bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BENDING, BUCKLING AND VIBRATION OF NANOBEAMS VIA NONLOCAL BEAM THEORY
Authors: BENGUEDIAB SOUMIA , SEMMAH ABDELWAHED , CHAHT FOUZIA LARBI , MOUAZ SOUMIA , TOUNSI ABDELOUAHED
Published: October 2013

In the present study, a nonlocal hyperbolic shear deformation theory is developed for the static flexure, buckling and free vibration analysis of nanobeams using the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen. The theory, which does not require shear correction factor, accounts for both small scale effects and hyperbolic variation of shear strains and consequently shear stresses through the thickness of the nanobeam. The equations of motion are derived from Hamilton's principle. Analytical solutions for the deflection, buckling load and natural frequency are presented for a simply supported nanobeam, and the obtained results are compared with those predicted by the nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory and Reddy beam theories. Present solutions can be used for the static and dynamic analyses of single-walled carbon nanotubes.
THE ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR INNOVATION: AN ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY PERSPECTIVE
Authors: MOOS BERNHARD , BEIMBORN DANIEL , WAGNER HEINZ-THEO , WEITZEL TIM
Published: October 2013

What is the role of Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) for a firm's innovativeness and absorptive capacity (ACAP)? Research shows that a firm's capacity to acquire and utilise relevant knowledge, i.e., its absorptive capacity, is decisive for innovation success. We develop a theoretical model that links the availability and usage of KMS with a firm's ACAP and its organisational knowledge to explain its contribution for a firm's innovation success. Using data from 222 manufacturing firms, we can show that the availability of a KMS in a firm affects its innovation success by contributing to its ACAP. Looking at the impact of different knowledge types on innovativeness, the results show that only technological knowledge is a substantial determinant of innovation success but not market knowledge.
WHY INNOVATIONS FAIL — THE CASE OF PASSIVE AND ACTIVE INNOVATION RESISTANCE
Authors: HEIDENREICH SVEN , SPIETH PATRICK
Published: October 2013

Innovation literature reports high failure rates for innovations, ranging from 50% to 90%. Hence, most new products fail as they are rejected by consumers due to their resistance to innovation, indicating that innovations remain a critical challenge for managers. In order to expand our current knowledge of consumers' new product adoption behaviour, we propose to consider the concepts of passive and active innovation resistance. Within a large scaled empirical study, we show that passive innovation resistance evolves from an individual's resistance to change disposition and status quo satisfaction, while active innovation resistance is primarily driven by product-specific barriers. Our results indicate that both passive and active innovation resistance represent strong inhibitors within new product evaluation, significantly reducing consumers' intention to adopt new products.
MODELING EFFECT OF SODIUM PUMP ON CALCIUM OSCILLATIONS IN NEURON CELLS
Authors: TEWARI SHIVENDRA G. , PARDASANI K. R.
Published: October 2013

Calcium plays a significant role in a number of processes like muscle contraction, gene expression, synaptic plasticity, signal transduction etc. but the significance of calcium oscillation is not yet completely understood in most of the cell types. A number of investigators have reported the oscillatory behavior of calcium due to intracellular concentration of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the oscillations induced in calcium due to dynamically changing membrane potential with special relevance to sodium pump. A mathematical model is developed which incorporates nearly all important and necessary biophysical components like L-type calcium channel, sodium channel, potassium channel, cytosolic buffers, calcium pump, sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX), sodium–potassium ATPase (sodium pump), and dynamic membrane potential. These channels have realistic gating mechanism and emulate the gating mechanism proposed in the famous paper of Hodgkin and Huxley.1 The model leads to an initial value problem involving system of non-linear ordinary differential equations. A numerical solution has been obtained using Gear's method. The numerical results have been used to study the effect of sodium pump over the frequency of Ca 2+ oscillation. At lower and higher sodium pump current densities the Ca 2+ oscillation frequency is observed to be 278 Hz and 225 Hz respectively.
ENHANCED VISIBLE-LIGHT-DRIVEN PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION PERFORMANCE OF CIP ON BiVO4–Bi2WO6 NANO-HETEROJUNCTION PHOTOCATALYSTS
Authors: SUN SHAOFANG , WU YAFAN , ZHANG XIAN , ZHANG ZHONGJIE , YAN YAN , GUAN WEISHENG
Published: October 2013

The removal of CIP from the environment has become a mandatory issue. In our paper, we have realized the visible-light-driven degradation of CIP on the BiVO 4– Bi 2 WO 6 nano-heterojunction photocatalysts. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Compared with the single-phase BiVO 4 and Bi 2 WO 6 counterparts, BiVO 4– Bi 2 WO 6 nano-heterojunction photocatalysts show enhanced photocatalytic degradation activities in visible-light-driven CIP degradation. Particularly, when R( Bi 2 WO 6∕ BiVO 4) = 10 wt .%, the products exhibit the highest CIP degradation ratio in 60 min of 76.8% under visible light illumination. The tentative mechanism of the interface charge transfer (IFCT) effect in the BiVO 4– Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction structure is also discussed by using the band position calculation.
Photoluminescence and thermal stability of yellow-emitting Pr3+ doped CaAl2O4 phosphors
Authors: Zou Hua , Peng Dengfeng , Chu Zhenming , Wang Xusheng , Li Yanxia , Hou Jun-Wei , Yao Xi
Published: October 2013

Pr 3+-doped CaAl 2 O 4 phosphors with broad yellow emission were synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction in air and their structural and luminescent properties were investigated. A pure monoclinic structure can be obtained when the sintering temperature is 1400°C or above. With photoluminescence (PL) measurement, the excitation was observed at 450–500 nm, which covered the emission of the blue light-emitting diode (LED) chips. Emission of the phosphors showed a green band and a red band. So these phosphors showed great potential in application of warm white LEDs without reabsorption. Additionally, the optimal emission intensity was obtained when Pr doping level was at 0.2 mol%. Furthermore, the Pr -doped CaAl 2 O 4 phosphors have the higher quenching temperature. With an increase in temperature, the emission bands of Pr -doped CaAl 2 O 4 showed an abnormal blue-shift.
Enhanced energy storage properties of barium titanate ceramics made from surface modified particles
Authors: Liu Zhifu , Zhang Zhiqiang , Zhang Faqiang , Li Yongxiang
Published: October 2013

Surface modification of barium titanate particles has been carried out using a wet chemical method. The microstructural and dielectric properties of the ceramics made from surface modified particles were extensively investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dielectric properties measurements. The breakdown strength increased by 69% and 117% for the Al 2 O 3 and B 2 O 3– SiO 2 modified ceramics, respectively. An energy storage density of up to 3.2 J/cm3 has been obtained. The suppression of grain boundary electron transport and reduction in pore defects lead to the energy storage properties enhancement of the modified ceramics. These results indicated that surface modification of ceramic particles is a promising approach to obtain dielectric ceramics with high energy storage density.
Processing, phase transitions, and dielectric properties of BSPT ceramics
Authors: Politova E. D. , Kaleva G. M. , Mosunov A. V. , Segalla A. H. , Dosovitskiy A. E. , Mikhlin A. L.
Published: October 2013

Solid solutions on the base of composition from morphotropic phase boundary (1–x) BiScO 3–x PbTiO 3 with x = 0.64, 0.645, 0.65 were prepared from nitrates solutions. Variations in phase content, structure parameters, microstructure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of dense ceramic samples were studied. The first-order phase transitions were observed at temperatures near 700 K. The influence of the processing conditions on the morphology, temperature of phase transitions, and dielectric parameters was observed. In some ceramics effect of dielectric relaxation was observed at high temperatures. This effect was explained by the contribution from ionic transport due to the oxygen vacancies creation during high temperature sintering.
MuSICa: THE MULTI-SLIT IMAGE SLICER FOR THE EST SPECTROGRAPH
Authors: CALCINES A. , LÓPEZ R. L. , COLLADOS M.
Published: October 2013

Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) is a technique that allows one to obtain the spectra of all the points of a bidimensional field of view simultaneously. It is being applied to the new generation of the largest night-time telescopes but it is also an innovative technique for solar physics. This paper presents the design of a new image slicer, MuSICa (Multi-Slit Image slicer based on collimator-Camera), for the integral field spectrograph of the 4-m aperture European Solar Telescope (EST). MuSICa is a multi-slit image slicer that decomposes an 80 arcsec2 field of view into slices of 50 μm and reorganizes it into eight slits of 0.05 arcsec width × 200 arcsec length. It is a telecentric system with an optical quality at diffraction limit compatible with the two modes of operation of the spectrograph: spectroscopic and spectro-polarimetric. This paper shows the requirements, technical characteristics and layout of MuSICa, as well as other studied design options.
The relationship between archaeological stratigraphy and artificial ground and its significance in the Anthropocene
Authors: Edgeworth M.
Published: October 2013

This paper investigates the relationship between archaeological stratigraphy (in archaeology) and artificial ground (in geology) and considers their wider application to the investigation and characterization of the Anthropocene. Evidence from two archaeological case studies is used to illuminate key points. The first case study examines stratigraphic sequences from beneath the city of Leicester, UK; the second looks at stratified deposits within the prehistoric settlement mound of Abu Hureyra, Syria. Earthworks, riverworks and cultivation soils are also considered. Archaeological and geological perspectives are combined to develop a unified view of anthropogenic deposits that cover large parts of the surface of the Earth.
Is the fossil record of complex animal behaviour a stratigraphical analogue for the Anthropocene?
Authors: Williams M. , Zalasiewicz J. A. , Waters C. N. , Landing E.
Published: October 2013

The base of the Cambrian System is recognized by a characteristic (marine) trace fossil suite assigned to the
Treptichnus pedum
Biozone, which signals increasing complexity of animal behaviour and demarcates the Cambrian from the (older) Ediacaran System (Proterozoic Eonathem). Ichnotaxa of the
T. pedum
Biozone are not the earliest trace fossils, and are preceded in the latest Proterozoic by a progressive increase in the diversity of trace-producing organisms and the communities they comprised, the structural and behavioural complexity of the trace fossils, and even the depth of burrowing in sediments. Parallels can be drawn with the increasing complexity of subsurface structures associated with human cities, which also reflect evolution of an increasingly complex community. Before the nineteenth century, these structures were limited and simple, but beginning with the development of London in the mid-nineteenth century as the world's first megacity, subsurface structures have become increasingly complex, reflecting the technology-driven behaviour of twentieth- and twenty-first-century humans.
Pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension: a case for caveolin-1 and cell membrane integrity
Authors: Mathew Rajamma
Published: October 2013

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Despite important advances in the field, the precise mechanisms leading to PH are not yet understood. Main features of PH are loss of vasodilatory response, the activation of proliferative and antiapoptotic pathways leading to pulmonary vascular remodeling and obstruction, elevated pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy, resulting in right ventricular failure and death. Experimental studies suggest that endothelial dysfunction may be the key underlying feature in PH. Caveolin-1, a major protein constituent of caveolae, interacts with several signaling molecules including the ones implicated in PH and modulates them. Disruption and progressive loss of endothelial caveolin-1 with reciprocal activation of proliferative pathways occur before the onset of PH, and the rescue of caveolin-1 inhibits proliferative pathways and attenuates PH. Extensive endothelial damage/loss occurs during the progression of the disease with subsequent enhanced expression of caveolin-1 in smooth muscle cells. This caveolin-1 in smooth muscle cells switches from being an antiproliferative factor to a proproliferative one and participates in cell proliferation and cell migration, possibly leading to irreversible PH. In contrast, the disruption of endothelial caveolin-1 is not observed in the hypoxia-induced PH, a reversible form of PH. However, proliferative pathways are activated in this model, indicating caveolin-1 dysfunction. Thus disruption or dysfunction of endothelial caveolin-1 leads to PH, and the status of caveolin-1 may determine the reversibility versus irreversibility of PH. This article reviews the role of caveolin-1 and cell membrane integrity in the pathogenesis and progression of PH.
Exaggerated exercise pressor reflex in adults with moderately elevated systolic blood pressure: role of purinergic receptors
Authors: Greaney Jody L. , Matthews Evan L. , Boggs Mary E. , Edwards David G. , Duncan Randall L. , Farquhar William B.
Published: October 2013

The neurocirculatory responses to exercise are exaggerated in hypertension, increasing cardiovascular risk, yet the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to examine the in vitro effectiveness of pyridoxal-5-phosphate as a purinergic (P2) receptor antagonist in isolated murine dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and the in vivo contribution of P2 receptors to the neurocirculatory responses to exercise in older adults with moderately elevated systolic blood pressure (BP). In vitro, pyridoxal-5-phosphate attenuated the ATP-induced increases in [Ca2+]i (73 ± 15 vs. 11 ± 3 nM; P < 0.05). In vivo, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; peroneal microneurography) and arterial BP (Finometer) were assessed during exercise pressor reflex activation (static handgrip followed by postexercise ischemia; PEI) during a control trial (normal saline) and localized P2 receptor blockade (pyridoxal-5-phosphate). Compared with normotensive adults (63 ± 2 yr, 117 ± 2/70 ± 2 mmHg), adults with moderately elevated systolic BP (65 ± 1 yr, 138 ± 5/79 ± 3 mmHg) demonstrated greater increases in MSNA and BP during handgrip and PEI. Compared with the control trial, local antagonism of P2 receptors during PEI partially attenuated MSNA (39 ± 4 vs. 34 ± 5 bursts/min; P < 0.05) in adults with moderately elevated systolic BP. In conclusion, these data demonstrate pyridoxal-5-phosphate is an effective P2 receptor antagonist in isolated DRG neurons, which are of particular relevance to the exercise pressor reflex. Furthermore, these findings indicate that exercise pressor reflex function is exaggerated in older adults with moderately elevated systolic BP and further suggest a modest role of purinergic receptors in evoking the abnormally large reflex-mediated increases in sympathetic activity during exercise in this clinical population.
The anti-asthma herbal medicine ASHMI acutely inhibits airway smooth muscle contraction via prostaglandin E2activation of EP2/EP4receptors
Authors: Srivastava Kamal , Sampson Hugh A. , Emala Charles W. , Li Xiu-Min
Published: October 2013

Our previous studies have shown that the anti-asthma traditional Chinese medicine herbal formula ASHMI (anti-asthma simplified herbal medicine intervention) inhibits acetylcholine-induced contractions of tracheal rings from ovalbumin-sensitized and naive mice in a β-adrenoceptor-independent manner. We sought to determine whether acute in vivo ASHMI administration inhibits airway hyperreactivity (AHR) in a murine model of allergic asthma and acetylcholine-induced tracheal ring constriction ex vivo and to elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying these effects. Ovalbumin-sensitized mice received a single oral ASHMI dose 2 h before intravenous acetylcholine challenge. AHR was determined by invasive airway measurements. Myography was used to determine the effects of ASHMI on acetylcholine-induced constriction of tracheal rings from asthmatic mice with or without epithelial denudation. The effect of cyclooxygenase inhibition and EP2/EP4receptor blockade on ASHMI attenuation of acetylcholine contractions was evaluated. Tracheal cAMP and PGE2levels were measured by ELISA. A single acute oral dose of ASHMI dramatically reduced AHR in response to acetylcholine provocation in ovalbumin-sensitized mice ( P < 0.001). In ex vivo experiments, ASHMI significantly and dose-dependently reduced tracheal ring constriction to acetylcholine ( P < 0.05–0.001), which was epithelium independent and associated with elevated cAMP levels. This effect was abrogated by cyclooxygenase inhibition or EP2/EP4receptor blockade. ASHMI also inhibited contraction to high K+( P < 0.001). ASHMI increased tracheal ring PGE2release in response to acetylcholine or high K+( P < 0.05 for both). ASHMI produced direct and acute inhibition of AHR in vivo and blocked acetylcholine-induced tracheal ring constriction via the EP2/EP4receptor pathway, identifying the mechanism by which ASHMI is an orally active bronchoprotective agent.
Localization with a Mobile Beacon Based on Compressive Sensing in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhao Chunhui , Xu Yunlong , Huang Hui , Cui Bing
Published: October 2013

Node localization technology is especially important to most applications of wireless sensor network. However, each mobile beacon needs to broadcast its current position many times, and locating all the nodes must take a long time in most of the localization algorithms. In order to solve these problems, we propose a novel range-free localization algorithm—localization with a mobile beacon based on compressive sensing (LMCS). LMCS makes use of compressive sensing (CS) to get the related degree of the sensor nodes and all the mobile beacon points. According to the related degree, the algorithm decides the weight value of each beacon point for the mass coordinate, and estimates the sensor node location. LMCS does not ask for all nodes hearing directly with beacon node, so it is more suitable for practical application than other localization algorithms. The simulation results show that compared with MAP schemes, LMCS has better localization performance, especially under irregularity of radio range and obstacle environment. Therefore, LMCS is a reliable, useful, and effective localization algorithm.
Applications of Nanoparticles for MRI Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Blasiak Barbara , van Veggel Frank C. J. M. , Tomanek Boguslaw
Published: October 2013

Recent technological advances in nanotechnology, molecular biology, and imaging technology allow the application of nanomaterials for early and specific cancer detection and therapy. As early detection is a prerequisite for successful treatment, this area of research has been rapidly growing. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in production, functionalization, toxicity reduction, and application of nanoparticles to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and treatment monitoring. This review focuses on superparamagnetic nanoparticles used as targeted contrast agents in MRI, but it also describes nanoparticles applied as contrasts in CT and PET. A very recent development of core/shell nanoparticles that promises to provide positive contrast in MRI of cancer is provided. The authors concluded that despite unenviable obstacles, the progress in the area will lead to rapidly approaching applications of nanotechnology to medicine enabling patient‐specific diagnosis and treatment.
Rapid Induction of Aldosterone Synthesis in Cultured Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes under High Glucose Conditions
Authors: Fujisaki Masami , Nagoshi Tomohisa , Nishikawa Tetsuo , Date Taro , Yoshimura Michihiro
Published: October 2013

In addition to classical adrenal cortical biosynthetic pathway, there is increasing evidence that aldosterone is produced in extra-adrenal tissues. Although we previously reported aldosterone production in the heart, the concept of cardiac aldosterone synthesis remains controversial. This is partly due to lack of established experimental models representing aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) expression in robustly reproducible fashion. We herein investigated suitable conditions in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) culture system producing CYP11B2 with considerable efficacy. NRCMs were cultured with various glucose doses for 2–24 hours. CYP11B2 mRNA expression and aldosterone concentrations secreted from NRCMs were determined using real-time PCR and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. We found that suitable conditions for CYP11B2 induction included four-hour incubation with high glucose conditions. Under these particular conditions, CYP11B2 expression, in accordance with aldosterone secretion, was significantly increased compared to those observed in the cells cultured under standard-glucose condition. Angiotensin II receptor blocker partially inhibited this CYP11B2 induction, suggesting that there is local renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation under high glucose conditions. The suitable conditions for CYP11B2 induction in NRCMs culture system are now clarified: high-glucose conditions with relatively brief period of culture promote CYP11B2 expression in cardiomyocytes. The current system will help to accelerate further progress in research on cardiac tissue aldosterone synthesis.
Robust FuzzyH∞Output Feedback Control for a Class of Nonlinear Uncertain Systems with Mixed Time Delays
Authors: Song Xiaona , Liu Shanzhong
Published: October 2013

This paper studies the problem of delay-dependent robustH∞output feedback control for a class of uncertain fuzzy neutral systems with both discrete and distributed delays. The system is described by a state-space Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model with distributed delays and norm-bounded parameter uncertainties. The purpose is to design a fuzzy dynamic output feedback controller which ensures the robust asymptotic stability of the closed-loop fuzzy neutral system and satisfies anH∞norm bound constraint for all admissible uncertainties. In terms of linear matrix inequalities, sufficient conditions for the solvability of this problem are presented. Finally, a numerical example is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Small Bowel Perforation due to Gossypiboma Caused Acute Abdomen
Authors: Colak Tahsin , Olmez Tolga , Turkmenoglu Ozgur , Dag Ahmet
Published: October 2013

Gossypiboma, an infrequent surgical complication, is a mass lesion due to a retained surgical sponge surrounded by foreign body reaction. In this case report, we describe gossypiboma in the abdominal cavity which was detected 14 months after the hysterectomy due to acute abdominal pain. Gossypiboma was diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). The CT findings were a rounded mass with a dense central part and an enhancing wall. In explorative laparotomy, small bowel loops were seen to be perforated due to inflammation of long standing gossypiboma. Jejunal resection with end-to-end anastomosis was performed. The patient was discharged whithout complication. This case was presented to point to retained foreign body (RFB) complications and we believed that the possibility of a retained foreign body should be considered in the differential diagnosis of who had previous surgery and complained of pain, infection, or palpable mass.
Histology and Ultrastructure of Transitional Changes in Skin Morphology in the Juvenile and Adult Four‐Striped Mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)
Authors: Stewart Eranée , Ajao Moyosore Salihu , Ihunwo Amadi Ogonda
Published: October 2013

The four‐striped mouse has a grey to brown coloured coat with four characteristic dark stripes interspersed with three lighter stripes running along its back. The histological differences in the skin of the juvenile and adult mouse were investigated by Haematoxylin and Eosin and Masson Trichrome staining, while melanocytes in the skin were studied through melanin‐specific Ferro‐ferricyanide staining. The ultrastructure of the juvenile skin, hair follicles, and melanocytes was also explored. In both the juvenile and adult four‐striped mouse, pigment‐containing cells were observed in the dermis and were homogeneously dispersed throughout this layer. Apart from these cells, the histology of the skin of the adult four‐striped mouse was similar to normal mammalian skin. In the juvenile four‐striped mouse, abundant hair follicles of varying sizes were observed in the dermis and hypodermis, while hair follicles of similar size were only present in the dermis of adult four‐striped mouse. Ultrastructural analysis of juvenile hair follicles revealed that the arrangement and differentiation of cellular layers were typical of a mammal. This study therefore provides unique transition pattern in the four‐striped mouse skin morphology different from the textbook description of the normal mammalian skin.
Multiscale Feature Model for Terrain Data Based on Adaptive Spatial Neighborhood
Authors: Zhang Huijie , Ma Yun , Ma Zhiqiang , He Xinting , Liu Yaxin , Feng Zijun
Published: October 2013

Multiresolution hierarchy based on features (FMRH) has been applied in the field of terrain modeling and obtained significant results in real engineering. However, it is difficult to schedule multiresolution data in FMRH from external memory. This paper proposed new multiscale feature model and related strategies to cluster spatial data blocks and solve the scheduling problems of FMRH using spatial neighborhood. In the model, the nodes with similar error in the different layers should be in one cluster. On this basis, a space index algorithm for each cluster guided by Hilbert curve is proposed. It ensures that multi-resolution terrain data can be loaded without traversing the whole FMRH; therefore, the efficiency of data scheduling is improved. Moreover, a spatial closeness theorem of cluster is put forward and is also proved. It guarantees that the union of data blocks composites a whole terrain without any data loss. Finally, experiments have been carried out on many different large scale data sets, and the results demonstrate that the schedule time is shortened and the efficiency of I/O operation is apparently improved, which is important in real engineering.
Dealing with Dependent Uncertainty in Modelling: A Comparative Study Case through the Airy Equation
Authors: Cortés J.-C. , Romero J.-V. , Roselló M.-D. , Villanueva R.-J.
Published: October 2013

The consideration of uncertainty in differential equations leads to the emergent area of random differential equations. Under this approach, inputs become random variables and/or stochastic processes. Often one assumes that inputs are independent, a hypothesis that simplifies the mathematical treatment although it could not be met in applications. In this paper, we analyse, through the Airy equation, the influence of statistical dependence of inputs on the output, computing its expectation and standard deviation by Fröbenius and Polynomial Chaos methods. The results are compared with Monte Carlo sampling. The analysis is conducted by the Airy equation since, as in the deterministic scenario its solutions are highly oscillatory, it is expected that differences will be better highlighted. To illustrate our study, and motivated by the ubiquity of Gaussian random variables in numerous practical problems, we assume that inputs follow a multivariate Gaussian distribution throughout the paper. The application of Fröbenius method to solve Airy equation is based on an extension of the method to the case where inputs are dependent. The numerical results show that the existence of statistical dependence among the inputs and its magnitude entails changes on the variability of the output.
The Composition Operator and the Space of the Functions of Bounded Variation in Schramm-Korenblum's Sense
Authors: Jesús Z. , Mejía O. , Merentes N. , Rivas S.
Published: October 2013

We show that the composition operatorH, associated withh:[a,b]→ℝ, maps the spacesLip[a,b]on to the spaceκBVϕa,bof functions of bounded variation in Schramm-Korenblum's sense if and only ifhis locally Lipschitz. Also, verify that if the composition operator generated byh:[a,b]×ℝ→ℝmaps this space into itself and is uniformly bounded, then regularization ofhis affine in the second variable.
An Efficient Web Usage Mining Approach Using Chaos Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm Based on Optimal Feedback Model
Authors: Dai Lu , Wang Wei , Shu Wanneng
Published: October 2013

The dynamic nature of information resources as well as the continuous changes in the information demands of the users has made it very difficult to provide effective methods for data mining and document ranking. This paper proposes an efficient particle swarm chaos optimization mining algorithm based on chaos optimization and particle swarm optimization by using feedback model of user to provide a listing of best-matching webpages for user. The proposed algorithm starts with an initial population of many particles moving around in aD-dimensional search space where each particle vector corresponds to a potential solution of the underlying problem, which is formed by subsets of webpages. Experimental results show that our approach significantly outperforms other algorithms in the aspects of response time, execution time, precision, and recall.
Design of T-Shaped Micropump Based on Induced Charge Electroosmotic
Authors: Zhang Kai , Mi Xiaojing , Sheng Bingying
Published: October 2013

The fluid-driven efficiency of the micropump based on induced charge electroosmotic was studied by numerical simulation method. In this paper, we propose to make some improvement against the T-shaped piping design of micropump, and we embed a janus cylinder in the junction of the T-shaped pipe for the micropump design. We offer different voltage to the inlet of the pipe and carry out the numerical study of the fluid field induced by the cylinder, and the comparison of the velocity and flux of the outlet in different voltage as carried out. It is found that there are two symmetrical circulations around the polarizable side of the cylinder. And the comparison results show that the flow and the velocity of the outlet were increased with the increasing voltage of the entrance.
Normal Families concerning Polynomials and Shared Values
Authors: Wang Xin-Li , Cui Ning
Published: October 2013

We study the problem of normal families of meromorphic functions concerning polynomials and shared values. We prove that a family ℱ of meromorphic functions in a domain D is normal if, for each function f∈ℱ, Pfzfkz=a⇔fkz=b, where P is a polynomial with the origin as zero, k is a positive integer, and a ≠0, b are two finite constants.
Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method to Nonlinear Damped Generalized Regularized Long-Wave Equation
Authors: Nawaz R. , Islam S. , Shah I. A. , Idrees M. , Ullah H.
Published: October 2013

A new semianalytical technique optimal homology asymptotic method (OHAM) is introduced for deriving approximate solution of the homogeneous and nonhomogeneous nonlinear Damped Generalized Regularized Long-Wave (DGRLW) equation. We tested numerical examples designed to confine the features of the proposed scheme. We drew 3D and 2D images of the DGRLW equations and the results are compared with that of variational iteration method (VIM). Results reveal that OHAM is operative and very easy to use.
Total Chemical Synthesis of a Heterodimeric Interchain Bis-Lactam-Linked Peptide: Application to an Analogue of Human Insulin-Like Peptide 3
Authors: Karas John , Shabanpoor Fazel , Hossain Mohammed Akhter , Gardiner James , Separovic Frances , Wade John D. , Scanlon Denis B.
Published: October 2013

Nonreducible cystine isosteres represent important peptide design elements in that they can maintain a near-native tertiary conformation of the peptide while simultaneously extending the in vitro and in vivo half-life of the biomolecule. Examples of these cystine mimics include dicarba, diselenide, thioether, triazole, and lactam bridges. Each has unique physicochemical properties that impact upon the resulting peptide conformation. Each also requires specific conditions for its formation via chemical peptide synthesis protocols. While the preparation of peptides containing two lactam bonds within a peptide is technically possible and reported by others, to date there has been no report of the chemical synthesis of a heterodimeric peptide linked by two lactam bonds. To examine the feasibility of such an assembly, judicious use of a complementary combination of amine and acid protecting groups together with nonfragment-based, total stepwise solid phase peptide synthesis led to the successful preparation of an analogue of the model peptide, insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), in which both of the interchain disulfide bonds were replaced with a lactam bond. An analogue containing a single disulfide-substituted interchain lactam bond was also prepared. Both INSL3 analogues retained significant cognate RXFP2 receptor binding affinity.
Does the Adult Human Ciliary Body Epithelium Contain “True” Retinal Stem Cells?
Authors: Frøen Rebecca , Johnsen Erik O. , Nicolaissen Bjørn , Facskó Andrea , Petrovski Goran , Moe Morten C.
Published: October 2013

Recent reports of retinal stem cells being present in several locations of the adult eye have sparked great hopes that they may be used to treat the millions of people worldwide who suffer from blindness as a result of retinal disease or injury. A population of proliferative cells derived from the ciliary body epithelium (CE) has been considered one of the prime stem cell candidates, and as such they have received much attention in recent years. However, the true nature of these cells in the adult human eye has still not been fully elucidated, and the stem cell claim has become increasingly controversial in light of new and conflicting reports. In this paper, we will try to answer the question of whether the available evidence is strong enough for the research community to conclude that the adult human CE indeed harbors stem cells.
Investigation into the Influence of Physician for Treatment Based on Syndrome Differentiation
Authors: Jiang Lijie , Liu Baoyan , Xie Qi , Yang Shuhong , He Liyun , Zhang Runshun , Yan Shiyan , Zhou Xuezhong , Liu Jia
Published: October 2013

Background. The characteristics of treatment based on syndrome differentiation (TBSD) cause great challenges to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical methods.Objectives. This paper aims to evaluate the influence of physician to personalized medicine in the process of TBSD.Methods. We performed a randomized, triple-blind trial involving patients of primary insomnia treated by 3 physicians individually and independently. The patients (n=30) were randomly assigned to receive treatments by the 3 physicians for every visit. However, they always received the treatment, respectively, prescribed by the physician at the first visit. The primary outcome was evaluated, respectively, by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the TCM symptoms measuring scale. The clinical practices of the physicians were recorded at every visit including diagnostic information, syndrome differentiation, treating principles, and prescriptions.Results. All patients in the 3 groups (30 patients) showed significant improvements (>66%) according to the PSQI and TCM symptoms measuring scale.Conclusion. The results indicate that although with comparable effectiveness, there exist significant differences in syndrome differentiation, the treating principles, and the prescriptions of the approaches used by the 3 physicians. This means that the physician should be considered as an important factor for individualized medicine and the related TCM clinical research.
Novel Poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) Matrices Obtained with the Use of Zr[Acac]4as Nontoxic Initiator for Long-Term Release of Immunosuppressive Drugs
Authors: Jelonek Katarzyna , Kasperczyk Janusz , Li Suming , Dobrzynski Piotr , Janeczek Henryk , Jarzabek Bozena
Published: October 2013

Slowly degradable copolymers of L-lactide andε-caprolactone can provide long-term delivery and may be interesting as alternative release systems of cyclosporine A (CyA) and rapamycin (sirolimus), in which available dosage forms cause a lot of side effects. The aim of this study was to obtain slowly degradable matrices containing immunosuppressive drug from PLACL initiated by nontoxic Zr[Acac]4. Three kinds of poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLACL) matrices with different copolymer chain microstructure were used to compare the release process of cyclosporine A and rapamycine. The influence of copolymer chain microstructure on drug release rate and profile was also analyzed. The determined parameters could be used to tailor drug release by synthesis of demanded polymeric drug carrier. The studied copolymers were characterized at the beginning and during the degradation process of the polymeric matrices by NMR spectroscopy, GPC (gel permeation chromatography), and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry). Different drug release profiles have been observed from each kind of copolymer. The correlation between drug release process and changes of copolymer microstructure during degradation process was noticed. It was determined that different copolymer composition (e.g., lower amount of caprolactone units) does not have to influence the drug release, but even small changes in copolymer randomness affect this process.
Evaluation of Photocatalytic Active Coatings on Sintered Glass Tubes by Methylene Blue
Authors: Awungacha Lekelefac Colin , Czermak Peter , Herrenbauer Michael
Published: October 2013

A comparative study between ten different photocatalytic active coatings was done. The effectiveness and photocatalytic activity of the coatings were studied by degradation experiments of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV light illumination. The reactor design consisting of sintered glass packed in a borosilicate tube placed between two planar dielectric barrier discharge lamps (Osram Planon) is reported for the first time. The coatings consisted of either titania, silica, or zinc on sintered borosilicate glass. The advantage of sol-gel in catalyst preparation was exploited to combine catalyst to act as cocatalyst. TiO2-P25 widely applied in suspension systems was effectively immobilized on sintered glass support with the aid of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) solution which acted as support material. Results indicated that TiO2-P25+SiO2, TiO2-P25+SiO2+Pt, and TiOSO4_30,6wt% films showed highest degradation rates close to 100% after 90 min illumination with degradation rates exceeding 50% after 30 minutes. TTIP+Pt showed lowest degradation rate.
An Evaluation of the Effects of the Transobturator Tape Procedure on Sexual Satisfaction in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence Using the Libido Scoring System
Authors: Narin Raziye , Nazik Hakan , Narin Mehmet Ali , Aytan Hakan , Api Murat
Published: October 2013

Introduction and Hypothesis. Most women experience automatic urine leakage in their lifetimes. SUI is the most common type in women. Suburethral slings have become a standard surgical procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence when conservative therapy failed. The treatment of stress urinary incontinence by suburethral sling may improve body image by reducing urinary leakage and may improve sexual satisfaction. Methods. A total of 59 sexually active patients were included in the study and underwent a TOT outside-in procedure. The LSS was applied in all patients by self-completion of questionnaires preoperatively and 6 months after the operation. General pleasure with the operation was measured by visual analogue score (VAS). Pre- and postoperative scores were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 11.5. Results. Two parameters of the LSS, orgasm and who starts the sexual activity, increased at a statistically significant rate. Conclusion. Sexual satisfaction and desire have partially improved after the TOT procedure.
Fracture Analysis of Brittle Materials Based on Nonlinear FEM and Application in Arch Dam with Fractures
Authors: Pan Yuanwei , Liu Yaoru , Cui Zhixiong , Chen Xin , Yang Qiang
Published: October 2013

Current fracture analysis models based on fracture mechanics or continuum damage mechanics are still limited in the application to three-dimensional structure. Based on deformation reinforcement theory coming from elastoperfect plastic theory, unbalanced force is proposed to predict initiation and propagation of cracks. Unbalanced force is the driving force of time-dependent deformation according to Perzyna’s viscoplasticity theory. It is also related to the damage driving force in viscoplastic damage model. The distribution of unbalanced force indicates cracks initiation area, while its direction predicts possible cracks propagation path. Uniaxial compression test of precrack specimen is performed as verification to this method. The trend and distribution of cracks are in good agreement with numerical results, proving that unbalanced force is feasible and effective for fracture analysis. The method is applied in fracture analysis of Xiaowan high arch dam, which is subjected to some cracks in dam due to the temperature control program. The results show that the deformation and stress of cracks and the stress characteristics of dam are insensitive to grouting of cracks. The existing cracks are stable and dam heel is still the most possible cracking position.
On the Topological and Uniform Structure of Diversities
Authors: Poelstra Andrew
Published: October 2013

Diversities have recently been developed as multiway metrics admitting clear and useful notions of hyperconvexity and tight span. In this note, we consider the analytical properties of diversities, in particular the generalizations of uniform continuity, uniform convergence, Cauchy sequences, and completeness to diversities. We develop conformities, a diversity analogue of uniform spaces, which abstract these concepts in the metric case. We show that much of the theory of uniform spaces admits a natural analogue in this new structure; for example, conformities can be defined either axiomatically or in terms of uniformly continuous pseudodiversities. Just as diversities can be restricted to metrics, conformities can be restricted to uniformities. We find that these two notions of restriction, which are functors in the appropriate categories, are related by a natural transformation.
Distributed Filter with Consensus Strategies for Sensor Networks
Authors: Li Xie , Caimou Huang , Haoji Hu
Published: October 2013

Consensus algorithm for networked dynamic systems is an important research problem for data fusion in sensor networks. In this paper, the distributed filter with consensus strategies known as Kalman consensus filter and information consensus filter is investigated for state estimation of distributed sensor networks. Firstly, an in-depth comparison analysis between Kalman consensus filter and information consensus filter is given, and the result shows that the information consensus filter performs better than the Kalman consensus filter. Secondly, a novel optimization process to update the consensus weights is proposed based on the information consensus filter. Finally, some numerical simulations are given, and the experiment results show that the proposed method achieves better performance than the existing consensus filter strategies.
A Novel Algorithm for Satellite Images Fusion Based on Compressed Sensing and PCA
Authors: Yang Wenkao , Wang Jing , Guo Jing
Published: October 2013

This paper studies the image fusion of high-resolution panchromatic image and low-resolution multispectral image. Based on the classic fusion algorithms on remote sensing image fusion, the PCA (principal component analysis) transform, and discrete wavelet transform, we carry out in-depth research. The compressed sensing (CS) abandons the full sample and shifts the sampling of the signal to sampling information that greatly reduces the potential consumption of traditional signal acquisition and processing. We combine compressed sensing with satellite remote sensing image fusion algorithm and propose an innovative fusion algorithm (CS-FWT-PCA), in which the symmetric fractional B-spline wavelet acts as the sparse base. In the algorithm we use Hama Da matrix as the measurement matrix and SAMP as the reconstruction algorithm and adopt an improved fusion rule based on the local variance. The simulation results show that the CS-FWT-PCA fusion algorithm achieves better fusion effect than the traditional fusion method.
A Reconfigurable Logic Cell Based on a Simple Dynamical System
Authors: Li Lixiang , Yang Chunyu , Hui Sili , Yu Wenwen , Kurths Jürgen , Peng Haipeng , Yang Yixian
Published: October 2013

This paper introduces a new scheme to achieve a dynamic logic gate which can be adjusted flexibly to obtain different logic functions by adjusting specific parameters of a dynamical system. Based on graphical tools and the threshold mechanism, the distribution of different logic gates is studied, and a transformation method between different logics is given. Analyzing the performance of the dynamical system in the presence of noise, we discover that it is resistant to system noise. Moreover, we find some part of the system can be considered as a leaky integrator which has been already widely applied in engineering. Finally, we provide a proof-of-principle hardware implementation of the proposed scheme to illustrate its effectiveness. With the proposed scheme in hand, it is convenient to build the flexible, robust, and general purpose computing devices such as various network coding routers, communication encoders or decoders, and reconfigurable computer chips.
Relative Nonlinear Measure Method to Exponential Stability of Impulsive Delayed Differential Equations
Authors: Song Xueli , Xin Xing , Dai Huiya , Peng Jigen
Published: October 2013

This paper is devoted to providing a novel method to global exponential stability of impulsive delayed differential equations. By utilizing relative nonlinear measure method, several global exponential stability criteria are presented for the impulsive delayed differential equations. Compared with the Razumikhin technique and Lyapunov function method, our method is less conservative and gives a convergence rate, and one of our stability criteria is more flexible by incorporating an adjustable matrix. An example and its simulation are provided to illustrate that our method is efficient and our results are new and correct.