of 81 hospital trusts within Great Britain. All included patients were aged under 22 years and examined using CT between 1993 and 2002, with accessible radiology records.Results. The number of CT examinations doubled over the study period. While increases in numbers of recorded examinations were seen across all age groups, the greatest increases were in the older patients, most notably those aged 15–19 years of age. Sixty percent of CT examinations were of the head, with the percentages varying with calendar year and patient age.Conclusions. In contrast to previous data from the North of England, the doubling of CT use was not accompanied by an increase in numbers of multiple examinations to the same individual.
Mean Square Exponential Stability of Stochastic Switched System with Interval Time‐Varying Delays
Authors: Rajchakit Manlika , Rajchakit Grienggrai
Published: June 2012

This paper is concerned with mean square exponential stability of switched stochastic system with interval time‐varying delays. The time delay is any continuous function belonging to a given interval, but not necessary to be differentiable. By constructing a suitable augmented Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional combined with Leibniz‐Newton’s formula, a switching rule for the mean square exponential stability of switched stochastic system with interval time‐varying delays and new delay‐dependent sufficient conditions for the mean square exponential stability of the switched stochastic system are first established in terms of LMIs. Numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the obtained result.
Relative Copy Number Variations of CYP2C19 in South Indian Population
Authors: Devendran Anichavezhi , Uppugunduri Chakradhara Rao Satyanarayana , Sundaram Rajan , Shewade Deepak Gopal , Rajagopal Krishnamoorthy , Chandrasekaran Adithan
Published: June 2012

CYP2C19 is a polymorphic enzyme involved in the metabolism of clinically important drugs. Genotype-phenotype association studies of CYP2C19 have reported wide ranges in the metabolic ratios of its substrates. These discrepancies could be attributed to the variations in the promoter region and this aspect has been reported recently. The observations in the recent reports on the influence of promoter region variants on the metabolism of CYP2C19 substrates might also have been influenced by the copy number variations of CYP2C19. In this paper, we describe copy number variations of CYP2C19 using real-time polymerase chain reaction by comparative Ct method. No copy number variations were observed in the south Indian population indicating the observed discrepancies in genotype-phenotype association studies might be due to the regulatory region polymorphisms as reported earlier.
The Role of p38 MAPK and Its Substrates in Neuronal Plasticity and Neurodegenerative Disease
Authors: Corrêa Sônia A. L. , Eales Katherine L.
Published: June 2012

A significant amount of evidence suggests that the p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling cascade plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity and in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review we will discuss the cellular localisation and activation of p38 MAPK and the recent advances on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of its substrates: MAPKAPK 2 (MK2) and tau protein. In particular we will focus our attention on the understanding of the p38 MAPK-MK2 and p38 MAPK-tau activation axis in controlling neuroinflammation, actin remodelling and tau hyperphosphorylation, processes that are thought to be involved in normal ageing as well as in neurodegenerative diseases. We will also give some insight into how elucidating the precise role of p38 MAPK-MK2 and p38 MAPK-tau signalling cascades may help to identify novel therapeutic targets to slow down the symptoms observed in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Heat Transfer in MHD Dusty Boundary Layer Flow over an Inclined Stretching Sheet with Non-Uniform Heat Source/Sink
Authors: Ramesh G. K. , Gireesha B. J. , Bagewadi C. S.
Published: June 2012

This paper presents the study of momentum and heat transfer characteristics in a hydromagnetic flow of dusty fluid over an inclined stretching sheet with non-uniform heat source/sink, where the flow is generated due to a linear stretching of the sheet. Using a similarity transformation, the governing equations of the problem are reduced to a coupled third-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations and are solved numerically by Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg fourth-fifth-order method using symbolic software Maple. Our numerical solutions are shown to agree with the available results in the literature and then employ the numerical results to bring out the effects of the fluid-particle interaction parameter, local Grashof number, angle of inclination, heat source/sink parameter, Chandrasekhar number, and the Prandtl number on the flow and heat transfer characteristics. The results have possible technological applications in liquid-based systems involving stretchable materials.
Global Dynamical Systems Involving Generalized f‐Projection Operators and Set‐Valued Perturbation in Banach Spaces
Authors: Zou Yun-zhi , Li Xi , Huang Nan-jing , Sun Chang-yin
Published: June 2012

A new class of generalized dynamical systems involving generalized f‐projection operators is introduced and studied in Banach spaces. By using the fixed‐point theorem due to Nadler, the equilibrium points set of this class of generalized global dynamical systems is proved to be nonempty and closed under some suitable conditions. Moreover, the solutions set of the systems with set‐valued perturbation is showed to be continuous with respect to the initial value.
Corrosion Sensor Development for Condition-Based Maintenance of Aircraft
Authors: Rinaldi Gino , Huber Trisha , McIntosh Heather , Lebrun Les , Ding Heping , Weber John
Published: June 2012

Aircraft routinely operate in atmospheric environments that, over time, will impact their structural integrity. Material protection and selection schemes notwithstanding, recurrent exposure to chlorides, pollution, temperature gradients, and moisture provide the necessary electrochemical conditions for the development and profusion of corrosion in aircraft structures. For aircraft operators, this becomes an important safety matter as corrosion found in a given aircraft must be assumed to be present in all of that type of aircraft. This safety protocol and its associated unscheduled maintenance requirement drive up the operational costs of the fleet and limit the availability of the aircraft. Hence, there is an opportunity at present for developing novel sensing technologies and schemes to aid in shifting time-based maintenance schedules towards condition-based maintenance procedures. In this work, part of the ongoing development of a multiparameter integrated corrosion sensor is presented. It consists of carbon nanotube/polyaniline polymer sensors and commercial-off-the-shelf sensors. It is being developed primarily for monitoring environmental and material factors for the purpose of providing a means to more accurately assess the structural integrity of aerospace aluminium alloys through fusion of multiparameter sensor data. Preliminary experimental test results are presented for chloride ion concentration, hydrogen gas evolution, humidity variations, and material degradation.
Cytotoxicity of Carbon Nanotubes on J774 Macrophages Is a Purification‐Dependent Effect
Authors: Montes-Fonseca Silvia Lorena , Orrantia-Borunda Erasmo , Duarte-Möller Alberto , Luna-Velasco Antonia , Román-Aguirre Manuel , González Horta Carmen , Sánchez-Ramírez Blanca
Published: June 2012

The cytotoxicity of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is an important factor for the manufacture of nanovaccines. The aim of this work was to evaluate the relationship of the purification method of CNTs in cellular toxicity using macrophages (MOs) from the J774 cell line. Viability test was performed with MTT assays at 24 h of exposure at concentrations of 0.06, 0.6, and 6 mg/L of unpurified (UP‐CNTs) or purified (P‐CNTs) CNTs by two different methods: (1) reflux with 3M HNO3 and (2) sonication in H2SO4/HNO3. Characterization and COOH content of CNTs was performed using scanning electron microscopy, raman spectroscopy, and titration with NaHCO3. P‐CNTs1 had lengths >100 μm and 2.76% COOH content, while P‐CNTs2 had lengths >1 μm and 7% COOH content. This last particle showed a lower toxic effect. The results suggest that the lenght and COOH content are important factors in the toxicity of the CNTs.
Dispersion and Stabilization of Photocatalytic TiO2 Nanoparticles in Aqueous Suspension for Coatings Applications
Authors: Othman Siti Hajar , Abdul Rashid Suraya , Mohd Ghazi Tinia Idaty , Abdullah Norhafizah
Published: June 2012

To produce titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle coatings, it is desirable that the nanoparticles are dispersed into a liquid solution and remain stable for a certain period of time. Controlling the dispersion and aggregation of the nanoparticles is crucial to exploit the advantages of the nanometer‐sized TiO2 particles. In this work, TiO2 nanoparticles were dispersed and stabilized in aqueous suspensions using two common dispersants which were polyacrylic acid (PAA) and ammonium polymethacrylate (Darvan C). The effect of parameters such as ultrasonication amplitude and type and amount of dispersants on the dispersibility and stability of the TiO2 aqueous suspensions were examined. Rupture followed by erosion was determined to be the main break up mechanisms when ultrasonication was employed. The addition of dispersant was found to produce more dispersed and more stabilized aqueous suspension. 3 wt.% of PAA with average molecular weight (Mw) of 2000 g/mol (PAA 2000) was determined to produce the best and most stable dispersion. The suspensions were then coated on quartz glass, whereby the photocatalytic activity of the coatings was studied via the degradation of formaldehyde gas under UV light. The coatings were demonstrated to be photocatalytically active.