bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective Roughness in the Boundary Layer to Suppress Flow-Induced Motions of Circular Cylinder at 30,000<Re<120,000
Authors: Park Hongrae , Bernitsas Michael M. , Kumar R. Ajith
Published: November 2011

A passive control means to suppress flow-induced motions (FIM) of a rigid circular cylinder in the TrSL3, high-lift, flow regime is formulated and tested experimentally. The method developed uses passive turbulence control (PTC) consisting of selectively located roughness on the cylinder surface with thickness about equal to the boundary layer thickness. The map of “PTC-to-FIM”, developed in previous work, revealed robust zones of weak suppression, strong suppression, hard galloping, and soft galloping. PTC has been used successfully to enhance FIM for hydrokinetic energy harnessing using the VIVACE Converter. The same technology revealed the potential to suppress FIM to various levels. The map is flow-direction dependent. In this paper, the “PTC-to-FIM” map is used to guide development of FIM suppression devices that are flow-direction independent and hardly affect cylinder geometry. Experiments are conducted in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water Channel of the University of Michigan on a rigid, horizontal, circular cylinder, suspended on springs. Amplitude and frequency measurements and broad field-of-view visualization reveal complex flow structures and their relation to suppression. Several PTC designs are tested to understand PTC direction, roughness, thickness, and coverage. Gradual modification of PTC parameters, leads to improved suppression and evolution of a design reducing the VIV synchronization range, fully suppressing VIV in a wide range, and reducing the maximum occurring near the system’s natural frequency by about 60% compared to the maximum amplitude of the smooth cylinder.
New Design Configuration of Steel Catenary Risers With Pull-Tube for Spars
Authors: Shi Shan , Mao Charlie , Yang Jenny , Kurup Nishu
Published: November 2011

In previous Spar designs where pull tubes were used to board the risers (either export or flowline risers), the pull-tube extended a considerable distance beyond the keel and used a tapered design to form a bend restrictor that supported the riser throughout the riser/hull interface. In a current Spar design, the pull-tube is terminated at the hull keel and the bending loads are carried by a double sided stress-joint in the riser that pivots on a centralizer located near the bottom of the pull-tube. Essentially, this is an adaptation of the double-sided stress joint used for top tensioned risers exiting the bottom of their buoyancy can stems to the similar condition of an SCR exiting a pull tube terminating at the Spar’s keel. This new pull-tube and SCR configuration can be applied for both Truss and Classic Spars. SCRs boarding Spars through pull tubes have several advantages over stress joints or flex-joints anchored in porches, notably, eliminating both the need for divers to make large piping connections at 500′ to 600′ water depths and the possibility of those connections leaking over time. Moving the bend restrictor function from the pull tube to the riser provides the additional advantage of adding flexibility for the Spar to accommodate future risers whose size and weight are not known at the time the pull tubes are designed and the platform is installed. With the stress joint as part of the riser, the bend restrictor can be custom designed for each riser since the pull tube works the same for all risers. The SCR and stress joint, pull-in and in-place analyses have been performed by using the finite element program ABAQUS. The nonlinear capabilities of ABAQUS including the hybrid, gap and contact element formulations are utilized in the analysis of the pull-in process. The nonlinear contact elements with finite sliding capability are modeled with an exponential over-closure relationship.
Study of Nonlinear Internal Waves and Impact on Offshore Drilling Units
Authors: Kurup Nishu V. , Shi Shan , Shi Zhongmin , Miao Wenju , Jiang Lei
Published: November 2011

Internal waves near the ocean surface have been observed in many parts of the world including the Andaman Sea, Sulu Sea and South China Sea among others. The factors that cause and propagate these large amplitude waves include bathymetry, density stratification and ocean currents. Although their effects on floating drilling platforms and its riser systems have not been extensively studied, these waves have in the past seriously disrupted offshore exploration and drilling operations. In particular a drill pipe was ripped from the BOP and lost during drilling operations in the Andaman sea. Drilling riser damages were also reported from the south China Sea among other places. The purpose of this paper is to present a valid numerical model conforming to the physics of weakly nonlinear internal waves and to study the effects on offshore drilling semisubmersibles and riser systems. The pertinent differential equation that captures the physics is the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation which has a general solution involving Jacobian elliptical functions. The solution of the Taylor Goldstein equation captures the effects of the pycnocline. Internal wave packets with decayed oscillations as observed from satellite pictures are specifically modeled. The nonlinear internal waves are characterized by wave amplitudes that can exceed 50 ms and the present of shearing currents near the layer of pycnocline. The offshore drilling system is exposed to these current shears and the associated movements of large volumes of water. The effect of internal waves on drilling systems is studied through nonlinear fully coupled time domain analysis. The numerical model is implemented in a coupled analysis program where the hull, moorings and riser are considered as an integrated system. The program is then utilized to study the effects of the internal wave on the platform global motions and drilling system integrity. The study could be useful for future guidance on offshore exploration and drilling operations in areas where the internal wave phenomenon is prominent.
Reconstruction of Extreme Events Through Numerical Simulations
Authors: Slunyaev Alexey , Pelinovsky Efim , Guedes Soares C.
Published: November 2011

In this paper some abnormal or rogue wave events registered in the North Sea by means of the surface elevation measurement are reconstructed with numerical models. The time series of surface elevation measured at a single point although providing incomplete information, are used to restore the unidirectional wave dynamics under reasonable assumptions. Different approaches of defining the relation between the surface elevation and the fluid velocity field are considered, and different numerical models are used to simulate the wave dynamics in time and space. It is shown that for some abnormal or rogue wave records the result of the extreme event reconstruction is robust. In particular, the verification of approximate approaches versus the fully nonlinear numerical simulation is performed. At the same time, the reconstructed rogue wave is generally less steep than the measured one. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are suggested.
Computational Methods for Solving Dynamic Ice Structure Interaction Problems
Authors: Konuk Ibrahim
Published: November 2011

A framework based on a complex dynamical system viewpoint for formulating and solving dynamic ice-structure interaction problems is introduced. Important constituents required for formulating a well posed initial-boundary value problem are discussed. Significance of these constituents is illustrated using a Cohesive Element model of several example problems.
Probabilistic and Deterministic Approach to the Setting of In-Line Inspection Intervals
Authors: McCallum Marcus , Jandu Chas , Francis Andrew
Published: November 2011

All pipelines are susceptible to the possibility of corrosion damage. Corrosion is a time dependent process that leads to localised gradual thinning of the pipeline wall and if allowed to continue will eventually cause failure of the pipewall. Due to the progressive nature of corrosion the likelihood of failure increases with time. One means of mitigating the likelihood of such failures is to perform an in-line inspection using a metal loss detection tool. The frequency of inspection is an important parameter to operators since if it is too high, excessive costs will be incurred and if it is too low, failure involving loss of supply, threats to safety and the environment may follow. Operators therefore seek the optimum frequency. This paper describes a robust method for optimizing inspection intervals based on the use of structural reliability analysis.
Epigenetics of Nicotine: Another Nail in the Coughing
Authors: Volkow Nora D.
Published: November 2011

Chronic nicotine exposure rewired the brains of rodents and enhanced their behavioral response to cocaine.
Tuning In to Gene-Environment Synergy
Authors: Nielson Carrie M.
Published: November 2011

Information theory facilitates analyses of complex gene-gene and gene-environment interactions.
All in the Family
Authors: Niewold Timothy B.
Published: November 2011

Defective DNA clearance enzyme leads to monogenic familial lupus.
Restricted Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) Herpesvirus Transcription in KS Lesions from Patients on Successful Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Dittmer Dirk P.
Published: November 2011

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is caused by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV; human herpesvirus 8). KS is an AIDS-defining cancer, and it is changing in the post-antiretroviral therapy (post-ART) era. In countries with ready access to ART, approximately one-third of KS cases present in patients with undetectable HIV loads and CD4 counts of ≥200 cells/µl. This is in contrast to pre-ART era KS, which was associated with systemic HIV replication and CD4 counts of ≤200 cells/µl. Using primary patient biopsy specimens, we identified a novel molecular signature that characterizes AIDS KS lesions that develop in HIV-suppressed patients on ART: KSHV transcription is limited in HIV-suppressed patients. With one exception, only the canonical viral latency mRNAs were detectable. In contrast, early AIDS KS lesions expressed many more viral mRNAs, including, for instance, the viral G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR).

IMPORTANCE
This is the first genomewide study of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) transcription in KS lesions in the post-antiretroviral (post-ART) era. It shows that the gene expression of KSHV is altered in patients on ART, and it provides clinical evidence for active AIDS (as characterized by high HIV load and low CD4 counts) being a potential modulator of KSHV transcription. This implies a novel mode of pathogenesis (tightly latent KS), which may inform KS cancer treatment options in the post-ART era.
Prospective Swiss cohort study of living-kidney donors: study protocol
Authors: Thiel Gilbert T , Nolte Christa , Tsinalis Dimitrios
Published: November 2011

Background

Offering living kidney donation raised the concern that donors are exposed to unknown risks. All Swiss transplant centres therefore decided to start a prospective cohort study of living kidney donors in Switzerland. This paper describes the rationale for and implementation of this cohort study.

Methods/design

All kidney donors in Switzerland are registered and examined before donation and biennially after donation starting in the first year after nephrectomy. Before each follow-up visit, the study centre sends a package to the kidney donor containing the health questionnaire, blood and urine tubes and a prepaid envelope for sending the samples to the central laboratory. The donor makes an appointment with their family physician, who examines the donor and reports findings such as pain and other complaints, blood pressure, creatinine, albumin, all major health events and the state of mental and social well-being to the study centre. The family doctor draws the blood sample and mails it with the urine sample in the prepaid envelope. All data are centrally managed. All abnormal findings in the follow-up of individual donors are regularly discussed with the principal investigator, and necessary clinical changes made and recorded in the database. The health insurance of the recipient covers all costs of the donor follow-up. The main outcomes are the occurrence of albuminuria, hypertension and renal insufficiency. The secondary outcomes are major somatic and social events such as death, cardiovascular disease, stroke and depression.

Discussion

This prospective cohort offers unique opportunities to assess the risks of living kidney donation and will allow us to examine the risks associated with the methods used for nephrectomy in Switzerland (various forms of open surgery and laparoscopic nephrectomy). The prospective collection of all clinically relevant data and the regular monitoring of donors will allow timely interventions at early stages before serious kidney and general health problems occur.
Training the biomedical informatics workforce in Latin America: results of a needs assessment
Authors: Blas Magaly M , Curioso Walter H , Garcia Patricia J , Zimic Mirko , Carcamo Cesar P , Castagnetto Jesus M , Lescano Andres G , Lopez Diego M
Published: November 2011

Objective

To report the results of a needs assessment of research and training in Medical Informatics (MI) and Bioinformatics (BI) in Latin America.

Methods and results

This assessment was conducted by QUIPU: The Andean Global Health Informatics Research and Training Center. After sending email invitations to MI–BI related professionals from Latin America, 142 surveys were received from 11 Latin American countries. The following were the top four ranked MI-related courses that a training programme should include: introduction to biomedical informatics; data representation and databases; mobile health; and courses that address issues of security, confidentiality and privacy. Several new courses and topics for research were suggested by survey participants. The information collected is guiding the development of curricula and a research agenda for the MI and BI QUIPU multidisciplinary programme for the Andean Region and Latin America.
The ‘Eigenständig werden’ prevention trial: a cluster randomised controlled study on a school-based life skills programme to prevent substance use onset
Authors: Hansen Julia , Hanewinkel Reiner , Maruska Karin , Isensee Barbara
Published: November 2011

Objective

To implement and evaluate ‘Eigenständig werden 5+6’ (‘Becoming Independent 5+6’), a school-based curriculum for grades 5 and 6 developed on the basis of evidence-based criteria for effective drug prevention curricula in schools. Evaluation of the programme includes efficacy, feasibility and practicability in daily school routine.

Methods and results

The intervention ‘Eigenständig werden 5+6’ consists of 14 teaching units evenly distributed over grades 5 and 6 which are interactively delivered, and a parent component. Programme effects are studied in a four wave cluster randomised controlled trial with two arms, an intervention and a control group. Self-completed questionnaires from students and teachers are collected by trained research staff. 45 schools, 172 classes and 3444 students with a mean age of 10.37 years (SD=0.59) and 47.9% girls from four federal states in Germany were assessed at baseline. 1685 students in 81 classes were assigned to intervention classes, 1759 students in 91 classes to the control arm. No differences between conditions were found for age, gender, immigration background, socioeconomic status, substance use or life skills at baseline. Exceptions were higher self-efficacy (t(3438)=2.34, p=0.02, d=0.08) and empathy (t(3302)=2.4, p=0.02, d=0.09) in the control group, whereas class climate seemed better in the intervention group (t(3037)=2.01, p=0.05, d=0.07), but effect sizes state marginal differences.

Conclusion

Baseline data suggest that the initial conditions are favourable for testing programme efficacy since distribution of baseline levels of the outcomes did not differ in the intervention and control groups, except for negligible differences between self-efficacy and empathy, which were higher in the control group, and class climate, which was higher in the intervention group.

Trial registration number

Current Controlled TrialsISRCTN99442407.
How is agitation and restlessness managed in the last 24 h of life in patients whose care is supported by the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient?
Authors: Gambles M , McGlinchey T , Latten R , Dickman A , Lowe D , Ellershaw J E
Published: November 2011

Background

Guidance regarding the patient centred management of agitation and restlessness reinforces the importance of considering underlying causes, non-pharmacological approaches to treatment and judicious use of medications titrated to patient need. In contrast, recent reports in the literature suggest that the practice of continuous deep sedation until death is prevalent in the UK.

Aim

To use data from the National Care of the Dying Audit - Hospitals (NCDAH) to explore the administration of medication for management of agitation and restlessness in the last 24 h of life.

Methods

Hospitals submitted data from up to 30 consecutive adult patients whose care in the final hours/days of life was supported by the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP). Data on the total dose received in the last 24 h of life PRN and the last dose prescribed for administration via continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) for agitation and restlessness were submitted.

Results

155 hospitals provided data from 3893 patients. Median total doses in the last 24 h for midazolam, haloperidol and levomepromazine, respectively, were: PRN only, 2.5, 1.5 and 6.25 mg; CSCI only, 10, 3 and 6.25 mg; PRN+CSCI, 15, 3 and 12.5 mg.

Conclusion

Only 51% of patients received medication to alleviate agitation and restlessness in the last 24 h of life. Median doses were low in comparison to doses recommended for continuous deep sedation, suggesting that there is no ‘blanket’ policy for continuous deep sedation at the end of life for patients whose care is supported by the LCP.
Accuracy of a feedback device for cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a dental chair
Authors: Segal Nicolas , Laurent Florian , Maman Louis , Plaisance Patrick , Augustin Pascal
Published: November 2011

Background

Conflicting studies exist about the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a dental chair. In some situations, dental surgeons are obliged to perform CPR with the patient on the chair. Feedback devices are supposed to guide the compression depth in order to improve the quality of CPR, but some devices are based on an accelerometer that can theoretically report erroneous results because of the lack of rigidity of a dental chair.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of these devices to guide chest compressions on a dental chair.

Methods

A prospective, randomised, crossover, equivalence/non-inferiority study was conducted to compare the values of compression depths provided by the feedback device (Real CPR Help®, delivered by Zoll© Medical Corporation, Chelmsford, MA, USA) with the real measurements provided by the manikin (Resusci Anne®Advanced SkillTrainer, Laerdal Medical AS©, Norway). Chest-compression-only CPR was performed by 15 Basic Life Support instructors who carried out two rounds of continuous CPR for 2 min each. Data were analysed with a correlation test, a Bland–Altman method and a Wilcoxon test. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.

Results

A significant difference was found between the mean depths of compression measured by the feedback device and the manikin on a dental chair and on the floor (p<0.0001). The feedback device overestimated the depth of chest compressions, and Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated poor agreement.

Conclusion

This study indicates that feedback devices with accelerometer technology are not sufficiently reliable to ensure adequate chest compression on dental chairs.
Are we ready? Preparedness of acute care providers for the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand
Authors: Al-Shaqsi Sultan , McBride David , Gauld Robin , Al-Kashmiri Ammar , Al-Harthy Abdullah
Published: November 2011

New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011. It is the largest sporting event in New Zealand's history, with around 70 000 fans estimated to visit the country from September to October 2011. This influx of tourists will have an impact on its already stretched healthcare services. The preparedness of New Zealand's healthcare system to handle this mass event is unclear.

Objectives

The two main objectives of this study were (1) to determine the perceived preparedness of acute care providers in New Zealand to respond to the healthcare demands of RWC 2011; and (2) to determine the factors associated with perceived strong preparedness among acute care providers in New Zealand.

Method

A cross-sectional survey of 1500 doctors, nurses and ambulance officers working in acute care services in New Zealand was conducted between June 2010 and March 2011.

Results

911 surveys were completed (response rate 60.7%). Only 12.7% of acute care providers felt they were prepared to deal with possible health issues arising from RWC 2011. Perceived preparedness was highest among ambulance officers and lowest among providers in intensive care units (16.3% vs 4.1%, p<0.01). Acute care providers who were aware of their role in a mass emergency were more likely to report preparedness with a prevalence OR of 3.5 and a 95% CI of 2.1 to 5.7.

Conclusion

Only 12.7% of acute care providers in New Zealand perceived preparedness for RWC 2011. Perceived preparedness followed a stepwise decline from prehospital services, emergency department, to surgery and then finally to intensive care services. This indicates that current preparedness activities are focusing on prehospital emergency services and neglecting surgical and intensive care services. Awareness about the role of acute care providers during emergencies, training and previous experience were associated with perceived strong preparedness for RWC 2011.
Too cold for comfort: a neonate with severe hypothermia: Figure 1
Authors: Sargant N , Sen E S , Marden B
Published: November 2011

Severe neonatal hypothermia is an infrequent presentation to the Emergency Department. This case report describes the successful resuscitation and rapid rewarming of a newborn baby who presented to the Emergency Department with a core temperature of 14.8°C. This is the lowest temperature documented in the literature to date from which an infant has been successfully resuscitated.
Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeling of enterobacteria associated with fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and persistence in their natural hostRhagoletis completaCresson.
Authors: Martinez-Sañudo Isabel , Savio Claudia , Mazzon Luca , Girolami Vincenzo , Ciolfi Silvia , Marri Laura
Published: November 2011

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are a highly successful, widespread group of insects that cause economic damage in agriculture. Data available so far on the composition of the bacterial community associated with their digestive tract indicate that members of Enterobacteriaceae are the species most often isolated. Bacteria naturally occurring in insect guts may be engineered and used to study the spatial and functional interactions of microbes within the insect system and offer one route to meet the demand for novel insect pest management strategies. With this aim we introduced by conjugation the gfp gene carried by the suicide plasmid pTn5gfpmut1 into Klebsiella oxytoca and Raoultella (formerly Klebsiella ) spp. strains isolated from the oesophageal bulb of the fruit flies Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and Rhagoletis completa Cresson, respectively. The GFP-encoding gene was stably maintained in two tested transgenic strains, both originally isolated from R. completa. In one case, GFP-labeled bacterial cells were used to feed larvae and adults of the original host. Genetically modified bacteria were able to colonize the gut of larvae and persisted through all larval instars to pupal stage.
Biological control of Botrytis cinerea using the antagonistic and endophytic Burkholderia cepacia Cs5 for vine plantlet protection
Authors: Kilani-Feki Olfa , Jaoua Samir
Published: November 2011

Antifungal activity of the Burkholderia cepacia Cs5 was tested in vitro and in vivo for the control of Botrytis cinerea . Bacterial biomass was significantly improved by the amendment of ZnSO4, Mo7(NH4)6O24, and mannitol to the NBY medium; consequently, the amount of the secreted fungicides was increased. The quantification of B. cinerea inhibition, in liquid and solid conditions, showed an important sensitivity of this fungus to the strain Cs5 fungicides. Microscopic monitoring impact of these fungicides on mycelium structure showed an important increase in their diameter and ramifications in the presence of 0.75% supernatant. For the in vivo application of the strain Cs5, Vitis vinifera plantlets were inoculated with a Cs5 bacterial suspension, then with B. cinerea spores. The plantlets protection was total and durable when these two inoculations were made 3 weeks apart, which is the time for the endophytic bacterium to colonize the plantlets up to the top leaves. This protection is due to Cs5 antagonism and the elicitation of the plantlets self-defense via the root overgrowth.
Genetic characterization of Human astrovirus infection in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China, 2007–2008
Authors: Wang Fang , Wang Yuan-Hong , Peng Jin-Song , Zhou Xuan , Tang Li , Kobayashi Nobumichi , Hu Quan , Zhou Dun-Jin , Huang Han-Ju , Liu Man-Qing
Published: November 2011

Human astrovirus (HAstV) was an important cause of viral gastroenteritis in infants in Wuhan city based on our previous study. The aim of the study was to investigate the nature of HAstV infection in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China, especially in adults. Stool specimens were collected from 361 children and 301 adults with diarrhea from July 2007 to June 2008 and were tested for HAstV RNA by RT-PCR. The 348-bp PCR product of positive samples was further sequenced and analyzed for multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree. HAstV RNA was detected in 2.33% (7/301) adults, which was significantly lower than that in children (13.57%, 49/361). HAstV-positive patients were either older than 50 years of age or younger than 3. Genetic analysis showed that the HAstV strain in adults was the same as that in children in 2007–2008. Contrarily, HAstV strains prevalent in 2007–2008 showed genetic characteristics different from those in 2004–2005 and belonged to two new groups of HAstV-1b. Thus, our data characterized HAstV infection in Wuhan 2007–2008, suggesting that HAstV infection also played an important role in adults in Wuhan, especial in patients of >50 years, and should be included for routine diagnosis in the population with diarrheal illness.
COMBINATION ADAPTIVE TRUST REGION METHOD BY NON-MONOTONE STRATEGY FOR UNCONSTRAINED NONLINEAR PROGRAMMING
Authors: AMINI KEYVAN , AHOOKHOSH MASOUD
Published: November 2011

In this paper, we present a new trust region method for unconstrained nonlinear programming in which we blend adaptive trust region algorithm by non-monotone strategy to propose a new non-monotone trust region algorithm with automatically adjusted radius. Both non-monotone strategy and adaptive technique can help us introduce a new algorithm that reduces the number of iterations and function evaluations. The new algorithm preserves the global convergence and has local superlinear and quadratic convergence under suitable conditions. Numerical experiments exhibit that the new trust region algorithm is very efficient and robust for unconstrained optimization problems.
FLUCTUATIONS AT FINITE TEMPERATURE AND THERMODYNAMICS OF MESOSCOPIC RLC CIRCUIT CALCULATED BY USING GENERALIZED THERMAL VACUUM STATE
Authors: YUAN HONG-CHUN , XU XUE-XIANG , XU XUE-FEN , FAN HONG-YI
Published: November 2011

By using the partial trace method and the technique of integration within an ordered product of operators we obtain the explicit expression of the generalized thermal vacuum state (GTVS) for an RLC circuit instead of using the Takahashi–Umezawa approach. According to thermal field dynamics (TFD), namely, the expectation value of physical observables in this GTVS is equivalent to their ensemble average, based on GTVS we successfully derive the quantum fluctuations at nonzero temperature and the thermodynamical relations for the mesoscopic RLC circuit. Our results show that the higher the temperature is, the more quantum noise the RLC circuit exhibits.
MESHFREE CELL-BASED SMOOTHED POINT INTERPOLATION METHOD USING ISOPARAMETRIC PIM SHAPE FUNCTIONS AND CONDENSED RPIM SHAPE FUNCTIONS
Authors: ZHANG G. Y. , LIU G. R.
Published: November 2011

This paper presents two novel and effective cell-based smoothed point interpolation methods (CS-PIM) using isoparametric PIM (PIM-Iso) shape functions and condensed radial PIM (RPIM-Cd) shape functions respectively. These two types of PIM shape functions can successfully overcome the singularity problem occurred in the process of creating PIM shape functions and make the constructed CS-PIM models work well with the three-node triangular meshes. Smoothed strains are obtained by performing the generalized gradient smoothing operation over each triangular background cells, because the nodal PIM shape functions can be discontinuous. The generalized smoothed Galerkin (GS-Galerkin) weakform is used to create the discretized system equations. Some numerical examples are studied to examine various properties of the present methods in terms of accuracy, convergence, and computational efficiency.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION FOR SHOT-PEENING BASED ON SPH-COUPLED FEM
Authors: WANG JIANMING , LIU FEIHONG
Published: November 2011

In dealing with shot-peening simulation, existing literatures adopt finite element method (FEM), which establishes models of a single shot or several shots only, thus the effect of a large number of shots repeat impacting and the influence among adjacent shots are ignored. To overcome these disadvantages of FEM models, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH)-coupled FEM modeling is presented, in which the shots are modeled by SPH particles and the target material is modeled by finite elements. The two parts interact through contact algorithm to simulate a number of shots impinging the target. Utilizing this model, a material model for shots is established, the relationships between compressive residual stress and peening frequencies, coverage, and velocities are analyzed. Steady compressive residual stress can be obtained by multiple peening; higher coverage can improve the compressive residual stress; faster velocities can induce greater and deeper maximum residual stress in target subsurface. The simulation results agree well with the existing experimental data. The study would not only provide a new powerful tool for the simulation of shot-peening process, but also be benefit to optimize the operating parameters.
FREE VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF DOUBLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES USING THE SMOOTHED FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
Authors: WANG LIFENG , HAN DONG , LIU G. R. , CUI XIANGYANG
Published: November 2011

This paper studies the resonant frequencies and the associated vibration modes of an individual double-walled carbon nanotube, using gradient smoothing technique. The study uses a double-elastic beam based on the Euler beam theory with the consideration of the intertube van der Waals interactions. A gradient smoothed formulation is deployed to deal with the fourth-order differential equation of the Euler beam problems for dynamic analysis of the double-walled carbon nanotubes. In the double-thin beam problems, a set of linear shape functions are adopted to approximate the displacement field. Smoothing domains are then formed for computing the smoothed curvature and bending moment field. Compared with analysis results of multi-beam theory, numerical examples indicate that very accurate results could be yielded when a reasonable number of nodes were used. The results also showed that non-coaxial intertube resonance would be excited at the higher resonant frequencies of double-walled carbon nanotubes. In addition, free vibration of a double-walled carbon nanotube with inner wall simple supported and outer wall one end fixed and the other end free is studied.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF VENTILATION IN THE STORAGE HALLS OF TRIPITAKA KOREANA AT HAEINSA TEMPLE IN CASE OF BUILDING REARRANGEMENT
Authors: HUR NAHMKEON , LEE MYUNGSUNG , YANG SUNGJIN
Published: November 2011

Haeinsa temple is famous for over 80 000 wooden printing blocks of Buddhist scriptures called Tripitaka Koreana and its storage halls, both of which have been registered as the world cultural heritages by UNESCO. The objective of the present paper is to investigate the ventilation flow in the storage halls of Tripitaka Koreana in the case of building rearrangement in Haeinsa temple. Three-dimensional flow simulations were performed with the detailed geometry of all buildings in the temple. The slatted windows on walls of the storage halls and Tripitaka Koreana stored in the shelves inside the storage halls were modeled in detail to predict reliable ventilation performance. A tree canopy model was also adopted to take into account of the effect of the forest surrounding the temple. Wind velocities as inlet boundary condition were imposed from meteorological statistical data. The numerical results were obtained for the effects of the wind direction, wind speed and tree canopy model on the ventilation performance of the storage halls. It was shown from the numerical results that the ventilation flow distribution at the storage halls in the case of building rearrangement would not be significantly altered compared to that before rearrangement.
Postprandial endothelial function does not differ in women by race: an insulin resistance paradox?
Authors: Muniyappa Ranganath , Sachdev Vandana , Sidenko Stanislav , Ricks Madia , Castillo Darleen C. , Courville Amber B. , Sumner Anne E.
Published: November 2011

Insulin resistance is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Because African-American women are more insulin-resistant than white women, it is assumed that African-American women have impaired endothelial function. However, racial differences in postprandial endothelial function have not been examined. In this study, we test the hypothesis that African-American women have impaired postprandial endothelial function compared with white women. Postprandial endothelial function following a breakfast (20% protein, 40% fat, and 40% carbohydrate) was evaluated in 36 (18 African-American women, 18 white women) age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched (age: 37 ± 11 yr; BMI: 30 ± 6 kg/m2) women. Endothelial function, defined by percent change in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), was measured at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h following a meal. There were no significant differences between the groups in baseline FMD, total body fat, abdominal visceral fat, and fasting levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or serum estradiol. Although African-American women were less insulin-sensitive [insulin sensitivity index (mean ± SD): 3.6 ± 1.5 vs. 5.2 ± 2.6, P = 0.02], both fasting triglyceride (TG: 56 ± 37 vs. 97 ± 49 mg/dl, P = 0.007) and incremental TG area under the curve (AUC0–6hr: 279 ± 190 vs. 492 ± 255 mg·dl−1·min−1·10−2, P = 0.008) were lower in African-American than white women. Breakfast was associated with a significant increase in FMD in whites and African-Americans, and there was no significant difference in postprandial FMD between the groups ( P > 0.1 for group × time interactions). Despite being insulin-resistant, postprandial endothelial function in African-American women was comparable to white women. These results imply that insulin sensitivity may not be an important determinant of racial differences in endothelial function.
Some Identities of the Twisted q‐Genocchi Numbers and Polynomials with Weight α and q‐Bernstein Polynomials with Weight α
Authors: Lee H. Y. , Jung N. S. , Ryoo C. S.
Published: November 2011

Recently mathematicians have studied some interesting relations between q‐Genocchi numbers, q‐Euler numbers, polynomials, Bernstein polynomials, and q‐Bernstein polynomials. In this paper, we give some interesting identities of the twisted q‐Genocchi numbers, polynomials, and q‐Bernstein polynomials with weighted α.
On Carlson′s Type Removability Test for the Degenerate Quasilinear Elliptic Equations
Authors: Mamedov Farman I. , Quliyev Aslan D. , Mirheydarli Mirfaig M.
Published: November 2011

Carlson′s type theorem on removable sets for α‐Holder continuous solutions is investigated for the quasilinear elliptic equations div A(x, u, ∇u) = 0, having degeneration ω in the Muckenhoupt class. In partial, when α is sufficiently small and the operator is weighted p‐Laplacian, we show that the compact set E is removable if and only if the Hausdorff measure .
Treatment Complexities of a Young Woman Suffering Psychosis and Pituitary Adenoma
Authors: Sigman Maxine , Drury Kate
Published: November 2011

This paper is a clinical description of the presentation, therapy, and pharmacological management of a 28-year-old woman who had nine admissions to a psychiatry ward, the last four within one year. It became clear that the treatments, which the patient had received concurrently for ten years for a pituitary adenoma and for psychotic symptoms, were counteractive. The case highlights the importance of the role of prolactin in psychosis and of an interdisciplinary team approach when patients present with complex symptoms.
Stability and Hopf Bifurcation in a Diffusive Predator‐Prey System with Beddington‐DeAngelis Functional Response and Time Delay
Authors: Bai Yuzhen , Zhang Xiaopeng
Published: November 2011

This paper is concerned with a diffusive predator‐prey system with Beddington‐DeAngelis
functional response and delay effect. By analyzing the distribution of the eigenvalues, the stability
of the positive equilibrium and the existence of spatially homogeneous and spatially inhomogeneous
periodic solutions are investigated. Also, it is shown that the small diffusion can affect the Hopf
bifurcations. Finally, the direction and stability of Hopf bifurcations are determined by normal form
theory and center manifold reduction for partial functional differential equations.
On Solution and Stability of a Two‐Variable Functional Equations
Authors: Cho Y. J. , Saadati R. , Shabanian S. , Vaezpour S. M.
Published: November 2011

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the stability of the functional equation f(x + y, y + z) = 2f(x/2, y/2) + 2f(y/2, z/2) in normed spaces. The solutions of such functional equations are considered.
Domoic Acid-Induced Neurotoxicity Is Mainly Mediated by the AMPA/KA Receptor: Comparison between Immature and Mature Primary Cultures of Neurons and Glial Cells from Rat Cerebellum
Authors: Hogberg Helena T. , Bal-Price Anna K.
Published: November 2011

Domoic acid (DomA) is a naturally occurring shellfish toxin that can induce brain damage in mammalians. Neonates have shown increased sensitivity to DomA-induced toxicity, and prenatal exposure has been associated with e.g. decreased brain GABA levels, and increased glutamate levels. Here, we evaluated DomA-induced toxicity in immature and mature primary cultures of neurons and glial cells from rat cerebellum by measuring the mRNA levels of selected genes. Moreover, we assessed if the induced toxicity was mediated by the activation of the AMPA/KA and/or the NMDA receptor. The expression of all studied neuronal markers was affected after DomA exposure in both immature and mature cultures. However, the mature cultures seemed to be more sensitive to the treatment, as the effects were observed at lower concentrations and at earlier time points than for the immature cultures. The DomA effects were completely prevented by the antagonist of the AMPA/KA receptor (NBQX), while the antagonist of the NMDA receptor (APV) partly blocked the DomA-induced effects. Interestingly, the DomA-induced effect was also partly prevented by the neurotransmitter GABA. DomA exposure also affected the mRNA levels of the astrocytic markers in mature cultures. These DomA-induced effects were reduced by the addition of NBQX, APV, and GABA.
Quantum Dynamical Semigroups and Decoherence
Authors: Hellmich Mario
Published: November 2011

We prove a version of the Jacobs‐de Leeuw‐Glicksberg splitting theorem for weak* continuous one‐parameter semigroups on dual Banach spaces. This result is applied to give sufficient conditions for a quantum dynamical semigroup to display decoherence. The underlying notion of decoherence is that introduced by Blanchard and Olkiewicz (2003). We discuss this notion in some detail.
New Agents Targeting Angiogenesis in Glioblastoma
Authors: Timotheadou Eleni
Published: November 2011

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant glioma in adults, and despite recent advances in standard treatment, the prognosis still remains dismal, with a median survival of 15 months. The incorporation of bevacizumab in the standard treatment of relapsed glioblastoma has been a significant step towards combining targeted agents with chemotherapy, and there is an increasing number of new antiangiogenic agents in various stages of development, that are being tested both in relapsed and newly diagnosed disease, alone or in combination with standard treatment. The relatively favorable toxicity profile for most of them presents an advantage, but several concerns arise regarding their actual efficacy on the clinical level and the most efficient schedule of administration for each of them, as their molecular targets and patterns of action may vary significantly. This may lead to future modifications of the current rational of administering these agents concomitantly with initial chemotherapy or maintenance treatment.
Successful Use of Extracorporeal Life Support after Double Traumatic Tracheobronchial Injury in a Patient with Severe Acute Asthma
Authors: Valette Xavier , Desjouis Aurélie , Massetti Massimo , Hanouz Jean-Luc , Icard Philippe
Published: November 2011

We report the case of an asthmatic patient with blunt trachea and left main bronchus injuries who developed acute severe asthma after surgical repair. Despite medical treatment and ventilatory support, asthma persisted with high airway pressures and severe respiratory acidosis. We proposed venovenous extracorporeal life support for CO2removal which allowed arterial blood gas normalization and airway pressures decrease. Extracorporeal life support was removed on day five after medical treatment of acute severe asthma. So we report the successful use of extracorporeal life support for operated double blunt tracheobronchial injury with acute severe asthma.
Infection-Induced Vulnerability of Perinatal Brain Injury
Authors: Mallard Carina , Wang Xiaoyang
Published: November 2011

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that susceptibility and progression of both acute and chronic central nervous system disease in the newborn is closely associated with an innate immune response that can manifest from either direct infection and/or infection-triggered damage. A common feature of many of these diseases is the systemic exposure of the neonate to bacterial infections that elicit brain inflammation. In recent years, the importance of innate immune receptors in newborn brain injury, the so-called Toll-like receptors, has been demonstrated. In this paper we will discuss how neonatal sepsis, with particular emphasis onEscherichia coli, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and group B streptococcal infections in preterm infants, and Toll-like receptor-mediated inflammation can increase the vulnerability of the newborn brain to injury.
A Quasi‐ARX Model for Multivariable Decoupling Control of Nonlinear MIMO System
Authors: Wang Lan , Cheng Yu , Hu Jinglu
Published: November 2011

This paper proposes a multiinput and multioutput (MIMO) quasi‐autoregressive eXogenous (ARX) model and a multivariable‐decoupling proportional integral differential (PID) controller for MIMO nonlinear systems based on the proposed model. The proposed MIMO quasi‐ARX model improves the performance of ordinary quasi‐ARX model. The proposed controller consists of a traditional PID controller with a decoupling compensator and a feed‐forward compensator for the nonlinear dynamics based on the MIMO quasi‐ARX model. Then an adaptive control algorithm is presented using the MIMO quasi‐ARX radial basis function network (RBFN) prediction model and some stability analysis of control system is shown. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Key Issues in Modeling of Complex 3D Structures from Video Sequences
Authors: Chen Shengyong , Wang Yuehui , Cattani Carlo
Published: November 2011

Construction of
three‐dimensional structures from video
sequences has wide applications for intelligent
video analysis. This paper summarizes the key
issues of the theory and surveys the recent
advances in the state of the art. Reconstruction
of a scene object from video sequences often
takes the basic principle of structure from
motion with an uncalibrated camera. This paper
lists the typical strategies and summarizes the
typical solutions or algorithms for modeling of
complex three‐dimensional structures. Open
difficult problems are also suggested for
further study.
Pain Perception, Pain Drug Therapy and Health Status in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Müller Thomas , Muhlack Siegfried , Woitalla Dirk
Published: November 2011

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is traditionally characterized as a movement disorder; however, sensory perception problems including pain syndromes are also frequent. We performed a survey to analyze the relations between health status, pain perception and gender in 4,086 PD patients. Moreover, the participants should tick whether they took pain medications or not. Subjects and Methods: The questionnaire included the EQ-5D and visual analogue scales (VAS) on pain, which asked for mean (VAS A), most (VAS B), and minimal (VAS C) intensity of pain during an interval of 4 weeks prior to the completion of the survey. Results: PD patients were divided into three groups according to their EQ-5D total score (I: <8; II: 8–9; III: 10–15). An impairment of health status occurred in relation to the increase in pain syndromes in PD patients. There was a significant increase in VAS scores in relation to the EQ-5D group membership. Female patients reported more on pain and more frequently received a pain drug treatment than male patients. Significant associations were found between the VAS and the EQ-5D scores, and the correlation coefficients were higher in men than in women. Conclusions: Pain is associated with the health status of PD patients and worsens it. More female than male PD patients have to deal with handling of pain and pain drug treatment.