bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing accuracy and repeatability of fuel consumption measurement in chassis dynamometer testing
Authors: Brace C J , Burke R , Moffa J
Published: July 2009

The aim of this paper is to identify and investigate the effect of small changes in test conditions when quantifying fuel consumption. Twelve test set-up variables were identified and intentionally perturbed from a standard condition, including the effect of removing the power-assisted steering pump.

Initially a design-of-experiments (DoE) approach was adopted and the results showed that most of the tested parameters had significant effects on fuel consumption. Most of these effects were greater than the effect of typical technology changes assessed on chassis dynamometer facilities. For example, an increase of 8.7 per cent in fuel consumption was observed following a 90min battery discharge from vehicle headlamps. Similarly an increase of 5.5 per cent was observed when the rig was run 3km/h faster over a drive cycle, and 2.6 per cent when using tyres deflated by 0.5 bar. As a consequence, statistical tolerancing was used to suggest typical tolerances for test rig set-up variables. For example it was recommended that the tyre pressure be controlled to within 0.1 bar and the test rig speed to 0.3km/h.

Further investigations were conducted into the effect of battery discharge, coast-down time, and engine cooling. These highlighted the need for rigorous battery charge management as the battery voltage was found not to be an appropriate measure of the variation in the alternator loading. Coast-down time was found to be a good control measure for a number of set-up variables affecting the rolling resistance of the vehicle. Finally the variations in the engine cooling were quantified using a cumulative engine temperature over a drive cycle. This was found to correlate well with fuel consumption. For each of these subsequent investigations, results were compared with the DoE predictions and found to agree well when considering the relatively low number of tests compared with the number of factors.
Vehicle yaw-inertia- and mass-independent adaptive steering control
Authors: Wang J , Hsieh M F
Published: July 2009

This paper describes a vehicle stability control (VSC) system using a vehicle yaw-inertia- and mass-independent adaptive control law. As a primary vehicle active control system, VSC can significantly improve vehicle driving safety for passenger cars and enhance trajectory tracking accuracy for other applications such as autonomous, surveillance, and mobile robot vehicles. For the designs of vehicle dynamic control systems, vehicle yaw inertia and mass are two of the most important parameters. However, in practical applications, vehicle yaw inertia and mass often change with vehicle payload and load distribution. In this paper, an adaptive control law is proposed to treat the vehicle yaw inertia and mass as unknown parameters and automatically address their variations. For the proposed adaptive control law, asymptotic stability of the yaw rate tracking error was proved by a Lyapunov-like analysis for certain vehicle architectures under some reasonable assumptions. The performance of the yaw-inertia- and mass-independent adaptive VSC system was evaluated under several driving conditions (i.e. double lane changing on a slippery surface and braking on a split- μ surface tests) through simulation studies using a high-fidelity full-vehicle model provided by CarSim®.
A note on the measurement of temperature in reciprocating engines using thermocouples
Authors: Kuppu Rao V , Bardon M F
Published: July 2009

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the response of a thermocouple placed in a reciprocating engine. The manner in which the temperatures recorded by the thermocouple lag behind and are attenuated from the fluctuating fluid temperatures because of thermal inertia of the thermocouple is analysed. A method is suggested for computing the true fluid temperatures from the measured temperatures in an engine under both motoring and operating conditions. This compensation technique allows the use of larger, more robust thermocouples without losing the rapid time response of very small thermocouple wires.
A hierarchical controller for the vibration of an automotive suspension system via magnetorheological dampers
Authors: Li R , Chen W-M , Liao C-R , Zhang H-H
Published: July 2009

Reducing the vibration of an automotive magnetorheological (MR) suspension system can contribute greatly to enhancing vehicle performance. However, it is difficult to design a control system that depends on a complicated whole-vehicle vibration model. This paper proposes a hierarchical controller that consists of a control level and a coordination level for heave, roll, and pitch vibration control of a vehicle with an MR suspension system. On the control level, a local fuzzy controller is designed for each quarter-vehicle MR suspension system, based on a hybrid control strategy of skyhook control and groundhook control. On the coordination level, a coordination controller is designed to tune four local independent fuzzy controllers by adjusting their output parameters on the basis of system feedback. A test and control system for MR suspensions is set up and implemented on a minibus equipped with four controllable MR dampers. The results on random rough roads confirm that the hierarchical controller can reduce automotive vertical vibration, roll motion, and pitch motion more effectively than a passive suspension or an MR suspension using a hybrid control strategy. It achieves better ride comfort and automobile handling stability, although data for bump input indicate that the hierarchical controller does not decrease automotive vertical vibration more effectively than hybrid control or a passive system. However, it yields better results in decreasing pitch and roll motions.
Finite-element analysis of liquid-storage tank foundations using settlement difference as boundary condition
Authors: Chen Z P , Sun B , Yu C L , Zeng M
Published: July 2009

Considered comprehensively with the friction between structure and soil, study was carried out to simulate the interaction between bottom plate and foundation with contact element. New modelling method for stress calculation of large liquid-storage tank was established. For it, average settlement difference of the foundations was utilized as boundary condition, replacing the existing bedding value and elastic modulus, which are difficult to be measured in practical engineering. The peak stress over fillet weld area on the bottom plate, which was derived by the finite-element analysis modelling method based on settlement difference, agreed well with the measured values. It shows that other than accurately calculating the stress of bottom plate, this method can also carry out real-time monitoring and forecast the operational life span of large liquid-storage tank.
Impact behaviour of composites with different fibre architecture
Authors: Chen F , Hodgkinson J M
Published: July 2009

This article presents a detailed investigation of the impact behaviour of different fibre reinforced composites. A testing programme of low-velocity and high-velocity impact was carried out to evaluate the damage resistance and tolerance of laminates, non-crimp fabric (NCF) reinforced and three-dimensional (3D) woven fabric reinforced composites. The results showed that 3D woven composites have the best damage resistance and tolerance in low-velocity impact, while NCF composites show superior damage resistance in high-velocity impact. Laminate composites have the best in-plane mechanical properties.
Non-certainty-equivalent adaptive satellite attitude control using solar radiation pressure
Authors: Lee K W , Singh S N
Published: July 2009

The article presents a new adaptive controller for attitude control of satellites using solar radiation pressure (SRP). The satellite has two identical solar flaps for pitch angle control. The model includes gravity gradient torque and the torque due to SRP. Unlike adaptive control design published in the literature for this model, here an adaptive law for large pitch angle trajectory control based on the non-certainty-equivalence principle is derived. The control system has a modular structure consisting of an estimator and a control module designed based on a backstepping method. Using Lyapunov analysis, it is shown that the closed-loop system is stable and the pitch angle trajectory asymptotically follows the reference trajectory. The control system designed here has some special features. In the closed-loop system, the trajectory is ultimately confined to a manifold in the space of state variables and parameter errors. Interestingly, once the estimated parameter values coincide with their true values during the adaptation process, these remain frozen and the estimation error remains zero thereafter, and the system recovers the performance of the deterministic controller. Simulation results are presented for a set of uncertain parameters of the model. These results show that in the closed-loop system, precise large pitch angle control is accomplished despite large uncertainties in the system parameters.
An incremental algorithm to trace the non-linear equilibrium paths of pin-jointed structures using the singular value decomposition of the equilibrium matrix
Authors: Lu J Y , Luo Y Z , Li N
Published: July 2009

This paper is mainly concerned with a new method that analyses the non-linear behaviour of pin-joint structures. Geometrically, non-linear force method (NFM), which is derived from the force method, is now applied instead of geometrically non-linear finite-element method (NFEM). Singular value decomposition operation of the equilibrium matrix is introduced into the calculation of the responses of structures. The relationships between the equilibrium matrix in NFM and the tangent stiffness matrix in NFEM are discussed. The Newton—Raphson method is used in NFM's iteration procedure and the arc-length incremental strategy is also introduced in post-buckling analysis. Two classical structures and an infinitesimal mechanism are used as illustrative examples.
A biomechanical investigation of the anteromedial and posterolateral bands of the porcine anterior cruciate ligament
Authors: Zhou T , Grimshaw P N , Jones C
Published: July 2009

The bipartite nature of the porcine anterior cruciate ligament has been documented, but its biomechanics have not been investigated. The need for such knowledge has recently been heightened with xenografting advances such as the introduction of the porcine patellar tendon as a human anterior cruciate ligament graft. The aim of this study is to compare the biomechanical properties of the intact anterior cruciate ligament with that of its two bands. 15 intact porcine anterior cruciate ligament—bone, 15 anteromedial band—bone, and 15 posterolateral band—bone complexes were prepared for tensile testing at 0.33 mm/s. Structural (load, deformation, stiffness, and energy absorbed) and material (stress, strain, modulus, and strain energy density) properties were analysed. Analysis of variance identified significantly higher ultimate load, stiffness, and energy absorbance in the intact porcine ligament when compared with its anteromedial band ( p = 0.028). However, the intact ligament was only significantly higher in ultimate load when compared to its posterolateral band ( p = 0.031). All ligament—bone complexes failed at similar deformations and strains, suggesting a strain-dependent failure mechanism. The intact porcine anterior cruciate ligament exhibited higher ultimate load, stiffness, and energy absorption than its two bands in isolation. The posterolateral band of the porcine anterior cruciate ligament constitutes a large proportion of the overall restraining function of the entire anterior cruciate ligament.
Microchip system for monitoring microbial physiological behaviour under drug influences
Authors: Arora S , Lim C S , Foo J Y , Sakharkar M K , Dixit P , Liu A Q , Miao J-M
Published: July 2009

Single-step real-time high-throughput monitoring of drug influences on bacterial cell behaviour has become important with growing interests in personalized therapy and medication. Conventional microchip assemblies to perform similar work do exist. However, most of these devices have complex set-ups incorporating micromixers, separators, pumps, or valves. These microcomponents can sometimes damage the entities being monitored because of the creation of unfavourable biological environments. This paper presents a microchip-based system that enables single-step mixing of two solutions in various ratios, without the need for additional microcomponents such as mixers and pumps, in order to screen effectively their combinatory effects on cell outcomes. In this work, in-vitro experiments were carried out using ampicillin at various concentrations to investigate their effects on Escherichia coli ( E. coli). Results showed that the microchip provided effective screening, which yielded useful results such as effective dosages, ineffective dosages, and other possible outcomes; for instance, in this case, the occurrence of adaptive mutation of the bacteria at certain drug concentrations. Comparative microbiological laboratory tests were carried out as standard for confirmation of the results.
Tribological behaviour of lubricated surfaces under application of electric current
Authors: Mahmoud M M , Mohamed M K , Ali W Y
Published: July 2009

The present work discusses the effect of applying external voltage on the sliding of copper, aluminium, and polyethylene (PE) against steel surface lubricated by paraffin oil dispersed by polymeric particles such as PE, polyamide (PA), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Experiments were carried out to measure friction and wear of the tested materials.

Based on the experimental observations, it can be noticed that the friction coefficient and wear are significantly influenced by the generation of electric static charge on the contact surfaces, which causes an attractive force imposed to the normal load. It is found that wear is more influenced by the electric static charge than friction coefficient.

Besides, the effect of the external voltage on generating electric static charge is higher than friction. Among the polymeric particles, crystalline polymers such as PE and PA perform more effectively than glassy polymers such as PMMA. Dispersing oil by polymeric particles does not decrease friction coefficient displayed by aluminium sliding against steel, while aluminium as cathode displays minimum wear. PE as cathode shows minimum wear when the oil is dispersed by polymeric particles. For oil free of polymers, wear of PE pins remarkably increases when they are cathodes.
Effect of apparent area, load, and filler content on sliding friction characteristics of polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Kirupasankar S , Gnanamoorthy R , Velmurugan R
Published: July 2009

Polymers and polymer composites replace metals in low duty applications such as gears, bearings, rollers, and so on. Use of these low-modulus and low-strength materials makes the product design more complex. The contact characteristics are severely affected due to low modulus and high stresses and influence the product performance. Effect of apparent area of contact, normal load, and clay addition on the contact characteristics of polyamide 6 and polyamide 6 nanocomposite is reported. The real area of contact, which varies severely with normal load in low modulus materials, affects the coefficient of friction. Addition of nanoclay improves the modulus and reduces the coefficient of friction.
Simulating the fluid dynamic behaviour of oar blades in competition rowing
Authors: Coppel A , Gardner T N , Caplan N , Hargreaves D M
Published: July 2009

This study examines the hydrodynamic behaviour of rowing oar blades using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). For initial validation of the modelling technique, the lift and drag coefficients of the Big Blade oar design and a flat rectangular oar were compared against previously published experimental data carried out on quarter-scale blades held stationary at a number of angles of attack to the oncoming flow. The CFD model was in agreement with the experimental data, predicting the lift and drag coefficients within 0.14 and 0.34 of the measured values respectively, although the degree of correlation was found to be sensitive to the particular turbulence model applied. The simulations provided predictions of the fluid—blade propulsive forces of lift and drag over the range of angles of attack used in rowing, and they characterized the features of hydrodynamic flow around the blade. To investigate the performance of currently available oar blades at full scale, a second series of simulations was carried out over a range of blade velocities commonly used in rowing. The CFD model provided much insight into the fluid dynamic behaviour of rowing oar blades and showed great potential as an aid to oar blade design.
Metal-Mediated Retro-Allylation of Homoallyl Alcohols for Highly Selective Organic Synthesis
Authors: Yorimitsu Hideki , Oshima Koichiro
Published: July 2009

Metal-mediated or -catalyzed retro-allylation of homoallyl alcohol that proceeds via a six-membered transition state has appeared as a new useful method to prepare allylmetals. A crotylzirconium reagent undergoes stereoselective allylation of aromatic aldehyde at −78 and 25 °C to provide threo- and erythro-homoallyl alcohols, respectively. Although the threo isomer is formed as usual via a six-membered chair transition state under kinetic control, the erythro selectivity is rationalized by considering isomerization of the threo adduct through a retro-allylation process. The retro-allylation of a bulky gallium homoallyloxide occurs to generate (Z)- and (E)-crotylgallium reagents stereospecifically, starting from erythro- and threo-homoallyl alcohols, respectively. The (Z)- and (E)-crotylgallium reagents react with aromatic aldehydes in situ to afford the corresponding erythro- and threo-homoallyl alcohols, respectively. Treatment of rationally designed tertiary homoallyl alcohols with aryl halides under palladium catalysis yielded the corresponding allylarenes stereo- and regioselectively, by replacing the conventional transmetalation step in the cross-coupling reaction with alkoxide–halide exchange followed by a retro-allylation reaction. The retro-allylation reaction is also applicable to nickel and rhodium at this stage, and may to any other metals in principle. Reversible additions of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl anion to carbonyl compounds are also described.
Ferromagnetic Assemblies Composed of MnIII Salen-Type Complexes and a Tripodal FeIII Complex with an Imidazolate Bridge
Authors: Ishikawa Ryuta , Miyasaka Hitoshi , Yamashita Masahiro
Published: July 2009

The use of a low-spin FeIII complex bearing three imidazolate groups in a reaction with MnIII salen-type complexes provided two different imidazolate-bridged MnIII–FeIII assemblies, a dinuclear complex and a one-dimensional chain, dependent on the salen ligand and counter ion used. Both compounds exhibit a ferromagnetic exchange between MnIII and FeIII centers via the imidazolate linkage.
Bromine Adducts of 9,10-Diheteratriptycene Derivatives
Authors: Uchiyama Yosuke , Sugimoto Jun , Shibata Munenori , Yamamoto Gaku , Mazaki Yasuhiro
Published: July 2009

2,3,6,7,14,15-Hexamethyl-9,10-diphosphatriptycene (1), 2,3,6,7,14,15-hexamethyl-9-phospha-10-stibatriptycene (2), and 2,3,6,7,14,15-hexamethyl-9,10-distibatriptycene (3) were synthesized and their molecular structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. Reactions of 2 and 3 with bromine gave the corresponding adducts 8 and 9 with the compositions 2·2Br2 and 3·2Br2, respectively. Both of the adducts 8 and 9 have a zwitterionic structure composed of a hexacoordinate stiborate anion, (R3SbBr3−) and a tetracoordinate phosphonium/stibonium cation (R3MBr+: M = P or Sb) in the crystalline state. 1H and 31P NMR spectra of the adduct 8 indicated that the structure is static in solution at room temperature. On the other hand, 1H NMR spectra of the adduct 9 suggested fast topomerization at 27 °C, which becomes slow on the NMR time scale at −90 °C. Recrystallization of the adduct 9 from THF–mesitylene gave crystals with the composition of 3·2Br2·2THF, in which each antimony atom bonds to two bromine atoms and one THF oxygen to give an octahedral geometry.
Isolation and Reaction of 1,2-Dithietan-3-one: Formation of Thiolato Thiocarboxylato Metal Complexes
Authors: Shigetomi Toshiyuki , Okuma Kentaro , Nagahora Noriyoshi , Yokomori Yoshinobu
Published: July 2009

The reaction of 4,4-di-tert-butyl-1,2-dithietan-3-one with triphenylphosphine afforded 1,1-di-tert-butylthiiran-2-one (86%). The reaction of 4,4-di-tert-butyl-1,2-dithietan-3-one with phenylmagnesium bromide gave S-phenyl 2-tert-butyl-2-mercapto-3,3-dimethylbutanethioate in 83% yield. The reaction of 4,4-di-tert-butyl-1,2-dithietan-3-one with tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) gave square-planar complex in 84% yield, whose structure was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.
Market Structure and Competition in the Retail Discount Industry
Authors: Zhu Ting , Singh Vishal , Manuszak Mark D.
Published: July 2009

This article examines competition among Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Target using two distinct but related approaches. The authors first develop and estimate a discrete game in which each chain's store presence and format decisions in local markets depend on the decisions of its competitors and market characteristics. This analysis is extended to evaluate the determinants of store revenues for each chain in local markets as a function of market characteristics, including the presence of competing firms. These regressions use the results of the initial model to correct for the endogeneity of observed market structures. The results from both exercises illustrate several important asymmetries across the firms. Kmart and Wal-Mart prefer similar markets, but Wal-Mart's competitive position is dominant enough to prevent Kmart's operation in otherwise attractive markets. In contrast, Target prefers substantially different market characteristics. In total, the results support a view of the industry as one in which Wal-Mart is dominant, Target serves more of a niche role, and Kmart struggles to find its footing.
The Importance of Modeling Temporal Dependence of Timing and Quantity in Direct Marketing
Authors: Jen Lichung , Chou Chien-Heng , Allenby Greg M.
Published: July 2009

The analysis of customer value in direct marketing typically combines customer timing and quantity data into a single statistic that is used to compute lifetime values, rank-order customers for differential action, and identify prospects for cross-selling. However, current models assume that purchase timing and quantity decisions are independently realized (i.e., uncorrelated) over time given individual-level parameters. In this article, the authors show that customer value calculations can be severely biased in these models when timing and quantity are dependently related. The authors propose alternative models that lead to substantial gains in profitability in two direct-marketing data sets. The results indicate that the commonly held assumption of independence leads to an overvaluation of customer value.
“Speed of Replacement”: Modeling Brand Loyalty Using Last-Move Data
Authors: Che Hai , Seetharaman P.B. (Seethu)
Published: July 2009

The authors study brand loyalties for durable goods using automobile survey data that are peculiarly censored and track only elapsed times since transitions but not the transition times themselves. This censoring problem is typical of commercially available durable goods survey data. However, little attention has been paid to such “last-move” data in the statistics or marketing literature on the analysis of transition times. The authors propose a multistate, continuous-time, nonstationary Markov model with a parsimonious brand loyalty structure and also propose an estimation approach to recover the parameters of the proposed model using the automobile survey data. The proposed model fits observed brand choice outcomes even better than a model with a fully unrestricted (and, therefore, highly parameterized) transition structure. The authors also obtain several substantive findings. For example, Chrysler is significantly “weaker” than General Motors and Ford insofar as it has the lowest brand loyalty during the study period. The authors illustrate the managerial implications by predicting time-varying market shares of brands in periods subsequent to the period of analysis.
Predicting New Customers' Risk Type in the Credit Card Market
Authors: Zhao Yi , Zhao Ying , Song Inseong
Published: July 2009

Recent studies in marketing have consistently shown that all customers are not equally profitable. In the credit card business, all customers are not equally risky. When a customer misses one payment on a credit card bill, a signal is sent to the credit card company. It is important for the card issuer to interpret the signal and to identify whether the customer is a low-risk one, who will eventually pay back the debt and contribute to the card issuer's profits by paying interest on the overdue balance, or a high-risk one, who will not pay back the debt. The issuer can then customize its policies to deal with these different consumer types. This article develops a dynamic model for debt repayment behavior of new customers in the credit card market that makes it possible to differentiate between low-risk, delinquent customers and high-risk customers. The authors apply the model to a data set of new consumers' monthly spending and repayment records.
Category-Based Screening in Choice of Complementary Products
Authors: Aribarg Anocha , Foutz Natasha Zhang
Published: July 2009

Consumers often make complex choices involving complementary categories, such as cell phones and service plans. In the fast-growing high-tech and entertainment industries, products from complementary categories are often incompatible with one another. This research shows that when choosing a pair of such complementary products, a consumer is likely to use a two-stage decision strategy: screening by one category first to narrow down the number of pairs for further evaluation in the second stage. In the presence of incompatibility, screening by one category rather than by the other may lead to different choice outcomes. The authors develop a behavioral theory–driven choice model that accounts for both preference heterogeneity and structural heterogeneity of decision strategies to examine the extent to which consumers engage in category-based screening. Analysis of data from a 2 × 2 conjoint choice experiment reveals that consumers tend to screen a category that has higher intracategory differentiation and is congruent with their decision goals. The authors further suggest possible marketing actions a firm can take to promote the use of a specific decision strategy that leads consumers to choose its product.
Discounting Time and Time Discounting: Subjective Time Perception and Intertemporal Preferences
Authors: Zauberman Gal , Kim B. Kyu , Malkoc Selin A. , Bettman James R.
Published: July 2009

Consumers often make decisions about outcomes and events that occur over time. This research examines consumers' sensitivity to the prospective duration relevant to their decisions and the implications of such sensitivity for intertemporal trade-offs, especially the degree of present bias (i.e., hyperbolic discounting). The authors show that participants' subjective perceptions of prospective duration are not sufficiently sensitive to changes in objective duration and are nonlinear and concave in objective time, consistent with psychophysical principles. More important, this lack of sensitivity can explain hyperbolic discounting. The results replicate standard hyperbolic discounting effects with respect to objective time but show a relatively constant rate of discounting with respect to subjective time perceptions. The results are replicated between subjects (Experiment 1) and within subjects (Experiments 2), with multiple time horizons and multiple descriptors, and with different measurement orders. Furthermore, the authors show that when duration is primed, subjective time perception is altered (Experiment 4) and hyperbolic discounting is reduced (Experiment 3).
Channel Negotiations with Information Asymmetries: Contingent Influences of Communication and Trustworthiness Reputations
Authors: Srivastava Joydeep , Chakravarti Dipankar
Published: July 2009

This article reports three experiments that examine how communication types (informational, relational, and coercive messages) and mutual trustworthiness reputations influence sequential bargaining between an uncertain manufacturer and an informed distributor in a marketing channel. In Experiment 1, bargainers use informational and relational messages to establish a positive social tenor in the interaction. Compared with when bargainers communicate only through offers and counteroffers, explicit communication produces quicker and more efficient agreements. The effects are stronger when manufacturer uncertainty is relatively high. In Experiment 2, mutual reputations of high (versus low) trustworthiness also produce quicker and more efficient agreements. In both studies, the larger extracted surplus increases manufacturer profits without affecting distributor profits. However, contrary to economic intuition, the gains from communication accrue asymmetrically to the uninformed manufacturer. Experiment 3 shows the effects of communication type are contingent on the prevailing level (high or low) of trustworthiness reputations in the dyad. Compared with no communication, relational messages elicit the most positive (negative) outcomes when trustworthiness reputations are high (low). Informational messages have a smaller but positive impact on bargaining outcomes in both trustworthiness conditions and appear to build trust.
Discursive Typologies and Moral Values in Stem Cell Politics, Regulation and Commercialisation: Some Preliminary Observations (Part I)
Authors: Bruce Ann , Harmon Shawn H. E.
Published: July 2009

Great importance is attached to, and great controversy surrounds, biotechnology generally and stem cell research more specifically, particularly human embryonic stem cell research. Given its position at the vanguard of innovations in theoretical and applied human healthcare science, and as a source of political conflict and achievement, it is useful to examine attitudes toward, and actions around, embryonic stem cell research. This article conceives of three discursive typologies and explores their deployment in three different settings or sites in the life or progress of embryonic stem cell research, namely, the political (determining legal boundaries), the hybrid (identifying and enforcing boundaries for laboratory research), and the administrative (enforcing boundaries in the commercial context), the intention being to determine whether these typologies are consistent and what moral values their use supports. This article concludes that the typologies are deployed to varying degrees in the different sites, and with varying degrees of success. Although this might be expected, and not altogether unwarranted, given the different roles and objectives of the primary institutions at each site, the current prevalence of the typologies suggests that these institutions might not be operating optimally from the democracy enhancement and transparency points of view.
Patent Protection of the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Its Impact on the Related Industries in China
Authors: Yongzhong Qiao , Xuezhong Zhu
Published: July 2009

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) IP strategy is an integral part of China's national IP strategy. It is of great value for the implementation of the Strategy to study the status quo of the patent protection of TCM and its impact on the related industries. This paper gives a multidimensional illustration of the current of the patent protection of TCM in China in view of the following aspects: patent applications, patent grants, PCT and the object of the patent protection of TCM. It demonstrates the impact of patent protection on the TCM industry after a detailed analysis of the R&D expense, social effects, human resources in TCM institutions and their output of scientific/technical papers. Finally, it analyzes the challenges facing the patent protection of TCM and discusses some tentative solutions.
Diagnosis and treatment of maternal acute myeloid leukemia during pregnancy imitating HELLP syndrome
Authors: Biener Dorothee M. , Gossing Gabriele , Kuehnl Andrea , Cremer Malte , Dudenhausen Joachim W.
Published: July 2009

No abstract available
Serum proinflammatory cytokine – interleukin-8 as possible infection site marker in preterm deliveries
Authors: Bogavac Mirjana A. , Brkić Snežana
Published: July 2009

Aim: To evaluate serum level of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 as a biochemical marker of local infections in patients with clinical symptoms of preterm deliveries.

Methods: We studied 74 pregnant women at 24–36 gestational weeks (GW) with preterm delivery. Serum interleukin-8 was measured.

Results: The mean value of interleukin-8 in the study group (n=36) was 19.13 pg/mL vs. 5.02 pg/mL in the controls (n=38).

Conclusions: The results indicate that serum level of interleukin-8 might be used as non-invasive marker of infections in pregnancy, as well as a marker of preterm deliveries.
Electroabsorption Measurements on Bifacial CIGS Solar Cell Devices
Authors: Lee JinWoo , Elder Ken Edward , Shafarman William N , Cohen David J.
Published: July 2009

We report the first studies of electroabsorption in Cu(InGa)Se2(CIGS) solar cell devices. We utilized a bifacial CIGS device with a Ga/(In+Ga) ratio of 0.8 (bandgap of 1.5 eV) deposited onto semi-transparent (40 nm thick) Mo coated glass as the back contact. By modulating the electric field using a small sinusoidal potential of amplitude δV across the CIGS layer, we were able to detect the modulation ΔT of the transmitted light. This was examined as a function of photon energy, DC bias, temperature, and modulation frequency (100 Hz to 10 kHz) and had a maximum amplitude of ΔT/T ≈ 10−5for δV = 0.3 V. Very different characteristics were obtained for near bandgap light (1.3 eV) compared to photon energies considerable smaller (<0.95 eV). While the latter exhibited a strong temperature and frequency dependence, indicating an important role for deep defects in the effect, the former exhibited very little change with temperature or frequency, indicating the predominance of transitions involving bandtail states. Different metastable states of the CIGS layer produced by prolonged light soaking above the bandgap energy were also examined.
Development of Al2O3-ZnO/Ca3Co4O9 Module for Thermoelectric Power Generation
Authors: Mele Paolo , Matsumoto Kaname , Azuma Takeshi , Kamesawa Keita , Tanaka Saburo , Kurosaki Jun-Ichiro , Miyazaki Koji
Published: July 2009

Pure and Al2O3(2%, 5%, 8%) doped sintered ZnO (n-type) and pure sintered Ca3Co4O9 (p-type) pellets were prepared by conventional solid state synthesis starting from the oxides. The sintered pellets were cut by a diamond saw in a pillar shape (15 mm×5 mm×5 mm) for experimental checks. The best doped sample was 2 % Al2O3 ZnO showing Seebeck coefficient S = -180 mV/K and electrical conductivity σ = 8 S/cm at 400°C, while thermal conductivity κ = 1.8 W/m×K at 600°C. Typical values for Ca3Co4O9 were S = 82.5 mV/K and σ = 125 S/cm at 800°C, while κ = 1.01 W/m×K at 600°C.
Several modules fabricated by elements cut from sintered pellets were tested and the best performance was obtained in the module formed by six 2 % Al2O3ZnO/ Ca3Co4O9 couples, that generated an output power P = 300 mV at 500°C (when ΔT = 260°C).
Alport Syndrome mutation changes molecular structure and nanomechanics of type IV tropocollagen
Authors: Srinivasan Maya , Uzel Sebastien G.M. , Gautieri Alfonso , Keten Sinan , Buehler Markus J
Published: July 2009

Alport Syndrome is a genetic disease characterized by the breakdown of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) around blood vessels in the kidney, leading to kidney failure in most patients. It is the second most inherited kidney disease in the US, and many other symptoms are associated with the disease, including hearing loss and ocular lesions. Here we probe the molecular level mechanisms of this disease utilizing a bottom-up computational materiomics approach focused on the mutation associated with the most severe form of Alport Syndrome. Since the GBM is under constant mechanical loading due to blood flow, changes in mechanical properties due to amino acid mutations may be critical in the symptomatic GBM breakdown seen in Alport Syndrome patients. Through full-atomistic simulations in explicit solvent, the effects of a single-residue glycine substitution mutation are studied in a short segment of a collagen type IV tropocollagen molecule. Major changes are observed at the single molecule level of the mutated sequence, including a bent shape of the structures after equilibration with the kink located at the mutation site and a significant alteration of the molecule’s stress-strain response and stiffness.
Rational Design of Nanostructured Hybrid Materials for Photovoltaics
Authors: Botiz Ioan , Darling Seth B
Published: July 2009

To develop efficient organic and/or hybrid organic-inorganic solar energy devices, it is necessary to use, among other components, an active donor–acceptor layer with highly ordered nanoscale morphology. In an idealized morphology, the effectiveness of internal processes is optimized leading to an efficient conversion of photons to electricity. Using a poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(L-lactide) rod-coil block copolymer as a structure-directing agent, we have rationally designed and developed an ordered nanoscale morphology consisting of self-assembled poly(3-hexylthiophene) donor domains of molecular dimension, each of them separated by fullerene C60 hydroxide acceptor domains. Using this morphological control, one can begin to probe structure-property relationships with unprecedented detail with the ultimate goal of maximizing the performance of future organic/hybrid photovoltaic devices.
Using Stainless Steel Coiled Tubing in a Novel Application
Authors: van Adrichem Willem P. , Keen Kelly , Henquet Henri
Published: July 2009

Stainless steel coiled tubing (CT) was used for the first time in Spain in 1997, to convey a burner as part of an underground Coal Gasification feasibility project by Underground Gasification Europe (UGE). Minimizing the risk of combustion associated with contact between pure oxygen and carbon steel dictated the requirement of stainless steel coiled tubing for this project. Additionally, stainless steel CT was required to minimize the corrosive aggressiveness of pure oxygen.

The 1.75" 316 L stainless steel coiled tubing used for this project, was milled in a continuous length in Switzerland and tested for its low cycle fatigue properties in Houston.

Two stainless steel control lines were installed inside the coiled tubing to initiate the burning process, together with a thermocouple to monitor the down hole temperature during the gasification. This paper discusses the role that stainless steel coiled tubing played in this underground coal gasification project as well as the development and testing of all the components.
Apparent Dielectric Constant and Effective Frequency of TDR Measurements: Influencing Factors and Comparison
Authors: Chung C.-C. , Lin C.-P.
Published: July 2009

When measuring soil water content by time domain reflectometry (TDR), several methods are available for determining the related apparent dielectric constant (Ka) from the TDR waveform. Their influencing factors and effective frequencies have not been extensively investigated and results obtained from different methods have not been critically compared. The purpose of this study was to use numerical simulations to systematically investigate the effects of electrical conductivity, cable length, and dielectric dispersion on Ka and the associated effective frequency. Not only does the dielectric dispersion significantly affect the measured Ka, it also plays an important role in how Ka is affected by the electrical conductivity and cable length. Three methods for determining Ka were compared, including the dual tangent, single tangent, and derivative methods. Their effective frequencies were carefully examined with emphasis on whether the effects of electrical conductivity, cable length, and dielectric dispersion can be accounted for by the estimated effective frequency. The results show that there is no consistent trend between the change in Ka and the change in effective frequency as the influencing factors vary. Compensating the effects of electrical conductivity, cable length, and dielectric dispersion by the effective frequency seems theoretically infeasible. To improve the accuracy of TDR soil water content measurements in the face of these influencing factors, future studies are recommended toward TDR dielectric spectroscopy or developing signal processing techniques for determining the dielectric permittivity near the optimal frequency range.
Optimising water treatment practices for the removal of Anabaena circinalis and its associated metabolites, geosmin and saxitoxins
Authors: Ho Lionel , Tanis-Plant Paul , Kayal Nawal , Slyman Najwa , Newcombe Gayle
Published: July 2009

The cyanobacterium Anabaena circinalis has the ability to co-produce geosmin and saxitoxins, compounds which can compromise the quality of drinking water. This study provides pertinent information in optimising water treatment practices for the removal of geosmin and saxitoxins. In particular, it demonstrates that pre-oxidation using potassium permanganate could be applied at the head of water treatment plants without releasing intracellular geosmin and saxitoxins from A. circinalis. Furthermore, powdered activated carbon (PAC) was shown to be an effective treatment barrier for the removal of extracellular (dissolved) geosmin and saxitoxins, with similar adsorption trends of both compounds. The relative removal of the saxitoxins compared with geosmin was determined to be 0.84±0.27, which implies that saxitoxin removal with PAC can be estimated to be approximately 60 to 100% of the removal of geosmin under equivalent conditions. Chlorine was shown to be effective for the oxidation of the saxitoxins with CT values of approximately 30 mg min l−1 required for greater than 90% destruction of the saxitoxins.
The U.S. Employment Effects of Military and Domestic Spending Priorities
Authors: Pollin Robert , Garrett-Peltier Heidi
Published: July 2009

This study focuses on the employment effects of military spending versus alternative domestic spending priorities. The authors begin by introducing the basic input-output modeling technique for considering issues such as these in a systematic way. They then present some simple alternative spending scenarios—namely, devoting $1 billion to the military versus the same amount of money spent for five alternatives: tax cuts that produce increased levels of personal consumption; health care; education; mass transit; and construction targeted at home weatherization and infrastructure repair. The first conclusion in assessing such relative employment effects is straightforward: $1 billion spent on personal consumption, health care, education, mass transit, and construction for home weatherization/infrastructure will all create more jobs in the U.S. economy than would the same $1 billion spent on the military. The authors then examine the pay level of jobs created through these alternative spending priorities and assess the overall welfare effects of the alternative employment outcomes. Combining these alternative domestic spending categories in an effective way can also generate a higher level of compensation for working people in the United States and a better average quality of jobs.
Experiences from the Swedish Determinants-Based Public Health Policy
Authors: Lundgren Bernt
Published: July 2009

A comprehensive Swedish public health policy was adopted by the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag, in April 2003. It pushes health up on the political agenda and affords equity in health high priority. The first phase of implementation of the policy, 2003–5, is described in the 2005 Public Health Policy Report published by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH). For the purpose of investigating the implementation, SNIPH has monitored the development of 42 determinants and used reports from 22 central agencies and eight county administrative boards together with interviews with all Sweden's county councils (21) and a questionnaire sent out to all municipalities (290). The experiences from the implementation of the policy are that: the determinants approach—focusing on structural factors in society, people's living conditions, and health behaviors that affect health—is in general well understood and emphasizes the role of other sectors in public health; the use of indicators to follow up exposures to determinants is of key importance; the support to actors outside the health service is needed to identify their public health role; a continuous steering from the government and other political bodies is of vital importance; public health promotion on the regional level needs a higher level of coordination; municipalities need more skills development. Sweden has a new government that was elected in September 2006; the new government has retracted the former government's public health policy communication submitted to the Riksdag in the spring of 2006, but does not intend to change the public health policy.
The Making of a Chinese Head of the Who: A Study of the Media Discourse on Margaret Chan's Contest for the who Director-Generalship and its Implications for the Collective Memory of Sars
Authors: Yin Chan Wai , Yun Ma Shu
Published: July 2009

In 2003, Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, former Director of Health of the Hong Kong government, was criticized for her unsatisfactory performance in handling the SARS outbreak. But three years later, she was celebrated for her success in the contest for the WHO director-generalship. How was she transformed from an incompetent official into an “honor winner” for China and Hong Kong? In what context was this made possible? How was the collective memory about Chan recalled and reconstructed? This article tackles these questions by reviewing relevant reportage and commentary in major local (Hong Kong), national (China), and international media. It maps the political context of the media discourse and explores the construction of a collective past to foster national cohesion in postcolonial Hong Kong.