bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Present Applications of Gas Turbines by the C.E.G.B.
Authors: Gray J. L.
Published: April 2015

Aviation jet engine is being adapted for use in the British electrical generating system. Already gas turbines, rated at 15–20 Mw and 3-Mw, based on the Bristol Siddeley “Olympus” and “Proteus” turboprop engines, respectively, have been installed and 51 orders have been placed totaling 1400 Mw for early completion. A substantial number of 17 1/2-Mw sets are in prospect during the next 2 years.
Development of a High-Speed Reverse Gear for Marine Gas Turbine
Authors: Croker D. M. , Psichogios T. P.
Published: April 2015

This paper describes the operation and salient design features of a high-speed reversing gear used with the Solar 1100-hp Saturn gas-turbine Engine. Development history leading to successful marine applications is reviewed.
Aircraft Gas Turbine Rotating Compressor Disk Vibration
Authors: French R. F.
Published: April 2015

This paper is concerned with the experimental investigation of vibration in aircraft jet-engine rotating compressor disks of two different configurations. The blades in the first configuration were small, with relatively low mass, and had an insignificant effect on the disk vibration except for centrifugal loading. The second configuration had relatively large blades which resulted in combined blade and disk modes. The test techniques, test results, and examples of some known phenomenon as they occur in lightweight aircraft jet-engine disks are discussed.
Computer Analysis of Flexural Vibrations of a Rotating Disk With an Arbitrary Profile
Authors: Blech J. J.
Published: April 2015

A collocation method is applied to the differential equation and boundary conditions which govern the flexural vibrations of a rotating thin solid disk with an arbitrary profile, clamped at the inner radius and having a flexible ring carrying masses (turbine blades) at the outer radius. The determinantal equation, from which approximations to the reasonance frequencies and mode shapes are extracted, is derived. The results of sample calculations are compared with theoretical and test results. The treatment of other types of boundary conditions is straightforward. A brief discussion of the convergence of this method is given.
Elimination of Turbine Erosion in the T56 Turboprop Engine
Authors: Tomlinson J. G. , Montgomery L. N.
Published: April 2015

Turbine erosion was encountered in service operation with the T56 turboprop engine. Combustor carboning was suspected to be the cause of the problem. No direct evidence of carboning had been observed during development or in more than one million hours of service operation. An accelerated investigation was initiated to establish a quantitative measure of carbon particles in the combustor exhaust gases. A unique test method was developed to collect carbon particles on a component combustor test rig. Evaluations were conducted with the carbon collector to determine the effects of fuel nozzles, fuel type, operating conditions, and combustor configuration on carbon particle output. The combustor configuration was found to be the most important factor in the control of the problem. Combustor carboning was established as the cause of turbine erosion and a combustion liner modification was developed for service release. Service tests were conducted to correlate development test results and to verify that turbine erosion was eliminated with the modified combustion lines.
Analytical Prediction of Fan/Compressor Noise
Authors: Benzakein M. J. , Morgan W. R.
Published: April 2015

The authors present an analytical treatment of the blade passing frequency noise generated in fans and compressors and describe, briefly, a theoretical model of the noise generation mechanisms, based on unsteady aerodynamics coupled with spinning mode theory. They show how the blade passing frequency noise is basically related to the aerodynamics and the geometry of the turbomachinery and present a numerical solution of the three-dimensional wave equation. The results of a study on sound transmission in a turbomachinery duct indicate that the length of the inlet/exhaust duct, as well as the duct configuration, can be of primary importance relative to sound transmission for certain areas of engine operation. The theoretical model is successfully checked against the experimental results obtained on a number of General Electric and NASA fans and compressors.
Generalization of Experimental Data for Compressor Cascades at Low Speeds
Authors: Beknev V. S.
Published: April 2015

The author compares three different approaches for generalization of experimental data for two-dimensional compressor cascades at low speeds: generalization for maximum value of lift-drag ratio, generalization for maximum cascade quality, and generalization for minimum loss coefficient. Some results given, of comparison for incidence and deviation angles, solidities, and loss coefficients, show the largest difference to be for incidence angles and loss coefficients. Influence of isentropic exponent on the airfoil pressure distribution and cascade losses is considered.
Gas-Turbine Loading Schedule for Maximum Life of the Hot Gas Path Components
Authors: Bednarski Stanislaw , Shen C. N.
Published: April 2015

The paper describes development of a computational procedure for determining the optimal firing temperature schedule during loading of the gas turbine. It is assumed that the temperature has to be increased in a pre-determined time in a way that will minimize thermal fatigue deterioration of the turbine hot gas path elements. The gas temperature is constrained to lie between certain time-dependent limits all through the transient. The maximum plastic strain in a given loading process is taken as a measure of parts deterioration. The calculations performed are for hollow, stationary airfoils of a gas turbine, but the method is easily adaptable to full profiles and rotational airfoils as well as non-turbine applications where temperature is to be altered while thermal shock is to be minimized. A numerical example is given for illustration of the method.
Proposed Gas Turbine Procurement Standard: Preparation for Shipment and Installation
Authors: Stephens J. O. , Tremante James
Published: April 2015

This paper, one of a series (see Appendix), deals with preparation by the manufacturer of the gas turbine, components, and accessories for domestic or overseas shipment. Further, it endeavors to point out some critical areas requiring serious attention prior to installation and operation of gas-turbine systems.
Advanced Labyrinth Seal Design Performance for High Pressure Ratio Gas Turbines
Authors: Stocker H. L.
Published: April 2015

Labyrinth seal air leakage performance in current and advanced high pressure ratio gas turbines is directly related to the limitations of current available sealing technology. Sea design technology has not kept pace with the gas turbine major component advances. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken to design, fabricate and test several unique labyrinth seal concepts intended to decrease leakage through higher efficiency. The approach used in the unique designs for improving the efficiency of labyrinth seals involved increasing the internal cavity turbulence of the seal. The program involved three test and evaluation phases: (a) water tunnel studies; (b) static air rig tests; and (c) dynamic air rig tests. The water tunnel rig provided an economical method of screening the unique candidate designs. The most promising configurations from the water rig were fabricated and tested in the static air rig. Those configurations demonstrating a significant reduction in seal leakage over current designs were tested dynamically up to 786 ft/sec in an air rig to assess the effects of rotation. The results of this program effort show that each of the unique seal designs achieved lower leakage rates than a standard baseline step seal. In addition the dynamic seal test results show minimal effect on leakage due to rotation up to 786 ft/sec.
Hydrodesulfurized Residual Oils as Gas Turbine Fuels
Authors: Amero R. C. , Silver R. S. , Yanik S. J.
Published: April 2015

Catalytic hydrogenation was developed to remove sulfur from residual oils, but it also reduces the fuel viscosity and removes most of the vanadium, sodium, nitrogen, and other impurities. Eleven desulfurization operating worldwide are producing over 325,000 bbl/day (51,692 m3/d) of boiler fuel with 1 percent sulfur, starting with residual of 4 percent sulfur content. More severe versions of the process are available to reduce sulfur content to 0.3 or 0.1 percent. Hydrodesulfurized residuals should be attractive fuels for gas turbine of combined-cycle power plants. With fuel sulfur content reduced to meet emissions standards, fuel constituents responsible for turbine corrosion and deposits are also minimized.
Proteomics reveals dynamic assembly of repair complexes during bypass of DNA cross-links
Authors: Räschle Markus , Smeenk Godelieve , Hansen Rebecca K. , Temu Tikira , Oka Yasuyoshi , Hein Marco Y. , Nagaraj Nagarjuna , Long David T. , Walter Johannes C. , Hofmann Kay , Storchova Zuzana , Cox Jürgen , Bekker-Jensen Simon , Mailand Niels , Mann Matthias
Published: April 2015

Uncrossing covalently linked DNA strands

DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) covalently link the two strands of the double helix. ICL mutations are difficult to repair, because the two DNA strands cannot be separated and so one strand cannot be used as a template to repair the other. Räschle
et al.
developed a mass spectrometry–based method to systematically analyze a time series of all the proteins recruited to repair ICLs in
Xenopus
egg extracts. They found many of the known factors required for ICL repair. They also found a number of new factors, two of which define a new repair pathway for ICL mutations.

Science
, this issue
10.1126/science.1253671
Transforming the optical landscape
Authors: Pendry J. B. , Luo Yu , Zhao Rongkuo
Published: April 2015

Electromagnetism provides us with some of the most powerful tools in science, encompassing lasers, optical microscopes, magnetic resonance imaging scanners, radar, and a host of other techniques. To understand and develop the technology requires more than a set of formal equations. Scientists and engineers have to form a vivid picture that fires their imaginations and enables intuition to play a full role in the process of invention. It is to this end that transformation optics has been developed, exploiting Faraday’s picture of electric and magnetic fields as lines of force, which can be manipulated by the electrical permittivity and magnetic permeability of surrounding materials. Transformation optics says what has to be done to place the lines of force where we want them to be.
Brain disorders? Precisely
Authors: Insel Thomas R. , Cuthbert Bruce N.
Published: April 2015

Precision medicine comes to psychiatry
The Role of Epidemic Resistance Plasmids and International High-Risk Clones in the Spread of Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Mathers Amy J. , Peirano Gisele , Pitout Johann D. D.
Published: April 2015

Escherichia coli
sequence type 131 (ST131) and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
ST258 emerged in the 2000s as important human pathogens, have spread extensively throughout the world, and are responsible for the rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance among
E. coli
and
K. pneumoniae
strains, respectively.
E. coli
ST131 causes extraintestinal infections and is often fluoroquinolone resistant and associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase production, especially CTX-M-15.
K. pneumoniae
ST258 causes urinary and respiratory tract infections and is associated with carbapenemases, most often KPC-2 and KPC-3. The most prevalent lineage within ST131 is named
fimH30
because it contains the H30 variant of the type 1 fimbrial adhesin gene, and recent molecular studies have demonstrated that this lineage emerged in the early 2000s and was then followed by the rapid expansion of its sublineages H30-R and H30-Rx.
K. pneumoniae
ST258 comprises 2 distinct lineages, namely clade I and clade II. Moreover, it seems that ST258 is a hybrid clone that was created by a large recombination event between ST11 and ST442. Epidemic plasmids with
bla
CTX-M
and
bla
KPC
belonging to incompatibility group F have contributed significantly to the success of these clones.
E. coli
ST131 and
K. pneumoniae
ST258 are the quintessential examples of international multidrug-resistant high-risk clones.
Characterization of Full-Length Genomes of Hepatitis B Virus Quasispecies in Sera of Patients at Different Phases of Infection
Authors: Yang Zhi-Tao , Huang Su-Yuan , Chen Li , Liu Feng , Cai Xiao-Hui , Guo Yang-Fan , Wang Ming-Jie , Han Yue , Yu De-Min , Jiang Jie-Hong , Zhang Dong-Hua , Gong Qi-Ming , Zhang Guo-Qing , Zang Guo-Qing , Lu Zhong-Hua , Huang Li-Hua , Zhang Xin-Xin
Published: April 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection results in different clinical presentation due to different levels of immune response. Our study aimed to characterize HBV full-length genome quasispecies (QS) in patients with different phases of infection to better understand its pathogenesis. Forty treatment-naive HBV-infected patients were enrolled, including 10 cases of acute hepatitis B (AHB), 9 cases of immunotolerant (IT) HBV carriers, 11 cases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 10 cases of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). The present study was conducted by clone-based sequencing. QS heterogeneity within each open reading frame was calculated. The mutation frequency index (MFI) and amino acid variations within the large HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBxAg regions were analyzed based on the different infection phases. In total, 606 HBV full-length sequences were obtained. HBV QS had higher heterogeneity in ACLF and CHB than that in IT among chronically infected individuals. AHB patients had the lower QS heterogeneity at onset than those with chronic infection. ACLF patients had the highest frequency of mutations in the core promoter and precore region. A triple mutation (A1762T/G1764A/G1896A) was observed more frequently in genotype C than in genotype B. The MFI indicated that specific peptides of the studied regions had more frequent mutations in ACLF. Furthermore, several amino acid variations, known as T- and B-cell epitopes, were potentially associated with the immunoactive phase of infection. More HBV genome mutations and deletions were observed in patients with more severe diseases, particularly in specific regions of the core and preS regions, the clinical significance and mechanism of which need to be further investigated.
Newcastle Disease Virus-Vectored H7 and H5 Live Vaccines Protect Chickens from Challenge with H7N9 or H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses
Authors: Liu Qinfang , Mena Ignacio , Ma Jingjiao , Bawa Bhupinder , Krammer Florian , Lyoo Young S. , Lang Yuekun , Morozov Igor , Mahardika Gusti Ngurah , Ma Wenjun , García-Sastre Adolfo , Richt Juergen A.
Published: April 2015

Sporadic human infections by a novel H7N9 virus occurred over a large geographic region in China. In this study, we show that Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-vectored H7 (NDV-H7) and NDV-H5 vaccines are able to induce antibodies with high hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers and completely protect chickens from challenge with the novel H7N9 or highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses, respectively. Notably, a baculovirus-expressed H7 protein failed to protect chickens from H7N9 virus infection.
Lymph Node Macrophages Restrict Murine Cytomegalovirus Dissemination
Authors: Farrell Helen E. , Davis-Poynter Nick , Bruce Kimberley , Lawler Clara , Dolken Lars , Mach Michael , Stevenson Philip G.
Published: April 2015

Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) establish chronic infections that spread from a primary entry site to secondary vascular sites, such as the spleen, and then to tertiary shedding sites, such as the salivary glands. Human CMV (HCMV) is difficult to analyze, because its spread precedes clinical presentation. Murine CMV (MCMV) offers a tractable model. It is hypothesized to spread from peripheral sites via vascular endothelial cells and associated monocytes. However, viral luciferase imaging showed footpad-inoculated MCMV first reaching the popliteal lymph nodes (PLN). PLN colonization was rapid and further spread was slow, implying that LN infection can be a significant bottleneck. Most acutely infected PLN cells were CD169
+
subcapsular sinus macrophages (SSM). Replication-deficient MCMV also reached them, indicating direct infection. Many SSM expressed viral reporter genes, but few expressed lytic genes. SSM expressed CD11c, and MCMV with a cre-sensitive fluorochrome switch showed switched infected cells in PLN of CD11c-cre mice but yielded little switched virus. SSM depletion with liposomal clodronate or via a CD169-diphtheria toxin receptor transgene shifted infection to ER-TR7
+
stromal cells, increased virus production, and accelerated its spread to the spleen. Therefore, MCMV disseminated via LN, and SSM slowed this spread by shielding permissive fibroblasts and poorly supporting viral lytic replication.

IMPORTANCE
HCMV chronically infects most people, and it can cause congenital disability and harm the immunocompromised. A major goal of vaccination is to prevent systemic infection. How this is established is unclear. Restriction to humans makes HCMV difficult to analyze. We show that peripheral MCMV infection spreads via lymph nodes. Here, MCMV infected filtering macrophages, which supported virus replication poorly. When these macrophages were depleted, MCMV infected susceptible fibroblasts and spread faster. The capacity of filtering macrophages to limit MCMV spread argued that their infection is an important bottleneck in host colonization and might be a good vaccine target.
Human Cytokinome Analysis for Interferon Response
Authors: Al-Yahya Suhad , Mahmoud Linah , Al-Zoghaibi Fahad , Al-Tuhami Abdullah , Amer Haithem , Almajhdi Fahad N. , Polyak Stephen J. , Khabar Khalid S. A.
Published: April 2015

Cytokines are a group of small secreted proteins that mediate a diverse range of immune and nonimmune responses to inflammatory and microbial stimuli. Only a few of these cytokines mount an antiviral response, including type I, II, and III interferons (IFNs). During viral infections and under inflammatory conditions, a number of cytokines and chemokines are coproduced with IFN; however, no systematic study exists on the interactions of the cytokine repertoire with the IFN response. Here, we performed the largest cytokine and chemokine screen (the human cytokinome, with >240 members) to investigate their modulation of type I and type II IFN responses in a cell line model. We evaluated the cytokine activities in both IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) and IFN-γ activation sequence (GAS) reporter systems. Several cytokine clusters that augment either or both ISRE- and GAS-mediated responses to IFNs were derived from the screen. We identified novel modulators of IFN response—betacellulin (BTC), interleukin 11 (IL-11), and IL-17F—that caused time-dependent induction of the IFN response. The ability to induce endogenous IFN-β and IFN-stimulated genes varies among these cytokines and was largely dependent on Stat1, as assessed by Stat1 mutant fibroblasts. Certain cytokines appear to augment the IFN-β response through the NF-κB pathway. The novel IFN-like cytokines augmented the antiviral activity of IFN-α against several RNA viruses, including encephalomyocarditis virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and influenza virus, in susceptible cell lines. Overall, the study represents a large-scale analysis of cytokines for enhancing the IFN response and identified cytokines capable of enhancing Stat1, IFN-induced gene expression, and antiviral activities.

IMPORTANCE
Innate immunity to viruses is an early defense system to ward off viruses. One mediator is interferon (IFN), which activates a cascade of biochemical events that aim to control the virus life cycle. In our work, we examined more than 200 cytokines, soluble mediators produced within the body as a result of infection, for the ability to enhance IFN action. We identified enhanced interactions with specific IFNs and cytokines. We also revealed that betacellulin, IL-17, and IL-11 cytokines have the novel property of enhancing the antiviral action of IFN against several viruses. These results demonstrate that the human genome codes for previously unknown proteins with unrelated functions that can augment the innate immunity to viruses. Knowing these interactions not only helps our understanding of immunity to viruses and emerging diseases, but can also lead to devising possible new therapeutics by enhancing the mediator of antiviral action itself, IFN.
Methods and characteristics of published network meta-analyses using individual patient data: protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Veroniki Areti Angeliki , Soobiah Charlene , Tricco Andrea C , Elliott Meghan J , Straus Sharon E
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis (MA) offers advantages over aggregate MA of using standardised criteria for patient characteristics across trials, and allowing reliable investigation of subgroup effects of interventions. Network meta-analysis (NMA) allows for the comparison of multiple treatments in a comprehensive analysis and the determination of the best treatment among several competing treatments, including those that have never been compared in a head-to-head study. Including IPD in NMA may enable the prevention of misleading inferences due to several biases, such as aggregation bias. Application of IPD-NMA methods in healthcare have begun to appear in medical journals. Our objective is to conduct a scoping review of existing IPD-NMA methods, and summarise their properties. We also aim to describe the characteristics of empirical IPD-NMAs, and examine how their results are reported.

Methods and analysis

We will search relevant electronic databases from inception until October 2014 (eg, MEDLINE), grey literature, and Google. The scoping review will consider published and unpublished papers that report completion of an IPD-NMA, describe a method, or report the methodological quality of IPD-NMA. We will include IPD-NMA of any quantitative study (eg, experimental, quasiexperimental, observational studies). Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles, and will complete data abstraction. The anticipated outcome will be a collection of all the IPD-NMAs completed to date, and a description of their methods and reporting of results. We will create summary tables providing the characteristics of the included studies, and the various methods. Quantitative data (eg, number of patients) will be summarised by medians and IQRs, and categorical data (eg, type of effect size) by frequencies and percentages.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required as our study will not include confidential participant data and interventions. We will disseminate our results through an open access, peer-reviewed publication.
Experimental study on penetration of bentonite grout through granular soils
Authors: El Mohtar Chadi S. , Yoon Jisuk , El-Khattab May
Published: April 2015

Permeation grouting using bentonite grouts is one of the effective methods to improve the engineering properties of granular soils. However, the low penetrability of bentonite grouts into soils limits their practical application in permeation grouting. This study presents a new approach to control the penetration length of bentonite grouts through granular soils using an ionic additive, sodium pyrophosphate (SPP). It is hypothesized that the chemical modification changes both rheological and physicochemical properties of the bentonite grout, and thus affects its penetration length through soils. The rheological properties (yield stress and apparent viscosity) of bentonite grouts with weight ratios (ratio of water to dry bentonite, W/B) of 19, 12.3, 9, and 7.3 were controlled by the addition of 1%–4% SPP by weight of dry bentonite. The bentonite grouts were also injected into sand columns prepared at various experimental conditions to evaluate the effect of each experimental parameter on their penetration lengths. The results show that the penetration length of bentonite grouts decreases with a decrease in W/B ratio and an increase in yield stress and apparent viscosity. Moreover, the penetration length increases with the increase of the normalized effective grain size and injection pressure, but the increase of fines content reduces the penetration length of the grouts. While the existing analytical equation produces good agreement with the measured penetration lengths for the grouts having high yield stress (>26 Pa), it significantly overestimates the penetration lengths of the SPP modified bentonite grouts due to filtration (especially, the grouts having low yield stress and low W/B ratios). Therefore, a new empirical correlation is proposed to predict the penetration length of the bentonite grouts based on filtration and rheological blocking.
Accelerators for charged particle therapy
Authors: Flanz Jacob
Published: April 2015

History has shown that energetic particles can be useful for medical applications. From the time, in 1895 when Roentgen discovered X-rays, and in 1913 when Coolidge developed the vacuum X-ray tube, energetic particles have been an important tool for medicine. Development of the appropriate tool for effective and safe radiotherapy requires an in-depth understanding of the application and constraints. Various solutions are possible and choices must be analyzed on the basis of the suitability for meeting the requirements. Some of the requirements of charged particle therapy are summarized and various accelerator options are described and discussed.
High-energy scattering versus static QCD strings
Authors: Petrov V. A. , Ryutin R. A.
Published: April 2015

We discuss the shape of the interaction region of the elastically scattered protons stipulated by the high-energy Pomeron exchange which turns out to be very similar with the shape of the static string representing the confining QCD flux tube. This similarity disappears when we enter the LHC energy region, which corresponds to many-Pomeron exchanges. Reversing the argument we conjecture a modified relationship between the width and the length of the confining string at very large lengths.
Status and implications of neutrino masses: A brief panorama
Authors: Valle José W. F.
Published: April 2015

With the historic discovery of the Higgs boson our picture of particle physics would have been complete were it not for the neutrino sector and cosmology. I briefly discuss the role of neutrino masses and mixing upon gauge coupling unification, electroweak breaking and the flavor sector. Time is ripe for new discoveries such as leptonic CP violation, charged lepton flavor violation and neutrinoless double beta decay. Neutrinos could also play a role in elucidating the nature of dark matter and cosmic inflation.
Geometric phases modified by a Lorentz-symmetry violation background
Authors: Ribeiro L. R. , Passos E. , Furtado C. , Nascimento J. R.
Published: April 2015

We analyze the nonrelativistic quantum dynamics of a single neutral spin-half particle, with nonzero magnetic and electric dipole moments, moving in an external electromagnetic field in the presence of a Lorentz-symmetry violating background. We also study the geometric phase for this model taking in account the influence of the parameter that breaks the Lorentz-symmetry. These geometric phases are used to impose an upper bound on the background magnitude.
Bounce conditions in Kantowski–Sachs and Bianchi cosmologies in modified gravity theories
Authors: Singh T. , Chaubey R. , Singh Ashutosh
Published: April 2015

Many cosmological scenarios envisage either a bounce of the universe at early times, or a collapse locally to form a black hole which re-expands into a new expanding universe region. Energy conditions preclude this phenomena for ordinary matter in general relativistic universe, but scalar or other types of fields can violate some of these conditions, and so can, possibly, provide conditions for a bouncing universe. In this paper, we have investigated the necessary conditions for a bounce in Kantowski–Sachs (KS) and Bianchi type models in some modified theories of gravity like Hoyle–Narlikar creation field theory, Lyra geometry, general class of scalar–tensor theories, Einstein's theory with variable cosmological term.
Genuine vacuum-induced geometric phases
Authors: Wang Minghao , Wei L. F. , Liang J. Q.
Published: April 2015

Since a pioneer work on vacuum-induced Berry phase (VIBP) was done by Fuentes-Guridi et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 (2002) 220404], much attention has been paid to the geometric phase effects of vacuum field. However, all the so-called VIBPs investigated previously are not purely vacuum-induced (i.e. the nonvacuum components of the field are also involved). In this paper, we discuss how to deliver geometric phases from the evolution of a genuine vacuum field in a standard cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) system. First, we design a cyclic evolution of an atom–field system with the atom being initially prepared at the excited state and the field at the genuine vacuum. Then, we calculate the geometric phases acquired during such a cyclic evolution. It is found that such geometric phases are really induced by an evolution of the genuine vacuum field. Specifically, our generic proposal is demonstrated with both the one- and two-mode Jaynes–Cummings model interactions (JCM).
Integrable systems with unitary invariance from non-stretching geometric curve flows in the Hermitian symmetric space Sp(n)/U(n)
Authors: Anco Stephen C. , Asadi Esmaeel , Dogonchi Asieh
Published: April 2015

A moving parallel frame method is applied to geometric non-stretching curve flows in the Hermitian symmetric space Sp(n)/U(n) to derive new integrable systems with unitary invariance. These systems consist of a bi-Hamiltonian modified Korteweg-de Vries equation and a Hamiltonian sine-Gordon (SG) equation, involving a scalar variable coupled to a complex vector variable. The Hermitian structure of the symmetric space Sp(n)/U(n) is used in a natural way from the beginning in formulating a complex matrix representation of the tangent space 𝔰𝔭(n)/𝔲(n) and its bracket relations within the symmetric Lie algebra (𝔲(n), 𝔰𝔭(n)).
Noether gauge symmetries of geodesic motion in stationary and nonstatic Gödel-type spacetimes
Authors: Camci Ugur
Published: April 2015

In this study, we obtain Noether gauge symmetries of geodesic motion for geodesic Lagrangian of stationary and nonstatic Gödel-type spacetimes, and find the first integrals of corresponding spacetimes to derive a complete characterization of the geodesic motion. Using the obtained expressions for [Formula: see text] of each spacetimes, we explicitly integrate the geodesic equations of motion for the corresponding stationary and nonstatic Gödel-type spacetimes.
Lie symmetry analysis of some time fractional partial differential equations
Authors: El Kinani E. H. , Ouhadan A.
Published: April 2015

This paper uses Lie symmetry analysis to reduce the number of independent variables of time fractional partial differential equations. Then symmetry properties have been employed to construct some exact solutions.
Higher dimensional systems of differential equations obtainable by iterative use of complex methods
Authors: Qadir Asghar , Mahomed Fazal M.
Published: April 2015

A procedure had been developed to solve systems of two ordinary and partial differential equations (ODEs and PDEs) that could be obtained from scalar complex ODEs by splitting into their real and imaginary parts. The procedure was extended to four dimensional systems obtainable by splitting complex systems of two ODEs into their real and imaginary parts. As it stood, this procedure could be extended to any even dimension but not to odd dimensional systems. In this paper, the complex splitting is used iteratively to obtain three and four dimensional systems of ODEs and four dimensional systems of PDEs for four functions of two and four variables that correspond to a scalar base equation. We also provide characterization criteria for such systems to correspond to the base equation and a clear procedure to construct the base equation. The new systems of four ODEs are distinct from the class obtained by the single split of a two dimensional system. The previous complex methods split each infinitesimal symmetry generator into a pair of operators such that the entire set of operators do not form a Lie algebra. The iterative procedure sheds some light on the emergence of these "Lie-like" operators. In this procedure the higher dimensional system may not have any or the required symmetry for being directly solvable by symmetry and other methods although the base equation can have sufficient symmetry properties. Illustrative examples are provided.
Paintable Films from Chemically Exfoliated 2D Bismuth Telluride Nanosheets
Authors: Carroll Elaine , Buckley Darragh , Collins Gillian , Holmes Justin D , Razeeb Kafil M , O'Dwyer Colm
Published: April 2015

This work highlights a method whereby solvent exfoliation of Bi2Te3 into solution-dispersible 2D nanosheets can form a practical thin film that can be distributed across a surface. Optimized exfoliated suspensions are also shown to form smooth, uniform blends when mixed with poly ethylene glycol and other polymers to produce a paintable Bi2Te3 film that can be applied to surfaces using an innovative painting technique. Atomic force microscopy, transmission electron spectroscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy and scanning electron spectroscopy are used to examine the structure of the 2D nanosheets and the Bi2Te3 thin films. Electrical transport studies show that the films have conductive pathways over a range of surfaces and various structural formations, linking the conductivity to the percolating conduction through the nanosheet ensemble.
Colonic mucosal gene expression and genotype in irritable bowel syndrome patients with normal or elevated fecal bile acid excretion
Authors: Camilleri Michael , Carlson Paula , Acosta Andres , Busciglio Irene
Published: April 2015

The mucosal gene expression in rectosigmoid mucosa (RSM) in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) is unknown. Our objectives were, first, to study mRNA expression [by RT2 PCR of 19 genes pertaining to tight junctions, immune activation, intestinal ion transport and bile acid (BA) homeostasis] in RSM in IBS-D patients ( n = 47) and healthy controls ( n = 17) and study expression of a selected protein (PDZD3) in 10 IBS-D patients and 4 healthy controls; second, to assess RSM mRNA expression according to genotype and fecal BA excretion (high ≥2,337 μmol/48 h); and third, to determine whether genotype or mucosal mRNA expression is associated with colonic transit or BA parameters. Fold changes were corrected for false detection rate for 19 genes studied ( P < 0.00263). In RSM in IBS-D patients compared with controls, mRNA expression of GUC2AB, PDZD3, and PR2Y4 was increased, whereas CLDN1 and FN1 were decreased. One immune-related gene was upregulated (C4BP4) and one downregulated (CCL20). There was increased expression of a selected ion transport protein (PDZD3) on immunohistochemistry and Western blot in IBS-D compared with controls ( P = 0.02). There were no significant differences in mucosal mRNA in 20 IBS-D patients with high compared with 27 IBS-D patients with normal BA excretion. GPBAR1 ( P < 0.05) was associated with colonic transit. We concluded that mucosal ion transport mRNA (for several genes and PDZD3 protein) is upregulated and barrier protein mRNA downregulated in IBS-D compared with healthy controls, independent of genotype. There are no differences in gene expression in IBS-D with high compared with normal fecal BA excretion.
Diminished satellite cells and elevated adipogenic gene expression in muscle as caused by ovariectomy are averted by low-magnitude mechanical signals
Authors: Frechette Danielle M. , Krishnamoorthy Divya , Adler Benjamin J. , Chan M. Ete , Rubin Clinton T.
Published: April 2015

Age-related degeneration of the musculoskeletal system, accelerated by menopause, is further complicated by increased systemic and muscular adiposity. The purpose of this study was to identify at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels the impact of ovariectomy on adiposity and satellite cell populations in mice and whether mechanical signals could influence any outcomes. Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized, with one half subjected to low-intensity vibration (LIV; 0.3 g/90 Hz, 15 min/day, 5 day/wk; n = 10) for 6 wk and the others sham vibrated (OVX; n = 10). Data are compared with age-matched, intact controls (AC; n = 10). In vivo μCT analysis showed that OVX mice gained 43% total ( P < 0.001) and 125% visceral adiposity ( P < 0.001) compared with their baseline after 6 wk, whereas LIV gained only 21% total ( P = 0.01) and 70% visceral adiposity ( P < 0.01). Relative to AC, expression of adipogenic genes (PPARγ, FABP4, PPARδ, and FoxO1) was upregulated in OVX muscle ( P < 0.05), whereas LIV reduced these levels ( P < 0.05). Adipogenic gene expression was inversely related to the percentage of total and reserve satellite cell populations in the muscle, with both declining in OVX compared with AC (−21 and −28%, respectively, P < 0.01). LIV mitigated these declines (−11 and −17%, respectively). These results provide further evidence of the negative consequences of estrogen depletion and demonstrate that mechanical signals have the potential to interrupt subsequent adipogenic gene expression and satellite cell suppression, emphasizing the importance of physical signals in protecting musculoskeletal integrity and slowing the fat phenotype.
Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation modulates human corticospinal system excitability
Authors: Bocci Tommaso , Marceglia Sara , Vergari Maurizio , Cognetto Valeria , Cogiamanian Filippo , Sartucci Ferdinando , Priori Alberto
Published: April 2015

This study aimed to assess the effects of thoracic anodal and cathodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) on upper and lower limb corticospinal excitability. Although there have been studies assessing how thoracic tsDCS influences the spinal ascending tract and reflexes, none has assessed the effects of this technique over upper and lower limb corticomotor neuronal connections. In 14 healthy subjects we recorded motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) from abductor hallucis (AH) and hand abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles before (baseline) and at different time points (0 and 30 min) after anodal or cathodal tsDCS (2.5 mA, 20 min, T9–T11level). In 8 of the 14 subjects we also tested the soleus H reflex and the F waves from AH and ADM before and after tsDCS. Both anodal and cathodal tsDCS left the upper limb MEPs and F wave unchanged. Conversely, while leaving lower limb H reflex unchanged, they oppositely affected lower limb MEPs: whereas anodal tsDCS increased resting motor threshold [(mean ± SE) 107.33 ± 3.3% increase immediately after tsDCS and 108.37 ± 3.2% increase 30 min after tsDCS compared with baseline] and had no effects on MEP area and latency, cathodal tsDCS increased MEP area (139.71 ± 12.9% increase immediately after tsDCS and 132.74 ± 22.0% increase 30 min after tsDCS compared with baseline) without affecting resting motor threshold and MEP latency. Our results show that tsDCS induces polarity-specific changes in corticospinal excitability that last for >30 min after tsDCS offset and selectively affect responses in lower limb muscles innervated by lumbar and sacral motor neurons.
Quantification of Osseointegration of Plasma-Polymer Coated Titanium Alloyed Implants by means of Microcomputed Tomography versus Histomorphometry
Authors: Gabler Carolin , Zietz Carmen , Bieck Richard , Göhler Rebecca , Lindner Tobias , Haenle Maximilian , Finke Birgit , Meichsner Jürgen , Testrich Holger , Nowottnick Mathias , Frerich Bernhard , Bader Rainer
Published: April 2015

A common method to derive both qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate osseointegration of implants is histomorphometry. The present study describes a new image reconstruction algorithm comparing the results of bone-to-implant contact (BIC) evaluated by means ofµCT with histomorphometry data. Custom-made conical titanium alloyed (Ti6Al4V) implants were inserted in the distal tibial bone of female Sprague-Dawley rats. Different surface configurations were examined: Ti6Al4V implants with plasma-polymerized allylamine (PPAAm) coating and plasma-polymerized ethylenediamine (PPEDA) coating as well as implants without surface coating. After six weeks postoperatively, tibiae were explanted and BIC was determined byµCT (3D) and afterwards by histomorphometry (2D). In comparison to uncoated Ti6Al4V implants demonstrating low BIC of 32.4% (histomorphometry) and 51.3% (µCT), PPAAm and PPEDA coated implants showed a nonsignificant increase in BIC (histomorphometry: 45.7% and 53.5% andµCT: 51.8% and 62.0%, resp.). Mean BIC calculated byµCT was higher for all surface configurations compared to BIC detected by histomorphometry. Overall, a high correlation coefficient of 0.70 (p<0.002) was found between 3D and 2D quantification of BIC. TheμCT analysis seems to be suitable as a nondestructive and accurate 3D imaging method for the evaluation of the bone-implant interface.
Complete Absence of Iliac Arteries in the Left Hemipelvis in a Case of Deceased Donor Renal Transplantation
Authors: Palkhi Ebrahim , Pathak Samir , Hostert Lutz , Morris-Stiff Gareth , Patel Jai V. , Ahmad Niaz
Published: April 2015

Renal transplantation is an established method of treating end-stage renal failure. Whilst the majority of procedures follow a standard technique, vascular anomalies may pose intraoperative challenges and, therefore, careful preoperative assessment is warranted. We present a unique, complex case compounded by complete absence of iliac arteries in the left hemipelvis in association with double inferior vena cava in a young recipient.
Diagnostic Significance of Diffusion-Weighted MRI in Renal Cancer
Authors: Lei Yu , Wang Hong , Li Hai-Feng , Rao Yan-Wei , Liu Jing-Hong , Tian Shi-Feng , Ju Ye , Li Ye , Chen An-Liang , Chen Li-Hua , Liu Ai-Lian , Sun Ming-Li
Published: April 2015

Background.This study aimed to investigate whether diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) could contribute to the discrimination between benign and malignant renal cancer.Methods.We searched the PubMed electronic database for eligible studies. STATA 12.0 software was used for statistical analysis. The SMD and 95% CI were calculated.Results.Decreased ADC signal was seen in all renal cancer patients (cancer tissue versus normal tissue: SMD = 1.63 and 95% CI = 0.96~2.29,P<0.001; cancer tissue versus benign tissue: SMD = 2.22 and 95% CI = 1.53~2.90 andP<0.001, resp.). MRI machine type-stratified analysis showed that decreased ADC signal was found by all included MRI machine types in cancer tissues compared with benign cancer tissues (allP<0.05). The ADC values of renal cancer patients were significantly lower than those of normal controls for all includedPvalues (allP<0.05), and there was a decreased ADC signal atb-500,b-600,b-1000,b-500, and 1000 gradients compared with benign cancer tissues (allP<0.05).Conclusion.Our study concluded that decreased ADC signal presented in DWI may be essential for the differential diagnosis of renal cancer.
Characterization, Dissolution, and Solubility of Lead Hydroxypyromorphite [Pb5(PO4)3OH] at 25–45°C
Authors: Zhu Yinian , Zhu Zongqiang , Zhao Xin , Liang Yanpeng , Huang Yanhua
Published: April 2015

Dissolution of the hydroxypyromorphite [lead hydroxyapatite, Pb5(PO4)3OH] in HNO3solution (pH = 2.00), ultrapure water (pH = 5.60), and NaOH solution (pH = 9.00) was experimentally studied at 25°C, 35°C, and 45°C. The XRD, FT-IR, and FE-SEM analyses indicated that the hydroxypyromorphite solids were observed to have indistinguishable change during dissolution. For the hydroxypyromorphite dissolution in aqueous acidic media at initial pH 2.00 and 25°C, the aqueous phosphate concentrations rose quickly and reached the peak values after 1 h dissolution, while the aqueous lead concentrations rose slowly and reached the peak values after 1440 h. The solution Pb/P molar ratio increased constantly from 1.10 to 1.65 near the stoichiometric ratio of 1.67 to 209.85~597.72 and then decreased to 74.76~237.26 for the dissolution at initial pH 2.00 and 25°C~45°C. The averageKspvalues for Pb5(PO4)3OH were determined to be 10−80.77(10−80.57−10−80.96) at 25°C, 10−80.65(10−80.38−10−80.99) at 35°C, and 10−79.96(10−79.38−10−80.71) at 45°C. From the obtained solubility data for the dissolution at initial pH 2.00 and 25°C, the Gibbs free energy of formation [ΔGfo] for Pb5(PO4)3OH was calculated to be −3796.71 kJ/mol (−3795.55~−3797.78 kJ/mol).
Chaos Analysis and Control of Relative Rotation System with Mathieu-Duffing Oscillator
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Longsuo
Published: April 2015

Chaos analysis and control of relative rotation nonlinear dynamic system with Mathieu-Duffing oscillator are investigated. By using Lagrange equation, the dynamics equation of relative rotation system has been established. Melnikov’s method is applied to predict the chaotic behavior of this system. Moreover, the chaotic dynamical behavior can be controlled by adding the Gaussian white noise to the proposed system for the sake of changing chaos state into stable state. Through numerical calculation, the Poincaré map analysis and phase portraits are carried out to confirm main results.
Numerical Simulation of Underwater Shock Wave Propagation in the Vicinity of Rigid Wall Based on Ghost Fluid Method
Authors: Shi Ru-Chao , Huang Rui-Yuan , Wang Guang-Yong , Wang You-Kai , Li Yong-Chi
Published: April 2015

This paper presents numerical simulation of underwater shock wave propagation nearby complex rigid wall. The Ghost Fluid Method (GFM) for the treatment of complex rigid wall is developed. The theoretical analysis on the GFM-based algorithm and relevant numerical tests demonstrate that the GFM-based algorithm is first-order accurate as applied to complex rigid wall. A large number of challenging numerical tests show that the GFM-based algorithm is robust and quite simple in various practical problems. The numerical results on shock wave propagation in the vicinity of rigid wall are verified by comparing to exact solution and the results by body-fitted-grid method.
Identification and Quality Assessment of Chrysanthemum Buds by CE Fingerprinting
Authors: Xing Xiaoping , Li Dan
Published: April 2015

A simple and efficient fingerprinting method for chrysanthemum buds was developed with the aim of establishing a quality control protocol based on biochemical makeup. Chrysanthemum bud samples were successively extracted by water and alcohol. The fingerprints of the chrysanthemum buds samples were obtained using capillary electrophoresis and electrochemical detection (CE-ED) employing copper and carbon working electrodes to capture all of the chemical information. 10 batches of chrysanthemum buds were collected from different regions and various factories to establish the baseline fingerprint. The experimental data of 10 batches electropherogram buds by CE were analyzed by correlation coefficient and the included angle cosine methods. A standard chrysanthemum bud fingerprint including 24 common peaks was established, 12 from each electrode, which was successfully applied to identify and distinguish between chrysanthemum buds from 2 other chrysanthemum species. These results demonstrate that fingerprint analysis can be used as an important criterion for chrysanthemum buds quality control.
Sharp Power Mean Bounds for the One-Parameter Harmonic Mean
Authors: Chu Yu-Ming , Wu Li-Min , Song Ying-Qing
Published: April 2015

We present the best possible parametersα=α(r)andβ=β(r)such that the double inequalityMα(a,b)<Hr(a,b)0witha≠b, whereMp(a, b)=[(ap+bp)/2]1/p  (p≠0)andM0(a, b)=abandHr(a, b)=2[ra+(1-r)b][rb+(1-r)a]/(a+b)are the power and one-parameter harmonic means ofaandb, respectively.