bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical and Experimental Study of the Performance Effects of Varying Vaneless Space and Vane Solidity in Radial Turbine Stators
Authors: Simpson A. T. , Spence S. W. T. , Watterson J. K.
Published: March 2013

An extensive experimental program has been carried out on a 135 mm tip diameter radial turbine using a variety of stator designs, in order to facilitate direct performance comparisons of varying stator vane solidity and the effect of varying the vaneless space. A baseline vaned stator was designed using commercial blade design software, having 15 vanes and a vane trailing edge to rotor leading edge radius ratio (Rte/rle) of 1.13. Two additional series of stator vanes were designed and manufactured; one series having varying vane numbers of 12, 18, 24, and 30, and a further series with Rte/rle ratios of 1.05, 1.175, 1.20, and 1.25. As part of the design process a series of CFD simulations were carried out in order to guide design iterations towards achieving a matched flow capacity for each stator. In this way the variations in the measured stage efficiency could be attributed to the stator passages only, thus allowing direct comparisons to be made. Interstage measurements were taken to capture the static pressure distribution at the rotor inlet and these measurements were then used to validate subsequent numerical models. The overall losses for different stators have been quantified and the variations in the measured and computed efficiency were used to recommend optimum values of vane solidity and Rte/rle.
Isothermal Boundary Condition at Casing Applied to the Rotor 37 Transonic Axial Flow Compressor
Authors: Bruna Dario , Turner Mark G.
Published: March 2013

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are presented with an isothermal boundary condition at the casing for running NASA Rotor 37. The casing temperature is set to the inlet total temperature. Relative to the adiabatic simulations, the comparison to experimental efficiency is much improved for the 100% speed line. The efficiency difference between the isothermal and adiabatic solutions is about 1%, and matches the low-flow test condition. The profiles of total temperature with the isothermal boundary condition match the data near the casing. The adiabatic simulation has a total temperature overshoot that has been consistently part of any data comparison of CFD with this data set, and is typical of most compressor calculations. The efficiency profile has a similar improvement in matching the data because of its relationship to temperature. The real rig is not isothermal at the casing and may require more complex simulations such as a conjugate heat transfer approach to truly match the physics. However, the isothermal boundary condition is more accurate and more realistic than the adiabatic boundary condition.
Preparation of Water-Based Carbon Nanotube Inks and Application in the Inkjet Printing of Carbon Nanotube Gas Sensors
Authors: Lin Ziyin , Le Taoran , Song Xiaojuan , Yao Yagang , Li Zhuo , Moon Kyoung-sik , Tentzeris Manos M. , Wong Ching-ping
Published: March 2013

Water-based carbon nanotube (CNT) is highly desirable for inkjet printing devices due to its environmentally benign and low-cost features. To improve the dispersion of CNT in water, oxygen-containing functional groups are introduced into the surface of CNT via an acid oxidation process. The CNT-based gas sensor is fabricated by inkjet printing, which shows a high sensitivity toward NO2. The application of inkjet-printed CNT in a printed RF antenna for wireless sensing is also discussed.
The Standardization of Printable Materials and Direct Writing Systems
Authors: Hoffman Jessica , Hwang Seyeon , Ortega Ada , Kim Nam-Soo , Moon Kyoung-sik
Published: March 2013

Direct-writing systems will be leading the future of additive manufacturing in that they have simple and cost-effective processes. There are various types of direct-writing systems, such as the roll-to-roll (R2R), microdispensing deposition write (MDDW), maskless mesoscale materials deposition (M3D), and ink-jet systems. These technologies are being used for the production of radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), flexible electronics, solar cells, antennas, etc. Recently, the standardization of printing materials and equipment has become a key issue in the printed electronics industry. The standardization of printed electronics can be categorized into four parts: equipment, materials, testing methods, and the education of this technology.
Out‐of‐atlas likelihood estimation using multi‐atlas segmentation
Authors: Asman Andrew J. , Chambless Lola B. , Thompson Reid C. , Landman Bennett A.
Published: March 2013

Purpose:

Multi‐atlas segmentation has been shown to be highly robust and accurate across an extraordinary range of potential applications. However, it is limited to the segmentation of structures that are anatomically consistent across a large population of potential target subjects (i.e., multi‐atlas segmentation is limited to “in‐atlas” applications). Herein, the authors propose a technique to determine the likelihood that a multi‐atlas segmentation estimate is representative of the problem at hand, and, therefore, identify anomalous regions that are not well represented within the atlases.

Methods:

The authors derive a technique to estimate the out‐of‐atlas (OOA) likelihood for every voxel in the target image. These estimated likelihoods can be used to determine and localize the probability of an abnormality being present on the target image.

Results:

Using a collection of manually labeled whole‐brain datasets, the authors demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed framework on two distinct applications. First, the authors demonstrate the ability to accurately and robustly detect malignant gliomas in the human brain—an aggressive class of central nervous system neoplasms. Second, the authors demonstrate how this OOA likelihood estimation process can be used within a quality control context for diffusion tensor imaging datasets to detect large‐scale imaging artifacts (e.g., aliasing and image shading).

Conclusions:

The proposed OOA likelihood estimation framework shows great promise for robust and rapid identification of brain abnormalities and imaging artifacts using only weak dependencies on anomaly morphometry and appearance. The authors envision that this approach would allow for application‐specific algorithms to focus directly on regions of high OOA likelihood, which would (1) reduce the need for human intervention, and (2) reduce the propensity for false positives. Using the dual perspective, this technique would allow for algorithms to focus on regions of normal anatomy to ascertain image quality and adapt to image appearance characteristics.
The detective quantum efficiency of photon‐counting x‐ray detectors using cascaded‐systems analyses
Authors: Tanguay Jesse , Yun Seungman , Kim Ho Kyung , Cunningham Ian A.
Published: March 2013

Purpose:

Single‐photon counting (SPC) x‐ray imaging has the potential to improve image quality and enable new advanced energy‐dependent methods. The purpose of this study is to extend cascaded‐systems analyses (CSA) to the description of image quality and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of SPC systems.

Methods:

Point‐process theory is used to develop a method of propagating the mean signal and Wiener noise‐power spectrum through a thresholding stage (required to identify x‐ray interaction events). The new transfer relationships are used to describe the zero‐frequency DQE of a hypothetical SPC detector including the effects of stochastic conversion of incident photons to secondary quanta, secondary quantum sinks, additive noise, and threshold level. Theoretical results are compared with Monte Carlo calculations assuming the same detector model.

Results:

Under certain conditions, the CSA approach can be applied to SPC systems with the additional requirement of propagating the probability density function describing the total number of image‐forming quanta through each stage of a cascaded model. Theoretical results including DQE show excellent agreement with Monte Carlo calculations under all conditions considered.

Conclusions:

Application of the CSA method shows that false counts due to additive electronic noise results in both a nonlinear image signal and increased image noise. There is a window of allowable threshold values to achieve a high DQE that depends on conversion gain, secondary quantum sinks, and additive noise.
A novel approach in electron beam radiation therapy of lips carcinoma: A Monte Carlo study
Authors: Shokrani Parvaneh , Baradaran‐Ghahfarokhi Milad , Zadeh Maryam Khorami
Published: March 2013

Purpose:

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is commonly treated by electron beam radiotherapy (EBRT) followed by a boost via brachytherapy. Considering the limitations associated with brachytherapy, in this study, a novel boosting technique in EBRT of lip carcinoma using an internal shield as an internal dose enhancer tool (IDET) was evaluated. An IDET is referred to a partially covered internal shield located behind the lip. It was intended to show that while the backscattered electrons are absorbed in the portion covered with a low atomic number material, they will enhance the target dose in the uncovered area.

Methods:

Monte‐Carlo models of 6 and 8 MeV electron beams were developed using BEAMnrc code and were validated against experimental measurements. Using the developed models, dose distributions in a lip phantom were calculated and the effect of an IDET on target dose enhancement was evaluated. Typical lip thicknesses of 1.5 and 2.0 cm were considered. A 5 × 5 cm2 of lead covered by 0.5 cm of polystyrene was used as an internal shield, while a 4 × 4 cm2 uncovered area of the shield was used as the dose enhancer.

Results:

Using the IDET, the maximum dose enhancement as a percentage of dose at dmax of the unshielded field was 157.6% and 136.1% for 6 and 8 MeV beams, respectively. The best outcome was achieved for lip thickness of 1.5 cm and target thickness of less than 0.8 cm. For lateral dose coverage of planning target volume, the 80% isodose curve at the lip‐IDET interface showed a 1.2 cm expansion, compared to the unshielded field.

Conclusions:

This study showed that a boost concomitant EBRT of lip is possible by modifying an internal shield into an IDET. This boosting method is especially applicable to cases in which brachytherapy faces limitations, such as small thicknesses of lips and targets located at the buccal surface of the lip.
Disrupting the Scaffold to Improve Focal Adhesion Kinase–Targeted Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Cance William G. , Kurenova Elena , Marlowe Timothy , Golubovskaya Vita
Published: March 2013

Targeting the scaffold of focal adhesion kinase is a therapeutic opportunity to inhibit signaling pathways selectively in cancer cells.
Interfering with Interferons
Authors: Mueller Kristen L.
Published: March 2013

Disseminated
Mycobacterium leprae
infection is associated with blockade of the antimicrobial response by type I interferons.
Three Tales of Wnt Signaling
Authors: Ray Bryan , VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: March 2013

New studies elucidate mechanisms of Wnt signaling and implicate spatially restricted Wnt signals in orientation of asymmetric stem cell division.
Depressed Without Rac1
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: March 2013

Treatments that target the GTPase RAC1 signaling could be developed as antidepressants.
Blockade of Nonhormonal Fibroblast Growth Factors by FP-1039 Inhibits Growth of Multiple Types of Cancer
Authors: Harding Thomas C. , Long Li , Palencia Servando , Zhang Hongbing , Sadra Ali , Hestir Kevin , Patil Namrata , Levin Anita , Hsu Amy W. , Charych Deborah , Brennan Thomas , Zanghi James , Halenbeck Robert , Marshall Shannon A. , Qin Minmin , Doberstein Stephen K. , Hollenbaugh Diane , Kavanaugh W. Michael , Williams Lewis T. , Baker Kevin P.
Published: March 2013

A soluble FGF receptor trap effectively inhibits tumor growth in the absence of toxicity.
Conserved Shifts in the Gut Microbiota Due to Gastric Bypass Reduce Host Weight and Adiposity
Authors: Liou Alice P. , Paziuk Melissa , Luevano Jesus-Mario , Machineni Sriram , Turnbaugh Peter J. , Kaplan Lee M.
Published: March 2013

Alterations in the gastrointestinal microbiota caused by gastric bypass surgery are sufficient to trigger decreased body weight and adiposity in germ-free mouse recipients.
Phase I, Single-Dose, Dose-Escalating Study of Inhaled Dry Powder Capreomycin: a New Approach to Therapy of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Authors: Dharmadhikari Ashwin S. , Kabadi Mohan , Gerety Bob , Hickey Anthony J. , Fourie P. Bernard , Nardell Edward
Published: March 2013

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) threatens global TB control. The lengthy treatment includes one of the injectable drugs kanamycin, amikacin, and capreomycin, usually for the first 6 months. These drugs have potentially serious toxicities, and when given as intramuscular injections, dosing can be painful. Advances in particulate drug delivery have led to the formulation of capreomycin as the first antituberculosis drug available as a microparticle dry powder for inhalation and clinical study. Delivery by aerosol may result in successful treatment with lower doses. Here we report a phase I, single-dose, dose-escalating study aimed at demonstrating safety and tolerability in healthy subjects and measuring pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters. Twenty healthy adults (n= 5 per group) were recruited to self-administer a single dose of inhaled dry powder capreomycin (25-mg, 75-mg, 150-mg, or 300-mg nominal dose) using a simple, handheld delivery device. Inhalations were well tolerated by all subjects. The most common adverse event was mild to moderate transient cough, in five subjects. There were no changes in lung function, audiometry, or laboratory parameters. Capreomycin was rapidly absorbed after inhalation. Systemic concentrations were detected in each dose group within 20 min. Peak and mean plasma concentrations of capreomycin were dose proportional. Serum concentrations exceeded 2 μg/ml (MIC forMycobacterium tuberculosis) following the highest dose; the half-life (t1/2) was 4.8 ± 1.0 h. A novel inhaled microparticle dry powder formulation of capreomycin was well tolerated. A single 300-mg dose rapidly achieved serum drug concentrations above the MIC forMycobacterium tuberculosis, suggesting the potential of inhaled therapy as part of an MDR-TB treatment regimen.
Acquisition of the Sda1-Encoding Bacteriophage Does Not Enhance Virulence of the Serotype M1 Streptococcus pyogenes Strain SF370
Authors: Venturini Carola , Ong Cheryl-lynn Y. , Gillen Christine M. , Ben-Zakour Nouri L. , Maamary Peter G. , Nizet Victor , Beatson Scott A. , Walker Mark J.
Published: March 2013

The resurgence of invasive disease caused by
Streptococcus pyogenes
(group A
Streptococcus
[GAS]) in the past 30 years has paralleled the emergence and global dissemination of the highly virulent M1T1 clone. The GAS M1T1 clone has diverged from the ancestral M1 serotype by horizontal acquisition of two unique bacteriophages, encoding the potent DNase Sda1/SdaD2 and the superantigen SpeA, respectively. The phage-encoded DNase promotes escape from neutrophil extracellular traps and is linked to enhanced virulence of the M1T1 clone. In this study, we successfully used
in vitro
lysogenic conversion to transfer the Sda1-encoding phage from the M1T1 clonal strain 5448 to the nonclonal M1 isolate SF370 and determined the impact of this horizontal gene transfer event on virulence. Although Sda1 was expressed in SF370 lysogens, no capacity of the phage-converted strain to survive human neutrophil killing, switch to a hyperinvasive
covRS
mutant form, or cause invasive lethal infection in a humanized plasminogen mouse model was observed. This work suggests that the hypervirulence of the M1T1 clone is due to the unique synergic effect of the M1T1 clone bacteriophage-specific virulence factor Sda1 acting in concert with the M1T1 clone-specific genetic scaffold.
Are Men More Likely than Women To Commit Scientific Misconduct? Maybe, Maybe Not
Authors: Kaatz Anna , Vogelman Paul N. , Carnes Molly
Published: March 2013

In their study published in January 2013 in
mBio
, Fang et al. reviewed records from the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and found more cases of scientific misconduct committed by men than women, particularly by faculty (F. C. Fang, J. W. Bennett, and A. Casadevall, mBio 4:1–3, 2013). Powerful social norms shape the way men and women behave, and implicit gender schemas can lead to different evaluation standards for men and women for tasks stereotypically linked to one gender. It is possible that norms for acceptable male and female behavior could lead to a lower threshold for men than women to engage in the risky behavior of scientific misconduct. It is also possible that women and men commit scientific fraud at the same rate but that, because crime is a male-gendered domain, evaluators require more proof of the criminal “competence” of women for an investigation to rise to the level of an ORI case or that female gender norms for likeability and a lower apology threshold more often prevent escalation of women’s fraud beyond a local level. Male scientists also have more opportunity to commit fraud than female scientists because they receive more NIH research funding—a finding that may also be influenced by gender schemas. We cannot conclude from the ORI data that men are more likely than women to risk the consequences of committing scientific misconduct simply because risk taking aligns with male gender stereotypes. Neither can we conclude that because men are more likely than women to commit fraud in other contexts, men are also more likely than women to commit scientific fraud. We can conclude, however, that scientific misconduct, regardless of who commits it, diminishes all who contribute to the scientific enterprise.
Unexpected hypozincaemia in a patient with discharging empyema that proved resistant to replacement therapy
Authors: Rowbottom Lynn , Mole Thomas , Roberts Norman
Published: March 2013

A 45-year-old man was admitted with a massive discharging empyema. He had severe chronic malnutrition and was noted to be zinc and selenium deficient. A high-calorie oral diet supplemented with iron, zinc and selenium was started, together with antibiotic therapy and continued prescription of the patient's regular medication, including a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). Although selenium increased to normal levels after 4 weeks of supplementation, zinc levels failed to normalise. Antibiotic therapy improved the empyema and a steady increase in weight was achieved. The patient was noted to have erythematous skin lesions, hair loss and reduced wound healing, all of which may be attributable to zinc deficiency. We propose that competition for intestinal absorption of nutrients and the use of a PPI may have covertly contributed to the inability to normalise serum zinc levels in this case.
Familial aggregation of maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA)
Authors: Pandey Pallavi , Ansari Afroz Alam , Choudhary Kartik , Saxena Aditya
Published: March 2013

Agenesis of maxillary lateral incisors and mandibular second premolars is the most frequent form of hypodontia. Its prevalence varies across population from 0.8% to 4.5%. Genetic aberrations and environmental factors may cause agenesis of one or more teeth. The management of child having such a problem is very important since diastema in teeth especially in upper anteriors not only affects child's physical appearance but also its psychological development as the child wants to look like other children. In this article is presented a case of non-syndromic agenesis of maxillary lateral incisors (MLIA) and mandibular central incisors in a 10-year-old boy (patient) in permanent dentition with its management along with the radiographic investigations and photographic presentations of the other members of his family affected with this condition.
A silent acute abdomen in a patient with spinal cord injury
Authors: Malhotra Rishi , Ee Gerard , Pang Si Ying , Kumar Naresh
Published: March 2013

A 52-year-old man with cervical spondylosis sustained a hyperextension injury to the neck and subsequently developed central cord syndrome after 2 weeks. The diagnosis was confirmed clinically and on MRI. During the admission he was febrile fromStreptococcus anginosusbacteraemia from a gum infection and was started on penicillin. This resulted in pseudomembranous colitis with abdominal distension and bloody diarrhoea but a lack of expected abdominal complaints.

Unfortunately his neurology deteriorated and a repeat MRI showed a discitis at C5–C7 which required a 2-level discectomy, debridement and instrumented fusion. Owing to his spinal cord injury, an abdominal perforation was initially missed owing to the lack of clinical features of an acute abdomen. He underwent a right hemi-colectomy for ascending colon perforation and eventually made a good recovery and was discharged to a spinal rehabilitation unit. By one year follow-up he had returned to full neurological function.
Intractable intraoperative bleeding requiring platelet transfusion during emergent cholecystectomy in a patient with dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting coronary stent implantation (with video)
Authors: Fujikawa Takahisa , Noda Tomohiro , Tada Seiichiro , Tanaka Akira
Published: March 2013

We report a case of a 76-year-old man, receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and ticlopidine for the past 6 years after implantation of drug-eluting coronary stent, developed a severe hypochondriac pain. After diagnosing severe acute cholecystitis by an enhanced CT, emergent laparotomy under continuation of DAPT was attempted. During the operation, intractable bleeding from the adhesiolysed liver surface was encountered, which required platelet transfusion. Subtotal cholecystectomy with abdominal drainage was performed, and the patient recovered without any postoperative bleeding or thromboembolic complications. Like the present case, the final decision should be made to perform platelet transfusion when life-threatening DAPT-induced intraoperative bleeding occurs during an emergent surgery, despite the elevated risk of stent thrombosis.
Leucine supplementation increases serum insulin-like growth factor 1 concentration and liver protein/RNA ratio in rats after a period of nutritional recovery
Authors: Pedrosa Rogerio G. , Donato Jose , Pires Ivanir S. , Tirapegui Julio
Published: March 2013

This study evaluated the effect of leucine on the protein status of rats submitted to 50% food restriction for 1 week, followed by 2 weeks of nutritional recovery. A significant increase of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and protein/RNA ratio in the liver was observed in leucine-supplemented rats. There was no change in carcass, liver, or gastrocnemius protein content when compared with control animals. The supplementation tested did not favor protein status, although it improved some indicators of an anabolic state.
New strength formulae for rock surrounding a circular opening
Authors: Fan Wen , Yu Mao-hong , Deng Long-sheng , Peng Xianglin , Chen Li-wei
Published: March 2013

In this paper, the unified strength theory proposed by Yu Mao-hong in 1991 is used to develop new strength formulae for rock surrounding a tunnel. The new formulae can be applied to an elastic–plastic material. The formulae have a series of expressions with the unified parameter, especially variations such as the well-known Kastner and Airy formulae, which are widely used in rock mechanics and engineering. These formulae are derived on the basis of the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion. For the strength-weakening (plastic-softening) of geomaterials, the analytical solutions for the radius of the plastic residual zones, radius of the plastic-softening zones, and displacement around the opening are presented according to the elastoplastic-softening – residual plastic, tri-linear stress–strain model. In addition, the derivation for the stress state in the surrounding rock is given. The Kastner formula, Airy formula, and available solutions can be considered as special cases in the new strength formula. The influence of softening, shear dilatancy, and different strength models on the results is analyzed. The results presented in this paper are useful for analyzing surrounding rock with various stress conditions and reinforcement of caves.
The role of the inhibition of glutathione-S-transferase in the protective mechanisms of ischemic postconditioning
Authors: Balatonyi Borbála , Gasz Balázs , Kovács Viktória , Lantos János , Jancsó Gábor , Marczin Nándor , Rőth Erzsébet
Published: March 2013

The antioxidant glutathione-S-transferase (GST) is a crucial determinant of the development of ischaemic−reperfusion (I/R) injury, and plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways involved in stress response and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether inhibition of GST can abolish the benefit of ischaemic postconditioning (IPoC). A neonatal rat cardiomyocyte cell culture was prepared and divided into 6 groups: (I) control group without treatment; (II) cells exposed to simulated I/R; (III) simulated I/R (sI/R) with IPoC; (IV) ethacrynic acid (EA) alone; (V) sI/R with EA; and (VI) sI/R and IPoC together with EA. Viability of the cells was measured by MTT assay, the quantity of apoptotic cells was assessed by flow cytometry following annexin V-FITC − propidium-iodide double staining. The activation of JNK, p38, ERK/p42-p44 MAPKs, and GSK-3β protein kinase was determined by flow-cytometric assay. GST inhibition markedly increased the apoptosis and decreased the cell viability despite IPoC. The protective effect of IPoC was lost in GST-inhibited groups for all MAPKs and GSK-3β. GST activity is required for the survival of cultured cardiomyocytes under stress conditions. GST inhibition was associated with differential activation of MAP and the protein kinases regulating these pathways in the process of ischaemic postconditioning.
EVALUATION OF LAYER INTERACTION USING LAYER THICKNESS AND PLASTIC ZONE SIZE OF MULTILAYERED METALLIC SHEETS
Authors: JEONG CHANSEO , YANAGIMOTO JUN
Published: March 2013

Each layer of multilayered metallic sheet (ML sheet) shows a distinctive deformation behavior different from monolithic layer if two kinds of layers having different mechanical property are laminated. The stress gradient of ML sheet is different from that of monolithic material due to layer interaction, and a void characteristic of ductile fracture is found in the brittle layer. The brittle layer has a larger plastic zone and higher fracture strain than the monolithic layer due to the suppression stress of the ductile layer. As a layer becomes thinner, the size of the plastic zone increases. This is because of the high fracture strain. As a characteristic stress–strain behavior of such ML sheet, there is the turning point in which the main influence is turned into the section of the ductility, increases by the increase of plastic zone size from the section of the strength and by the volume fraction increase.
SYSTEM PERSONALITY AND ADAPTIVITY IN AFFECTIVE HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
Authors: KONSTANTOPOULOS STASINOS , KARKALETSIS VANGELIS
Published: March 2013

It has been demonstrated that human users attribute a personality to the computer interfaces they use, regardless of whether one has been explicitly encoded in the system's design or not. In this paper, we explore a method for having explicit control over the personality that a spoken human-robot interface is perceived to exhibit by its users. Our method focuses on the interaction between users and semantic knowledge-based systems where the goal of the interaction is that information from the semantic store is relayed to the user. We describe a personality modelling method that complements a standard dialogue manager by calculating parameters related to adaptivity and emotion for the various interaction modules that realize the system's dialogue acts. This calculation involves the planned act, the user adaptivity model, the system's own goals, but also a machine representation of the personality that we want the system to exhibit, so that systems with different personality will react differently even when in the same dialogue state and with the same user or user type.
INTRINSIC BRANCHING STRUCTURE WITHIN (L-1) RANDOM WALK IN RANDOM ENVIRONMENT AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Authors: HONG WENMING , WANG HUAMING
Published: March 2013

We figure out the intrinsic branching structure within (L-1) random walk in random environment. As applications, the branching structure enable us to calculate the expectation of the first hitting time directly, and specify the density of the invariant measure for the Markov chain of "the environment viewed from particles" explicitly.
MAGNETORESISTANCE AND SPIN-FILTERING EFFICIENCY OF DNA-SANDWICHED FERROMAGNETIC NANOSTRUCTURES
Authors: RAVI S. , SOWMIYA P. , KARTHIKEYAN A.
Published: March 2013

We report magnetoresistance and spin-filtering efficiency of DNA-sandwiched ferromagnetic nanostructures. Commercially available FeCo target was sputtered over a gold-coated silicon wafer coated with mercaptosuccinic acid and DNA. This was made to contact with another FeCo sputtered gold-coated silicon wafer coated with mercaptosuccinic acid forming FM/DNA/FM based magnetic junction. DNA forms a covalent bonding with FeCo nanoparticles through mercaptosuccinic acid. Magnetoresistance for this was measured in the room temperature and was found to be 18%. Spin-filtering efficiency was calculated as 30%, which is half the value of experimental observation of spin-filtering of electron on pure gold surface coated with DNA.
Pre-rift tectonic scenario of the Eo-Cretaceous Gondwana break-up along SE Brazil–SW Africa: insights from tholeiitic mafic dyke swarms
Authors: Almeida Julio , Dios Fatima , Mohriak Webster Ueipass , Valeriano Claudio De Morisson , Heilbron Monica , Eirado Luiz Guilherme , Tomazzoli Edison
Published: March 2013

This chapter presents a synthesis of the pre-break-up plate tectonics of western Gondwana and the pre- and syn-rift magmatism in the SW South Atlantic margin (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina) and the conjugate African continental margin (Angola, Namibia and South Africa). An updated database of the geographical locations of the primary available radiometric ages is also included in this work. A systematic analysis of the K–Ar and Ar/Ar ages from outcrops and boreholes shows a marked Mid to Late Jurassic peak in the southernmost segment of the South Atlantic, related to the emplacement of the Karoo volcanics in South Africa and in Argentina (including the Falkland Islands), and an important Early Cretaceous peak with age distributions that are related to the Gondwana break-up and formation of rift basins along the incipient continental margins. In both the southern Brazilian and Argentinian margins, as well as in the conjugate Namibian and South African margins, several igneous centres and basaltic lava flows are suggestive of the influence of mantle plumes in the Early Cretaceous, which were heralded by mafic dyke swarms in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Namibia.

Supplementary material:

A complete table with Radiometric ages of Jurassic–Early Cretaceous magmatism in the southern portion of West Gondwana is available at:
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18589
Travel Time Model for Right-Turning Vehicles of Secondary Street at Unsignalized Intersections
Authors: Yu-Qin Feng , Jun-Qiang Leng , Peng Wang , Yi He , Gui-e Zhang
Published: March 2013

The travel time of right-turning vehicles on secondary street at unsignalized intersection is discussed in this paper. Under the assumption that the major-street through vehicles’ headway follows Erlang distribution and secondary-street right-turning vehicles’ headway follows Poisson distribution. The right-turning vehicles travel time model is established on the basis of gap theory and M/G/1 queue theory. Comparison is done with the common model based on the assumption that the major-street vehicles’ headway follows Poisson distribution. An intersection is selected to verify each model. The results show that the model established in this paper has stronger applicability, and its most relative error is less than 15%. In addition, the sensitivity analysis has been done. The results show that right-turning flow rate and major-street flow rate have a significant impact on the travel time. Hence, the methodology for travel time of right-turning vehicles at unsignalized intersection proposed in this paper is effective and applicable.
Establishment of OPG Transgenic Mice and the Effect of OPG on Bone Microarchitecture
Authors: Wu Ying , Liu Jianghua , Guo Hui , Luo Qiong , Yu Ziying , Liao Eryuan , Zu Xuyu
Published: March 2013

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays a determinant role in regulating bone metabolism, but the effect of OPG on bone microarchitecture needs to be further elucidated. We attempted to construct pCI-hOPGp-mOPG vector containing human OPG promoter and FLAG tag and to microinject vector into fertilized zygotes from C57BL/6J × CBA mice to prepare transgenic mice. The OPG transgenic positive mice were identified by PCR and western blotting. Twelve-week-old OPG transgenic mice (OPG-Tg mice) and wild-type mice (WT mice) were utilized in the study of bone microarchitecture. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) data showed that compared with WT mice, the tibia of OPG-Tg mice showed an increased volumetric BMD (vBMD), tissue BMD (tBMD), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular number (Tb.N), and a decreased trabecular separation (Th.Sp) (P<0.05) . The cortical bone microarchitecture parameters, such as cortical area (Ct.Ar), cortical thickness (Ct.Th), cortical BMD (Ct.BMD), cortical BMC (Ct.BMC), BMD, and BMC of femur, were increased, and the inner perimeter (In.Pm) was decreased, in OPG-Tg mice, compared to those in WT mice (P<0.05). The established OPG transgenic mouse model could be valuable for further studying the biological significance and gene regulation of OPG in vivo.
Inventory Decisions in a Product-Updated System with Component Substitution and Product Substitution
Authors: Zhou Yancong , Sun Junqing
Published: March 2013

Substitution behaviors happen frequently when demands are uncertain in a production inventory system, and it has attracted enough attention from firms. Related researches can be clearly classified into firm-driven substitution and customer-driven substitution. However, if production inventory is stock-out when a firm updates its product, the firm may use a new generation product to satisfy the customer’s demand of old generation product or use updated component to substitute old component to satisfy production demand. Obviously, two cases of substitution exist simultaneously in the product-updated system when an emergent shortage happens. In this paper, we consider a component order problem with component substitution and product substitution simultaneously in a product-updated system, where the case of firm-driven substitution or customer-driven substitution can be reached by setting different values for two system parameters. Firstly, we formulate the problem into a two-stage dynamic programming. Secondly, we give the optimal decisions about assembled quantities of different types of products. Next, we prove that the expected profit function is jointly concave in order quantities and decrease the feasible domain by determining some bounds for decision variables. Finally, some management insights about component substitution and product substitution are investigated by theoretical analysis method.
Intracoronary Adenosine versus Intravenous Adenosine during Primary PCI for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Which One Offers Better Outcomes in terms of Microvascular Obstruction?
Authors: Doolub Gemina , Dall'Armellina Erica
Published: March 2013

Aims. Previous studies have suggested that intravenous administration of adenosine improves myocardial reperfusion and reduces infarct size in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Intracoronary administration of adenosine has shown conflicting results. Methods. In this retrospective, single-centre, blinded clinical study, we assessed whether selective intracoronary administration of adenosine distal to the occlusion site immediately before initial balloon inflation reduces microvascular obstruction (MVO) as assessed with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using contrast-enhanced sequences, microvascular obstruction (MVO) was calculated. We found 81 patients presenting with STEMI within 12 h from symptom onset who were eligible for the study. In 80/81 (100%) patients receiving the study drug, MRI was performed on Day 1 after primary angioplasty. Results. The prevalence of MVO was reduced in the patients treated with intracoronary adenosine, (45%) compared to 85% of patients who were administered intravenous adenosine (). We found that the size of MVO in patients receiving intracoronary adenosine was significantly reduced compared to 0.91 g in the intravenous-treated group (). There was no statistically significant difference in TIMI flow and clinical outcomes after primary PCI. Conclusion. We found significant evidence that selective high-dose intracoronary administration of adenosine distal to the occlusion site of the culprit lesion in STEMI patients results in a decrease in microvascular obstruction.
Nonuniqueness versus Uniqueness of Optimal Policies in Convex Discounted Markov Decision Processes
Authors: Montes-de-Oca Raúl , Lemus-Rodríguez Enrique , Salem-Silva Francisco Sergio
Published: March 2013

From the classical point of view, it is important to determine if in a Markov decision process (MDP), besides their existence, the uniqueness of the optimal policies is guaranteed. It is well known that uniqueness does not always hold in optimization problems (for instance, in linear programming). On the other hand, in such problems it is possible for a slight perturbation of the functional cost to restore the uniqueness. In this paper, it is proved that the value functions of an MDP and its cost perturbed version stay close, under adequate conditions, which in some sense is a priority. We are interested in the stability of Markov decision processes with respect to the perturbations of the cost-as-you-go function.
Stabilization of an Underactuated Surface Vessel Based on Adaptive Sliding Mode and Backstepping Control
Authors: Ding Fuguang , Wu Jing , Wang Yuanhui
Published: March 2013

The paper studied controlling problem of an underactuated surface vessel with unknown interferences. It proved that the control problem of underactuated surface vessel can be transformed into the stabilization analysis of two small subsystems. This controller was designed by backstepping method and adaptive sliding mode, was suitable for solving the problem of the control of higher systems, can keep the system global asymptotic stability, and can inhibit unknown interference, and boundary layer can weaken the buffeting generated by sliding mode. The unknown interference was estimated by adaptive function. Finally, the simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws.
Effect of Step-Change Radiation Flux on Dynamic Characteristics in Tower Solar Cavity Receiver
Authors: Chen Zhengwei , Wang Yueshe , Hao Yun , Wang Qizhi
Published: March 2013

The heat flux on the inner surface of the tower solar thermal power plant system will show the characteristics of noncontinuous step change, especially in nonnormal and transient weather conditions, which may result in a continuous dynamic variation of the characteristic parameters. Therefore, the research of dynamic characteristics plays a very important role in the operation and the control safely in solar cavity receiver system. In this paper, based on the noncontinuous step change of radiation flux, a non-linear dynamic model is constructed to obtain the effects of the non-continuous step change radiation flux and step change feed water flow on the receiver performance by sequential modular approach. The subject investigated in our study is a 1 MW solar power station constructed in Yanqing county, Beijing, China. This study has obtained the dynamic responses of the characteristic parameters in the cavity receiver such as drum pressure, drum water level, main steam flow, and main steam enthalpy under step change radiation flux. And the influence of step-change feed water flow to the dynamic characteristics has also been analyzed. The results could provide general guidance for security operation and control in solar cavity receiver system.
Estimation of Ion Competition via Correlated Responsivity Offset in Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Analysis: Theory and Practical Use in the Analysis of Cyanobacterial Hepatotoxin Microcystin-LR in Extracts of Food Additives
Authors: Urban Jan , Hrouzek Pavel , Štys Dalibor , Martens Harald
Published: March 2013

Responsivity is a conversion qualification of a measurement device given by the functional dependence between the input and output quantities. A concentration-response-dependent calibration curve represents the most simple experiment for the measurement of responsivity in mass spectrometry. The cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin-LR content in complex biological matrices of food additives was chosen as a model example of a typical problem. The calibration curves for pure microcystin and its mixtures with extracts of green alga and fish meat were reconstructed from the series of measurement. A novel approach for the quantitative estimation of ion competition in ESI is proposed in this paper. We define the correlated responsivity offset in the intensity values using the approximation of minimal correlation given by the matrix to the target mass values of the analyte. The estimation of the matrix influence enables the approximation of the position ofa prioriunknown responsivity and was easily evaluated using a simple algorithm. The method itself is directly derived from the basic attributes of the theory of measurements. There is sufficient agreement between the theoretical and experimental values. However, some theoretical issues are discussed to avoid misinterpretations and excessive expectations.
Efficient Deterministic Anchor Deployment for Sensor Network Positioning
Authors: Chen Yongle , Chen Ci , Zhu Hongsong , Sun Limin
Published: March 2013

Sensor network positioning systems have been extensively studied in recent years. Most of the systems share a common assumption that some known-position anchor nodes have existed. However, a more fundamental question is always being overlooked, that is, how to acquire the anchor's position. In general, GPS-based measures and the artificial calibration are two dominant methods to acquire anchor positions. Due to the high energy cost and failures in occlusion regions of the GPS modules, the artificial calibration method is adopted extensively. Nevertheless, numerous disadvantages of the artificial calibration, such as the expensive labor cost and error-prone features, also make it hard to be an efficient solution for the anchor positioning. For this reason, we design an efficient mapping algorithm between anchors and their positions (MD-SKM) to avoid the complicated artificial calibration. Additionally, we propose a best feature matching (BFM) method to further relax the restriction of MDS-KM where three or more calibrated anchors are needed. We evaluate our MDS-KM algorithm under various topologies and connectivity settings. Experiment results show that at a slightly higher connectivity level, our algorithm can achieve the exactly correct matching between anchors and their positions without any calibrated anchors.
Dynamic of a TB-HIV Coinfection Epidemic Model with Latent Age
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Yang Junyuan , Zhang Fengqin
Published: March 2013

A coepidemic arises when the spread of one infectious disease stimulates the spread of another infectious disease. Recently, this has happened with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB). The density of individuals infected with latent tuberculosis is structured by age since latency. The host population is divided into five subclasses of susceptibles, latent TB, active TB (without HIV), HIV infectives (without TB), and coinfection class (infected by both TB and HIV). The model exhibits three boundary equilibria, namely, disease free equilibrium, TB dominated equilibrium, and HIV dominated equilibrium. We discuss the local or global stabilities of boundary equilibria. We prove the persistence of our model. Our simple model of two synergistic infectious disease epidemics illustrates the importance of including the effects of each disease on the transmission and progression of the other disease. We simulate the dynamic behaviors of our model and give medicine explanations.
Synthesis of Hollow Silica Nanospheres by Sacrificial Polystyrene Templates for Thermal Insulation Applications
Authors: Sandberg Linn Ingunn C. , Gao Tao , Jelle Bjørn Petter , Gustavsen Arild
Published: March 2013

Monodisperse polystyrene (PS) spheres with controllable size have been synthesized by a straight forward and simple procedure. The as-synthesized PS spheres have a typical diameter ranging from~180 nm to~900 nm, where a reduced sphere size is obtained by increasing the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/styrene weight ratio. The PS spheres function as sacrificial templates for the fabrication of hollow silica nanospheres (HSNSs) for thermal insulation applications. By modifying the silica coating process, HSNSs with different surface roughness are obtained. All resulting HSNSs show typically a thermal conductivity of about 20 mW/(mK), indicating that the surface phonon scattering is probably not significant in these HSNS samples.
Thermoelastic Characteristics in Thermal Barrier Coatings with a Graded Layer between the Top and Bond Coats
Authors: Kim Seokchan , Go Jaegwi , Jung Yeon-Gil , Lee Je-Hyun
Published: March 2013

A graded layer was introduced at the interface between the top and bond coats to reduce the risk of failure in a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system, and the thermoelastic behavior was investigated through mathematical approaches. Two types of TBC model with and without the graded layer, subject to a symmetric temperature distribution in the longitudinal direction, were taken into consideration to evaluate thermoelastic behaviors such as temperature distribution, displacement, and thermal stress. Thermoelastic theory was applied to derive two governing partial differential equations, and a finite volume method was developed to obtain approximations because of the complexity. The TBC with the graded layer shows improved durability in thermoelastic characteristics through mathematical approaches, in agreement with the experimental results. The results will be useful in discovering technologies for enhancing the thermomechanical properties of TBCs.
Numerical Study on the Mixed Convection Heat Transfer between a Sphere Particle and High Pressure Water in Pseudocritical Zone
Authors: Wei Liping , Lu Youjun , Wei Jinjia
Published: March 2013

Mixed convection heat transfer between supercritical water and particles is a major basic problem in supercritical water fluidized bed reactor, but little work focused on this new area in the past. In this paper, a numerical model fully accounting for thermophysical property variation has been established to investigate heat transfer between supercritical water and a single spherical particle under gravity. Flow field, temperature field and Nusselt number are analyzed based on the simulation results. Results show that buoyancy force has a remarkable effect on flow and heat transfer process. When the direction of gravity and flow are opposite, the gravity enhances the heat transfer before the separation point and inhibits the heat transfer after the separation point. When gravity is incorporated in calculation, a higher temperature gradient and a thinner boundary layer in the vicinity of the particle surface are observed before separation point, and the situations are just the reverse after separation point. Variation of specific heat and conductivity plays a main role in determination of heat transfer coefficient.