bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Study of Inlet Turbulators Effect on the Thermal Characteristics of a Jet Propulsion-Fueled Combustor and Its Hazardous Pollutants Emission
Authors: Darbandi Masoud , Ghafourizadeh Majid
Published: December 2016

This work numerically studies the effects of inlet air and fuel turbulators on the thermal behavior of a combustor burning the jet propulsion (JP) (kerosene-surrogate) fuel and its resulting pollutants emission including the nanoparticulate soot aerosols and aromatic compounds. To model the soot formation, the method employs a semi-empirical two-equation model, in which the transport equations for soot mass fraction and soot number density are solved considering soot nanoparticles evolutionary process. The soot nucleation is described using the phenyl route in which the soot is formed from the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Incorporating a detailed chemical mechanism described by 200 species and 6907 elementary reactions, the flamelets and their lookup table library are precomputed and used in the context of steady laminar flamelet model (SLFM). Thus, the current finite-volume method solves the transport equations for the mean mixture fraction and its variance and considers the chemistry–turbulence interaction using the presumed-shape probability density functions (PDFs). To validate the utilized models, a benchmark combustor is first simulated, and the results are compared with the measurements. Second, the numerical method is used to investigate the effects of embedding different inflow turbulators on the resulting flame structure and the combustor pollutants emission. The chosen turbulators produce mild to severe turbulence intensity (TI) effects at the air and fuel inlets. Generally, the results of current study indicate that the use of suitable turbulators can considerably affect the thermal behavior of a JP-fueled combustor. Additionally, it also reduces the combustor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollutants emission.
Uncertainty Evaluation of Friction Velocity Measurements by Oil-Film Interferometry
Authors: Thibault René , Poitras Gérard J.
Published: December 2016

Wind loads on structures and the wind environment around buildings are based on tests in boundary layer wind tunnels with corresponding scale parameters. The lower part of the troposphere boundary layer was simulated inside a small wind tunnel located at the Wind Engineering Centre of the Université de Moncton. The correct scale ratios of the boundary layer thickness combined with the roughness height are two of the most important scales to match. For small wind tunnels, roughness parameters related to the model boundary layer can be difficult to measure since scale ratios for wind load studies are expected to be in the range of 400–1000. Oil-film interferometry was used to determine the roughness parameters (shear stress, friction velocity, and roughness height) of the forced turbulent boundary layer inside the wind tunnel. In this work, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide to Expression of Uncertainty in Measurements was used to evaluate the standard uncertainty of the roughness parameters on the bottom wall of the wind tunnel. The standard uncertainty of the roughness parameters depends strongly on the oil viscosity and on the accurate measurement of the fringe spacing. Results show that the standard uncertainty of the shear stress and friction velocity determined by the interferometry technique can be less than 5% when the oil viscosity and the fringe spacing can be accurately measured with a standard uncertainty lower than 4% and 1%, respectively.
A Feasibility Study of Noncontact Ultrasonic Sensor for Nuclear Power Plant Inspection
Authors: Tamura Akinori , Zhong Chenghuan , Croxford Anthony J. , Wilcox Paul D.
Published: December 2016

A pipe-wall thinning measurement is a key inspection to ensure the integrity of the piping system in nuclear power plants. To monitor the integrity of the piping system, a number of ultrasonic thickness measurements are manually performed during the outage of the nuclear power plant. Since most of the pipes are covered with an insulator, removing the insulator is necessary for the ultrasonic thickness measurement. Noncontact ultrasonic sensors enable ultrasonic thickness inspection without removing the insulator. This leads to reduction of the inspection time and reduced radiation exposure of the inspector. The inductively-coupled transducer system (ICTS) is a noncontact ultrasonic sensor system which uses electromagnetic induction between coils to drive an installed transducer. In this study, we investigated the applicability of an innovative ICTS developed at the University of Bristol to nuclear power plant inspection, particularly pipe-wall thinning inspection. The following experiments were performed using ICTS: thickness measurement performance, the effect of the coil separation, the effect of the insulator, the effect of different inspection materials, the radiation tolerance, and the measurement accuracy of wastage defects. These initial experimental results showed that the ICTS has the possibility to enable wall-thinning inspection in nuclear power plants without removing the insulator. Future work will address the issue of measuring wall-thinning in more complex pipework geometries and at elevated temperatures.
Free and Forced Vibration Analysis of Ring-Stiffened Conical–Cylindrical–Spherical Shells Through a Semi-Analytic Method
Authors: Xie Kun , Chen Meixia , Li Zuhui
Published: December 2016

A semi-analytic method is presented to analyze free and forced vibrations of combined conical–cylindrical–spherical shells with ring stiffeners and bulkheads. First, according to locations of discontinuity, the combined shell is divided into one opened spherical shell and a number of conical segments, cylindrical segments, stiffeners, and bulkheads. Meanwhile, a semi-analytic approach is proposed to analyze the opened spherical shell. The opened spherical shell is divided into narrow strips, which are approximately treated as conical shells. Then, Flügge theory is adopted to describe motions of conical and cylindrical segments, and stiffeners with rectangular cross section are modeled as annular plates. Displacement functions of conical segments, cylindrical segments, and annular plates are expanded as power series, wave functions, and Bessel functions, respectively. To analyze arbitrary boundary conditions, artificial springs are employed to restrain displacements at boundaries. Last, continuity and boundary conditions are synthesized to the final governing equation. In vibration characteristics analysis, high accuracy of the present method is first demonstrated by comparing results of the present method with ones in literature and calculated by ansys. Further, axial displacement of boundaries and open angle of spherical shell have significant influence on the first two modes, and forced vibrations are easily affected by bulkheads and external force.
Hybrid Rigid-Deformable Model for Prediction of Neighboring Intervertebral Disk Loads During Flexion Movement After Lumbar Interbody Fusion at L3–4 Level
Authors: Tuan Dao Tien
Published: December 2016

Knowledge of spinal loads in neighboring disks after interbody fusion plays an important role in the clinical decision of this treatment as well as in the elucidation of its effect. However, controversial findings are still noted in the literature. Moreover, there are no existing models for efficient prediction of intervertebral disk stresses within annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) regions. In this present study, a new hybrid rigid-deformable modeling workflow was established to quantify the mechanical stress behaviors within AF and NP regions of the L1–2, L2–3, and L4–5 disks after interbody fusion at L3–4 level. The changes in spinal loads were compared with results of the intact model without interbody fusion. The fusion outcomes revealed maximal stress changes (10%) in AF region of L1–2 disk and in NP region of L2–3 disk. The minimal stress change (1%) is noted at the NP region of the L1–2 disk. The validation of simulation outcomes of fused and intact lumbar spine models against those of other computational models and in vivo measurements showed good agreements. Thus, this present study may be used as a novel design guideline for a specific implant and surgical scenario of the lumbar spine disorders.
Automatic Design Optimization of Profiled Endwalls Including Real Geometrical Effects to Minimize Turbine Secondary Flows
Authors: Shahpar Shahrokh , Caloni Stefano , de Prieëlle Laurens
Published: December 2016

This paper presents a novel optimization methodology based on both adjoint sensitivity analysis and trust-based dynamic response surface modeling to improve the performance of a modern turbine of a large civil aero-engine in the presence of high-fidelity geometry configurations. The system has been applied to the nonaxisymmetric hub and tip endwall optimization of a high-pressure turbine stage making use of multirow 3D simulations, parametric modeling, and rapid meshing of real geometry features such as rim seals and modeling of film cooling flows. It has been shown in previous papers that improvements gained using simplified models of the stage are lost when applying the high-fidelity geometry configuration. New results presented in this paper indicate that controlling the purge flow that exits the disk space through the rim seal at the hub of the main annulus is more significant than the reduction of secondary flows in the main passage. For a given rim sealing mass flow rate and whirl velocity, the nonaxisymmetric endwalls are optimized such that the detrimental impact of the sealing flow on the turbine performance is reduced, and hence, the stage efficiency is significantly increased. The traditional optimization approaches based on evolutionary methods or even sequential modifications for defining the endwalls shape are computationally demanding. Since turbomachinery industry continuously strive to reduce the design cycle time, in particular when high-fidelity 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used, the main body of this paper outlines the novel methods developed to produce a practical design in a very aggressively short design cycle time.
Mechanics of Crystalline Nanowires: An Experimental Perspective
Authors: Zhu Yong
Published: December 2016

A wide variety of crystalline nanowires (NWs) with outstanding mechanical properties have recently emerged. Measuring their mechanical properties and understanding their deformation mechanisms are of important relevance to many of their device applications. On the other hand, such crystalline NWs can provide an unprecedented platform for probing mechanics at the nanoscale. While challenging, the field of experimental mechanics of crystalline nanowires has emerged and seen exciting progress in the past decade. This review summarizes recent advances in this field, focusing on major experimental methods using atomic force microscope (AFM) and electron microscopes and key results on mechanics of crystalline nanowires learned from such experimental studies. Advances in several selected topics are discussed including elasticity, fracture, plasticity, and anelasticity. Finally, this review surveys some applications of crystalline nanowires such as flexible and stretchable electronics, nanocomposites, nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), energy harvesting and storage, and strain engineering, where mechanics plays a key role.
Drill Bit Contact Dynamics Including Side Cutting: Simulation and Validation
Authors: Callejo Alfonso , Arbatani Siamak , Kövecses József , Kalantari Masoud , Marchand Nick R.
Published: December 2016

Simulation techniques are increasingly becoming popular in recent years as a way of simulating oil drilling processes. Among them, directional drilling is a specific method that benefits enormously from such numerical techniques, inasmuch as the estimation of the wellbore curvature is crucial and cannot be properly estimated through approximate geometry methods. We present here some of the latest advances in bit contact dynamics, wellbore update algorithms, and experimental validation of side cutting, in the context of a finite element (FE) and finite segment simulation framework. The framework is based on the high-fidelity dynamic simulation of the mechanical system, including detailed geometry, large displacements, and accurate contact forces. The theoretical aspects, along with the experimental results, are thoroughly presented. Overall, this paper constitutes a step toward a more deterministic way of calculating build rates and designing downhole drilling tools.
A Fan-tastic Alternative to Bulbs: Learning Circuits with Fans
Authors: Ekey Robert , Edwards Andrea , McCullough Roy , Reitz William , Mitchell Brandon
Published: December 2016

The incandescent bulb has been a useful tool for teaching basic electrical circuits, as brightness is related to the current or power flowing through a bulb. This has led to the development of qualitative pedagogical treatments for examining resistive combinations in simple circuits using bulbs and batteries, which were first introduced by James Evans and thoroughly expanded upon by McDermott and others. This paper argues that replacing bulbs with small computer fans leads to similar, if not greater, insight of experimental results that can be qualitatively observed using a variety of senses. The magnitude of current through a fan is related to the frequency of the rotating fan blades, which can be seen, heard, and felt by the students. Experiments using incandescent bulbs only utilize vision, which is not ideal as the human eyes’ perception of brightness is skewed because the response to light intensity is logarithmic rather than linear.
Do-It-Yourself Whiteboard-Style Physics Video Lectures
Authors: Douglas Scott Samuel , Aiken John Mark , Greco Edwin , Schatz Michael , Lin Shih-Yin
Published: December 2016

Video lectures are increasingly being used in physics instruction. For example, video lectures can be used to “flip” the classroom, i.e., to deliver, via the Internet, content that is traditionally transmitted by in-class lectures (e.g., presenting concepts, working examples, etc.), thereby freeing up classroom time for more interactive instruction. To date, most video lectures are live lecture recordings or screencasts. The hand-animated “whiteboard” video is an alternative to these more common styles and affords unique creative opportunities such as stop-motion animation or visual “demonstrations” of phenomena that would be difficult to demo in a classroom. In the spring of 2013, a series of whiteboard-style videos were produced to provide video lecture content for Georgia Tech introductory physics instruction, including flipped courses and a MOOC. This set of videos (which also includes screencasts and live recordings) can be found on the “Your World is Your Lab” YouTube channel. In this article, we describe this method of video production, which is suitable for an instructor working solo or in collaboration with students; we explore students’ engagement with these videos in a separate work. A prominent example of whiteboard animation is the “Minute Physics” video series by Henry Reich, whose considerable popularity and accessible, cartoony style were the original inspiration for our own video lectures.
Algodoo: A Tool for Encouraging Creativity in Physics Teaching and Learning
Authors: Gregorcic Bor , Bodin Madelen
Published: December 2016

Algodoo (http://www.algodoo.com) is a digital sandbox for physics 2D simulations. It allows students and teachers to easily create simulated “scenes” and explore physics through a user-friendly and visually attractive interface. In this paper, we present different ways in which students and teachers can use Algodoo to visualize and solve physics problems, investigate phenomena and processes, and engage in out-of-school activities and projects. Algodoo, with its approachable interface, inhabits a middle ground between computer games and “serious” computer modeling. It is suitable as an entry-level modeling tool for students of all ages and can facilitate discussions about the role of computer modeling in physics.
Effective Gol'dberg number for diverging waves
Authors: Hamilton Mark F.
Published: December 2016

An effective Gol'dberg number is proposed for determining the degree of nonlinear distortion achieved in a diverging wave field. For values that are large compared with unity, the degree of nonlinear waveform distortion is virtually the same as that for a plane wave characterized by the traditional Gol'dberg number having the same numerical value. Expressions for the effective Gol'dberg number are proposed for spherical and cylindrical waves, Gaussian beams, and exponential horns.
Bats adjust their pulse emission rates with swarm size in the field
Authors: Lin Yuan , Abaid Nicole , Müller Rolf
Published: December 2016

Flying in swarms, e.g., when exiting a cave, could pose a problem to bats that use an active biosonar system because the animals could risk jamming each other's biosonar signals. Studies from current literature have found different results with regard to whether bats reduce or increase emission rate in the presence of jamming ultrasound. In the present work, the number of Eastern bent-wing bats (Miniopterus fuliginosus) that were flying inside a cave during emergence was estimated along with the number of signal pulses recorded. Over the range of average bat numbers present in the recording (0 to 14 bats), the average number of detected pulses per bat increased with the average number of bats. The result was interpreted as an indication that the Eastern bent-wing bats increased their emission rate and/or pulse amplitude with swarm size on average. This finding could be explained by the hypothesis that the bats might not suffer from substantial jamming probabilities under the observed density regimes, so jamming might not have been a limiting factor for their emissions. When jamming did occur, the bats could avoid it through changing the pulse amplitude and other pulse properties such as duration or frequency, which has been suggested by other studies. More importantly, the increased biosonar activities may have addressed a collision-avoidance challenge that was posed by the increased swarm size.
Oscillatory fluid flow in deformable tubes: Implications for pore-scale hydromechanics from comparing experimental observations with theoretical predictions
Authors: Kurzeja Patrick , Steeb Holger , Strutz Marc A. , Renner Jörg
Published: December 2016

Oscillatory flow of four fluids (air, water, two aqueous sodium-tungstate solutions) was excited at frequencies up to 250 Hz in tubes of two materials (steel, silicone) covering a wide range in length, diameter, and thickness. The hydrodynamical response was characterized by phase shift and amplitude ratio between pressures in an upstream (pressure excitation) and a downstream reservoir connected by the tubes. The resulting standing flow waves reflect viscosity-controlled diffusive behavior and inertia-controlled wave behavior for oscillation frequencies relatively low and high compared to Biot's critical frequency, respectively. Rigid-tube theories correspond well with the experimental results for steel tubes filled with air or water. The wave modes observed for silicone tubes filled with the rather incompressible liquids or air, however, require accounting for the solid's shear and bulk modulus to correctly predict speed of pressure propagation and deformation mode. The shear mode may be responsible for significant macroscopic attenuation in porous materials with effective frame-shear moduli lower than the bulk modulus of the pore fluid. Despite notable effects of the ratio of densities and of acoustic and shear velocity of fluid and solid, Biot's frequency remains an approximate indicator of the transition from the viscosity to the inertia controlled regime.
Solid, Gel, and Liquid Carbohydrate Format Effects on Gut Comfort and Performance
Authors: Guillochon Mathilde , Rowlands David S.
Published: December 2016

Carbohydrate sports drinks produce worthwhile benefits to endurance performance compared with noncaloric controls. However, athletes now consume carbohydrate in a range of formats, including gels and bars, but the comparable performance outcomes are unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the relative effects of drink, gel, bar, and mixed carbohydrate formats on intense cycling performance. In a treatmentapparent randomized crossover design, 12 well-trained male cyclists completed 4 trials comprising a 140-min race simulation, followed by a double-blind slow-ramp to exhaustion (0.333 W·s-1). Carbohydrate comprising fructose and maltodextrin was ingested every 20 min via commercial drink, gel, bar, or mix of all 3, providing 80 g carbohydrate·h-1. Fluid ingestion was 705 ml·h-1. Exertion, fatigue, and gastrointestinal discomfort were measured with VAS. Performance peak power (SD) was 370 (41), 376 (37), 362 (51) and 368 W (54) for drink, gels, bars, and mix respectively. The reduction in power (-3.9%; 90%CI ±4.3) following bar ingestion vs. gel was likely substantial (likelihood harm 81.2%; benefit 0.8%), but no clear differences between drinks, gels, and the mix were evident. Bars also produced small-moderate standardized increases in nausea, stomach fullness, abdominal cramps, and perceived exertion, relative to gels (likelihood harm 95–99.5%; benefit <0.01%) and drink (75–95%; <0.01%); mix also increased nausea relative to gels (95%; <0.01%). Relative to a gel, carbohydrate bar ingestion reduced peak power, gut comfort, and ease of exertion; furthermore, no clear difference relative to drink suggests bars alone are the less favorable exogenous-carbohydrate energy source for intense endurance performance.
The histone deubiquitinase OTLD1 targets euchromatin to regulate plant growth
Authors: Keren Ido , Citovsky Vitaly
Published: December 2016

The
Arabidopsis thaliana
histone deubiquitinase OTLD1 represses the transcription of growth regulators and promotes plant growth.
Diacylglycerol kinase ζ limits the polarized recruitment of diacylglycerol-enriched organelles to the immune synapse in T cells
Authors: Andrada Elena , Almena María , de Guinoa Julia Sáez , Merino-Cortes Sara V. , Liébana Rosa , Arcos Raquel , Carrasco Silvia , Carrasco Yolanda R. , Merida Isabel
Published: December 2016

The lipid kinase DGKζ controls T cell responsiveness by converting the first signal diacylglycerol into a second signal phosphatidic acid.
Practical issues in the measurement of child survival in health systems trials: experience developing a digital community-based mortality surveillance programme in rural Nepal
Authors: Harsha Bangura Alex , Ozonoff Al , Citrin David , Thapa Poshan , Nirola Isha , Maru Sheela , Schwarz Ryan , Raut Anant , Belbase Bishal , Halliday Scott , Adhikari Mukesh , Maru Duncan
Published: December 2016

Child mortality measurement is essential to the impact evaluation of maternal and child healthcare systems interventions. In the absence of vital statistics systems, however, assessment methodologies for locally relevant interventions are severely challenged. Methods for assessing the under-5 mortality rate for cross-country comparisons, often used in determining progress towards development targets, pose challenges to implementers and researchers trying to assess the population impact of targeted interventions at more local levels. Here, we discuss the programmatic approach we have taken to mortality measurement in the context of delivering healthcare via a public–private partnership in rural Nepal. Both government officials and the delivery organisation,Possible, felt it was important to understand child mortality at a fine-grain spatial and temporal level. We discuss both the short-term and the long-term approach. In the short term, the team chose to use the under-2 mortality rate as a metric for mortality measurement for the following reasons: (1) as overall childhood mortality declines, like it has in rural Nepal, deaths concentrate among children under the age of 2; (2) 2-year cohorts are shorter and thus may show an impact more readily in the short term of intervention trials; and (3) 2-year cohorts are smaller, making prospective census cohorts more feasible in small populations. In the long term,Possibledeveloped a digital continuous surveillance system to capture deaths as they occur, at which point under-5 mortality assessment would be desirable, largely owing to its role as a global standard.
Temporo-spacial microanatomical distribution of the murine sodium-dependent ascorbic acid transporters Slc23a1 and Slc23a2 in the kidney throughout development
Authors: Eck Peter K. , Corpe Christopher , Levine Mark A.
Published: December 2016

The two membrane transporters Slc23a1 and Slc23a2 mediate ascorbic acid uptake into cells. We recently determined the key role of Slc23a1 in renal re-absorption of ascorbic acid in a knockout mouse model. However, the renal spatial and temporal expression patterns of murine Slc23a1 and Slc23a2 are not defined. This study utilizes database evidence combined with experimental confirmation via in-situ hybridization to define the spatial and temporal expression of Slc23a1 in the murine kidney. Slc23a1 is expressed in the early proximal tubule, but not in its precursors during embryonic development, and exclusive proximal tubular expression persists throughout the animal’s lifetime. In contrast, Slc23a2 is uniformly expressed in metabolic cell types such as stromal cells. The expression patterns appear to be conserved from rodent lineages to humans.
Weak gravity conjecture as a razor criterium for exotic D-brane instantons
Authors: Addazi Andrea
Published: December 2016

We discuss implications of weak gravity conjecture (WGC) for exotic D-brane instantons. In particular, WGC leads to indirect stringent bounds on non-perturbative superpotentials generated by exotic instantons with many implications for phenomenology: R-parity violating processes, neutrino mass, [Formula: see text]-problem, neutron–antineutron transitions and collider physics.
Semiautomatic Construction of Cross-Period Thesaurus
Authors: Liebeskind Chaya , Dagan Ido , Schler Jonathan
Published: December 2016

A cross-period (diachronic) thesaurus enables users to search for information using modern terminology and obtain semantically related terms from earlier historical periods. The complex task of supporting the construction of a diachronic thesaurus by a domain expert lexicographer has hardly been addressed computationally until now. In this article, we introduce a semiautomatic iterative Query Expansion (QE) scheme for supporting diachronic thesaurus construction, which identifies candidate related terms based on statistical corpus-based measures. We use ancient-modern period classification to increase the performance of the statistical cooccurrence measures and extend our methods to deal with
Multi-Word Expressions
(MWEs). We demonstrate the empirical benefit of our scheme for a Jewish cross-period thesaurus and evaluate its impact on recall and on the effectiveness of the lexicographer’s manual efforts.
Organic Food in the Diet: Exposure and Health Implications
Authors: Brantsæter Anne Lise , Ydersbond Trond A. , Hoppin Jane A. , Haugen Margaretha , Meltzer Helle Margrete
Published: December 2016

The market for organic food products is growing rapidly worldwide. Such foods meet certified organic standards for production, handling, processing, and marketing. Most notably, the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetic modification is not allowed. One major reason for the increased demand is the perception that organic food is more environmentally friendly and healthier than conventionally produced food. This review provides an update on market data and consumer preferences for organic food and summarizes the scientific evidence for compositional differences and health benefits of organic compared with conventionally produced food. Studies indicate some differences in favor of organic food, including indications of beneficial health effects. Organic foods convey lower pesticide residue exposure than do conventionally produced foods, but the impact of this on human health is not clear. Comparisons are complicated by organic food consumption being strongly correlated with several indicators of a healthy lifestyle and by conventional agriculture “best practices” often being quite close to those of organic.
Acute and chronic hyperglycemic effects of vasopressin in normal rats: involvement of V1A receptors
Authors: Taveau Christopher , Chollet Catherine , Bichet Daniel G. , Velho Gilberto , Guillon Gilles , Corbani Maithe , Roussel Ronan , Bankir Lise , Melander Olle , Bouby Nadine
Published: December 2016

Recent epidemiological studies have revealed novel relationships between low water intake or high vasopressin (AVP) and the risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes. AVP V1A and V1B receptors (R) are expressed in the liver and pancreatic islets, respectively. The present study was designed to determine the impact of different levels of circulating AVP on glucose homeostasis in normal Sprague-Dawley rats, as well as the respective roles of V1AR and V1BR. We showed that acute injection of AVP induces a dose-dependent increase in glycemia. Pretreatment with a selective V1AR antagonist, but not a V1BR antagonist, dose-dependently prevented the rise in glycemia. V1BR antagonism did not modify the hyperinsulinemic response, resulting from AVP-induced hyperglycemia, but enhanced the fall in glucagonemia. Acute administration of selective V1AR or V1BR agonists confirmed the involvement of V1AR in the hyperglycemic effect of AVP. In chronic experiments, AVP levels were altered in both directions. Sustained AVP infusion through implantable minipumps induced a time-dependent increase in fasting glycemia, whereas lowering endogenous AVP by increasing water intake had no effect. After 4 wk of AVP infusion, the rise in glycemia amounted to 1.1 mmol/l ( P < 0.01) without significant change in insulinemia. This effect was attenuated by cotreatment with a V1AR antagonist. Similar results were observed in lean Zucker rats. These findings demonstrate for the first time a causal link between chronic high AVP and hyperglycemia through V1AR activation and, thus, provide a pathophysiological explanation for the relationship observed in human cohorts between the AVP-hydration axis and the risk of diabetes.
Factors Associated with Long-Term Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Badedi Mohammed , Solan Yahiya , Darraj Hussain , Sabai Abdullah , Mahfouz Mohamed , Alamodi Saleh , Alsabaani Abdullah
Published: December 2016

Aims.This study assessed factors associated with glycemic control among Saudi patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods.We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study, which included a random sample of 288 patients with T2DM proportional to the diabetes population of each primary health care center in Jazan city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Results.More than two-thirds (74%) of patients had poor glycemic control. Lack of education, polypharmacy, and duration of diabetes ≥ 7 years were significantly associated with higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Moreover, patients who were smoker or divorced were significantly more likely to have higher HbA1c. The patients who did not comply with diet or take their medications as prescribed had poor glycemic control. The study found lower HbA1c levels among patients who received family support or had close relationship with their physicians. Similarly, knowledgeable patients towards diabetes or those with greater confidence in ability to manage self-care behaviors had a lower HbA1c. In contrast, risk factors such as depression or stress were significantly correlated with poorer glycemic control.Conclusion.The majority of T2DM patients had poor glycemic control. The study identified several factors associated with glycemic control. Effective and tailored interventions are needed to mitigate exposure to these risk factors. This would improve glycemic control and reduce the risks inherent to diabetes complications.
The Large-Scale Synthesis of Vinyl-Functionalized Silicon Quantum Dot and Its Application in Miniemulsion Polymerization
Authors: Mai Xuan-Dung , Hoang Quang-Bac
Published: December 2016

Stable luminescence, size-tunability, and biocompatibility encourage the deployment of Cd-free NPs into diverse biological applications. Here we report one-pot synthesis of blue-emitting and polymerizable silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) from which water-soluble Si QDs embedded polystyrene nanoparticles (SiQD@PS NPs) were prepared using a miniemulsion polymerization approach. The hydrodynamic size of NPs was controlled by KOH to oleic acid molar ratio. Studies on the photoluminescence properties of SiQD@PS NPs in different conditions reveal that they exhibit two-photon luminescence property and high stability against pH and UV exposure. These NPs add new size regime to the Si QDs based luminescent makers for bioimaging and therapy applications.
Quantification of Limit Cycle Oscillations in Nonlinear Aeroelastic Systems with Stochastic Parameters
Authors: Cui C. C. , Liu J. K. , Chen Y. M.
Published: December 2016

This paper presents an analytical feature for limit cycle oscillation (LCO) in the nonlinear aeroelastic system of an airfoil, with major emphasis on its applications in LCO quantification. The nonlinear stiffness is modeled as the product of the pth power of vibration displacement and the qth power of velocity, with its coefficient as a stochastic parameter. One interesting finding is that the LCO amplitude is directly proportional to the 1/(1-p-q)th power of the coefficient, whereas the frequency is independent of the coefficient. Based on this feature, the statistics and distribution functions of the LCO amplitude are obtained semianalytically, which are validated by Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, we discuss the possible influences of the nonlinear stiffness on flutter suppression of the airfoil subjected to Gaussian white noises. Surprisingly, increasing the nonlinear stiffness alone does not necessarily reduce the vibration amplitude as expected. Instead, it may sometimes induce disastrous subcritical LCOs with much higher vibration amplitudes.
Herbal Extracts That Reduce Ocular Oxidative Stress May Enhance Attentive Performance in Humans
Authors: Cho Hohyun , Kwon Moonyoung , Jang Hyojung , Lee Jee-Bum , Yoon Kyung Chul , Jun Sung Chan
Published: December 2016

We used herbal extracts in this study to investigate the effects of blue-light-induced oxidative stress on subjects’ attentive performance, which is also associated with work performance. We employed an attention network test (ANT) to measure the subjects’ work performance indirectly and used herbal extracts to reduce ocular oxidative stress. Thirty-two subjects participated in either an experimental group (wearing glasses containing herbal extracts) or a control group (wearing glasses without herbal extracts). During the ANT experiment, we collected electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) data and measured button responses. In addition, electrocardiogram (ECG) data were collected before and after the experiments. The EOG results showed that the experimental group exhibited a reduced number of eye blinks per second during the experiment and faster button responses with a smaller variation than did the control group; this group also showed relatively more sustained tension in their ECG results. In the EEG analysis, the experimental group had significantly greater cognitive processing, with larger P300 and parietal 2–6 Hz activity, an orienting effect with neural processing of frontal area, high beta activity in the occipital area, and an alpha and beta recovery process after the button response. We concluded that reducing blue-light-induced oxidative stress with herbal extracts may be associated with reducing the number of eye blinks and enhancing attentive performance.
Reproductive Interference and Niche Partitioning in Aphidophagous Insects
Authors: Noriyuki Suzuki , Osawa Naoya
Published: December 2016

The range and quality of prey species differ greatly among closely related species of predators. However, the factors responsible for this diversified niche utilization are unclear. This is because the predation and resource competition do not always prevent species coexistence. In this paper, we present evidence in support of reproductive interference as a driver of niche partitioning, focusing on aphidophagous insect. Firstly, we present closely related generalist and specialist species pairs in aphidophagous lacewings to compare the reproductive interference hypothesis with two other hypotheses that have been proposed to explain niche partitioning in lacewings and sympatric speciation through host race formation and sexual selection. Secondly, we present a case study that shows how reproductive interference can drive niche partitioning in sibling ladybird species. Thirdly, we show that many ladybird genera include species inhabiting the same region but having different food and habitat preferences, raising the possibility that reproductive interference might occur in these groups. Finally, we show that intraguild predation cannot always explain the niche partitioning in aphidophagous insects including hoverflies and parasitoids. On the basis of the evidence presented, we urge that future studies investigating predator communities should take account of the role of reproductive interference.
Empowerment in the Treatment of Diabetes and Obesity
Authors: Łuczyński Włodzimierz , Głowińska-Olszewska Barbara , Bossowski Artur
Published: December 2016

As the available therapies for diabetes and obesity are not effective enough, diabetologists and educators search for new methods to collaborate with patients in order to support their health behaviors. The aim of this review is to discuss perspectives for the development of new empowerment-type therapies in the treatment of diabetes/obesity. Empowerment is a process whereby patients gain the necessary knowledge to influence their own behavior to improve the quality of their lives. It is carried out in five stages: (1) identify the problem, (2) explain the feelings and meanings, (3) build a plan, (4) act, and (5) experience and assess the execution. Although many years have passed since the advent and popularization of the concept of empowerment, the area remains controversial, mainly with regard to the methodology of therapy. Some previous studies have confirmed the positive effect of empowerment on body weight, metabolic control, and quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes; however, few studies have been conducted in patients with type 1 diabetes. There is still a need to confirm the effectiveness of empowerment in accordance with Evidence Based Medicine by performing long-term observational studies in a large group of patients. In future, empowerment may become part of the standard of care for patients with diabetes and/or obesity.
Diffuse Gallium-67 Accumulation in the Left Atrial Wall Detected Using SPECT/CT Fusion Images
Authors: Kotani Kohei , Kawabe Joji , Higashiyama Shigeaki , Yoshida Atsushi , Shiomi Susumu
Published: December 2016

Gallium-67 scintigraphy is useful for detecting active inflammation. We show a 66-year-old female patient with atrial fibrillation and diffuse thickening of the left atrial wall due to acute myocarditis, who presented diffuse abnormal accumulation of gallium-67 in the left atrium on single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) fusion images. In the second gallium-67 scan 2 months after the first scintigraphy, the abnormal accumulation in the heart was no longer visible. Gallium-67 SPECT/CT images helped understanding the disease condition that temporary inflammation in the left atrium caused atrial fibrillation.
Bending and Shear Experimental Tests and Numerical Analysis of Composite Slabs Made Up of Lightweight Concrete
Authors: Alvarez Rabanal F. P. , Guerrero-Muñoz J. , Alonso-Martinez M. , Martinez-Martinez J. E.
Published: December 2016

The aim of this paper is to understand the structural behaviour of composite slabs. These composite slabs are made of steel and different kinds of concrete. The methodology used in this paper combines experimental studies with advanced techniques of numerical simulations. In this paper, four types of concrete were used in order to study their different structural strengths in composite slabs. The materials used were three lightweight concretes, a normal concrete, and a cold conformed steel deck which has embossments to increase the adherence between concrete and steel. Furthermore, two lengths of slabs were studied to compare structural behaviours between short and long slabs. m-k experimental tests were carried out to obtain the flexural behaviour of the composite slabs. These tests provide dimensionless coefficients to compare different sizes of slabs. Nonlinear numerical simulations were performed by means of the finite element method (FEM). Four different multilinear isotropic hardening laws were used to simulate the four concretes. Coulomb friction contact was used to model the coefficient of friction between steel and concrete. Finally, a chemical bond was included to consider sliding resistance in the contact surface between steel and concrete. Experimental and numerical results are in good agreement; therefore, numerical models can be used to improve and optimize lightweight composite slabs.
Does Leaving the Biopsy Needle in Povidone-Iodine Solution Reduce Infective Complications after Biopsy?
Authors: Benli Erdal , Cirakoglu Abdullah , Ogreden Ercan , Cetinkol Yeliz , Calgin Mustafa Kerem , Ayyildiz Ali , Yüce Ahmet
Published: December 2016

Aim. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether leaving the biopsy needle used during prostate needle biopsy in 10% povidone-iodine (betadine) solution affects the infectious complications forming after biopsy. Material and Method. This study retrospectively evaluated the data of 176 patients with prostate biopsy performed between December 2012 and April 2014. Patients in Group 1 (n=89) were given ofloxacin as a prophylactic antibiotic before biopsy. Patients in Group 2 (n=87) had the biopsy needle left in povidone-iodine solution for 1 minute before each use, in addition to antibiotic prophylaxis. The two groups were compared in terms of infective complications developing after biopsy. Results were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test. Results. The distribution of infective complications after biopsy according to group was as follows. Group 1, not using betadine, had 15.7% fever, 13.5% hospital stay, 12.4% urinary retention, 10.1% prostatitis, and 5.6% sepsis. The distribution of the same complications in Group 2 using betadine was identified as 5.7% fever, 4.6% hospital stay, 3.4% urinary retention, 2.3% prostatitis, and 0% sepsis. The use of betadine was found to significantly reduce the infectious complications after biopsy compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion. At the end of this study leaving the prostate needle in povidone-iodine solution before each use during prostate biopsy was found to reduce the infective complications and hospital stay after biopsy.
Management Practices of Cats Owned by Faculty, Staff, and Students at Two Midwest Veterinary Schools
Authors: Stella Judith L. , Croney Candace C.
Published: December 2016

Understanding cat owners’ housing, care, and management practices is important for promoting cat welfare. A survey study was conducted on the housing and management practices used for cats by students, faculty, and staff of The Ohio State University and Purdue University veterinary colleges. Subjects were 138 cat-owner dyads. Most cats (74%) were housed strictly indoors in keeping with common US veterinary recommendations. However, many did not implement best practices outlined for behavior and other welfare needs of indoor cats. The percentage of respondents placing resources where cats could be disrupted while using them was 31%, 53%, and 30% for resting areas, food/water dishes, and litter boxes, respectively. Many cats were not provided a litter box in a private area (35%), in multiple areas of the house (51%), or that was regularly washed (73%). Horizontal scratching opportunities were not provided to 38% of cats; 32% were not provided toys that mimic prey and 91% of cats were fed a diet consisting of >75% dry food. These findings suggest a need for more concerted efforts to educate owners about meeting their cats’ welfare needs so as to attenuate risks and improve cat physical and behavioral welfare outcomes.
Urinary Obstruction of Transplanted Kidney Caused by Uterine Adenomyosis and 2-Year Posthysterectomy Psoas Abscess in Conjunction with Transplanted Kidney
Authors: Takezawa Yuta , Kadono Yoshifumi , Nohara Takahiro , Mizokami Atsushi
Published: December 2016

Urinary obstruction of the transplanted kidney caused by uterine leiomyoma is an extremely rare condition. To the best of our knowledge, there are only two reports in English literature. Psoas abscess secondary to renal graft pyelonephritis is also uncommon. We present this unusual case and its treatment course. A 43-year-old female presented with renal dysfunction. She was started on peritoneal dialysis from the age of 26 years and received kidney transplantation from her mother (living donor) at the age of 27 years. Computed tomography (CT) revealed right hydronephrosis and a large uterine mass compressing the distal ureter of the transplanted kidney. After a simple total hysterectomy, her renal function improved. Two years following the hysterectomy, she experienced painful urination, fever, right abdominal pain, and right lower limb pain. CT and T2-weighed magnetic resonance imaging of her pelvis demonstrated right psoas abscess in conjunction with transplanted kidney. She was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics alone, which resulted in a good response. Urinary obstruction of the transplanted kidney caused by uterine leiomyoma is an extremely rare condition. Psoas abscess secondary to transplanted kidney pyelonephritis is also rare. We should keep these rare diseases in mind when treating such cases.
A New Manufacturing Service Selection and Composition Method Using Improved Flower Pollination Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Wenyu , Yang Yushu , Zhang Shuai , Yu Dejian , Xu Yangbing
Published: December 2016

With an increasing number of manufacturing services, the means by which to select and compose these manufacturing services have become a challenging problem. It can be regarded as a multiobjective optimization problem that involves a variety of conflicting quality of service (QoS) attributes. In this study, a multiobjective optimization model of manufacturing service composition is presented that is based on QoS and an environmental index. Next, the skyline operator is applied to reduce the solution space. And then a new method called improved Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA) is proposed for solving the problem of manufacturing service selection and composition. The improved FPA enhances the performance of basic FPA by combining the latter with crossover and mutation operators of the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm. Finally, a case study is conducted to compare the proposed method with other evolutionary algorithms, including the Genetic Algorithm, DE, basic FPA, and extended FPA. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method performs best at solving the problem of manufacturing service selection and composition.