bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Behind the rankings of Pacific nations in the 2011-12 World Press Freedom Index
Authors: Pearson Mark
Published: March 2017

Commentary: Australia and New Zealand both declined in the 2011-2012 Reporters Sans Frontières/Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index rankings but all other surveyed Pacific Island nations improved their standings. This article reports upon those outcomes and details the methodology used by the international press freedom agency in reaching its annual determinations. It explains that such rankings can never be statistically precise because too many variables are at play between countries and from one survey period to another. Nevertheless, they are indicative and importantly draw attention each year to the widely varying standards applied to media freedom throughout the Pacific region and the wider world.
Poder local y poder central. Servicio al rey y desarrollo patrimonial en Castilla en el siglo XIII. El merino Fernán González de Rojas y sus descendientes
Authors: Álvarez Borge Ignacio
Published: March 2017

A lo largo de este artículo intentaremos estudiar la proyección patrimonial de los merinos mayores de Castilla de Fernando III centrándonos en un caso, el de Fernán González de Rojas. Intentaremos mostrar la bidireccionalidad de la relación política entre el rey y sus merinos y cómo esa relación bidireccional se sustanciaba en un considerable desarrollo patrimonial para los merinos. El rey utilizaba a los poderes regionales y comarcales para hacer efectivo su poder territorial, pero eso les permitía a ellos también, a su vez, aumentar su poder en esos mismos ámbitos comarcales y regionales. De esa manera, el grueso de nuestro análisis se centrará en el estudio de los dominios de Fernán González de Rojas hacia mediados del siglo XIII y también de sus descendientes directos hasta comienzos del siglo XIV.
KONSEP ILMU DALAM SHAHIH AL-BUKHARI
Authors: Jabbar Luqman Abdul
Published: March 2017

Bukhari selected the authenticity of hadith so thoroughly and carefully that he was nicknamed "tabib al-hadis". His intelligence and a strong concern with science was shown in the classification of a separate chapter on the science in his book. Nevertheless Sahih al-Bukhari, as are the books of other hadith collections, has no theoretical-conceptual content of a theory in a mature and clear way. Is still requires help from other disciplines. And the hadits basically requires interpretation, if one wishes to understand it.

Keywords: Science, Hadith and Bukhari.
ALIRAN BASRAH; SEJARAH LAHIR, TOKOH DAN KARAKTERISTIKNYA
Authors: Rahmap Rahmap
Published: March 2017

Since Basra was a trading port for Iraq in the Arab Gulf, foreign influences that affected the

progress in the field of trade and investment. Here in this port, encounters occurred between

Arabs, Persians and Indians as well as between the religions of Christianity, Judaism, Majus

and Islam. The closeness between Basra and the Gandisabur school in Persia that studied the

Persian, Greek, and Indian culture has generated a mix of culture as a whole. During the

period of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, translation works on medical books were carried out by

Masir Haubah. The same thing was also undertaken by Abdullah al-Muqaffa’ who was fluent

in Arabic and Persian. He translated books on the Persian literature and history into Arabic.

From the son of Abdullah al-Muqaffa, Muhammad, the Arabic translation of Aristotle’s

science of logic Kalilah wa Dimnah was produced. There was also a Jewish translator

named Hunain Ibn Ishaq, who translated books and got rewards in the form of gold for each

weight of books he translated. In Basra, there was a school of Mu'tazilah that learnt the Greek

sciences. This strongly affected the school of sciences he learnt such as the science of kalam

and nahwu in terms of taqsim, ta’lil, ta’wil dan qiyas.
TEACHING CHILDREN A SECOND LANGUAGE
Authors: Segu Segu
Published: March 2017

Pembelajaran bahasa asing telah menyebabkan semakin banyak orang yang dapat bicara lebih dari satu bahasa. Hal ini juga berdampak pada anak-anak mereka. Tulisan ini berbicara tentang apakah anak yang dibesarkan dengan lebih dari satu bahasa memiliki kemampuan yang lebih baik di satu bahasa saja atau memiliki kemampuan yang sama di dua bahasa yang dikuasainya.
UPAYA PENCEGAHAN RADIKALISME AGAMA DAN TERORISME MELALUI PEMILIHAN TEMA BAHAN AJAR PADA MATA KULIAH ENGLISH FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES
Authors: Muzammil Sa'dulloh
Published: March 2017

Radicalism and terrorism are often connected to a misconception of religion’s teachings. It emerges since one or a group of persons learn a religion’s teachings from wrong sources. In other words, they gain information form wrong persons or wrong literatures. Most of those involve in striking terror are youngsters for that education is then considered as one of solutions to prevent radicalism and terrorism. Thus this article proposes an alternative to avoid youngsters from the misconception of religion’s teachings by providing and selecting themes of teaching material that inform about truthful religion’s view on radicalism and terrorism.
PENANAMAN NILAI-NILAI DASAR ISLAMI ANAK USIA DINI PADA MASYARAKAT PERKOTAAN
Authors: Mardiyati Isyatul
Published: March 2017

Negative Social phenomena in urban society due to changes in lifestyle, social interaction, and changes in social systems have led to problems in many aspects of life. The social problems indicate that urban community is going through a phase of ‘demoralization’ as a result of social changes that are not in line with the Islamic basic values and other norms. The increasing cases of crime in urban areas in terms of quality and quantity, such as corruption, fraud, theft, assault, murder, etc. indicate that the quality of the character and behavior of individuals or groups are still low, resulting from insufficient religious education and norms they receive from an early age.

In this light, the Kindergarten or Early Childhood Education plays a very important role in instilling basic Islamic values in children from an early age. The efforts can be made through a series of activities of ‘play and learn’ to actualize Islamic values in everyday life. These activities are expected to achieve a better generation in terms of mental and intellectual capacities, having noble character and strong faith as well as piety to Allah. In addition, through instillation of basic Islamic values from an early age, we will have a new generation of Muslims who act as

agents of change that bring about the glory of Islam in the modern era.
Relationship of neck circumference and difficult endotracheal intubation in obese patients
Authors: Karna Amit Kumar , Bashir Khalid
Published: March 2017

Background and Objectives: Patient identification with difficult intubation is important in planning anesthetic management and one major factor for difficult intubation in t he obese patients is large neck circumference. The need for prediction of a potentially difficult airway received great importance as it plays a significant role in reducing morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study was done to glimpse the effect of neck circumference on endotracheal intubation and to determine the frequency of difficult intubation.Material and Methods: The study was cross sectional descriptive study and convenient sampling technique was used. Seventy patients of age between 19-50 years of both sexes were enrolled. Neck circumference was measured at the level of cricoid cartilage along with other airway assessments. Direct laryngoscopy was done and checked whether it is difficult one or easy using Intubation difficulty scale. Data were entered and analyzed by using statistical software SPSS version 15.0. Results: Mean BMI was noted as 33.02±2.30 kg/m2 and the mean neck circumference was 43.64±2.30 cm. Difficult intubation was observed in 23 (32.86%) patients with mean neck circumference of 45.44±1.88 cm and normal intubation observed in 47(67.14%) patients with mean neck circumference of 42.77±1.98 cm. Linear correlation was found between the neck circumference and Intubation Difficulty Scale score with value of Pearson correlation=0.617 .Conclusion: Neck circumference of patient was found to have significant effects on difficult intubation. Frequency of difficult intubation was found in almost one third of obese patients with increasing neck circumference.Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2016) Vol. 4 (2): 3-9
Submandibular lipoma in elderly female in mid western Nepal: A Case Report
Authors: Tulachan Bishow , Borgohain Buddha Nath
Published: March 2017

Background and Objectives: The submandibular lipomas are relatively rare entity. The reported age of the patients were from birth to 84 years old, and average being 55.7 years. These are mainly asymptomatic and mostly cause aesthetic concerns. Deep lipomas, especially in the head and neck, are not commonly reported. To our knowledge there’s not even a single publication regarding the lipoma in the submandibular region in our mid western region as well as in our country.Presentation of case: A 72 years old female presented with complaints of painless progressive neck swelling in the right submandibular region for about 2 years. Clinically, it was thought to be submandibular gland neoplasm/ lymphadenopathy. Ultrasonography (USG) and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) were done. It was negative for malignancy. She underwent excision of the mass under general anesthesia without postoperative complications. The histopathology confirmed it to be lipoma. Discussion: Lipoma is a common benign mesenchymal tumour that is found almost anywhere in the body. However, a large lipoma is relatively rare in the submandibular region. On clinical doubt, one can rely on USG / MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and FNAC to rule out diagnostic dilemma. The treatment of choice is simply excision. Conclusion: It’s a rare entity and may be the first report of a lipoma in the submandibular region in an elderly people. One should rule out its possibility while going through the submandibular region diseases.Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2016) Vol. 4 (2): 46-49
Prevalence and correlates of condom use among single midlife Canadian women and men aged 40 to 59
Authors: McKay Alexander , Quinn-Nilas Christopher , Milhausen Robin
Published: March 2017

Reported rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among midlife Canadians have increased. However, there is little data on the STI behavioural risk of this age group. The current study investigated the prevalence and correlates of condom use at last penile vaginal intercourse (PVI) among sexually active single (never married, separated/divorced) Canadians aged 40 to 59 (n=830). Men were more likely than women to report using a condom at last PVI (35.3% vs. 27.6%). Number of partners, dating status, partner type at last sex, and concern about STI were significant bivariate predictors of condom use among men and women. Age, marital status, and erectile difficulties were additional bivariate predictors for men. In multivariate analysis, marital status, number of partners, and partner type predicted condom among men. Divorced and separated men were 53% less likely to use a condom than single, never married men. Men who reported 2 or more partners over the past year were almost 2 times more likely to use a condom than men who had one partner over the past year. As partner type at last sex moved from casual to more committed, men were 26% less likely to report condom use at last PVI. Among women, partner type at last sex was the only significant multivariate predictor of condom use, as partner type moved from casual to more committed, condom use was 33% less likely. Condom use was not associated with decreased pleasure during PVI. Educational STI prevention interventions targeting single midlife Canadians are needed.
Short-Term Performance and Evolution of Material Properties of Warm- and Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavements: Case Studies
Authors: Wu Shenghua , Zhang Weiguang , Shen Shihui , Muhunthan Balasingam , Mohammad Louay N.
Published: March 2017

This paper presents case studies of the short-term field performance and material property evolution of four warm-mix asphalt (WMA) projects in Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, and Tennessee, constructed in 2011 and 2012. Each project had one or several WMA overlay sections and a control hot-mix asphalt (HMA). Two rounds of performance investigations were conducted, including a survey of field distress and characterization of material properties. Field cores from the two rounds (the first immediately after construction, the second 2 to 3 years after construction) were used to evaluate the performance of the mixtures in terms of dynamic modulus, creep compliance, fracture testing at intermediate and low temperatures, and the Hamburg wheel-tracking test. The following tests were also used to evaluate the extracted asphalt binders: performance grading, multiple stress creep recovery, and monotonic fracture at two temperatures. This study showed that the material properties (rutting and cracking resistance) evolved over time for both the HMA and WMA pavements; however, pavement maintenance (e.g., chip seals) affected this evolution. In general, the material properties of WMA and HMA pavements for the second-round samples were consistent with those of the first-round samples.
Numerical Modeling and Artificial Neural Network for Predicting J-Integral of Top-Down Cracking in Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Ling Meng , Luo Xue , Hu Sheng , Gu Fan , Lytton Robert L.
Published: March 2017

Top-down cracking (TDC) is recognized as one of the major distress modes in asphalt pavements. This study aimed to determine the fracture parameter J-integral of TDC, which is a critical input to predict the crack growth rate and fatigue life of pavements for this type of distress. Previous research studies demonstrated that TDC is affected by various factors, including the complex state of high tensile or shear stresses induced by the loading at the edge of or within the tire and material properties such as the modulus gradient in the asphalt layer, moduli of the base and subgrade layers, and pavement structures. In this study, the finite element model (FEM) was adopted to simulate the propagation of TDC by considering combinations of these essential factors and to calculate the J-integral for 194,400 cases. It was shown that the modulus gradient plays an important role in determining the J-integral, and the J-integral is not uniformly distributed within the pavement depth. On the basis of the database generated from the FEM, six backpropagation artificial neural network (ANN) models—including one input layer, two hidden layers, and one output layer—were developed by using the same input variables and output variable as those for the FEM. The R2 value for each ANN model was greater than .99, which indicates the goodness of fit. After the parameters of each ANN model have been determined, the J-integral can be predicted for any combination of the design parameters without reconstruction of the FEM.
The Logit Model and the Need to Reproduce the Stiffness Degradation Curve of Asphalt Specimens During Fatigue Testing
Authors: Mateos Angel , Wu Rongzong , Harvey John , Denneman Erik , Fan Angela
Published: March 2017

Asphalt fatigue cracking is widely recognized as one of the most important pavement distresses, which is typically evaluated in the laboratory by conducting repeated load fatigue tests. There is no simple model that can fully reproduce the evolution of the stiffness of asphalt specimens during fatigue testing. This reality limits analysis and interpretation of asphalt fatigue data and the implementation of test results in mechanistic–empirical modeling. Two simple models, based on the logit function, are presented in this paper. These models, called logit and logit-sigmoidal, were found to reproduce almost exactly the evolution of specimen stiffness during flexural fatigue testing. This capability was used to locate critical points of the stiffness degradation curve, including failure points according to complex failure criteria. The mechanical meaning of the parameters of the logit model is analyzed in this paper. One of the parameters was related to the ability of the asphalt mix to sustain damage before crack initiation. Another parameter was related to the presence of reversible phenomena—heating and thixotropy—in the first part of the stiffness degradation curve. The applicability of the logit model to mechanistic–empirical pavement design is also evaluated in this paper on the basis of implementation in the CalME mechanistic–empirical software.
Effect of Pore Water Pressure on Response of Asphalt Concrete
Authors: Shakiba Maryam , Darabi Masoud K. , Little Dallas N.
Published: March 2017

Rapid traffic loading induces pore water pressure inside partially or fully saturated interconnected cracks and voids of asphalt concrete. The induced pore pressure contributes extra stresses within the pavement and accelerates crack evolution and propagation. Crack propagation facilitates diffusion of moisture through the solid phase and accelerates the degradation of the time-dependent stiffness and strength of asphalt concrete. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the coupled effects of pore water pressure, moisture diffusion, and mechanical loading on asphalt concrete pavement. The effect of pore water pressure was considered by using the effective stress concept inside deformable media. Biot’s approach was used and coupled to the nonlinear viscoelastic and viscodamage (moisture and mechanical) constitutive relationships for asphalt concrete. The models were implemented in PANDA, a finite element code developed at Texas A&M University. Capabilities of the proposed framework and constitutive relationships were demonstrated through the simulation of several realistic microstructural representations of asphalt concrete. The results of numerical simulations demonstrated how the effect of pore water pressure can intensify damage within asphalt concrete and reduce its strength. Therefore, this outcome emphasizes the importance of incorporating the effect of pore water pressure in investigating the response of asphalt concrete.
Comparing the Performance of Fiberglass Grid with Composite Interlayer Systems in Asphalt Concrete
Authors: Wargo Andrew , Safavizadeh Seyed Amirshayan , Kim Y. Richard
Published: March 2017

Geosynthetics, such as fabrics, grids, and composites, were introduced to asphalt pavements to mitigate reflective cracking or the creation of moisture barriers or both. Reinforcing interlayer systems, such as grids, have been shown to be effective in retarding the reflection of cracks in the underlying pavement into the upper layers. However, the effect of different interlayer systems on the performance of the pavement varies. The aim of this research was to compare the effects of fiberglass grids, paving fabric, and paving mat systems on the fatigue and fracture performance of double-layer beam specimens under four-point notched bending beam fatigue loading. Double-layer asphalt concrete beam specimens were loaded in a displacement control mode until full-depth cracking was observed. Haversine displacements with zero and maximum deflection peaks were applied to the specimens at frequencies of 5 and 10 Hz. The digital image correlation technique was used to determine and compare the damage mechanisms with stiffness curves plotted by using load and displacement data. A comparison of the results from beams with different interlayer systems showed that the type of interlayer system can noticeably affect the damage mechanisms and the performance of the fatigue specimen. In general, grid systems performed better when the interface bond was stronger. In nongrid interlayers, while interfacial damage created a discontinuity that increased the risk of interfacial debonding, a more flexible interlayer dissipated more energy at the interface and delayed the full vertical cracking of the beams under four-point bending beam fatigue loading.
Laboratory Evaluation of a Plant-Produced High Polymer–Content Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Bowers Benjamin F. , Diefenderfer Stacey D. , Diefenderfer Brian K.
Published: March 2017

Reflective cracking in asphalt overlays placed over jointed concrete pavements is of major concern in Virginia, as well as nationally, and has generated interest in various reflective crack mitigation techniques that are easy to implement. One technique is the use of binder modifiers, such as asphalt rubber, polymer-modified asphalt binders, or high polymer–content (HP) modified binders. In the summer of 2014, the Virginia Department of Transportation placed an HP asphalt mixture produced by using an asphalt binder that contained approximately 7.5% styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer in a trial section within a subdivision as a low-risk means to assess constructability and laboratory performance. The HP mixture was evaluated in comparison with a typical surface asphalt mixture with a 9.5-mm nominal maximum aggregate size, as a control. Testing was performed on specimens fabricated from reheated control and HP mixture samples, as well as on specimens fabricated from site-compacted samples and road cores of the HP mixture. In addition, binder grading was performed on the control binder and modified binder. The HP binder was significantly more elastic than the control binder. Comparable dynamic moduli were found for reheated mixture specimens, although site-compacted and road core specimens from the HP mixture had lower stiffness than the control mixture. The HP mixture performed better in rutting and in fatigue. The Texas overlay test indicated similar crack resistance between the two mixtures; however, measured loads of the HP specimens were nearly half those of the control specimens. The results of laboratory testing indicated that the mixture incorporating the HP binder should have a far greater fatigue life and rut resistance than the control mixture.
Reliable Fit-Up of Steel I-Girder Bridges
Authors: Coletti Domenic A. , White Donald W. , Nguyen Thanh V. , Chavel Brandon W. , Grubb Michael A. , Boring Calvin G.
Published: March 2017

This paper summarizes recently completed research supporting the development of improved design, detailing, and erection guidelines to ensure reliable fit-up of skewed or curved (or both) steel I-girder bridges. Twenty-one bridges, including several with multiple framing arrangements, were analyzed to provide quantitative support for, and refinements to, guidelines produced by an affiliated National Steel Bridge Alliance Steel Bridge Collaboration Task Group. The quantitative data of this research support recommended fit conditions (i.e., cross-frame detailing methods) as a function of the bridge geometry. Forces required to assemble the steel during erection were evaluated, and difficult cases were highlighted. Suggested erection considerations to facilitate fit-up were provided. In addition, the research investigated and specified beneficial staggered cross-frame arrangements for straight skewed bridges, as well as framing arrangements around bearing lines at interior piers in continuous-span bridges. The research emphasized identification of the impacts of the chosen fit conditions on girder elevations, girder layovers, cross-frame forces, girder stresses, and vertical reactions in completed bridge systems. This paper provides simplified methods of accounting for steel dead-load fit and total dead-load fit detailing effects. Procedures are provided for direct calculation of the locked-in forces due to steel dead-load fit and total dead-load fit detailing in cases in which a more precise calculation of these effects may be beneficial. Construction inspection best practices are recommended to ensure that the erected geometry sufficiently meets the specified fit conditions, and design specification provisions that synthesize the key guidelines are recommended.
Physical Testing to Determine Ultimate Strength of Bolted Longitudinal Seams in Deep Corrugated Structural Plate for Long-Span Structures
Authors: Keene Robert W. , Richie Matthew C. , Beaver Jesse L. , Sanders Darrell
Published: March 2017

Steel structural plate bolted longitudinal seams are designed by using tabulated ultimate seam strength values published in ASTM A796. The applicability of tabulated values to varying widths of overlapping corrugated plate panels is uncertain. A test program was developed to evaluate the effect of varying panel width on ultimate seam strength. This paper describes the preparation required for test specimens, outlines the test procedure and data reduction, compares test results to the tabulated values to determine the effect of panel width, and proposes revisions and additions to the tabulated values. The test procedure for determining ultimate seam strength has been submitted as a draft ASTM Standard Practice.
Problems with Continuous Spliced Posttensioned–Prestressed Concrete Bulb-Tee Girder Center Spans at West Point, Virginia
Authors: Sprinkel Michael M. , Balakumaran Soundar S. G.
Published: March 2017

The Lord Delaware and Eltham Bridges carry traffic on US-33 over the Mattaponi and Pamunkee Rivers in Virginia. Completed in 2006 and 2007, respectively, the bridges are similar in that they have prestressed, precast tee-beam approach spans and two four-span continuous spliced posttensioned–prestressed precast bulb-tee girder center spans. Constructed with the latest prestressed–posttensioned precast technologies, the structures were expected to provide relatively maintenance-free performance for more than 100 years. In May 2015 during a biannual inspection, a spall that exposed a tendon duct was reported in the web of an exterior girder of the Lord Delaware bridge, raising concerns about the life of the of the posttensioned lightweight concrete girders. The tendon grout was a high-performance prepackaged mixture. In-depth inspections identified cracking, leaking, and spalling in the webs of the beams and problems with the grouted tendons that included voids, soft grout, water, and corroding strands. Ground-penetrating radar worked well to locate the tendons, and impact echo worked well to determine the condition of the grout. Destructive drilling and sampling were used to confirm the impact echo readings and to evaluate the condition of the grout. Access to the strands at the anchors and over the piers where voids are typically located was not possible because at the anchors the web thickness was the same as the flange, and over the piers the tendons were in the top flange of the beams. A suitable repair has not been determined.
Performance Evaluation of Transverse High-Performance Concrete Closure Pour Connection for Use in Modular Bridge Construction
Authors: Deng Yaohua , Phares Brent M. , Putz Andrew J. , Carter Curtis
Published: March 2017

Because of the potential for concrete crushing, the negative moment transfer mechanism of the transverse connections above the pier support is still a point of concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of a transverse closure pour connection used for the constructed Little Silver Creek Bridge in Iowa and to validate its adequacy for modular bridge application. To evaluate the need for the complicated compression block, two transverse connection specimens with and without the compression block were designed, fabricated, instrumented, and tested under a negative bending moment. Finite element models were established to further understand the specimens’ performance, and hand calculations were performed to estimate their moment capacity. No significant difference was found between the crack patterns of the two specimens, and the diaphragm concrete tended to crush in the bottom regardless of the configuration. The established finite element models were sufficient at representing the structural behavior of the two transverse connection specimens. The connection with a compression block had higher yield and ultimate moment capacity than the connection without a compression block. To design both types of connections according to the classic theory of reinforced concrete design, an effective width equal to the width of the steel girder bottom flange and the centroid of the compression force at the bottom of the steel girder bottom flange can be assumed for the connections with and without a compression block, respectively. Hand calculations reasonably estimated the moment capacity of the two specimens, and the two connections were safe under the codified, factored loads.
Performance Evaluation of a Reinforced Concrete Slab Bridge Retrofitted with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Polymer Laminate System
Authors: Regalado Arturo , Carpenter Brice A. , Jáuregui David V. , Weldon Brad D.
Published: March 2017

As a result of a drawing oversight, a nine-span continuous reinforced concrete slab bridge on westbound I-10 near Lordsburg, New Mexico, was built with only half of the required positive moment steel reinforcement. Bridge 9367, constructed in April 2006, was retrofitted with a carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate system in November 2006 to correct for this error. Diagnostic load tests were conducted before and immediately after the retrofitting of the bridge. A finite element analysis of the bridge was also conducted to evaluate the strength and serviceability of the slab bridge and to determine whether the addition of the CFRP system effectively met these limit states. The addition of the CFRP to the bridge increased the rating factors to greater than the legal load limit. Before the bridge retrofit, stresses in the steel reinforcement exceeded the limits set to control excessive concrete cracking and inelastic deformations. Inclusion of the CFRP reduced these stresses but only slightly below the limits. Creep rupture and fatigue of the CFRP were not considered issues. Two additional load tests were conducted 8 months and approximately 9 years after the retrofit. The first evaluation showed that in the short term, the slab stiffness was increased with a decrease in measured strains immediately after the installation of the CFRP. However, comparison of the strains from the load tests conducted later showed that the magnitudes had greatly increased and were approximately equal to the preretrofit strains. Ultimately, Bridge 9367 was replaced due to excessive cracking and large measured strains.
An Alternative Synthesis of 2,6-Dimethoxyl-1,4-Benzoquinone
Authors: Wang Qian , Yang Jian , Zheng Yang , Liao Xiali
Published: March 2017

An economic four-step synthesis of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone was achieved in 68% overall yield starting from aniline. The reaction sequence involved conversion to 1,3,5-tribromoaniline, deamination, methoxylation, and oxidation. The procedure is operationally simple and amenable to scale-up production.
Dynamics of phytohormones and their relationship with chalkiness of early indica rice under different post-anthesis temperature regimes
Authors: Kabir Mohammed Humayun , Liu Qing , Su Yi , Huang Zhigang , Xiao Langtao
Published: March 2017

A pot experiment on an early indica rice cv. Shenyou9576 was conducted in the net house of Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China during the early growing season of 2013 to investigate the influence of varying temperatures on chalkiness rate, head rice rate, and phytohormones, namely indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellins (GA1 and GA4), zeatin (Z), zeatin riboside (ZR) and abscisic acid (ABA) both in flag leaves and grain endosperm during grain filling period. The treatments comprised three temperature regimes which are designated as the high (35/28oC- day/night), low (25/20oC- day/night) and natural condition as the control (35/25oC- day/night). The results showed that the maximum chalkiness rate was 61.11% under high temperature and the minimum (22.59%) under low temperature. The lowest head rice rate was 42.76% under high temperature followed by 49.91% in the control, while the highest (62.33%) under low temperature. The contents of GA1, GA4, Z and ZR were decreased gradually from 7 to 35 days after anthesis (DAA) irrespective of treatments. IAA content began to decrease from 14 DAA and continued up to 35 DAA and ABA was reduced from 28 to 35 DAA under low temperature in comparison to control and high temperature. ABA content was increased from 7 to 21 DAA and then declined at high temperature. The results showed that contents of GA1, GA4, Z, ZR were high at low temperature compared to high temperature and control. IAA content was also high during grain development period at low temperature except 7 DAA. Higher phytohormone contents were observed in endosperm than in flag leaves. Phytohormone content ratio (endosperm: flag leaves) was found highest in IAA and the lowest in GA1. A significant positive correlation was found between ABA and chalkiness rate during early to mid grain filling period, while significant negative correlations were noticed between chalkiness rate and other phytohormones during grain filling period. Correlation results revealed that increased level of ABA during early to mid grain filing period caused by high temperature was more responsible for development of chalkiness.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(1): 53-65, March 2017
Effect of Organic, Inorganic Fertilizers and Plant Spacing on the Growth and Yield of Cabbage
Authors: Islam Md , Ferdous Golam , Akter Ayasha , Hossain Md , Nandwani Dilip
Published: March 2017

The impact of chemical farming and the negative consequences on the environment and human health in Bangladesh are on the rise. Organic farming is gaining attention and increasing globally because it is eco-friendly, safe and has benefits for human health. A field study was conducted at the horticulture farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, to evaluate the growth and yield performance of cabbage cv. Atlas—70 using organic and inorganic fertilizers in various plant spacing arrangements. Two factor experiments were conducted on plant spacings of 60 cm × 40 cm (S1), 60 cm × 50 cm (S2) and 60 cm × 60 cm (S3) and fertilizers vermicompost (T1), biogen (T2), integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) Organic (⅔) + inorganic (⅓) (T3) and inorganic (T4). IPNS (T3) application increased the marketable yield (54.77 t·ha−1) of cabbage. The highest marketable yield (48.75 t·ha−1) was obtained with a plant spacing of 60 cm × 40 cm (S1). No significant variation was found in plant spacings S1 and S2. The treatment combination of S2T3 recorded the highest plant height (37.81 cm), plant spread (47.75 cm), cabbage head (21.80 cm), stem length (12.31 cm), thickness of the cabbage head (12.53 cm) and marketable yield (65.0 t·ha−1). The results suggest that IPNS (T3) combining organic and inorganic fertilizer applications with a 60 cm × 50 cm spacing (S2T3) increases the yield performance of cabbage.
Piecewise-Linear Frequency Shifting Algorithm for Frequency Resolution Enhancement in Digital Hearing Aids
Authors: Wang Qingyun , Liang Ruiyu , Rahardja Susanto , Zhao Liye , Zou Cairong , Zhao Li
Published: March 2017

In human hearing, frequency resolution is a term used to determine how well the ear can separate and distinguish two sounds that are close in frequency. This capability of breaking speech sounds into various frequency components plays a key role in processing and understanding speech information. In this paper, a piecewise-linear frequency shifting algorithm for digital hearing aids is proposed. The algorithm specifically aims at improving the frequency resolution capability. In the first step, frequency discrimination thresholds are processed by a computer testing software. Then, the input signal is parsed through the proposed piecewise-linear frequency shifting algorithm, which comprises of linearly stretching and compressing the frequency content at different frequency ranges. Experimental results showed that by using the proposed frequency shifting algorithm, the separation of formant tracks was increased in the stretching region and slightly squeezed in the adjacent compression region. Subjective assessment on six hearing-impaired persons with V-shaped audiograms demonstrated that nearly a 10% improvement of speech discrimination score was achieved for monosyllabic word lists tested in a quiet acoustic setting. In addition, the speech reception threshold was also improved by 2~8 dB when disyllabic word listswere tested in a noisy acoustic scenario.
Fatigue Life Estimation of Medium-Carbon Steel with Different Surface Roughness
Authors: Li Changyou , Dai Weibing , Duan Fei , Zhang Yimin , He David
Published: March 2017

Medium-carbon steel is commonly used for the rail, wire ropes, tire cord, cold heading, forging steels, cold finished steel bars, machinable steel and so on. Its fatigue behavior analysis and fatigue life estimation play an important role in the machinery industry. In this paper, the estimation of fatigue life of medium-carbon steel with different surface roughness using established S-N and P-S-N curves is presented. To estimate the fatigue life, the effect of the average surface roughness on the fatigue life of medium-carbon steel has been investigated using 75 fatigue tests in three groups with average surface roughness (Ra): 0.4 μm, 0.8 μm, and 1.6 μm, respectively. S-N curves and P-S-N curves have been established based on the fatigue tests. The fatigue life of medium-carbon steel is then estimated based on Tanaka-Mura crack initiation life model, the crack propagation life model using Paris law, and material constants of the S-N curves. Six more fatigue tests have been conducted to validate the presented fatigue life estimation formulation. The experimental results have shown that the presented model could estimate well the mean fatigue life of medium-carbon steel with different surface roughness.
Energy and Economic Evaluation of Green Roofs for Residential Buildings in Hot-Humid Climates
Authors: Mahmoud Abubakar , Asif Muhammad , Hassanain Mohammad , Babsail Mohammad , Sanni-Anibire Muizz
Published: March 2017

Green roofs may be considered a passive energy saving technology that also offer benefits like environmental friendliness and enhancement of aesthetic and architectural qualities of buildings. This paper examines the energy and economic viability of the green roof technology in the hot humid climate of Saudi Arabia by considering a modern four bedroom residential building in the city of Dhahran as a case study. The base case and green roof modelling of the selected building has been developed with the help of DesignBuilder software. The base case model has been validated with the help of 3-month measured data about the energy consumption without a green roof installed. The result shows that the energy consumption for the base case is 169 kWh/m2 while the energy consumption due to the application of a green roof on the entire roof surface is 110 kWh/m2. For the three investigated green roof options, energy saving is found to be in the range of 24% to 35%. The economic evaluation based on the net present value (NPV) approach for 40 years with consideration to other environmental advantages indicates that the benefits of the green roof technology are realized towards the end of the life cycle of the building.
Optimizing the Energy-Efficient Metro Train Timetable and Control Strategy in Off-Peak Hours with Uncertain Passenger Demands
Authors: Feng Jia , Li Xiamiao , Liu Haidong , Gao Xing , Mao Baohua
Published: March 2017

How to reduce the energy consumption of metro trains by optimizing both the timetable and control strategy is a major focus. Due to the complexity and difficulty of the combinatorial operation problem, the commonly-used method to optimize the train operation problem is based on an unchanged dwelling time for all trains at a specific station. Here, we develop a simulation-based method to design an energy-efficient train control strategy under the optimized timetable constraints, which assign the dwelling time margin to the running time. This time margin is caused by dynamically uncertain passenger demands in off-peak hours. Firstly, we formulate a dwelling time calculation model to minimize the passenger boarding and alighting time. Secondly, we design an optimal train control strategy with fixed time and develop a time-based model to describe mass-belt train movement. Finally, based on this simulation module, we present numerical examples based on the real-world operation data from the Beijing metro Line 2, in which the energy consumption of one train can be reduced by 21.9%. These results support the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Biomass and Carbon Sequestration by Juglans regia Plantations in the Karst Regions of Southwest China
Authors: Zhang Hao , Wang Kelin , Zeng Zhaoxia , Du Hu , Zeng Fuping
Published: March 2017

Abstract: To better understand carbon (C) sequestration by Juglans regia L. plantations in karst regions of southwest China, this study examined biomass increment and C storage in four different-aged J. regia stands, as well as the distribution of carbon stock among the various ecosystem components. Tree and ecosystem biomass increased with stand age. Aboveground biomass (AGB) represented 64.79% of the total biomass, belowground tree biomass comprised 22.73%, and shrubs and herbs totaled 11.38%, whereas only a small amount (1.11%) was associated with soil litter. Soil organic C (SOC) content in the top soil of plantations aged 1, 5, 9, and 13 years was 33.37, 53.15, 33.56, and 49.78 mg ha−1, respectively. SOC content decreased continually with increasing soil depth. Ecosystem C storage amounted to 33.49, 54.21, 46.40, and 65.34 mg ha−1 for the 1-, 5-, 9-, and 13-year old plantations, respectively, with most (86.55%) of the ecosystem C being in the soil. Our results suggest that large-scale planting of J. regia has potential for not only vegetation restoration but also high C fixation capacity in the karst region of southwest China.
Effects of Loading Rate on the Relaxation and Recovery Ability of an Epoxy-Based Shape Memory Polymer
Authors: McClung Amber , Tandon Gyaneshwar , Baur Jeffery
Published: March 2017

The majority of aerospace structural composites use thermoset resins for their processing flexibility, temperature capability, and environmental durability. In this study, the recovery behavior of Veriflex-E, an epoxy-based, thermosetting, thermally-triggered shape memory polymer (SMP) resin, is investigated in glassy (25 °C) and rubbery (130 °C) states, as a function of shape memory cycles, and as a means to evaluate its potential as a resin for a shape memory composite. At 25 °C, Veriflex-E exhibits a promising high elastic modulus and a positive, nonlinear strain rate sensitivity in monotonic loading. At 130 °C, the strain rate sensitivity in monotonic loading decreases. Stress relaxation after storage in the deformed temporary state and subsequent shape recovery is of particular interest, a challenge to measure, and has not been widely reported for SMPs. The current experimental program measures the influence of strain rate changes in the 10−4–10−2 s−1 range on the stress relaxation response of the material, as well as on the strain recovery behavior at both 25 °C and 130 °C. As expected, the post-relaxation strain is larger with faster loading. Unexpectedly, the total strain recovered after shape memory cycling is more similar to the low temperature deformation. Overall, the results suggest that, while being influenced by both the loading rate and the test temperature, Veriflex-E is a promising candidate for a shape memory composite which could enable adaptive structures.
Dysregulated IER3 Expression is Associated with Enhanced Apoptosis in Titin-Based Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zhou Qifeng , Hahn Julia , Neupane Balram , Aidery Parwez , Labeit Siegfried , Gawaz Meinrad , Gramlich Michael
Published: March 2017

Apoptosis (type I programmed cell death) of cardiomyocytes is a major process that plays a role in the progression of heart failure. The early response gene IER3 regulates apoptosis in a wide variety of cells and organs. However, its role in heart failure is largely unknown. Here, we investigate the role of IER3 in an inducible heart failure mouse model. Heart failure was induced in a mouse model that imitates a human titin truncation mutation we found in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and ssDNA stainings showed induction of apoptosis in titin-deficient cardiomyocytes during heart failure development, while IER3 response was dysregulated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and knock-down experiments revealed that IER3 proteins target the promotors of anti-apoptotic genes and act as an anti-apoptotic factor in cardiomyocytes. Its expression is blunted during heart failure development in a titin-deficient mouse model. Targeting the IER3 pathway to reduce cardiac apoptosis might be an effective therapeutic strategy to combat heart failure.
Inhibition or Stimulation of Autophagy Affects Early Formation of Lipofuscin-Like Autofluorescence in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell
Authors: Lei Lei , Tzekov Radouil , Li Huapeng , McDowell J. , Gao Guangping , Smith W. , Tang Shibo , Kaushal Shalesh
Published: March 2017

The accumulation of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is dependent on the effectiveness of photoreceptor outer segment material degradation. This study explored the role of autophagy in the fate of RPE lipofuscin degradation. After seven days of feeding with either native or modified rod outer segments, ARPE-19 cells were treated with enhancers or inhibitors of autophagy and the autofluorescence was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Supplementation with different types of rod outer segments increased lipofuscin-like autofluorescence (LLAF) after the inhibition of autophagy, while the induction of autophagy (e.g., application of rapamycin) decreased LLAF. The effects of autophagy induction were further confirmed by Western blotting, which showed the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II, and by immunofluorescence microscopy, which detected the lysosomal activity of the autophagy inducers. We also monitored LLAF after the application of several autophagy inhibitors by RNA-interference and confocal microscopy. The results showed that, in general, the inhibition of the autophagy-related proteins resulted in an increase in LLAF when cells were fed with rod outer segments, which further confirms the effect of autophagy in the fate of RPE lipofuscin degradation. These results emphasize the complex role of autophagy in modulating RPE autofluorescence and confirm the possibility of the pharmacological clearance of RPE lipofuscin by small molecules.
Potentials of Long Noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) in Sarcoma: From Biomarkers to Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Min Li , Garbutt Cassandra , Tu Chongqi , Hornicek Francis , Duan Zhenfeng
Published: March 2017

Sarcoma includes some of the most heterogeneous tumors, which make the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of these rare yet diverse neoplasms especially challenging. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of cancer initiation and progression, which implies their potential as neoteric prognostic and diagnostic markers in cancer, including sarcoma. A relationship between lncRNAs and sarcoma pathogenesis and progression is emerging. Recent studies demonstrate that lncRNAs influence sarcoma cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Additionally, lncRNA expression profiles are predictive of sarcoma prognosis. In this review, we summarize contemporary advances in the research of lncRNA biogenesis and functions in sarcoma. We also highlight the potential for lncRNAs to become innovative diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets in sarcoma.