bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specifying Material Toughness to Avoid Brittle Fracture Initiation in Pipe Fittings and Components
Authors: Wilkowski Gery M. , Shim Do-Jun
Published: July 2013

Recently, there have been a few failures with brittle fractures occurring during hydrostatic or pneumatic proof testing in pipe fittings that rekindled the need for paying attention on how to specify the toughness for pipe fittings and other components such as valves. This paper shows how an analysis procedure called the “Master Curve of Fracture Transition Temperatures” can be used to specify a Charpy shear area percent at some target temperature so that ductile initiation behavior occurs for either a surface or through-wall cracks in fittings, components or pipe material at the minimum design temperature. Due to differences in thickness, loading rate, and constraint conditions, the Charpy test transition temperature will not be at the same temperature as the minimum design temperature. In addition to the background and summary of prior efforts, several examples of full-scale pipe and fitting/valve fracture tests on different materials will be presented to show that the methodology works well. It is also possible from this method to specify the Charpy shear area percent at some temperature to ensure that brittle fracture propagation will not occur. There are some limits on this methodology for some newer steels that have very high Charpy energy values, and those conditions are also summarized.
Types of Uncertainty and Their Impact on Target Risk or Reliability
Authors: Huyse Luc , Kariyawasam Shahani
Published: July 2013

The main objective in using reliability based methodologies is to provide consistent safety by explicitly accounting for uncertainties in a probabilistically quantified manner. Reliability methods also allow the articulation of the level of safety. This level of consistency in safety cannot be achieved in a deterministic analysis using safety factors. However, reliability based methods can be used to calibrate and improve deterministic methods to improve the consistency of the safety level. Providing consistent safety enables optimization of maintenance activities which enables the safest system to be provided using the available resources. Currently used deterministic and reliability based methods are both examined and discussed. Gaps and areas of improvement are identified with the objective of improving safety and explicitly articulating and communicating the level of safety.

Effective use of quantitative risk and reliability methodologies requires quantitative data that describes the current state of the pipeline, the anticipated future state as well as the failure limit state. In maintaining oil and gas pipelines this level of quantitative data of the pipeline is available when pipelines are in-line inspected. Although reliability-based assessments are by no means restricted to corrosion management, the reliability based maintenance program at Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) has been foremost applied to corrosion management because in-line inspection (ILI) data is adequately accurate to perform reliability based assessments. Guidelines for a reliability based maintenance program have been developed and projects executed to validate and demonstrate the implementation of these methodologies. The main learning from these guidelines and subsequent validation projects has been useful in identifying the process for improving integrity related decision making, the sensitivities of these methodologies, the impact of physical uncertainty and knowledge uncertainty, and the challenges in defining and applying target criteria. These identified areas are explored and discussed.
Analysis of Unburied Pipeline Spans
Authors: Matta Lawrence M. , Dotson Rhett
Published: July 2013

Support requirements for unburied spans on existing pipelines can be difficult to assess. An approach for investigating the adequacy of support of unburied spans is presented. It begins with a screening based on theoretical longitudinal stress evaluation. An estimate of the allowable free span lengths between supports is calculated, considering the weight of the pipe and its contents, longitudinal stresses from internal pressure, thermal stresses, and steady wind loading. Existing span lengths are compared to the allowable length and any segments exceeding the limit are flagged for further study. Review by finite element analysis and comparison with survey data for the identified spans is then performed. Comparison of the FEA model deflections and survey data can help determine whether “pre-existing stresses” or plastic deformations are present, due, for example, to installation procedures or ground movement. The FEA results provide a factor of safety that can be used to help identify potential safety issues and prioritize mitigation efforts.
Evaluating the Effects of Ovality on the Integrity of Pipe Bends
Authors: Alexander Chris
Published: July 2013

This paper provides details on a study performed for a liquids pipeline operator to evaluate the effects of ovality on the mechanical integrity of pipe bends in their 16-inch pipe system. Prior to this study, a caliper tool was run that indicated unacceptable ovality was present in the bends relative to the requirements set forth in ASME B31.4. An engineering investigation was performed based on the methodology of API 579 Fitness for Service. This standard provides guidance on evaluating defects using a multi-level assessment approach (Levels 1, 2, and 3) that rewards rigorous evaluation efforts by reducing the required design margins. Therefore, an extensive evaluation was performed that involved making field measurements of the bends in the ditch. Using these ovality measurements, calculations were performed using the closed-form equations in API 579 for Level 2 assessment. The ovality of several of the bends in the field was deemed unacceptable based on in-field measurements. Consequently, a Level 3 assessment was completed using finite element analysis (FEA). The results of this more rigorous analysis, coupled with more favorable design margins, resulted in this particular bend being acceptable. A tool was developed to permit a general assessment of pipe bends having ovality and was validated by performing a full-scale burst test.
Pressure Correction Factor for Strain Capacity Predictions Based on Curved Wide Plate Testing
Authors: Verstraete Matthias , De Waele Wim , Denys Rudi , Hertelé Stijn
Published: July 2013

Strain-based girth weld defect assessment procedures are essentially based on large scale testing. Ever since the 1980’s curved wide plate testing has been widely applied to determine the tensile strain capacity of flawed girth welds. However, the effect of internal pressure is not captured in curved wide plate testing. Accordingly, unconservative predictions of strain capacity occur when straightforwardly transferred to pressurized pipes. To address this anomaly, this paper presents results of finite element simulations incorporating ductile crack growth. Simulations on homogeneous and girth welded specimens indicate that a correction factor of 0.5 allows to conservatively predict the strain capacity of a pressurized pipe through wide plate testing under the considered conditions.
Risk Evaluation at Natural Gas Compressor Stations and Above Ground Installations
Authors: Cleaver R. P. , Maycock K. , Halford A. R. , Potts S. J. , McCollum D. J. , Sadd A. W. T. , Acton M. R.
Published: July 2013

As part of a commitment to understanding and minimising the risks of its operations, National Grid has carried out a programme of theoretical and experimental work, supplemented by site surveys, to develop a methodology to assess the risks from compressor sites and other Above Ground Installations (AGIs) associated with the natural gas transmission pipelines. A computer package has been produced to encode this methodology to make it easer to use. The package contains a number of models that assess the consequences of releases at fixed installations. These are linked with frequency data to enable a risk assessment to be performed.

This paper gives an overview of the package. By means of worked examples, typical input information required by the model is explained and the output information available is presented. The paper includes a discussion on how the output from the model can be used in various practical applications; from ranking the risks at a number of sites, assessing the fire fighting provision at a site or examining the impact of changes on the layout at a site. A worked example is provided to show how the results can be used to extend the guidance for the separation distances required from processing plant to the site boundary at a wider range of sites.
Research and Development of X70 Large Diameter UOE Linepipe With High Deformability for Strain-Based Design Pipeline
Authors: Zheng Lei , Bai Mingzhuo , Zhang Bei , Cui Tiancheng , Xu Haishen
Published: July 2013

In recent years, high strength linepipe needs high longitudinal deformability to meet the requirements of strain-based design pipeline employed when passing through geologic hazard-prone regions, such as seismic areas, landslide zones, permafrost zones, etc. The geologic hazard section of the natural gas pipeline from Myanmar to China is going to utilize a strain-based design. Linepipes with high deformability are required in these areas.

The microstructures with different phases and the effect of the microstructure on deformability of pipeline steel were studied. Based on a dual phase of ferrite and banite microstructure design, the X70 grade UOE linepipe with low yield-tensile strength ratio, good uniform elongation and high stress ratio were developed. Two dimensions of UOE linepipe for the strain-based design area of Myanmar-China pipeline project, which were 1016mm O.D. and 17.5mm W.T., 1016 mm O.D. and 21.0mm W.T., were industrially trial-produced.

The transverse properties of the trial produced linepipes meet the requirements of X70 steel grade of API Specification 5L. And also the linepipe has good toughness, the Charpy impact energy at −5°C is more than 200J, and the shear fracture area of DWTT test is more than 85% at 0°C. The longitudinal tensile properties of the trial produced linepipe exhibit good deformability. The stress-strain curve shows a typical round-house shape, the uniform elongation u-EL% is more than 7%, the yield-tensile strength ratio is lower than 0.80, the stress ratios of Rt1.5/Rt0.5, Rt2.0/Rt1.0 and Rt5.0/Rt1.0 are more than 1.100, 1.040 and 1.088 respectively. The properties of the linepipe after aging at 200°C for 5min to simulate the coating process of the pipe were also investigated. The results show that the linepipe trial-produced has good strain-aging resistance.
Development of a Reliable Model for Evaluating the Ductile Fracture Propagation Resistance for High Grade Steel Pipelines
Authors: Di Biagio M. , Demofonti G. , Mannucci G. , Iob F. , Spinelli C. M. , Schmidt T.
Published: July 2013

The recent experience on ductile fracture propagation control on gas pipelines has shown that the applicability of the Battelle Two Curve Method (based on Charpy-V energy) to high grade steel pipes from API5L-X80 to X120 (ISO3183-L555M to L830M) operated at very high hoop stress values (≥500 MPa) is highly questionable.

The reduced geometry of the specimen, the intrinsic low value of ductility of very high strength steels, as low work-hardening and low value of the strain at maximum load are pointed out as the main causes of the mismatch.

Starting from these assumptions a new EPRG (European Pipeline Research Group) project has been launched with the aim to develop, with reference to the ductile fracture propagation resistance, a suitable fracture parameter(s) with an associated laboratory methodology based on a simple sample which would be able to take into account the role of the ductility of the material on this specific fracture event.

The present paper shows the approach adopted in this EPRG Project: an innovative approach based on “plastic damage model” which allows to describe the stable ductile crack propagation by means of stress-state parameters (named triaxiality and deviatoric parameters).

Moreover the proposed “damage model” has been implemented inside a commercial finite element code and used to predict the fracture crack propagation behaviour of Single Edge Notch Bend (SENB) tests in terms of load-displacement diagram and residual plastic deformation.

One of the main topics of this project was the application of this method to six selected grade steels (with grades in the range of API X65 – X100) many of them coming from experimental full scale burst tests. The comparisons between experimental results and numerical simulations are substantially good; besides the results confirm that Charpy-V specimens, during the fracture propagation, work in different “constraint” conditions with respect to pipe and that DWTT specimen is in the middle between the two. Finally the “damage model approach” seems also able to discriminate between low and high grade steels in terms of failure deformation at rupture. So it resulted very promising to quantify the role of both ductile of the steel and geometrical constraint of the specimen in the ductile fracture propagation event.
Full Scale Experimental Database of Dent and Gouge Defects to Improve Burst and Fatigue Strength Models of Pipelines
Authors: Zarea Mures , Batisse Remi , Leis Brian , Cardin Philippe , Vignal Geoff
Published: July 2013

External interference on gas and oil transmission pipelines is consistently reported as leading cause of leaks in Europe and USA as identified in the EGIG and PHMSA incident databases. External interference due to ground working machinery strikes, rock strikes during backfilling, etc. on buried pipelines result mainly in dent and gouge defects. The long-term integrity of a pipeline segment damaged by a dent and gouge defect is a complex function of a variety of parameters, including pipe material properties, pipe geometry, defect geometry linked to indenter shape, aggression conditions.

The complexity and extreme variability of these dent and gouge defect shapes and pipe materials lead simple assessment models to scattered predictions, hinting towards an insufficient description of real structural and material behavior. To improve knowledge beyond the numerous studies led in the past, and to provide a sound foundation for developing and validating mechanistic models for predicting burst and fatigue strength of such defects, a large experimental program was funded by PRCI and US DoT and further coordinated with a complementary EPRG program.

The experimental program part dealing with combined “Dent and Gouge” defects is covered for modern pipes (24″ OD, X52 and X70) by PRCI project MD-4-1: realistically created (with a Pipe Aggression Rig) defects submitted to full scale burst and fatigue tests, in addition to extensive characterization. This work interfaces with modeling to predict the immediate burst strength and fatigue resistance of such damage in two PRCI projects denoted MD-4-3 and MD-4-4 respectively.

This paper gives an overview of some of these activities: PRCI project MD-4-1 results: material characterization, full scale burst and fatigue tests on Dents with Gouges, as well as detailed explanations concerning the initial approach to model burst and fatigue life of these defects, as developed byr PRCI project MD-4-4.

The final outcome of the expected knowledge improvements about the mechanical strength of dent and gouge combinations will be applicable by pipeline operators, in order to enhance integrity management systems designed to manage the threat associated with mechanical damage.
Multi-Tier Tensile Strain Models for Strain-Based Design: Part 3 — Model Evaluation Against Experimental Data
Authors: Liu Ming , Wang Yong-Yi , Horsley David , Nanney Steve
Published: July 2013

This is the third paper in a three-paper series related to the development of tensile strain models. The fundamental basis [1] and formulation [2] of the models are presented in two companion papers. This paper covers the evaluation of the models against large-scale experimental data which include a total of 24 full-scale pipe tests with and without internal pressure [3,4] and 30 curved wide plate (CWP) tests [5,6].

The 24 full-scale pipe specimens are nominally X65 grade (12.75″ OD and 12.7-mm wall thickness) and made by two manufacturers. The actual yield strength of the two pipes differs by approximately 14 ksi. The girth welds are made with three welding procedures, creating three weld strength levels. The full-scale test program are designed to evaluate the effects of internal pressure, weld strength mismatch, pipe strength, pipe Y/T ratio, flaw location, flaw size, and toughness.

The 30 CWP specimens are from 36″ OD and 19.1 mm wall thickness X100 pipes. The girth welds are made with two welding procedures, creating two slightly different weld strength mismatch levels. The CWP test specimens expand the range of material grade and wall thickness for the model evaluation.

The model evaluation demonstrates that the overall correlations between the experimental test data and model predations are similar when the model predictions are made with Level 2 and 3 procedures and various toughness options. The Level 2 procedure with Charpy energy option and Level 3b provide the best overall one-to-one correlation between the test data and model prediction. The Level 3b shows greater scatter than Level 2 with the Charpy energy option. The most significant contributor to the TSC variations and the difference between the measured and predicted TSCs is the strength variation in the pipes. A small variation in the strength can lead to a large variation of the measured remote strain even when the flaw behavior is essentially the same. For the 24 full-scale pipe tests, a strength variation of 1 ksi in the pipes would explain the large variations of the measured TSC in comparison to the model predictions. The TSC models produce consistent results that capture the overall trend of the test data.
Development of High Collapse API 5CT Casing
Authors: Hamad Fathi , Miller Ray , Lawrence Tom
Published: July 2013

In this paper, the collapse resistance attributes of pipe will be identified. The qualitative and quantitative effect of each of the attributes will be demonstrated. Also, a correlation between the theoretical (calculated) collapse pressures for a number of API 5CT casing sizes and grades will be presented. The results will show that the most effective way to increase the collapse resistance of casing is to maximize the yield strength, minimize the out-of-roundness (ovality) and maximize the wall thickness of pipe. The paper will also compare the actual collapse pressures of number of casing sizes and grades with API 5CT collapse pressures.
Speed Enhancement of Displacement and Strain Field Measurement Using Graphics Processing Unit
Authors: Tong Xianqiao , Furukawa Tomonari , Taheri Saied
Published: July 2013

This paper presents the speed enhancement of displacement and strain field measurement using graphics processing unit (GPU) towards real-time field measurement. The displacement and strain field measurement technique to be enhanced is a vision-based dot centroid tracking (DCT) method which measures the darkness of each pixel in gray scale, identifies dots marked on a specimen, derives dot centroids using pixel darkness information and derives displacement and strain fields by tracking the centroids and deriving and interpolating the nodal displacements and strains. The proposed enhancement begins by finding parallel processes in both the image analysis phase and the field estimation phase. The centroid derivation and tracking of marked dots in the image analysis phase are computed independently for each marked dot whereas the derivation, interpolation and estimation of the displacement and strain field are computed parallel as well with respect to the interpolated points which covers the evaluated field. The proposed enhancement then accelerates the displacement and strain field estimation by storing the pixel and dot information as a predefined index look-up table and a new measurement in a shared buffer in the GPU’s shared memory. The use of the shared buffer with a look-up table avoids the duplicated memory allocation and contributes to not only speed but also memory usage. Numerical examples have first investigated the validity and performance of the proposed enhancement through parametric studies. A comparison with field measurement using only a central processing unit (CPU) shows that the proposed enhancement gains at least 10 times speedup when the same accuracy is attained. The proposed approach was then applied to the displacement and strain field measurement of a rail in a three-point bending test under relatively fast periodic loadings, and its ability to capture real-time behavior has been demonstrated.
Creating a False Memory in the Hippocampus
Authors: Ramirez Steve , Liu Xu , Lin Pei-Ann , Suh Junghyup , Pignatelli Michele , Redondo Roger L. , Ryan Tomás J. , Tonegawa Susumu
Published: July 2013

Can You Trust Your Memory?

Being highly imaginative animals, humans constantly recall past experiences. These internally generated stimuli sometimes get associated with concurrent external stimuli, which can lead to the formation of false memories.

Ramirez
et al.

(p.
387
; see the cover) identified a population of cells in the dentate gyrus of the mouse hippocampus that encoded a particular context and were able to generate a false memory and study its neural and behavioral interactions with true memories. Optogenetic reactivation of memory engram–bearing cells was not only sufficient for the behavioral recall of that memory, but could also serve as a conditioned stimulus for the formation of an associative memory.
How Nitrogen Is Lost
Authors: Ward Bess B.
Published: July 2013

The supply and composition of organic matter control the processes by which fixed nitrogen is lost from the ocean.
Stories for the Bar
The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks.
Amy Stewart. Algonquin Books, Chapel Hill, NC, 2013. 399 pp. $19.95. ISBN 9781616200466. Timber Press, London. £14.99. ISBN 9781604694765.
Authors: Hernandez Daniela
Published: July 2013

Stewart offers sips of the stories of botanical sources of alcohol, flavorings, mixers, and garnishes.
What the Woodpecker Saw
Arcadian America: The Death and Life of an Environmental Tradition.
Aaron Sachs. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2013. 496 pp. $35, £25. ISBN 9780300176407.
Authors: Weiss Marissa
Published: July 2013

Threading his personal story through a history of the notion of Arcadia in 19th-century United States, Sachs reflects on our tendency to deny both death and environmental limits.
Leveling the Playing Field
Authors: McNutt Marcia
Published: July 2013

This month, the presidents of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, The National Academy of Engineering, and The Institute of Medicine—together known as the National Academies—reaffirmed their support for the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine (CWSEM). One of the few standing committees to have the support of all three academies, CWSEM's mandate is to coordinate, monitor, and promote action to increase the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Given claims that “the leaky pipeline” is a myth, because losses from STEM fields are compensated for by transfers in from other disciplines during the undergraduate years,
*
is there still a need to advocate for more women in STEM disciplines from a high-level group such as CWSEM?
Why Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work?
Authors: Berthoud Hans-Rudolf
Published: July 2013

Surgical rearrangement of the gut stimulates a growth response that reprograms glucose metabolism and reverses diabetes.

[Also see Report by

Saeidi
et al.

]
Bacterial Meningitis Finds New Niche in Gay Communities
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: July 2013

Vaccination has been recommended for some men who have sex with men.
Biologists Tell Dueling Stories of How Turtles Get Their Shells
Authors: Lubick Naomi
Published: July 2013

Studies of soft-shell turtles yield a different pathway for shell development.
For Scientists, Protests Morph Into Fight for Academic Freedom
Authors: Bohannon John
Published: July 2013

Even as Turkish researchers protest curbs on academic freedom, the central government is aiming to boost science spending and launch megaprojects to lure back expat talent.
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis following Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in an Elderly Patient
Authors: Machicado Jorge D. , Bhagya-Rao Bhavana , Davogustto Giovanni , McKelvy Brandy J.
Published: July 2013

Although such occurrences are rare, it should be recognized that certain vaccines might trigger serious neurological immune phenomena such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, seizures, cranial neuropathy, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Here we report on an elderly woman with ADEM following seasonal influenza vaccination who recovered after plasma exchange.
Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Panama Is Driven by Clonal Expansion of a Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strain Related to the KZN Extensively Drug-Resistant M. tuberculosis Strain from South Africa
Authors: Lanzas Fedora , Karakousis Petros C. , Sacchettini James C. , Ioerger Thomas R.
Published: July 2013

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a significant health problem in Panama. The extent to which such cases are the result of primary or acquired resistance and the strain families involved are unknown. We performed whole-genome sequencing of a collection of 66 clinical MDR isolates, along with 31 drug-susceptible isolates, that were isolated in Panama between 2001 and 2010; 78% of the MDR isolates belong to the Latin American-Mediterranean (LAM) family. Drug resistance mutations correlated well with drug susceptibility profiles. To determine the relationships among these strains and to better understand the acquisition of resistance mutations, a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on a genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis. The phylogenetic tree shows that the isolates are highly clustered, with a single strain (LAM9-c1) accounting for nearly one-half of the MDR isolates (29/66 isolates). The LAM9-c1 strain was most prevalent among male patients of working age and was associated with high mortality rates. Members of this cluster all share identical mutations conferring resistance to isoniazid (KatG S315T mutation), rifampin (RpoB S531L mutation), and streptomycin (
rrs
C517T mutation). This evidence of primary resistance supports a model in which MDR-TB in Panama is driven by clonal expansion and ongoing transmission of several strains in the LAM family, including the highly successful MDR strain LAM9-c1. The phylogenetic analysis also shows that the LAM9-c1 strain is closely related to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) extensively drug-resistant TB strain identified in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The LAM9-c1 and KZN strains likely arose from a recent common ancestor that was transmitted between Panama and South Africa and had the capacity to tolerate an accumulation of multiple resistance mutations.
Impact of Sequence Variation in the UL128 Locus on Production of Human Cytomegalovirus in Fibroblast and Epithelial Cells
Authors: Murrell Isa , Tomasec Peter , Wilkie Gavin S. , Dargan Derrick J. , Davison Andrew J. , Stanton Richard J.
Published: July 2013

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) virion envelope contains a complex consisting of glycoproteins gH and gL plus proteins encoded by the UL128 locus (UL128L): pUL128, pUL130, and pUL131A. UL128L is necessary for efficient infection of myeloid, epithelial, and endothelial cells but limits replication in fibroblasts. Consequently, disrupting mutations in UL128L are rapidly selected when clinical isolates are cultured in fibroblasts. In contrast, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-cloned strains TB40-BAC4, FIX, and TR do not contain overt disruptions in UL128L, yet no virus reconstituted from them has been reported to acquire mutations in UL128L
in vitro
. We performed BAC mutagenesis and reconstitution experiments to test the hypothesis that these strains contain subtle mutations in UL128L that were acquired during passage prior to BAC cloning. Compared to strain Merlin containing wild-type UL128L, all three strains produced higher yields of cell-free virus. Moreover, TB40-BAC4 and FIX spread cell to cell more rapidly than wild-type Merlin in fibroblasts but more slowly in epithelial cells. The differential growth properties of TB40-BAC4 and FIX (but not TR) were mapped to single-nucleotide substitutions in UL128L. The substitution in TB40-BAC4 reduced the splicing efficiency of UL128, and that in FIX resulted in an amino acid substitution in UL130. Introduction of these substitutions into Merlin dramatically increased yields of cell-free virus and increased cell-to-cell spread in fibroblasts but reduced the abundance of pUL128 in the virion and the efficiency of epithelial cell infection. These substitutions appear to represent mutations in UL128L that permit virus to be propagated in fibroblasts while retaining epithelial cell tropism.
Human Cytosolic Extracts Stabilize the HIV-1 Core
Authors: Fricke Thomas , Brandariz-Nuñez Alberto , Wang Xiaozhao , Smith Amos B. , Diaz-Griffero Felipe
Published: July 2013

The stability of the HIV-1 core in the cytoplasm is crucial for productive HIV-1 infection. Mutations that stabilize or destabilize the core showed defects on HIV-1 reverse transcription and infection. We developed a novel and simple assay to measure the stability of
in vitro
-assembled HIV-1 CA-NC complexes. The assay allowed us to demonstrate that cytosolic extracts strongly stabilize the HIV-1 core. Interestingly, stabilization of
in vitro
-assembled HIV-1 CA-NC complexes is not due solely to macromolecular crowding, suggesting the presence of specific cellular factors that stabilize the HIV-1 core. By using our novel assay, we measured the abilities of different drugs, such as PF74, CAP-1, IXN-053, cyclosporine, Bi2 (also known as BI-2), and the peptide CAI, to modulate the stability of
in vitro
-assembled HIV-1 CA-NC complexes. Interestingly, we found that PF74 and Bi2 strongly stabilized HIV-1 CA-NC complexes. On the other hand, the peptide CAI destabilized HIV-1 CA-NC complexes. We also found that purified cyclophilin A destabilizes
in vitro
-assembled HIV-1 CA-NC complexes in the presence of cellular extracts in a cyclosporine-sensitive manner. In agreement with previous observations using the fate-of-the-capsid assay, we also demonstrated the ability of recombinant CPSF6 to stabilize HIV-1 CA-NC complexes. Overall, our findings suggested that cellular extracts specifically stabilize the HIV-1 core. We believe that our assay can be a powerful tool to assess HIV-1 core stability
in vitro
.
ORIGIN OF GRANITES
Authors: GOODSPEED G. E.
Published: July 2013

Field features and petrographic criteria for granitic rocks of magmatic origin are listed, and a brief discussion is presented concerning the mode of emplacement and the differentiation of intrusive masses.

Transitional facies of granitic rocks of metamorphic origin are described in detail. These facies include replacement dikes, replacement breccias, and metamorphic migmatites. Interpretations of mechanisms of the advance of granitization including geochemical migrations are discussed, not only from the detailed evidence shown by miniature features, but also with regard to the relationship of metamorphic granitic rocks to regional metamorphism. Some aplites, pegmatites, and quartz veins are explained as retrogressive features following granitization. Granitic rocks which exhibit both crystalloblastic textures and marked flow structure are interpreted as examples of rheomorphism, and the term neomagma instead of magma is used for the material that flowed.

The use of large lantern-slide (3¼ × 4¼ inches) thin sections has proved to be most helpful in the study of critical features of either magmatic or metamorphic granitic rocks. In these large sections, microtextures and microstructures can be observed much better than in an ordinary thin section, or a number of thin sections, and an integrated overall picture can be obtained.
Community pharmacists: a forgotten resource for palliative care
Authors: Tait Paul Anthony , Gray John , Hakendorf Paul , Morris Bel , Currow David Christopher , Rowett Debra S
Published: July 2013

Timely access to medicines within the community is important for palliative patients where their preferred place of care is the home environment. The objective of this observational study is to establish baseline data to quantify the issue of poor access to medicines for symptom control in the last few days of life. The list of 13 medicines was generated from medicine use within a metropolitan palliative care unit. A survey was designed to determine which of these 13 medicines community pharmacies stock, the expiry date of this stock, awareness of palliative care patients by community pharmacists and basic demographic characteristics of the community pharmacies. Surveys were distributed, by post, to all community pharmacies in South Australia. The response rate was 23.7%, and was representative of all socioeconomic areas. Each pharmacy stocked a median of 3 medicines (range 0–12) with 1 in 8 pharmacies having none of the 13 medicines listed in the survey. When the data was combined to identify the range of medicines from all pharmacies within a geographical postcode region, the median number of medicines increased to 5 medicines per postcode. Just over 1 in 5 pharmacies reported learning about the palliative status of a patient through another health practitioner. Community pharmacies remain an underused resource to support timely access to medicines for community-based palliative patients. Palliative care services and government agencies can develop new strategies for better access to medicines that will benefit community patients and their carers.
EFFECTS OF INITIAL INHOMOGENEOUS DENSITY DISTRIBUTION AND VOID SHAPE ON POWDER FORGING OF POROUS METAL
Authors: DENG TAIQING , HU LIANXI , SUN YU , LIU XIAOYA
Published: July 2013

The deformation behavior during axisymmetric upsetting of sintered metals has been studied based on the finite-element method. The investigation on the effects of the initial density distribution, void shape and die friction on the density distribution and punch force during deformation have been conducted. It was found that under low-friction conditions, the initial density distribution affects the deformation geometry and the density distribution. However, the effect of the initial density distribution was found to be negligible under high-friction conditions. The initial density distribution did not affect the punch force or the average density, regardless of the friction conditions. When the force is perpendicular to semi-major axis of elliptical void, it is not only good for densification but also decrease the punch force in forging of porous metal.
CHARACTERIZATION OF POROUS Mg–Zn ALLOY USING X-RAY TOMOGRAPHY AND ITS DRUG-LOADING BEHAVIOR
Authors: WANG BING , LI KAIKAI , ZHANG YUHONG , YAN BIAO , LU WEI
Published: July 2013

Porous Mg alloys will be promising orthopedic implants materials. In this study, porous Mg – Zn alloy with a porosity of 30% was prepared by powder metallurgy process. XRD was used to examine the composition of the sample and synchrotron radiation-based X-ray micro-computed tomography (SR-μCT) was used to investigate the pore properties of the sample. The results showed that the sample comprised a single Mg phase and a Mg 2 Zn 11 phase. The SR-μCT results showed that the porosity of the sample is about 30% which is approximate to the theoretical porosity. The pore morphology was irregular and the largest pore was about 200 μm in diameter. And a large pore cluster was identified meaning that most of the pores in the sample were interconnected with each other. This is beneficial for the materials transformation after the implantation of the sample in human body, which will boost the bone regeneration. Drug-loading experiment showed that Ibuprofen can be successfully loaded in porous Mg – Zn alloy, which means that porous Mg – Zn alloy could be an orthopedic drug delivery system (DDS).
SOL-ENHANCED Au–Ni–TiO2 ELECTROPLATED COATINGS
Authors: JU YING , WANG YUXIN , GAO WEI
Published: July 2013

A sol-enhanced gold ( Au ) — nickel ( Ni ) — titanium dioxide ( TiO 2) composite coating technique has been developed at the University of Auckland. The aim of the present study is to achieve quality control and thickness homogeneity of the coatings in order to scale up this process to the workshop level. Multi-coating samples were prepared in the same electroplating unit with same processing parameters. The thickness variation and influence of titanium dioxide ( TiO 2) sol content on the thickness have been studied. The consumption of Au and Ti ions in the electrolytes during the electroplating process was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) method. The cross-section microstructures of coatings were studied by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) with an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) system. An optimized processing method has been put forward for the industry process to produce coatings with uniform thickness and good quality.
PULSE PLATING ENHANCED Au–Co NANOCOMPOSITE COATINGS
Authors: JU YING , WANG YUXIN , WEN YI , GAO WEI
Published: July 2013

This investigation described the development of a technique to produce Au – Co nanostructured composite coatings with improved hardness. Pulse power has been used with the traditional Au electroplating solution to synthesize multilayer nanocomposite coatings. The phase structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Mechanical properties were investigated using nanoindentation. The results indicate that the hardness was increased to 3.15 ± 0.05 GPa , compared to 2.70 ± 0.07 GPa of that produced by the direct current Au coatings. The hardening mechanisms have also been discussed.
EFFECT OF ANNEALING TEMPERATURE ON THE STRUCTURE AND AC MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Fe73Cu1Nb3.5-xVxSi13.5B9 (x = 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) NANOCRYSTALLINE SOFT MAGNETIC ALLOYS
Authors: LU WEI , HUANG PING , WANG YUXIN , YAN BIAO
Published: July 2013

In this paper, Nb element was partially replaced by V element in Finemet-type Fe 73 Cu 1 Nb 3.5-x V x Si 13.5 B 9 (x = 1, 1.5, 2) alloys and the effect of annealing temperatures on the microstructure and AC magnetic properties of the samples are studied. The annealing temperatures affect the grain sizes of the bcc α- Fe phase greatly. When the annealing temperature is between 540–560°C, the samples have better AC magnetic properties than the samples annealed at other temperatures. The optimized annealing temperature of the studied samples is around 560°C. The coercivity and iron loss of the V2 sample is a little bit higher than that of V1 and V1.5 alloys while the amplitude permeability of V2 alloy is larger than that of V1 and V1.5, which indicate that the content of V element has strong influence on the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys.
HYDROGEN EVOLUTION OF WATER ELECTROLYSIS ASSISTED BY TITANIUM DIOXIDE AND NICKEL SULFIDE NANOCOMPOSITE
Authors: HE HONGBO , CHEN AIPING , LV HUI , LI CHUNZHONG
Published: July 2013

In this work, rhombohedral Ni 3 S 2 nanostructures were hydrothermally synthesized directly on Ni substrate at 180°C for 10 h, by using nickel foil and CH 4 N 2 S as raw materials, and sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) as surfactants. Then the Ni anode with Ni 3 S 2 film and TiO 2 P25 powder were transferred into 40 ml of an aqueous NaOH (10.0 M) and held at 110°C for 48 h to obtain Ni 3 S 2/ TiO 2 nanotubes composite. The results indicate that Ni 3 S 2 could extend the light absorption spectrum of Ni 3 S 2/ TiO 2 nanotubes composite to the visible region. The performance of the modified Ni anode was evaluated by photoassisted electrolysis of water for hydrogen evolution. It was found that the as-synthesized Ni 3 S 2/ TiO 2 nanotube catalysts on Ni substrate have better hydrogen production performance under the visible light irradiation, H 2-production rate increased by 37.9% in comparison with the Ni anode modified by TiO 2 nanotubes.
INVESTIGATION ON ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTY OF Cu-COATING ON PURE TITANIUM FABRICATED VIA PLASMA SURFACE ALLOYING
Authors: ZOU JIAOJUAN , HANG RUIQIANG , LIN NAIMING , HUANG XIAOBO , ZHANG XIANGYU , QIN LIN , TANG BIN
Published: July 2013

This paper describes the fabrication of a Cu -coating on pure titanium via plasma surface alloying technology. The surface morphology, cross-sectional microstructure and elemental distributions of the coating were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and glow discharge optical emission spectroscope (GDOES). The antibacterial property of the Cu -coating was assessed via in vitro bacterial adhesion test. The results showed that the Cu -coating was continuous and compact. The Cu -coating endowed pure titanium with a promising antibacterial property.
SUPERPLASTIC FORMABILITY OF AZ31 MAGNESIUM ALLOY SHEETS PRODUCED BY TWIN ROLL CASTING AND SEQUENTIAL HOT ROLLING
Authors: YU YANDONG , LIN KAI , JIANG PENG
Published: July 2013

In this paper, superplastic tensile testing and gas bulging forming of AZ31 and AZ31 + Y + Sr magnesium alloys produced by twin roll casting (TRC) and sequential hot rolling were carried out. At 673 K, the superplastic formability of the TRC AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets added Y and Sr elements has improved significantly compared to the common TRC AZ31 sheets. Formations of cavities on the bulging part go through three stages of the nucleation, growth and aggregation, finally cavities merging lead to rupture at the top of the bulging part.
PURIFICATION OF LYSOZYME BY INTRINSICALLY SHIELDED HYDROGEL BEADS
Authors: LI CONG , ZHANG R. , WANG L. , BOWYER A. , EISENTHAL R. , SHEN YEHUA , HUBBLE J.
Published: July 2013

Macro-sized intrinsically shielded hydrogel beads have been prepared from BSA and CM-dextran grafted with CB using a technique based on freeze-thawing gelation method. The size of the beads lies in around 500 μm. Isothemal titration calorimetry (ITC) showed that the relative binding affinities of the lysozyme for CB, compared with BSA, at pH 3.0 was stronger than that at pH 7.4. They were employed for the affinity separation of lysozyme using chromatography column. Their adsorption capacity for lysozyme at pH 3.0 is higher than that at pH 9. In a binary mixture of lysozyme and ovalbumin, the beads showed very high selectivity toward lysozyme. Lysozyme of very high purity (> 93%) was obtained from a mixture of lysozyme and ovalbumin, and 85% from egg white solution. The results indicate that the macro-sized bead can be used for the separation, purification, and recovery of lysozyme in a chromatograph column.
IMAGE SEQUENCE PREDICTION USING ANN AND RBFNN
Authors: VERMA NISHCHAL K. , SINGH SHIKHA
Published: July 2013

A novel approach to predict future image frame of an image sequence is being presented. First, a method to predict the future position of a moving object in an image sequence is discussed using artificial neural network (ANN). Second, optical flow concept is used for generating complete image frame by calculating velocity of each pixel on both axes. A separate ANN (both sigmoidal and radial basis function neural network) is modeled for each pixel's velocity and predicted velocity of each pixel is then mapped to its future values and image frames are generated. The quality evaluations of predicted images are measured by Canny edge detection-based image comparison metric (CIM) and mean structure similarity index measure (MSSIM). These proposed approaches are found to generate future images up to 10 images successfully.
ENACTING HARD AND SOFT PRODUCT OFFERINGS IN MATURE INDUSTRIES: MOVING TOWARDS SERVITISATION IN VOLVO
Authors: WIKHAMN BJÖRN REMNELAND , LJUNGBERG JAN , STYHRE ALEXANDER
Published: July 2013

The purpose of the paper is to give an in-depth account of how Volvo Group is working with enabling open services innovation in the organization. It shows that implementing servitization and open innovation within an engineering-based industry such as heavy vehicles manufacturing, is a matter of substantial 'groundwork' on several levels. This 'groundwork' involves substantial analytical work as well as vast mobilizing of internal organizational support. The paper also empirically connects the notions of open innovation and servitization in a theoretical discussion. The article contributes to the emerging field of open innovation by providing an empirical case from a multinational corporation acting within a 'traditional' industry. It highlights the strong efforts organizations are facing when enacting servitization and open innovation strategies within established practices.
GAS–LIQUID FLOW SIMULATION IN REFRIGERANT DISTRIBUTOR FOR AIR CONDITIONER
Authors: ISHII EIJI , YOSHIMURA KAZUKI
Published: July 2013

Heat exchangers with small-diameter multi-path tubes have been recently used to improve the efficiency of air conditioners. The difficulty in using tubes with small diameters and multi-paths is the nonuniformity of refrigerant distribution in refrigerant distributors, which results in lower heat-exchange efficiency. Grid methods, such as the volume of fluid method, are now widely used to simulate detailed motions of gas–liquid interfaces. A weak point of grid methods is the numerical diffusion of interfaces that occurs if the scale of interfaces becomes close to the computational grid sizes. We previously developed a particle/grid hybrid method for simulating multi-scale free surfaces. For this study, we modified the hybrid method and applied it to gas–liquid flow simulations in a distributor. The liquid film behaviors in both the distributor and a bend pipe placed in the upstream of the distributor were simulated mainly using the particle method, and gas flows were simulated using the grid method. The predicted liquid film near the outer circumference of the curvature in the bend pipe was thicker than that of near inner circumference of the curvature, which qualitatively agreed with the measurement. The simulated distribution ratio under a steady-flow condition agreed well with the measurement; the predicted distribution ratio was 0.63 and the measured distribution ratio was 0.6.
Late Cretaceous dinosaurs from the James Ross Basin, West Antarctica
Authors: Reguero Marcelo A. , Tambussi Claudia P. , Coria Rodolfo A. , Marenssi Sergio A.
Published: July 2013

The fossil record of terrestrial vertebrates from the Late Cretaceous of Antarctica is currently composed of non-avian and avian dinosaurs from the marine sediments of the James Ross Basin, Antarctic Peninsula (West Antarctica). Although two dinosaurian formational assemblages (Late Campanian/Early Maastrichtian and Late Maastrichtian) are known, the record is still scattered, and evolutionary scenarios are tentative. Ten non-avian dinosaurs have been reported from Coniacian to Maastrichtian deposits, along with possible sauropod footprints of Early Maastrichtian age from Snow Hill Island. Five avian dinosaurs have been recorded or described exclusively from the Maastrichtian. The presence of an advanced titanosaur with characteristic procoelous mid-caudal vertebrae in Snow Hill Island Formation at Santa Marta Cove implies that the group achieved a global distribution by the Late Campanian. The Late Campanian/Early Maastrichtian non-avian dinosaur (ankylosaurs, ornithopods and dromaeosaurid theropods) clades probably attained a near-cosmopolitan distribution before the Late Cretaceous, and some aspects of this hallmark ‘Gondwanan’ fauna may therefore reflect climate-driven provinciality, not vicariant evolution driven by continental fragmentation. Antarctic Late Cretaceous avian dinosaurs are rare. They are restricted to the Maastrichtian and consist of a cariamid?, gaviids, a charadriiform and the basal Anseriformes
Vegavis
, and provide the first strong evidence for a basal radiation of birds known to exist in the Cretaceous.