bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Film Cooling Performance of Tripod Antivortex Injection Holes Over the Pressure and Suction Surfaces of a Nozzle Guide Vane
Authors: Ramesh Sridharan , LeBlanc Christopher , Narzary Diganta , Ekkad Srinath , Anne Alvin Mary
Published: November 2016

Film cooling performance of the antivortex (AV) hole has been well documented for a flat plate. The goal of this study is to evaluate the same over an airfoil at three different locations: leading edge suction and pressure surface and midchord suction surface. The airfoil is a scaled up first stage vane from GE E3 engine and is mounted on a low-speed linear cascade wind tunnel. Steady-state infrared (IR) technique was employed to measure the adiabatic film cooling effectiveness. The study has been divided into two parts: the initial part focuses on the performance of the antivortex tripod hole compared to the cylindrical (CY) hole on the leading edge. Effects of blowing ratio (BR) and density ratio (DR) on the performance of cooling holes are studied here. Results show that the tripod hole clearly provides higher film cooling effectiveness than the baseline cylindrical hole case with overall reduced coolant usage on the both pressure and suction sides of the airfoil. The second part of the study focuses on evaluating the performance on the midchord suction surface. While the hole designs studied in the first part were retained as baseline cases, two additional geometries were also tested. These include cylindrical and tripod holes with shaped (SH) exits. Film cooling effectiveness was found at four different blowing ratios. Results show that the tripod holes with and without shaped exits provide much higher film effectiveness than cylindrical and slightly higher effectiveness than shaped exit holes using 50% lesser cooling air while operating at the same blowing ratios. Effectiveness values up to 0.2–0.25 are seen 40-hole diameters downstream for the tripod hole configurations, thus providing cooling in the important trailing edge portion of the airfoil.
Ionic Wind Heat Transfer Enhancement in Vertical Rectangular Channels: Experimental Study and Model Validation
Authors: Gallandat Noris , Bonetto Federico , Rhett Mayor J.
Published: November 2016

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of ionic wind heat transfer enhancement in internal rectangular channels. Ionic wind is a potential technique to enhance natural convection cooling noise-free and without using moving part and thus ensuring a high reliability and a long lifetime. The goal of the present study is twofold: first, the multiphysics numerical model of ionic wind developed in previous work is validated experimentally. Second, the potential of the heat sink concept combining a fin array with an ionic wind generator is demonstrated by building a technology demonstrator. The heat sink presented in this work dissipates 240 W on a baseplate geometry of 200 × 263 mm. It is shown that the baseplate temperature can be reduced from 100 °C under natural convection to 81 °C when the ionic wind generator is turned on.
Higher-Order Thermomechanical Gradient Plasticity Model With Energetic and Dissipative Components
Authors: Voyiadjis George Z. , Song Yooseob , Park Taehyo
Published: November 2016

The thermodynamically consistent framework accounting for the thermomechanical behavior of the microstructure is addressed using the finite-element implementation. In particular, two different classes of the strain gradient plasticity (SGP) theories are proposed: In the first theory, the dissipation potential is dependent on the gradient of the plastic strain, as a result, the nonrecoverable microstresses do not have a value of zero. In the second theory, the dissipation potential is independent of the gradient of the plastic strain, in which the nonrecoverable microstresses do not exist. Recently, Fleck et al. pointed out that the nonrecoverable microstresses always generate the stress jump phenomenon under the nonproportional loading condition. In this work, a one-dimensional finite-element solution for the proposed strain gradient plasticity model is developed for investigating the stress jump phenomenon. The proposed strain gradient plasticity model and the corresponding finite-element code are validated by comparing with the experimental data from the two sets of microscale thin film experiments. In both experimental validations, it is shown that the calculated numerical results of the proposed model are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The stretch-passivation problems are then numerically solved for investigating the stress jump phenomenon under the nonproportional loading condition.
Interfacial Impedance Studies of Multilayer Structured Electrolyte Fabricated With Solvent-Casted PEO10–LiN(CF3SO2)2 and Ceramic Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 and Its Application in All-Solid-State Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Wei , Milcarek Ryan J. , Falkenstein-Smith Ryan L. , Ahn Jeongmin
Published: November 2016

Experimental studies and characterization of the interfacial impedance of a novel solvent-casted solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) and Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) ceramic bilayer electrolyte are conducted. Overall, resistance of the bilayer electrolyte decreased compared to single LATP ceramic electrolyte. The mechanism of the enhanced ion transportation at the interface is analyzed and discussed. Using the as-prepared multilayer electrolyte, all-solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASSLIBs) were fabricated with lithium metal as anode and LiMn2O4 (LMO) as cathode material. The charge/discharge properties and impedance of the cell at different temperatures were investigated. This work demonstrates the feasibility and potential of using a multilayer electrolyte structure for ASSLIBs with flexible geometries and dimensions for design.
Numerical Solution to the Inverse Sinusoidal Input Describing Function
Authors: Zamanian Fatemeh , Franchek Matthew A. , Ebrahimi Behrouz , Grigoriadis Karolos M.
Published: November 2016

A computational solution to the inverse sinusoidal input describing function (SIDF) for a broad class of static nonlinearities is presented. The proposed numerical solution uses the SIDF gain and phase distortions to identify the nonlinearity. This solution, unlike existing methods in the literature, does not require a priori knowledge of the nonlinearity structure in the estimation process and is applicable to both single- and double-valued nonlinearities. The output from the algorithm is a nonparametric model of the nonlinearity from which a parametric model can be recovered by least-square estimation (LSE) method. Three examples are presented to validate the proposed algorithm.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Pebble Bed Flows: Database Development and Investigation of Low-Frequency Temporal Instabilities
Authors: Fick Lambert H. , Merzari Elia , Hassan Yassin A.
Published: November 2016

Computational analyses of fluid flow through packed pebble bed domains using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) framework have had limited success in the past. Because of a lack of high-fidelity experimental or computational data, optimization of Reynolds-averaged closure models for these geometries has not been extensively developed. In the present study, direct numerical simulation (DNS) was employed to develop a high-fidelity database that can be used for optimizing Reynolds-averaged closure models for pebble bed flows. A face-centered cubic (FCC) domain with periodic boundaries was used. Flow was simulated at a Reynolds number of 9308 and cross-verified by using available quasi-DNS data. During the simulations, low-frequency instability modes were observed that affected the stationary solution. These instabilities were investigated by using the method of proper orthogonal decomposition, and a correlation was found between the time-dependent asymmetry of the averaged velocity profile data and the behavior of the highest-energy eigenmodes. Finally, the effects of the domain size and the method of averaging were investigated to determine how these parameters influenced the stationary solution. A violation of the ergodicity assumption was observed.
Effect of Gas/Liquid Shearing on the Viscoelastic Instability of a Planar Sheet
Authors: Tong Ming-Xi , Yang Li-Jun , Fu Qing-Fei , Mo Chao-Jie
Published: November 2016

The Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of viscoelastic flows was examined through a linear instability analysis. Due of the position change of viscoelastic effects, different unstable responses of liquid elastic effects and medium viscous effects were fully investigated. Finally, a comparison of gas/liquid shearing and inviscid aerodynamic effects on sheet instability is conducted.
An Empirical Procedure for Fatigue Damage Estimation in Instrumented Risers
Authors: Shi C. , Manuel L.
Published: November 2016

In order to assess the effects of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) and to ensure riser integrity, field monitoring campaigns are often conducted wherein the riser response is recorded by a few data sensors distributed along the length of the riser. In this study, two empirical techniques–proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and weighted waveform analysis (WWA)–are sequentially applied to the data; together, they offer a novel empirical procedure for fatigue damage estimation in an instrumented riser. The procedures are briefly described as follows: first, POD is used to extract the most energetic spatial modes of the riser response from the measurements, which are defined only at the available sensor locations. Accordingly, a second step uses WWA to express each dominant POD mode as a series of riser natural modes that are continuous spatial functions defined over the entire riser length. Based on the above empirically identified modal information, the riser response over the entire length is reconstructed in reverse–i.e., compose identified natural modes into the POD modes and, then, assemble all these dominant POD modal response components into the derived riser response. The POD procedure empirically extracts the energetic dynamic response characteristics without any assumptions and effectively cleans the data of noisy or less important features; this fundamental application of WWA is used to identify dominant riser natural modes–all this is possible using the limited number of available measurements from sensor locations. Application of the procedure is demonstrated using experimental data from the Norwegian Deepwater Programme (NDP) model riser.
Interaction of Asymmetric Films Around Boiling Cylinder Array: Homogeneous Interface to Chaotic Phenomenon
Authors: Deep Akash , Swaroop Meena Chandan , Kumar Das Arup
Published: November 2016

We report numerical study of film boiling around hot and horizontal cylinders in a saturated water pool to establish interfacial interactions leading toward dryout. Volume of fluid-based finite-volume discretization is performed in the domain for incorporation of source term in mass momentum and energy conservation equations due to phase change. At first, film boiling around single cylinder is simulated at different surface temperatures to understand unconstrained film growth and subsequent film bubble release due to buoyancy. Using velocity vectors and temperature contours, effect of film flow dynamics on bubble departure is depicted. This study has been extended further with multiple cylinders in three different stacking arrangements in order to understand the interaction of films in vicinity. Vertical interaction between cylinders leads to suppression of bubble release at the lower cylinder in comparison to the upper one. In the case of horizontal interactions, bubbles attract each other and merge, provided favorable pitch between cylinders and temperatures of the surfaces is maintained. Offset four cylinders stack maintaining vertical and horizontal pitch allows both lateral vapor affinity and bubble suppression in the lower most cylinder simultaneously. With time interaction of accumulated vapor films around cylinders hinders replenishment of fresh liquid to the hot surfaces leading toward chaotic phenomena or dryout in boiling heat transfer.
Remaining Fatigue Lives of Similar Surface Flaws in Accordance With Combination Rules
Authors: Lu Kai , Li Yinsheng , Hasegawa Kunio , Lacroix Valery
Published: November 2016

When multiple flaws are detected in structural components, the remaining lives of the components are estimated by fatigue flaw growth calculations using combination rules in fitness-for-service (FFS) codes. Many FFS codes provide combination rules for multiple flaws; however, these rules differ significantly among the various codes. Fatigue flaw growths for two similar adjacent surface flaws in a flat plate subjected to a cyclic tensile stress were obtained by numerical calculations using these different combination rules. In addition, fatigue flaw growths taking into account the interaction effect between the two similar flaws were conducted by the extended finite-element method (X-FEM). The calculation results show that the fatigue lives calculated by the X-FEM are close to those obtained by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code. Finally, it is noted that the combination rule provided by the ASME Code is appropriate for fatigue flaw growth calculations.
Fluid Excitation Forces on a Tightly Packed Tube Bundle Subjected in Cross-Flow
Authors: Liu Liyan , Feng Jiaxiang , Wu Hao , Xu Wei , Tan Wei
Published: November 2016

Fluid excitation forces acting on stationary cylinders with cross-flow are the coupling of vortex shedding and turbulence buffeting. Those forces are significant in the analytical framework of fluid-induced vibration in heat exchangers. A bench-scale experimental setup with an instrumented test bundle is constructed to measure fluid excitation forces acting on cylinders in the normal triangular tube arrays (P/D = 1.28) with water cross-flow. The lift and drag forces on stationary cylinders are measured directly as a function of Reynolds number with a developed piezoelectric transducer. The results show that the properties of fluid excitation forces, to a great extent, largely depend upon the locations of cylinders within bundle by comparison to the inflow variation. A quasi-periodic mathematical model of fluid excitation forces acting on a circular cylinder is presented for a tightly packed tube bundle subjected to cross-flow, and the bounded noise theory is applied between fR = 0.01 and fR = 1. The developed model is illustrated with lots of identification results based on the dominant frequency, the intensity of random frequency, and the amplitude of fluid excitation forces. A second model has been developed for fluid excitation forces between fR = 1 and fR = 6 with the spectrum index introduced. Although still preliminary, each model can predict the corresponding forces relatively well.
Correlation Between Architectural Complexity of Engineering Systems and Actual System Design Effort
Authors: Kim Gwang , Kwon Yunjung , Suh Eun Suk , Ahn Jaemyung
Published: November 2016

Architectural complexity management of engineering systems is becoming a major issue as systems built nowadays implement more complex technologies and innovations. In this paper, we present a preliminary research finding where quantitative values for an engineering system's architectural complexity are mapped with design effort for individual subsystems that are part of the system architecture. This was done to establish relationships between abstract architectural complexity of engineering systems and metrics that can directly be applied to system design and development. A railroad train driving bogie was used for the case study.
Insights on Heat Transfer at the Top of Steam Chambers in SAGD
Authors: Pinto Helen , Wang Xin , Gates Ian D.
Published: November 2016

Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is the method of choice for producing oil from oil sands reservoirs. In this method, steam is injected into the formation and the oil, upon heating, is mobilized and driven under gravity to a production well. The accumulation of steam within the reservoir is referred to as the steam chamber. One of the critical issues confronting SAGD operators is the thermal efficiency, measured by the steam-to-oil ratio, of their operations since it directly ties to process costs. Using thermocouple profiles from observation wells on three SAGD fields in Alberta, we use error function fits to estimate the thermal conductivity of the shale above the oil formation (found to be from 0.33 to 3.81 W/mK), heat flux at the top of the steam chamber, vertical height of the steam/gas zone above the steam chamber, and accumulated gas volume present. A gas material balance is then derived to estimate the volume of gas that might be generated through in situ chemical processes. The results of the heat transfer analysis performed on the thermocouple data reveal that the gas co-injection during SAGD operations studied did not directly affect the heat transfer rate at the top of the steam chamber since the gas volume added was small. The results also show that a sufficiently large accumulation of gas at the top of the chamber lowers the heat flux at the edge of the chamber.
Vulnerability of northern water supply lakes to changing climate and demand
Authors: Bakaic Michael , Medeiros Andrew S.
Published: November 2016

Arctic regions face a unique vulnerability to shifts in seasonality, which influences the summer recharge potential of freshwater reservoirs caused by decreased precipitation and increased evaporative stress. This pressure puts small remote northern communities at risk due to limited existing freshwater supply. The lack of baseline knowledge of existing supply, demand, or reservoir recharge potential increases this risk. We therefore address this knowledge gap through a water resource assessment of municipal supply over a 20 year planning horizon in two communities in Arctic Canada using a novel heuristic model and existing data sources. We generated climate and demand scenarios to identify the mechanisms of drawdown as well as examine the influences on replenishment. We found a pronounced vulnerability to reduced winter precipitation and (or) increased ice thickness of reservoirs. Our heuristic supply forecasts indicate an immediate need for freshwater management strategies for northern communities in Canada.
Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer properties of iminophosphineplatinum(II) complexes containing boronate esters
Authors: St-Coeur Patrick-Denis , Kinley Samantha , Vogels Christopher M. , Decken Andreas , Jr. Morin Pier , Westcott Stephen A.
Published: November 2016

Three new iminophosphines containing pinacol-derived boronate esters have been prepared and ligated to dichloridoplatinum(II) fragments. All compounds have been characterized fully, including an X-ray diffraction study carried out for the platinum complex 8, which is derived from 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)aniline. These three new platinum complexes, along with the non-boron containing control, have been examined for their initial cytotoxic properties against two glioma cell lines using the MTT method.
Origin and evolution of ore-forming fluids, and genesis of the Duhuangling and Jiusangou gold deposits in eastern Yanbian, northeast China
Authors: Zhao Ke-Qiang , Sun Jing-Gui , Li Liang , Men Lan-Jing , Nagao Keisuke , Chai Peng
Published: November 2016

The Duhuangling and Jiusangou gold deposits are located east of the Yanbian area, northeast China. We present the results of systematic studies of the ore geology, fluid inclusion (FI) features, and isotopic geochemistry of the two gold deposits. Four mineralization stages have been defined in each gold deposit: pyrite + sericite + quartz (stage I), quartz + pyrite ± chalcopyrite ± arsenopyrite (stage II), quartz + native gold + polymetallic sulfide (stage III), and quartz–calcite (stage IV). FIs from the two gold deposits are similar and contain five types: pure vapor phase (V-type), vapor-rich phase (RV-type), liquid-rich phase (RL-type), daughter mineral-bearing polyphase (S-type), and pure liquid phase (L-type). Stage I FIs homogenize at temperatures of 350–450 °C, yielding salinities of 5.40–48.67 wt.%. FIs from both stages II and III samples homogenize at 160–350 °C, yielding salinities of 5.71–39.75 wt.%. FIs in pyrite from the stage II have 3He/4He ratios of 0.0069–0.0148 Ra and 40Ar/36Ar ratios of 1302–4433, demonstrating that ore-forming fluids of the two gold deposits were derived from the crust. The δD values of the two gold deposits range from −107‰ to −92‰, with δ18OH2O values from 4.3‰ to 9.0‰, indicating that the ore-forming fluids were mainly magmatic water in origin. Lead isotope data suggest that the ore-forming materials were originated from deep crust. Integrated data indicate that both Duhuangling and Jiusangou gold deposits are medium- to high-temperature, hydrothermal gold deposits.
Construction of compatible and additive individual-tree biomass models forPinustabulaeformisin China
Authors: Zeng WeiSheng , Zhang LianJin , Chen XinYun , Cheng ZhiChu , Ma KeXi , Li ZhiHua
Published: November 2016

Current biomass models for Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) fail to accurately estimate biomass in large geographic regions because they were usually based on limited sample trees on local sites, incompatible with stem volume, and not additive among components and total biomass. This study was based on mensuration data of individual-tree biomass from large samples of Chinese pine. The purpose was to construct compatible and additive biomass models using the nonlinear error-in-variable simultaneous equations and dummy variable modeling approach. This approach could ensure compatibility of an aboveground biomass model with a biomass conversion factor (BCF) and a stem volume model and compatibility of a belowground biomass model with a root-to-shoot ratio (RSR) model. Also, stem, branch, and foliage biomass models were additive to the aboveground biomass model. Results showed that mean prediction errors (MPEs) of the developed one- and two-variable aboveground biomass models were less than 4% and MPEs of the three-component (stem, branch, and foliage) and belowground biomass models were less than 10%. Furthermore, the effects of main climate variables on above- and below-ground biomass were analyzed. Aboveground biomass was related to mean annual temperature (MAT), while belowground biomass had no significant relationship with either MAT or mean annual precipitation (MAP). The developed models provide a good basis for estimating biomass of Chinese pine forests.
Solitons, Bäcklund transformation and Lax pair for a generalized variable-coefficient Boussinesq system in the two-layered fluid flow
Authors: Zhao Xue-Hui , Tian Bo , Chai Jun , Wu Yu-Xiao , Guo Yong-Jiang
Published: November 2016

Under investigation in this paper is a generalized variable-coefficient Boussinesq system, which describes the propagation of the shallow water waves in the two-layered fluid flow. Bilinear forms, Bäcklund transformation and Lax pair are derived by virtue of the Bell polynomials. Hirota method is applied to construct the one- and two-soliton solutions. Propagation and interaction of the solitons are illustrated graphically: kink- and bell-shape solitons are obtained; shapes of the solitons are affected by the variable coefficients [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] during the propagation, kink- and anti-bell-shape solitons are obtained when [Formula: see text], anti-kink- and bell-shape solitons are obtained when [Formula: see text]; Head-on interaction between the two bidirectional solitons, overtaking interaction between the two unidirectional solitons are presented; interactions between the two solitons are elastic.
Effects of ionized impurity and interface roughness scatterings on the electron mobility in InAs/GaSb type II superlattices at low temperatures
Authors: Safa S. , Asgari A.
Published: November 2016

The in-plane electron mobility has been calculated in InAs/GaSb type-II superlattices (SLs) at low temperatures. The interface roughness scattering and ionized impurity scattering are investigated as the dominant scattering mechanisms in limiting the electron transport at low temperatures. For this purpose, the band structures and wave functions of electrons in such SLs are calculated by solving the K.P Hamiltonian using the numerical Finite Difference method. The scattering rates have been obtained for different temperatures and structural parameters. We show that the scattering rates are high in thin-layer SLs and the mobility rises as the temperature increases in low-temperature regime.
Perfect spin-filter devices based on zigzag zinc oxide nanoribbons
Authors: Zhang Zi-Yue
Published: November 2016

Spin-polarized electron transport through a zigzag zinc oxide nanoribbon (ZnONR) has been studied using first-principles transport simulations. Ribbons without edges passivated show 100% spin polarization at small bias voltage independently of width. The ribbons with edge zinc atoms passivated maintain absolute spin-filtering effect in much larger bias region. The results demonstrate that zigzag ZnONRs act as perfect spin-filters in the absence of magnetic electrodes and external fields.
Neutrinoless double beta decay and neutrino mass
Authors: Vergados J. D. , Ejiri H. , Šimkovic F.
Published: November 2016

The observation of neutrinoless double beta decay (DBD) will have important consequences. First it will signal that lepton number is not conserved and the neutrinos are Majorana particles. Second, it represents our best hope for determining the absolute neutrino mass scale at the level of a few tens of meV. To achieve the last goal, however, certain hurdles have to be overcome involving particle, nuclear and experimental physics. Particle physics is important since it provides the mechanisms for neutrinoless DBD. In this review, we emphasize the light neutrino mass mechanism. Nuclear physics is important for extracting the useful information from the data. One must accurately evaluate the relevant nuclear matrix elements (NMEs), a formidable task. To this end, we review the recently developed sophisticated nuclear structure approaches, employing different methods and techniques of calculation. We also examine the question of quenching of the axial vector coupling constant, which may have important consequences on the size of the NMEs. From an experimental point of view it is challenging, since the life times are extremely long and one has to fight against formidable backgrounds. One needs large isotopically enriched sources and detectors with good energy resolution and very low background.
Guest Editorial: Cooperative Information Systems in the Digital Age
Authors: Weichhart Georg , Rosemann Michael
Published: November 2016

Cooperative information systems (CIS) are at the core of a digital economy that is dedicated to providing hyper-connected citizens with access to intuitive and sophisticated technology. No longer are commercial applications the only driver of development activities, but wider societal and individual deployment areas are now explored. CIS researchers have for more than two decades studied the nature and requirements of cooperative systems linking latest technologies with hybrid user bases. However, the current opportunity-rich landscape of digital technologies such as mobile and social computing, advanced data analytics, robotic process automation or smart devices has triggered entire new, exciting research questions. In light of this setting, the 23rd International Conference on Cooperative Information Systems took place within the context of the 14th OnTheMove Federated Conferences and Workshops in Rhodes, Greece, in October 2015. This Special Issue features the carefully selected and comprehensively reviewed best papers from this event.
A Reduced-Form Model for Level-1 Limit Order Books
Authors: Yang Tzu-Wei , Zhu Lingjiong
Published: November 2016

One popular approach to model the limit order books dynamics of the best bid and ask at level-1 is to use the reduced-form diffusion approximations. It is well known that the biggest contributing factor to the price movement is the imbalance of the best bid and ask. We investigate the data of the level-1 limit order books of a basket of stocks and study the numerical evidence of drift, correlation, volatility and their dependence on the imbalance. Based on the numerical discoveries, we develop a non-parametric discrete model for the dynamics of the best bid and ask, which can be approximated by a reduced-form model that incorporates the empirical data of correlation and volatilities with analytical tractability that can fit the empirical data of the probability of price movement.
Raman Spectroscopy in Colorectal Cancer Diagnostics: Comparison of PCA-LDA and PLS-DA Models
Authors: Liu Wenjing , Sun Zhaotian , Chen Jinyu , Jing Chuanbo
Published: November 2016

Raman spectra of human colorectal tissue samples were employed to diagnose colorectal cancer. High-quality Raman spectra were acquired from normal and cancerous colorectal tissues from 81 patients. Subtle Raman variations, such as for peaks at 1134 cm−1 (protein, C-C/C-N stretching) and 1297 cm−1 (lipid, C-H2 twisting), were observed between normal and cancerous colorectal tissues. The average peak intensity at 1134 and 1297 cm−1 was increased from approximately 235 and 72 in the normal group, respectively, to 315 and 273 in the cancer group. The variations of Raman spectra reflected the changes of cell molecules during canceration. The multivariate statistical methods of principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), together with leave-one-patient-out cross-validation, were employed to build the discrimination model. PCA-LDA was used to evaluate the capability of this approach for classifying colorectal cancer, resulting in a diagnostic accuracy of 79.2%. Further PLS-DA modeling yielded a diagnostic accuracy of 84.3% for colorectal cancer detection. Thus, the PLS-DA model is preferable between the two to discriminate cancerous from normal tissues. Our results demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy can be used with an optimized multivariate data analysis model as a sensitive diagnostic alternative to identify pathological changes in the colon at the molecular level.
Paeoniflorin Attenuated Oxidative Stress in Rat COPD Model Induced by Cigarette Smoke
Authors: Lin Jinpei , Xu Fei , Wang Genfa , Kong Lingwen , Luo Qingli , Lv Yvbao , Liu Jiaqi , Wei Ying , Li Lulu , Zhang Hongying , Dong Jingcheng
Published: November 2016

Paeoniflorin (PF), a monoterpene glucoside, might have an effect on the oxidative stress. However, the mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we made the COPD model in Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats by exposing them to the smoke of 20 cigarettes for 1 hour/day and 6 days/week, for 12 weeks, 24 weeks, or 36 weeks. Our findings suggested that smoke inhalation can trigger the oxidative stress from the very beginning. A 24‐week treatment of PF especially in the dosage of 40 mg/kg·d can attenuate oxygen stress by partially quenching reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulating antioxidant enzymes via an Nrf2‐dependent mechanism.
A Least Square-Based Self-Adaptive Localization Method for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Yu Baoguo , Wang Yao , He Chenglong , Yan Xiaozhen , Luo Qinghua
Published: November 2016

In the wireless sensor network (WSN) localization methods based on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), it is usually required to determine the parameters of the radio signal propagation model before estimating the distance between the anchor node and an unknown node with reference to their communication RSSI value. And finally we use a localization algorithm to estimate the location of the unknown node. However, this localization method, though high in localization accuracy, has weaknesses such as complex working procedure and poor system versatility. Concerning these defects, a self-adaptive WSN localization method based on least square is proposed, which uses the least square criterion to estimate the parameters of radio signal propagation model, which positively reduces the computation amount in the estimation process. The experimental results show that the proposed self-adaptive localization method outputs a high processing efficiency while satisfying the high localization accuracy requirement. Conclusively, the proposed method is of definite practical value.
An Inexact Update Method with Double Parameters for Nonnegative Matrix Factorization
Authors: Li Xiangli , Zhang Wen , Dong Xiaoliang , Shi Juanjuan
Published: November 2016

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) has been used as a powerful date representation tool in real world, because the nonnegativity of matrices is usually required. In recent years, many new methods are available to solve NMF in addition to multiplicative update algorithm, such as gradient descent algorithms, the active set method, and alternating nonnegative least squares (ANLS). In this paper, we propose an inexact update method, with two parameters, which can ensure that the objective function is always descent before the optimal solution is found. Experiment results show that the proposed method is effective.
Intra-Attack Vestibuloocular Reflex Changes in Ménière’s Disease
Authors: Yacovino Dario A. , Finlay John B.
Published: November 2016

Ménière’s attack has been shown to temporarily alter the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR). A patient with unilateral Ménière’s disease was serially evaluated with the video Head Impulse Test during single, untreated episodes of acute vertigo. Spontaneous nystagmus activity was concurrently recorded in order to establish the three typical phases of Ménière’s attack (irritative, paralytic, and recovery) and correlate them with VOR performance. The onset of attack was associated with a quick change in VOR gain on the side of the affected ear. While a rapidly progressive reduction of the VOR was evident at the paralytic nystagmus phase, in the recovery phase the VOR gain returned to normal and the direction of the previous nystagmus reversed. The membrane rupture potassium intoxication theory provides a good foundation with which to explain these dynamic VOR changes and the observed triphasic direction behavior of the spontaneous nystagmus. We additionally postulated that endolymphatic fluid displacement could have a synergic effect during the earliest phase of attack.
Psychomotor Development in Cri du Chat Syndrome: Comparison in Two Italian Cohorts with Different Rehabilitation Methods
Authors: Guala Andrea , Spunton Marianna , Tognon Fabio , Pedrinazzi Marilena , Medolago Luisa , Cerutti Mainardi Paola , Spairani Silvia , Malacarne Michela , Finale Enrico , Comelli Mario , Danesino Cesare
Published: November 2016

The Cri du Chat syndrome (CdC) is a rare genetic disorder caused by variable size deletions of the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p−). It is well known that home-reared patients show better performances as compared to institutionalised cases, and it was reported that continuous educational intervention can ameliorate their performances. To assess the efficacy of educational intervention and to develop new CdC oriented programs of rehabilitation, we compare the results obtained for many developmental skills in two groups of CdC patients undergoing two different rehabilitation programs. Using data on the development of a group of CdC patients obtained by validated Italian translation for the Denver Developmental Screening Test II, we compared a group of 13 patients undergoing an educational program developed for CdC patients, the Mayer Project (MP), with a second group of 15 cases in whom caring was not specifically oriented. A positive impact of the MP was reported by parents, observing an improvement in social skills obtained, even if no significant differences were observed when the items of the Denver Test are studied. The need for personalized care in CdC patients and the choice of different methods to compare the results are also discussed.
Impact of Education on Fertility: Evidence from a Tribal Society in Assam, India
Authors: Mahanta Amarjyoti
Published: November 2016

This paper examines the education-fertility linkage in tribal society through a cross section study on the Misings, the second largest scheduled tribe of the state of Assam, India. Applying multiple regression analysis, the paper finds that while the education of both wife and husband has retarding effect on fertility, the number of live births born is significantly less when wives are more educated than husbands. The education of females has been found to have positive relation with fertility up to 5.3 years of schooling and negative relation thereafter so as to reach the replacement level of fertility at the graduate level of education. Thus, the critical years of education of the wives required to have a depressing impact on fertility is 5.3. The paper recommends policies for expansion of education with primary focus on inclusion and retention of the females in education.
Reducedγ-Aminobutyric Acid and Glutamate+Glutamine Levels in Drug-Naïve Patients with First-Episode Schizophrenia but Not in Those at Ultrahigh Risk
Authors: Wang Junjie , Tang Yingying , Zhang Tianhong , Cui Huiru , Xu Lihua , Zeng Botao , Li Yu , Li Gaiying , Li Chunbo , Liu Hui , Lu Zheng , Zhang Jianye , Wang Jijun
Published: November 2016

Alteredγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (Glu) levels, and an imbalance between GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmissions have been involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, it remains unclear how these abnormalities impact the onset and course of psychosis. In the present study, 21 drug-naïve subjects at ultrahigh risk for psychosis (UHR), 16 drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES), and 23 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. In vivo GABA and glutamate+glutamine (Glx) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex were measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Medial prefrontal GABA and Glx levels in FES patients were significantly lower than those in HC and UHR, respectively. GABA and Glx levels in UHR were comparable with those in HC. In each group, there was a positive correlation between GABA and Glx levels. Reduced medial prefrontal GABA and Glx levels thus may play an important role in the early stages of schizophrenia.
Feasibility and Efficacy of S-Adenosyl-L-methionine in Patients with HBV-Related HCC with Different BCLC Stages
Authors: Guo Tao , He Yukun , Ma Weijie , Liu Zhisu , Liu Quanyan
Published: November 2016

Aims. To understand the feasibility and efficacy of treatment with SAMe in patients with hepatitis B-related HCC with different Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages.Methods. We retrospectively enrolled 697 patients with BCLC early-stage (stages 0-A) and advanced-stage (stages B-C) HCC who underwent SAMe therapy (354 cases) or no SAMe therapy (343 cases). The baseline characteristics, postoperative recoveries, and 24-month overall survival rates of the patients in the 2 groups were compared. Cox regression model analysis was performed to confirm the independent variables influencing the survival rate.Results. For patients in the early-stage (BCLC stagesA1–A4) group, little benefit of SAMe therapy was observed. For advanced-stage (BCLCB-C) patients, SAMe therapy reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels and effectively delayed the recurrence time and enhanced the 24-month survival rate. Cox regression model analysis in the advanced-stage group revealed that treatment with SAMe, preoperative viral load, and Child-Pugh grade were independent variables influencing survival time.Conclusion. SAMe therapy exhibited protective and therapeutic efficacy for BCLC advanced-stage HBV-related HCC patients. And the efficacy of SAMe therapy should be further explored in randomized prospective clinical trials.
Addison’s Disease and Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Mozolevska Viktoriya , Schwartz Anna , Cheung David , Shaikh Bilal , Bhagirath Kapil M. , Jassal Davinder S.
Published: November 2016

Addison’s disease is often accompanied by a number of cardiovascular manifestations. We report the case of a 30-year-old man who presented with a new onset dilated cardiomyopathy due to Addison’s disease. The clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of this rare hormone mediated cardiac disorder are reviewed.
Influence of Anodization Time on Photovoltaic Performance of DSSCs Based on TiO2Nanotube Array
Authors: Hu Jinghua , Hu Shiwu , Yang Yingping , Tong Shengqiang , Cheng Jiejie , Chen Mengwei , Zhao Li , Duan Jinxia
Published: November 2016

Highly ordered TiO2nanotube arrays (TNT arrays) were fabricated by two-step anodization process. In order to further improve the performance of DSSCs, TNT arrays were optimized by changing the anodization conditions to meet the requirements of high-performance photoanode. The photoelectric conversion properties of DSSCs based on P25/TNT arrays double-layer film with different anodization time were investigated and compared. The results show that the conversion efficiency of 4.20% was achieved in double-layer photoanode at 18 h, with an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.65 V and short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 9.98 mA cm−2.
Pericardial Effusion due to Primary Malignant Pericardial Mesothelioma: A Common Finding but an Uncommon Cause
Authors: Istomin Valery , Blondheim David S. , Meisel Simcha R. , Frimerman Aaron , Lapidot Moshe , Rachmilevitch Ronit
Published: November 2016

This case report describes a 37-year-old female who was admitted to our Emergency Department because of shortness of breath. On physical examination, she had dyspnea and tachycardia and blood pressure was 80/50 mmHg with a pulsus paradoxus of 22 mmHg. Neck veins were distended, heart sounds were distant, and dullness was found on both lung bases. Her chest X-ray revealed bilateral pleural effusion and cardiomegaly. On both computed tomography and echocardiography the heart was of normal size and a large pericardial effusion was noted. The echocardiogram showed signs of impending tamponade, so the patient underwent an emergent pericardiocentesis. No infectious etiology was found and she was assumed to have viral pericarditis and was treated accordingly. However, when the pericardial effusion recurred and empirical therapy for tuberculosis failed, a pericardial window was performed. A typical staining pattern for mesothelioma was found on her pericardial biopsy specimen. Since no other mesodermal tissue was affected, a diagnosis of primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma was made. Chemotherapy was not effective and she passed away a year after the diagnosis was made. This case highlights the difficulties in diagnosing this uncommon disease in patients that present with the common finding of pericardial effusion.
408 Cases of Genital Ambiguity Followed by Single Multidisciplinary Team during 23 Years: Etiologic Diagnosis and Sex of Rearing
Authors: De Paula Georgette Beatriz , Barros Beatriz Amstalden , Carpini Stela , Tincani Bruna Jordan , Mazzola Tais Nitsch , Sanches Guaragna Mara , Piveta Cristiane Santos da Cruz , de Oliveira Laurione Candido , Andrade Juliana Gabriel Ribeiro , Guaragna-Filho Guilherme , Barbieri Pedro Perez , Ferreira Nathalia Montibeler , Miranda Marcio Lopes , Gonçalves Ezequiel Moreira , Morcillo Andre Moreno , Viguetti-Campos Nilma Lucia , Lemos-Marini Sofia Helena Valente , Silva Roberto Benedito de Paiva , Marques-de-Faria Antonia Paula , De Mello Maricilda Palandi , Maciel-Guerra Andrea Trevas , Guerra-Junior Gil
Published: November 2016

Objective. To evaluate diagnosis, age of referral, karyotype, and sex of rearing of cases with disorders of sex development (DSD) with ambiguous genitalia.Methods. Retrospective study during 23 years at outpatient clinic of a referral center.Results. There were 408 cases; 250 (61.3%) were 46,XY and 124 (30.4%) 46,XX and 34 (8.3%) had sex chromosomes abnormalities. 189 (46.3%) had 46,XY testicular DSD, 105 (25.7%) 46,XX ovarian DSD, 95 (23.3%) disorders of gonadal development (DGD), and 19 (4.7%) complex malformations. The main etiology of 46,XX ovarian DSD was salt-wasting 21-hydroxylase deficiency. In 46,XX and 46,XY groups, other malformations were observed. In the DGD group, 46,XY partial gonadal dysgenesis, mixed gonadal dysgenesis, and ovotesticular DSD were more frequent. Low birth weight was observed in 42 cases of idiopathic 46,XY testicular DSD. The average age at diagnosis was 31.7 months. The final sex of rearing was male in 238 cases and female in 170. Only 6.6% (27 cases) needed sex reassignment.Conclusions. In this large DSD sample with ambiguous genitalia, the 46,XY karyotype was the most frequent; in turn, congenital adrenal hyperplasia was the most frequent etiology. Malformations associated with DSD were common in all groups and low birth weight was associated with idiopathic 46,XY testicular DSD.
When the Patient Believes That the Organs Are Destroyed: Manifestation of Cotard’s Syndrome
Authors: Machado Leonardo , Filho Luiz Evandro de Lima , Machado Liliane
Published: November 2016

Cotard’s Syndrome (CS) is a rare clinical event described for the first time in 1880 by the neurologist and psychiatrist Jules Cotard and characterized by negation delusions (or nihilists). Immortality and hypochondriac delusions are also typical. Nowadays, it is known that CS can be associated with many neuropsychiatric conditions. In this article, we describe the case of a patient that believed not having more organs and having the body deformed and whose CS was associated with a bigger depressive disorder. Although the electroconvulsive therapy is the most described treatment modality in the literature, the reported case had therapeutic success with association of imipramine and risperidone.
Multiscale Collaborative Optimization of Processing Parameters for Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Laminates Fabricated by High-Speed Automated Fiber Placement
Authors: Han Zhenyu , Sun Shouzheng , Shao Zhongxi , Fu Hongya
Published: November 2016

Processing optimization is an important means to inhibit manufacturing defects efficiently. However, processing optimization used by experiments or macroscopic theories in high-speed automated fiber placement (AFP) suffers from some restrictions, because multiscale effect of laying tows and their manufacturing defects could not be considered. In this paper, processing parameters, including compaction force, laying speed, and preheating temperature, are optimized by multiscale collaborative optimization in AFP process. Firstly, rational model between cracks and strain energy is revealed in order that the formative possibility of cracks could be assessed by using strain energy or its density. Following that, an antisequential hierarchical multiscale collaborative optimization method is presented to resolve multiscale effect of structure and mechanical properties for laying tows or cracks in high-speed automated fiber placement process. According to the above method and taking carbon fiber/epoxy tow as an example, multiscale mechanical properties of laying tow under different processing parameters are investigated through simulation, which includes recoverable strain energy (ALLSE) of macroscale, strain energy density (SED) of mesoscale, and interface absorbability and matrix fluidity of microscale. Finally, response surface method (RSM) is used to optimize the processing parameters. Two groups of processing parameters, which have higher desirability, are obtained to achieve the purpose of multiscale collaborative optimization.
Kodama-Schwarzschild versus Gaussian Normal Coordinates Picture of Thin Shells
Authors: Iofa Mikhail Z.
Published: November 2016

Geometry of the spacetime with a spherical shell embedded in it is studied in two coordinate systems: Kodama-Schwarzschild coordinates and Gaussian normal coordinates. We find explicit coordinate transformation between the Kodama-Schwarzschild and Gaussian normal coordinate systems. We show that projections of the metrics on the surface swept by the shell in the 4D spacetime in both cases are identical. In the general case of time-dependent metrics we calculate extrinsic curvatures of the shell in both coordinate systems and show that the results are identical. Applications to the Israel junction conditions are discussed.