bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Travel-Time Difference Extracting in Experimental Study of Rayleigh Wave Acoustoelastic Effect
Authors: Eryi Hu , Shao Ying
Published: March 2014

In order to identify the travel-time difference accurately in the experimental study of Rayleigh wave acoustoelastic effect, an experimental system is constructed by the ultrasonic pulser-receiver, digital oscilloscope, Rayleigh wave transmitter and receiver, and a personal computer. And then, the digital correlation method and the Fourier transform frequency analysis method are used to obtain the travel-time difference of the Rayleigh wave corresponding to different subsurface stress conditions. Furthermore, the simulated ultrasonic signals are used to verify the reliability of the two kinds of ultrasonic signal information extracting algorithms, respectively. Finally, the proposed signal processing methods are applied to extract the time delay between different Rayleigh wave signals corresponding to different subsurface stress level.
The Mosaic of “Seronegative” Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Conti Fabrizio , Capozzi Antonella , Truglia Simona , Lococo Emanuela , Longo Agostina , Misasi Roberta , Alessandri Cristiano , Valesini Guido , Sorice Maurizio
Published: March 2014

In the clinical practice it is possible to find patients with clinical signs suggestive of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), who are persistently negative for the laboratory criteria of APS, that is, anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL), anti-β2-GPI antibodies and lupus anticoagulant. Therefore, it was proposed for these cases the term of seronegative APS (SN-APS). In order to detect autoantibodies with different methodological approaches, sera from 24 patients with SN-APS were analysed for anti-phospholipid antibodies using TLC immunostaining, for anti-vimentin/cardiolipin antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and for anti-annexin V and anti-prothrombin antibodies by ELISA and dot blot. Control groups of our study were 25 patients with APS, 18 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 32 healthy controls. Results revealed that 13/24 (54.2%) SN-APS sera were positive for aCL (9 of whom were also positive for lysobisphosphatidic acid) by TLC immunostaining, 11/24 (45.8%) for anti-vimentin/cardiolipin antibodies, 3/24 (12.5%) for anti-prothrombin antibodies, and 1/24 (4.2%) for anti-annexin V antibodies. These findings suggest that in sera from patients with SN-APS, antibodies may be detected using “new” antigenic targets (mainly vimentin/cardiolipin) or methodological approaches different from traditional techniques (mainly TLC immunostaining). Thus, SN-APS represents a mosaic, in which antibodies against different antigenic targets may be detected.
Social Determinants and Access to Induced Abortion in Burkina Faso: From Two Case Studies
Authors: Ouédraogo Ramatou , Sundby Johanne
Published: March 2014

Unsafe abortion constitutes a major public health problem in Burkina Faso and concerns mainly young women. The legal restriction and social stigma make abortions most often clandestine and risky for women who decide to terminate a pregnancy. However, the exposure to the risk of unsafe induced abortion is not the same for all the women who faced unwanted pregnancy and decide to have an abortion. Drawn from a qualitative study on the issue of abortion in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, the contrasting cases of two young women who had abortion allow us to show how the women’s personal resources (such as the school level, financial resources, the compliance to social norms, the social network, etc.) may determine the degree of vulnerability of women, the delay to have an abortion, the type of care they are likely to benefit from, and the cost they have to face. This study concludes that the poorest always pay more (cost and consequences), take longer to have an abortion, and have more exposure to the risk of unsafe abortion.
A New Criterion for the Stabilization Diagram Used with Stochastic Subspace Identification Methods: An Application to an Aircraft Skeleton
Authors: Mrabet E. , Abdelghani M. , Ben Kahla N.
Published: March 2014

The modal parameters of a structure that is estimated from ambient vibration measurements are always subject to bias and variance errors. Accordingly the concept of the stabilization diagram is introduced to help users identify the correct model. One of the most important problems using this diagram is the appearance of spurious modes that should be discriminated to simplify modes selections. This study presents a new stabilization criterion obtained through a novel numerical implementation of the stabilization diagram and the discussion of model validation employing the power spectral density. As an application, an aircraft skeleton is used.
Dry Deposition from Sahara Sources Regions of Western Africa
Authors: Douaiba B. , Azzi A. , Khorsi A. , Benlefki A.
Published: March 2014

Sahara dust storms during March 2004 have attracted much attention from the dust-research community due to their intensity, wide coverage, and endurance. In the present work, the dry deposition mechanisms of mineral dust are analysed during an event on the 3 March 2004 over the Northwest African coast. This particular case was chosen based on the strong dry removal that occurred, rendering it ideal for examining the deposition processes. The simulation of synoptic conditions and dry deposition of four dust particles including clay, small silt, large silt, and sand was performed with Eta model, coupled with a desert dust cycle module. The results have been compared with surface data from weather stations in North Africa, data of dry metals from stations located in Gran Canaria, and various satellite images such as European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer for the period in question.
Synthesis and Characterization of Different Crystalline Calcium Silicate Hydrate: Application for the Removal of Aflatoxin B1 from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Zeng Lu , Yang Ligang , Wang Shuping , Yang Kai
Published: March 2014

Different crystalline calcium silicate hydrates (CSH) were synthesized under specific hydrothermal conditions and several methods were used to analyze samples. Amorphous calcium silicate hydrates (ACSH) mainly consists of disordered calcium silicate hydrate gel (C‐S‐H gel) and crystalline calcium silicate hydrates (CCSH) consists of crystallized tobermorite. The adsorption of carcinogenic aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) onto ACSH and CCSH was investigated. The adsorption kinetics was studied using pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models and intraparticle diffusion model. The pseudo‐second‐order model provided the best correlation and the intraparticle diffusion controlled the adsorption process of AFB1 onto CCSH. Adsorption isotherm parameters were obtained from Langmuir and Freundlich and the adsorption data fitted to Freundlich much better. Based on the results of N2 adsorption/desorption, adsorption kinetics, and adsorption isotherms, the adsorption mechanism of AFB1 onto CCSH was developed. All results indicate that CCSH has a great potential to be a safe, easy‐made, and cost‐effective material for the control of AFB1 contamination.
A Typical Meteorological Year Generation Based on NASA Satellite Imagery (GEOS-I) for Sokoto, Nigeria
Authors: Ohunakin Olayinka S. , Adaramola Muyiwa S. , Oyewola Olanrewaju M. , Fagbenle Richard L. , Abam Fidelis I.
Published: March 2014

Computer simulation of buildings and solar energy systems are being used increasingly in energy assessments and design. This paper evaluates the typical meteorological year (TMY) for Sokoto, northwest region, Nigeria, using 23-year hourly weather data including global solar radiation, dew point temperature, mean temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. Filkenstein-Schafer statistical method was utilized for the creation of a TMY for the site. The persistence of mean dry bulb temperature and daily global horizontal radiation on the five candidate months were evaluated. TMY predictions were compared with the 23-year long-term average values and are found to have close agreement and can be used in building energy simulation for comparative energy efficiency study.
Control Application of Piezoelectric Materials to Aeroelastic Self-Excited Vibrations
Authors: Rashidifar Mohammad Amin , Ahmadi Darvish
Published: March 2014

A method for application of piezoelectric materials to aeroelasticity of turbomachinery blades is presented. The governing differential equations of an overhung beam are established. The induced voltage in attached piezoelectric sensors due to the strain of the beam is calculated. In aeroelastic self-excited vibrations, the aerodynamic generalized force of a specified mode can be described as a linear function of the generalized coordinate and its derivatives. This simplifies the closed loop system designed for vibration control of the corresponding structure. On the other hand, there is an industrial interest in measurement of displacement, velocity, acceleration, or a contribution of them for machinery condition monitoring. Considering this criterion in quadratic optimal control systems, a special style of performance index is configured. Utilizing the current relations in an aeroelastic case with proper attachment of piezoelectric elements can provide higher margin of instability and lead to lower vibration magnitude.
Sonochemical Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of N-Doped TiO2Nanocrystals with Mesoporous Structure
Authors: Jia Tiekun , Fu Fang , Zhao Junwei , Chen Jian , Wang Xiaofeng , Fan Zhenghua , Cui Lijun , Meng Fancheng
Published: March 2014

N-Doped TiO2nanocrystals were synthesized via a simple sonochemical route, using titanium tetrachloride, aqueous ammonia, and urea as starting materials. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) equipped with an energy dispersion X-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results of TEM and nitrogen adsorption-desorption showed that the average size and specific surface area of the as-synthesized nanocrystals are 10 nm and 107.2 m2/g, respectively. Raman spectral characterization combined with the results of XRD and EDS revealed that N dopant ions were successfully doped into TiO2. Compared with pure TiO2, the adsorption band edge of N-doped TiO2samples exhibited an obvious red shift to visible region. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light, and the results showed that the N-doped TiO2sample synthesized by an optimal amount of urea exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity due to its special mesoporous structure and the incorporation of nitrogen dopant ions.
Stress and Grain Boundary Properties of GaN Films Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition Technique
Authors: Ghosh D. , Hussain S. , Ghosh B. , Bhar R. , Pal A. K.
Published: March 2014

Polycrystalline gallium nitride films were successfully deposited on fused silica substrates by ablating a GaN target using pulsed Nd-YAG laser. Microstructural studies indicated an increase in the average crystallite size from ~8 nm to ~70 nm with the increase in substrate temperature from 300 K to 873 K during deposition. The films deposited here were nearly stoichiometric. XPS studies indicated two strong peaks located at ~1116.6 eV and ~395 eV for Ga2p3/2 and a N1s core-level peak, respectively. The films deposited at substrate temperature above 573 K are predominantly zinc blende in nature. PL spectra of the films deposited at higher temperatures were dominated by a strong peak at ~3.2 eV. FTIR spectra indicated a strong and broad absorption peak centered ~520 cm−1 with two shoulders at ~570 cm−1 and 584 cm−1. Characteristic Raman peak at ~531 cm−1 for the A1(TO) mode is observed for all the films. Grain boundary trap states varied between 3.1×1015 and 7×1015 m−2, while barrier height at the grain boundaries varied between 12.4 meV and 37.14 meV. Stress in the films decreased with the increase in substrate temperature.
Steric and Solvent Effect in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Utilizing Phenothiazine-Based Dyes
Authors: Kafafy Hany , Wu Hongwei , Peng Ming , Hu Hsienwei , Yan Kai , El-Shishtawy Reda M. , Zou Dechun
Published: March 2014

Three phenothiazine-based dyes have been prepared and utilized as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The effects of dye-adsorption solvent on the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells based on phenothiazine dyes were investigated in this study. The highest conversion efficiency of 3.78% was obtained using ethanol (EtOH) and 2.53% for tetrahydrofuran (THF), respectively, as dye-adsorption solvents. Cell performance using EtOH as a dye-adsorption solvent showed relatively higher performance than that using THF. Electrochemical and photochemical tests of phenothiazine dyes in solution and adsorbed on the TiO2surface showed less dye loading and coverage on the TiO2surface during adsorption in the case of THF, which decreased the solar cell performance of the DSSC using THF as adsorption solvent compared with using EtOH as adsorption solvent. Meanwhile, the steric effect of phenothiazine-based (PT1–3) dyes was also investigated. Dye with longer and branched aliphatic chain in the order ofPT1,PT2, andPT3showed an increased resistance of the recombination reaction and electron lifetime, thereby increasingVocand enhancing the overall cell performance because of the sterically hindered conformation of the phenothiazines.
Chattering‐Free Adaptive Sliding Mode Control for Attitude Tracking of Spacecraft with External Disturbance
Authors: Zhang Xuxi , Liu Xianping , Zhu Qidan
Published: March 2014

The attitude tracking problem of spacecraft in the presence of unknown disturbance is investigated. By using the adaptive control technique and the Lyapunov stability theory, a chattering‐free adaptive sliding mode control law is proposed for the attitude tracking problem of spacecraft with unknown disturbance. Simulation results are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control design technique in this paper.
Theoretical Calculations and Modeling for the Molecular Polarization of Furan and Thiophene under the Action of an Electric Field Using Quantum Similarity
Authors: Morales-Bayuelo Alejandro , Vivas-Reyes Ricardo
Published: March 2014

A theoretical study on the molecular polarization of thiophene and furan under the action of an electric field using Local Quantum Similarity Indexes (LQSI) was performed. This model is based on Hirshfeld partitioning of electron density within the framework of Density Functional Theory (DFT). Six local similarity indexes were used: overlap, overlap-interaction, coulomb, coulomb-interaction, Euclidian distances of overlap, and Euclidean distances of coulomb. In addition Topo-Geometrical Superposition Algorithm (TGSA) was used as a method of alignment. This method provides a straightforward procedure to solve the problem of molecular relative orientation. It provides a tool to evaluate molecular quantum similarity, enabling the study of structural systems, which differ in only one atom such as thiophene and furan (point groupC2v) and cyclopentadienyl molecule (point groupD5h). Additionally, this model can contribute to the interpretation of chemical bonds, and molecular interactions in the framework of the solvent effect theory.
A Turner Syndrome Patient Carrying a Mosaic Distal X Chromosome Marker
Authors: Mazzaschi Roberto L. P. , Taylor Juliet , Robertson Stephen P. , Love Donald R. , George Alice M.
Published: March 2014

A skin sample from a 17-year-old female was received for routine karyotyping with a set of clinical features including clonic seizures, cardiomyopathy, hepatic adenomas, and skeletal dysplasia. Conventional karyotyping revealed a mosaic Turner syndrome karyotype with a cell line containing a small marker of X chromosome origin. This was later confirmed on peripheral blood cultures by conventional G-banding, fluorescencein situhybridisation and microarray analysis. Similar Turner mosaic marker chromosome cases have been previously reported in the literature, with a variable phenotype ranging from the mild “classic” Turner syndrome to anencephaly, agenesis of the corpus callosum, complex heart malformation, and syndactyly of the fingers and toes. This case report has a phenotype that is largely discordant with previously published cases as it lies at the severe end of the Turner variant phenotype scale. The observed cytogenetic abnormalities in this study may represent a coincidental finding, but we cannot exclude the possibility that the marker has a nonfunctioning X chromosome inactivation locus, leading to functional disomy of those genes carried by the marker.
A Kastler-Kalau-Walze Type Theorem and the Spectral Action for Perturbations of Dirac Operators on Manifolds with Boundary
Authors: Wang Yong
Published: March 2014

We prove a Kastler-Kalau-Walze type theorem for perturbations of Dirac operators on compact manifolds with or without boundary. As a corollary, we give two kinds of operator-theoretic explanations of the gravitational action on boundary. We also compute the spectral action for Dirac operators with two-form perturbations on 4-dimensional compact manifolds.
LMN Facial Palsy in Pregnancy: An Opportunity to Predict Preeclampsia—Report and Review
Authors: Aditya Vani
Published: March 2014

Facial paralysis is the most frequent unilateral cranial nerve pathology affecting pregnant population 2 to 4 times more often than the nonpregnant population. There exists an association with preeclampsia but this has largely been overlooked. Clinicians often dismiss it for idiopathic palsy as seen in the present case. A 30-year-old woman, Gravida 4, Para 3, presented at 26 weeks pregnancy with complaints of facial weakness, blurring of vision, altered taste sensation, increased noise sensitivity for 1 month, headache since 18 days, and vomiting since 2­3 days. Her pulse was 90/min, BP was 170/120, and RR was 18/min. Uterus was 18 weeks size and proteinuria++ was present. Ultrasonography revealed a 26 weeks fetus, severe bradycardia, and absent liquor. HELLP syndrome was diagnosed after investigations. Six units of fresh frozen plasma were transfused. An informed decision for termination of pregnancy was made. She delivered a 450 gram stillborn. The third stage was complicated with postpartum hemorrhage but it was managed successfully. Women with Bell’s palsy during pregnancy should be evaluated critically as in some it may precede preeclampsia which has serious maternal and fetal implications. Therefore, these women should be in regular followup of the obstetrician.
Proinflammatory and Prothrombotic State in Subjects with Different Glucose Tolerance Status before Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Isordia-Salas Irma , Galván-Plata María Eugenia , Leaños-Miranda Alfredo , Aguilar-Sosa Eberth , Anaya-Gómez Francisco , Majluf-Cruz Abraham , Santiago-Germán David
Published: March 2014

Background. Inflammation has been associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and atherothrombosis.Aim. To determine differences in levels of proinflammatory and prothrombotic markers such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes, and T2DM and to establish their relationship with other cardiovascular risk factors before clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease.Methods. We conducted a nonrandomized, cross-sectional assay in a hospital at México City. The levels of hs-CRP and fibrinogen were measured and compared according to glucose tolerance status.Results. We enrolled 1047 individuals and they were distributed into NGTn=473, pre-DMn=250, and T2DMn=216. There was a statistical difference between NGT and T2DM groups for fibrinogen (P=0.01) and hs-CRP (P=0.05). Fibrinogen and hs-CRP showed a significant positive correlation coefficient (r=0.53,P<0.0001). In a multiple stepwise regression analysis, the variability in fibrinogen levels was explained by age, HbA1c, and hs-CRP (adjustedR2=0.31,P<0.0001), and for hs-CRP it was explained by BMI and fibrinogen (adjustedR2=0.33,P<0.0001).Conclusion. Inflammation and prothrombotic state are present in people with T2DM lacking cardiovascular disease. Fibrinogen and Hs-CRP are positively correlated. Fibrinogen and hs-CRP concentrations are predominantly determined by BMI rather than glucose levels.
Quality Analysis of Massive High-Definition Video Streaming in Two-Tiered Embedded Camera-Sensing Systems
Authors: Kim Joongheon , Ryu Eun-Seok
Published: March 2014

This paper presents the quality analysis results of high-definition video streaming in two-tiered camera sensor network applications. In the camera-sensing system, multiple cameras sense visual scenes in their target fields and transmit the video streams via IEEE 802.15.3c multigigabit wireless links. However, the wireless transmission introduces interferences to the other links. This paper analyzes the capacity degradation due to the interference impacts from the camera-sensing nodes to the main aggregation link (AL), that is, the link from AL transmitter to AL receiver. For the study, IEEE 802.15.3c specific path-loss and antenna models are used for more precise evaluation. Finally, the quality analysis results are presented in terms of the number of cameras in a cell, beamwidth, the transmit power at camera sensor nodes, and the transmit power at AL nodes. With the listed factors, the analysis quantifies the actual video quality degradation in the presented camera sensing system.
Image Sequence Fusion and Denoising Based on 3D Shearlet Transform
Authors: Xu Liang , Du Junping , Zhang Zhenhong
Published: March 2014

We propose a novel algorithm for image sequence fusion and denoising simultaneously in 3D shearlet transform domain. In general, the most existing image fusion methods only consider combining the important information of source images and do not deal with the artifacts. If source images contain noises, the noises may be also transferred into the fusion image together with useful pixels. In 3D shearlet transform domain, we propose that the recursive filter is first performed on the high-pass subbands to obtain the denoised high-pass coefficients. The high-pass subbands are then combined to employ the fusion rule of the selecting maximum based on 3D pulse coupled neural network (PCNN), and the low-pass subband is fused to use the fusion rule of the weighted sum. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm yields the encouraging effects.
The Aetiology of Delay to Commencement of Adjuvant Chemotherapy following Colorectal Resection
Authors: Simpson G. S. , Smith R. , Sutton P. , Shekouh A. , McFaul C. , Johnson M. , Vimalachandran D.
Published: March 2014

Purpose. Timely administration of adjuvant chemotherapy following colorectal resection is associated with improved outcome. We aim to assess the factors which are associated with delay to adjuvant chemotherapy in patients who underwent colorectal resection as part of an enhanced recovery protocol.Method. A univariate and multivariate analysis of patient data collected as part of a prospectively maintained database of colorectal cancer patients between 2007 and 2012.Results. 166 patients underwent colorectal resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Median postoperative hospital stay was 6 days, and time to commencement of adjuvant chemotherapy was 50 days. Longer inpatient stay correlated with increased time to adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.05). Factors found to be independently associated with duration of hospital stay and time to commencement of adjuvant chemotherapy included stoma formation (P=0.032), anastaomotic leak (P=0.027), and preoperative albumin (P=0.027). The use of laparoscopic surgery was associated with shorter time to adjuvant chemotherapy but did not reach significance (P=0.143).Conclusion. A number of independent variables associated with delay to adjuvant therapy previously not described have been identified. Further work may be required to elucidate the effect that these variables have on long-term outcome.
Ear Recognition Based on Gabor Features and KFDA
Authors: Yuan Li , Mu Zhichun
Published: March 2014

We propose an ear recognition system based on 2D ear images which includes three stages: ear enrollment, feature extraction, and ear recognition. Ear enrollment includes ear detection and ear normalization. The ear detection approach based on improved Adaboost algorithm detects the ear part under complex background using two steps: offline cascaded classifier training and online ear detection. Then Active Shape Model is applied to segment the ear part and normalize all the ear images to the same size. For its eminent characteristics in spatial local feature extraction and orientation selection, Gabor filter based ear feature extraction is presented in this paper. Kernel Fisher Discriminant Analysis (KFDA) is then applied for dimension reduction of the high-dimensional Gabor features. Finally distance based classifier is applied for ear recognition. Experimental results of ear recognition on two datasets (USTB and UND datasets) and the performance of the ear authentication system show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
The Cytotoxic Role of Intermittent High Glucose on Apoptosis and Cell Viability in Pancreatic Beta Cells
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Li Jing , Yang Lei , Chen Rongping , Yang Rui , Zhang Hua , Cai Dehong , Chen Hong
Published: March 2014

Objectives. Glucose fluctuations are both strong predictor of diabetic complications and crucial factor for beta cell damages. Here we investigated the effect of intermittent high glucose (IHG) on both cell apoptosis and proliferation activity in INS-1 cells and the potential mechanisms.Methods. Cells were treated with normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L), constant high glucose (CHG) (25 mmol/L), and IHG (rotation per 24 h in 11.1 or 25 mmol/L) for 7 days. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), xanthine oxidase (XOD) level, apoptosis, cell viability, cell cycle, and expression of cyclinD1, p21, p27, and Skp2 were determined.Results. We found that IHG induced more significant apoptosis than CHG and normal glucose; intracellular ROS and XOD levels were more markedly increased in cells exposed to IHG. Cells treated with IHG showed significant decreased cell viability and increased cell proportion in G0/G1 phase. Cell cycle related proteins such as cyclinD1 and Skp2 were decreased significantly, but expressions of p27 and p21 were increased markedly.Conclusions. This study suggested that IHG plays a more toxic effect including both apoptosis-inducing and antiproliferative effects on INS-1 cells. Excessive activation of cellular stress and regulation of cyclins might be potential mechanism of impairment in INS-1 cells induced by IHG.
Effect of Lactic Acid Etching on Bonding Effectiveness of Orthodontic Bracket after Water Storage
Authors: Alsulaimani Fahad F.
Published: March 2014

Objective. To determine the effect of lactic acid at various concentrations on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded with the resin adhesive system before and after water storage. Materials and Methods. Hundred extracted human premolars were divided into 5 treatment groups and etched for 30 seconds with one of the following agents: lactic acid solution with (A) 10%, (B) 20%, (C) 30%, and (D) 50%; group E, 37% phosphoric acid (control). Metal brackets were bonded using a Transbond XT. Bonding effectiveness was assessed by shear bond strength after 24 hours and 6 months of water storage at 37°C. The data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test (α=.001). Results. Lactic acid concentration and water storage resulted in significant differences for brackets bond strength (P<.001). 20% lactic acid had significantly higher mean bond strength values (SD) for all conditions: 24 hours [12.2 (.7) MPa] and 6 months [10.1 (.6) MPa] of water storage. 37% phosphoric acid had intermediate bond strength values for all conditions: 24 hours [8.2 (.6) MPa] and 6 months [6.2 (.6) MPa] of water storage. Also, there were differences in bond strength between storage time, with a reduction in values from 24 hours and 6 months for all experimental groups (P<.001). Conclusion. Lactic acid could be used in place of phosphoric acid as an enamel etchant for bonding of orthodontic brackets.
Altered Expression Profile of Renalα1D-Adrenergic Receptor in Diabetes and Its Modulation by PPAR Agonists
Authors: Zhao Xueying , Zhang Yuanyuan , Leander Michelle , Li Lingyun , Wang Guoshen , Emmett Nerimiah
Published: March 2014

Alpha1D-adrenergic receptor (α1D-AR) plays important roles in regulating physiological and pathological responses mediated by catecholamines, particularly in the cardiovascular and urinary systems. The present study was designed to investigate the expression profile ofα1D-AR in the diabetic kidneys and its modulation by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). 12-week-old Zucker lean (ZL) and Zucker diabetic fatty (ZD) rats were treated with fenofibrate or rosiglitazone for 8–10 weeks. Gene microarray, real-time PCR, and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy were performed to assess mRNA and protein expression ofα1D-AR in rat kidney tissue. Using microarray, we found thatα1D-AR gene was dramatically upregulated in 22-week-old ZD rats compared to ZL controls. Quantitative PCR analysis verified a 16-fold increase inα1D-AR mRNA in renal cortex from ZD animals compared to normal controls. Chronic treatment with fenofibrate or rosiglitazone reduced renal corticalα1D-AR gene. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed thatα1D-AR protein was induced in the glomeruli and tubules of diabetic rats. Moreover, dual immunostaining forα1D-AR and kidney injury molecule-1 indicated thatα1D-AR was expressed in dedifferentiated proximal tubules of diabetic Zucker rats. Taken together, our results show thatα1D-AR expression is upregulated in the diabetic kidneys. PPAR activation suppressed renal expression ofα1D-AR in diabetic nephropathy.
Fault Diagnosis of Car Engine by Using a Novel GA‐Based Extension Recognition Method
Authors: Wang Meng-Hui , Wu Pi-Chu
Published: March 2014

Due to the passenger’s security, the recognized hidden faults in car engines are the most important work for a maintenance engineer, so they can regulate the engines to be safe and improve the reliability of automobile systems. In this paper, we will present a novel fault recognition method based on the genetic algorithm (GA) and the extension theory and also apply this method to the fault recognition of a practical car engine. The proposed recognition method has been tested on the Nissan Cefiro 2.0 engine and has also been compared to other traditional classification methods. Experimental results are of great effect regarding the hidden fault recognition of car engines, and the proposed method can also be applied to other industrial apparatus.
The Role of the Extracellular Matrix Components in Cutaneous Wound Healing
Authors: Olczyk Pawel , Mencner Łukasz , Komosinska-Vassev Katarzyna
Published: March 2014

Wound healing is the physiologic response to tissue trauma proceeding as a complex pathway of biochemical reactions and cellular events, secreted growth factors, and cytokines. Extracellular matrix constituents are essential components of the wound repair phenomenon. Firstly, they create a provisional matrix, providing a structural integrity of matrix during each stage of healing process. Secondly, matrix molecules regulate cellular functions, mediate the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and serve as a reservoir and modulator of cytokines and growth factors’ action. Currently known mechanisms, by which extracellular matrix components modulate each stage of the process of soft tissue remodeling after injury, have been discussed.
Elastic Analysis of Rotating Thick Truncated Conical Shells Subjected to Uniform Pressure Using Disk Form Multilayers
Authors: Zamani Nejad Mohammad , Jabbari Mehdi , Ghannad Mehdi
Published: March 2014

Using disk form multilayers, an elastic analysis is presented for determination of displacements and stresses of rotating thick truncated conical shells. The cone is divided into disk layers form with their thickness corresponding to the thickness of the cone. Due to the existence of shear stress in the truncated cone, the equations governing disk layers are obtained based on first shear deformation theory (FSDT). These equations are in the form of a set of general differential equations. Given that the truncated cone is divided intondisks,nsets of differential equations are obtained. The solution of this set of equations, applying the boundary conditions and continuity conditions between the layers, yields displacements and stresses. The results obtained have been compared with those obtained through the analytical solution and the numerical solution.
Gene Technology for Papaya Ringspot Virus Disease Management
Authors: Azad Md. Abul Kalam , Amin Latifah , Sidik Nik Marzuki
Published: March 2014

Papaya (Carica papaya) is severely damaged by the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). This review focuses on the development of PRSV resistant transgenic papaya through gene technology. The genetic diversity of PRSV depends upon geographical distribution and the influence of PRSV disease management on a sequence of PRSV isolates. The concept of pathogen-derived resistance has been employed for the development of transgenic papaya, using a coat protein-mediated, RNA-silencing mechanism and replicase gene-mediated transformation for effective PRSV disease management. The development of PRSV-resistant papaya via post-transcriptional gene silencing is a promising technology for PRSV disease management. PRSV-resistant transgenic papaya is environmentally safe and has no harmful effects on human health. Recent studies have revealed that the success of adoption of transgenic papaya depends upon the application, it being a commercially viable product, bio-safety regulatory issues, trade regulations, and the wider social acceptance of the technology. This review discusses the genome and the genetic diversity of PRSV, host range determinants, molecular diagnosis, disease management strategies, the development of transgenic papaya, environmental issues, issues in the adoption of transgenic papaya, and future directions for research.
Exponential Stability for Impulsive Stochastic Nonlinear Network Systems with Time Delay
Authors: Chen Lanping , Han Zhengzhi , Ma Zhenghua
Published: March 2014

We study the exponential stability of the complex dynamical network described by differentially nonlinear equations which couple with time delay and stochastic impulses. Some sufficient conditions are established to ensurepth moment exponential stable for the stochastic impulsive systems (SIS) with time delay. An example with its numerical simulation is presented to illustrate the validation of main results.
Nonlinear Isometries on Schatten-pClass in Atomic Nest Algebras
Authors: He Kan , Yuan Qing
Published: March 2014

LetHbe a complex Hilbert space; denote by Alg 𝒩and𝒞p(H)the atomic nest algebra associated with the atomic nest𝒩onHand the space of Schatten-pclass operators on,Hrespectively. Let𝒞p(H)∩Alg 𝒩be the space of Schatten-pclass operators in Alg 𝒩. When1≤p<+∞andp≠2, we give a complete characterization of nonlinear surjective isometries on𝒞p(H)∩Alg 𝒩. Ifp=2, we also prove that a nonlinear surjective isometry on𝒞2(H)∩Alg 𝒩is the translation of an orthogonality preserving map.
Effect of Fluid Viscoelasticity on Turbulence and Large-Scale Vortices behind Wall-Mounted Plates
Authors: Tsukahara Takahiro , Tanabe Masaaki , Kawaguchi Yasuo
Published: March 2014

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent viscoelastic fluid flows in a channel with wall-mounted plates were performed to investigate the influence of viscoelasticity on turbulent structures and the mean flow around the plate. The constitutive equation follows the Giesekus model, valid for polymer or surfactant solutions, which are generally capable of reducing the turbulent frictional drag in a smooth channel. We found that turbulent eddies just behind the plates in viscoelastic fluid decreased in number and in magnitude, but their size increased. Three pairs of organized longitudinal vortices were observed downstream of the plates in both Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids: two vortex pairs were behind the plates and the other one with the longest length was in a plate-free area. In the viscoelastic fluid, the latter vortex pair in the plate-free area was maintained and reached the downstream rib, but its swirling strength was weakened and the local skin-friction drag near the vortex was much weaker than those in the Newtonian flow. The mean flow and small spanwise eddies were influenced by the additional fluid force due to the viscoelasticity and, moreover, the spanwise component of the fluid elastic force may also play a role in the suppression of fluid vortical motions behind the plates.
Improving the Operational Methodology of Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Prediction in the Australian and the South Pacific Ocean Regions
Authors: Wijnands J. S. , Shelton K. , Kuleshov Y.
Published: March 2014

Tropical cyclones (TCs) can have a major impact on the coastal communities of Australia and Pacific Island countries. Preparedness is one of the key factors to limit TC impacts and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issues an outlook of TC seasonal activity ahead of TC season for the Australian Region (AR; 5°S to 40°S, 90°E to 160°E) and the South Pacific Ocean (SPO; 5°S to 40°S, 142.5°E to 120°W). This paper investigates the use of support vector regression models and new explanatory variables to improve the accuracy of seasonal TC predictions. Correlation analysis and subsequent cross-validation of the generated models showed that the Dipole Mode Index (DMI) performs well as an explanatory variable for TC prediction in both AR and SPO, Niño4 SST anomalies—in AR and Niño1+2 SST anomalies—in SPO. For both AR and SPO, the developed model which utilised the combination of Niño1+2 SST anomalies, Niño4 SST anomalies, and DMI had the best forecasting performance. The support vector regression models outperform the current models based on linear discriminant analysis approach for both regions, improving the standard deviation of errors in cross-validation from 2.87 to 2.27 for AR and from 4.91 to 3.92 for SPO.
Observation of a Class of Disturbance in Time Series Expansion for Fractional Order Systems
Authors: Wei Yiheng , Karimi Hamid Reza , Pan Jinwen , Gao Qing , Wang Yong
Published: March 2014

This paper is concerned with the problem of designing disturbance observer for fractional order systems, of which the disturbance is in time series expansion. The stability of a special observer with the selected nonlinear weighted function and transient dynamics function is rigorously analyzed for slowly varying disturbance. In addition, the result is also extended to estimate slope forms disturbance and higher order disturbance of fractional order systems. The efficacy of the proposed method is validated through numerical examples.
Combination Therapy of an Intestine-Specific Inhibitor of Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated ReceptorγAgonist in Diabetic Rat
Authors: Sakata Shohei , Mera Yasuko , Kuroki Yukiharu , Nashida Reiko , Kakutani Makoto , Ohta Takeshi
Published: March 2014

We investigated effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in combination of JTT-130, a novel intestine-specific microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor, and pioglitazone, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γagonist. Male Zucker diabetic fatty rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, JTT-130 treatment group, pioglitazone treatment group, and combination group. The Zucker diabetic fatty rats were fed a regular powdered diet with JTT-130 and/or pioglitazone as a food admixture for 6 weeks. Effects on glucose and lipid metabolism were compared mainly between JTT-130 treatment group and combination group. JTT-130 treatment showed good glycemic control, while the plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels in combination group were significantly decreased as compared with those JTT-130 treatment group. The reduction in the plasma triglyceride and free fatty acid levels in combination group was higher than that in JTT-130 treatment group, and glucose utilization was significantly elevated in adipose tissues. In Zucker diabetic fatty rats, combination treatment of JTT-130 and pioglitazone showed better glycemic control and a strong hypolipidemic action with an enhancement of insulin sensitivity. Combination therapy of MTP inhibitor and PPARγagonist might be more useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes accompanied with obesity and insulin resistance.
Fixation Probabilities of Evolutionary Graphs Based on the Positions of New Appearing Mutants
Authors: Zhang Pei-ai
Published: March 2014

Evolutionary graph theory is a nice measure to implement evolutionary dynamics on spatial structures of populations. To calculate the fixation probability is usually regarded as a Markov chain process, which is affected by the number of the individuals, the fitness of the mutant, the game strategy, and the structure of the population. However the position of the new mutant is important to its fixation probability. Here the position of the new mutant is laid emphasis on. The method is put forward to calculate the fixation probability of an evolutionary graph (EG) of single level. Then for a class of bilevel EGs, their fixation probabilities are calculated and some propositions are discussed. The conclusion is obtained showing that the bilevel EG is more stable than the corresponding one-rooted EG.
Finite-TimeH∞Control for a Class of Discrete-Time Markov Jump Systems with Actuator Saturation via Dynamic Antiwindup Design
Authors: Zhao Junjie , Wang Jing , Li Bo
Published: March 2014

We deal with the finite-time control problem for discrete-time Markov jump systems subject to saturating actuators. A finite-state Markovian process is given to govern the transition of the jumping parameters. A controller designed for unconstrained systems combined with a dynamic antiwindup compensator is given to guarantee that the resulting system is mean-square locally asymptotically finite-time stabilizable. The proposed conditions allow us to find dynamic anti-windup compensator which stabilize the closed-loop systems in the finite-time sense. All these conditions can be expressed in the form of linear matrix inequalities and therefore are numerically tractable, as shown in the example included in the paper.
The Magnetohydrodynamic Boundary Layer Flow of a Nanofluid past a Stretching/Shrinking Sheet with Slip Boundary Conditions
Authors: Mansur Syahira , Ishak Anuar
Published: March 2014

The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) boundary layer flow of a nanofluid past a stretching/shrinking sheet with velocity, thermal, and solutal slip boundary conditions is studied. Numerical solutions to the governing equations were obtained using a shooting method. The skin friction coefficient and the local Sherwood number increase as the stretching/shrinking parameter increases. However, the local Nusselt number decreases with increasing the stretching/shrinking parameter. The range of the stretching/shrinking parameter for which the solution exists increases as the velocity slip parameter and the magnetic parameter increase. For the shrinking sheet, the skin friction coefficient increases as the velocity slip parameter and the magnetic parameter increase. For the stretching sheet, it decreases when the velocity slip parameter and the magnetic parameter increase. The local Nusselt number diminishes as the thermal slip parameter increases while the local Sherwood number decreases with increasing the solutal slip parameter. The local Nusselt number is lower for higher values of Lewis number, Brownian motion parameter, and thermophoresis parameter.
Dynamic Analysis of a Phytoplankton-Fish Model with Biological and Artificial Control
Authors: Wang Yapei , Zhao Min , Pan Xinhong , Dai Chuanjun
Published: March 2014

We investigate a nonlinear model of the interaction between phytoplankton and fish, which uses a pair of semicontinuous systems with biological and artificial control. First, the existence of an order-1 periodic solution to the system is analyzed using a Poincaré map and a geometric method. The stability conditions of the order-1 periodic solution are obtained by a theoretical mathematical analysis. Furthermore, based on previous analysis, we investigate the bifurcation in the order-1 periodic solution and prove that the order-1 periodic solution breaks up an order-1 periodic solution at least. In addition, the transcritical bifurcation of the system is described. Finally, we provide a series of numerical results that illustrate the feasibility of the theoretical results. Based on the theoretical and numerical results, we analyzed the feasibility of biological and artificial control, which showed that biological and artificial methods can control phytoplankton blooms. These results are expected to be useful for the study of phytoplankton dynamics in aquatic ecosystems.
Mixture Augmented Lagrange Multiplier Method for Tensor Recovery and Its Applications
Authors: Tan Huachun , Cheng Bin , Feng Jianshuai , Liu Li , Wang Wuhong
Published: March 2014

The problem of data recovery in multiway arrays (i.e., tensors) arises in many fields such as computer vision, image processing, and traffic data analysis. In this paper, we propose a scalable and fast algorithm for recovering a low-n-rank tensor with an unknown fraction of its entries being arbitrarily corrupted. In the new algorithm, the tensor recovery problem is formulated as a mixture convex multilinear Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) optimization problem by minimizing a sum of the nuclear norm and theℓ1-norm. The problem is well structured in both the objective function and constraints. We apply augmented Lagrange multiplier method which can make use of the good structure for efficiently solving this problem. In the experiments, the algorithm is compared with the state-of-art algorithm both on synthetic data and real data including traffic data, image data, and video data.
Dirac System with Discontinuities at Two Points
Authors: Hıra Fatma , Altınışık Nihat
Published: March 2014

We deal with a regular Dirac system which has discontinuities at two points and contains eigenparameter in a boundary condition and two transmission conditions. We investigate asymptotic behaviour of eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions of this Dirac system and construct Green’s function.
Isomers of Poly Aminophenol: Chemical Synthesis, Characterization, and Its Corrosion Protection Aspect on Mild Steel in 1 M HCl
Authors: Thenmozhi G. , Arockiasamy P. , Santhi R. Jaya
Published: March 2014

The oxidative chemical polymerizations of three isomers of aminophenol,ortho,meta, andpara(PoAP, PmAP, and PpAP), were performed in aqueous HCl using ammonium persulfate as an oxidant at 0–3°C. The synthesized polymers were characterized by employing elemental analysis, GPC, UV-VIS-NIR, FT-IR, XRD, and TGA. The corrosion inhibition effect of these three polymers on mild steel in 1 M HCl solution was studied by using electrochemical techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These measurements reveal that the inhibition efficiency obtained by these polymers increased by increasing their concentration. The inhibition efficiency follows the order PpAP > PoAP > PmAP. The results further revealed that PpAP at a concentration of 250 mg/L furnishes maximum inhibition efficiency (96.5%). Polarization studies indicated that these three polymers act as the mixed type corrosion inhibitors.