bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of build direction on the fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth in selective laser melted Ti‐6Al‐4 V
Authors: Edwards P. , Ramulu M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractExperimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth characteristics in selective laser‐melted titanium 6Al‐4 V materials as a follow‐on to a previous study on high cycle fatigue. For both the fracture toughness and crack growth evaluation, the compact tension specimen geometry was used. It was found that the fracture toughness was lower than what would be expected from wrought or cast product forms in the same alloy. This was attributed to the rapidly cooled, martensitic microstructure, developed in the parts. At low stress ratios, the crack growth rates were faster than in wrought titanium but became comparable at higher ratios. The fracture toughness appears to be higher when the crack is oriented perpendicular to the build layers. The difference in the average threshold and critical stress intensity values for the crack growth results for the three orientations was within the scatter of the data, so there was essentially no difference. The same was true for the empirically derived Paris Law constants. Residual stresses were likely to have overshadowed any variation in crack growth because of microstructural directionalities associated with build orientation.
Testing predictions of changes in fish abundance and community structure after flow restoration in four reaches of a large river (French Rhône)
Authors: Lamouroux Nicolas , Olivier Jean‐Michel 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Projects that restore river flows can be considered as in situ experiments and should be used to test predictions of the effects of flow changes on fish populations and communities. However, flow restoration projects often lack appropriate monitoring and replication. The Rhône restoration project has included repeated flow changes, in four bypassed reaches of the river, where the increase in minimum daily flow varied from minimal change to a tenfold increase.

Fish communities (>55 000 individuals of 36 species) were electrofished at nine sites in the main channels of the four bypassed reaches, for 2–9 years before and for 5–10 years after the flow restoration. An instream hydraulic habitat model, published before restoration and based on observations of fish microhabitat preferences in independent reaches, was applied to the bypassed reaches to predict density changes for 14 species that accounted for 94% of the total fish abundance.

In the two bypassed reaches where minimum flow was considerably increased (fivefold and tenfold), the abundance of species preferring fast‐flowing and deep microhabitats increased by factors of 1.9 and 2.4, respectively, whereas the abundance of other species strongly decreased. Predicted changes in density made using the habitat model for these two reaches agreed with the observations at several sites and involved several fish species. In contrast, in the two bypassed reaches where flow changes were less, the observed changes in density were weak and less related to the model predictions.

Hydraulic habitat models predicted changes of fish populations and the predictions also explained observed community responses to the changed flows. Ten years after the first flow restoration, our results suggest that the Rhône restoration generated perennial changes of the fish community structure, reversing community patterns that were observed prior to the flow restoration.
Hydromorphological conditions in eighteen restored floodplain channels of a large river: linking patterns to processes
Authors: Riquier Jérémie , Piégay Hervé , Šulc Michalková Monika 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Over the past few decades, numerous floodplain restoration projects have attempted to re‐establish complex and diverse river floodplains. They often aim to restore lateral connectivity (i.e. interactions between the main river channel and floodplain channels) and rejuvenate floodplain habitats which are no longer maintained or created by fluvial processes. Nonetheless, results of these experiences in terms of hydromorphological conditions and adjustments are rarely shared.

The Rhône River is a large, highly regulated system where lateral connectivity has been greatly reduced. We investigated habitat dynamics (using sedimentological indicators as proxies) in 18 floodplain channels that were restored between 1999 and 2006. Environmental data (bathymetry and grain size of surficial fine sediments) were acquired on 3–5 surveys for each channel covering 6–12 years after restoration. In addition, a pre‐restoration survey was made in 12 of the 18 channels.

Using pressure sensors in the floodplain channels and rating curves in the main channel, we quantified the upstream overflow frequency and magnitude (i.e. maximum shear stress) in the channels and tested how these variables explain observed sedimentological patterns.

Between‐channel diversity accounted for 81% of the sedimentological variability observed after restoration. Time‐averaged sedimentological conditions were robust and well predicted from overflow frequency and magnitude. Similarly, an indirect index of lateral connectivity used by hydrobiologists was also predictable from overflow frequency and magnitude.

The remaining 19% of the sedimentological variability was attributed to temporal variation within channels and was mainly related to changes in longitudinal grain size gradient. This emphasises that grain size patterns are periodically reworked as a result of the flooding regime (backflow versus overflow) without significantly affecting average grain sizes. However, trajectories of grain size changes were stochastic and not always related to the hydrological regime. Accordingly, the partial pre‐restoration data suggest that post‐restoration sedimentological conditions were often similar to those observed before restoration, except in a few channels where major restoration works were performed.

Our results quantify how changes in upstream overflow frequency and magnitude can modify physical conditions in the floodplain channels. They can be used to design habitats that are infrequent or missing at the floodplain scale. These results also suggest that changes in upstream plug morphology are a primary habitat driver. Such changes could be more frequently implemented in the Rhône and elsewhere to maximise the diversity of physical conditions in floodplains.
The generality of changes in the trait composition of fish and invertebrate communities after flow restoration in a large river (French Rhône)
Authors: Dolédec Sylvain , Castella Emmanuel , Forcellini Maxence , Olivier Jean‐Michel , Paillex Amael , Sagnes Pierre 
Published: March 2015

Summary

A multiple‐trait‐based approach can provide predictions and interpretations of the responses of freshwater communities to river restoration that apply in different taxonomic contexts. We compared the observed and predicted effects of restoration on sets of traits in fish and invertebrate communities in four reaches of the Rhône River. Restoration included minimum flow increases in three bypassed main channels and the reconnection of eight floodplain channels.

Predictions (described in detail in three other articles in this Special Issue) were based on habitat models that related the density of modelled taxa to their physical habitats. We used trait information extracted from the literature to translate predicted taxonomic changes into predicted changes in traits. Observed changes in traits calculated for modelled taxa and for all taxa in the community were both compared to predictions.

In 10 of 12 cases, observed changes in traits correlated with predicted ones. With few exceptions, the agreement was higher for fish and invertebrates in the main channels than for invertebrates in floodplain channels. Predictions translated to the trait category level improved those at the taxonomic level in 5/6 and 4/6 cases for modelled taxa and all taxa, respectively. However, the improvement was statistically significant according to a null model for 1/6 and 3/6 cases for modelled taxa and all taxa, respectively.

The validation of trait predictions suggested that traits related to locomotion and attachment, as well as general biology and physiology, were particularly suited to predicting and understanding the effects of physical restoration. For example, after restoration, clingers and passive filter feeders dominated invertebrate communities in the main channels, whereas invertebrate communities in the floodplain underwent a selection of traits frequent in running water (clingers, flattened shape and gill respiration). Within fish communities, the periodic life‐history strategy that characterises fish species in downstream reaches (long life span, large body, late sexual maturity) increased with restoration, whereas the opportunistic strategy decreased.

Our results suggest that a better understanding of how hydraulics shapes traits in riverine systems is critically needed for assessing the effects of restoration measures impacting flow. In addition, existing trait databases (especially for fish) should be expanded to better reflect the energetic trade‐offs that organisms must make in various flow contexts.
Influence of cultivar and cutting date on the fatty acid composition of forage crops for grazing beef production in Argentina
Authors: Garcia P. T. , Pordomingo A. , Perez C. D. , Rios M. D. , Sancho A. M. , Volpi Lagreca G. , Casal J. J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe fatty acid composition and total lipids of various forage crops at different cutting dates and seasons, which are used in forage grazing beef production in Argentina, were determined. Three experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station of INTA, Anguil, La Pampa, Argentina Samples of alfalfa from three different cultivars with different dormancy groups (G4‐5, G6‐7 and G8‐9) and samples of ryegrasses Bill, Florida and Queue, wheats Charrua and Guapo, and triticale Don Santiago cultivars were taken at different cutting dates and analysed for total lipids and fatty acid composition. Significant differences on the fatty acid composition, the ratios 18:3n‐3/18:2n‐6 and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) due to cultivar, cutting date and season were found. Taking into account the importance of 18:2n‐6 and 18:3n‐3 fatty acids as substrates for the conjugated isomers of 18:2n‐6 (CLA) and n‐3 PUFA concentrations in beef, the fatty acid composition of forages needs to be considered in forage grazing beef production systems. Data variation in both total lipids and individual fatty acid proportions in forages should be taken into account to establish the potential to cultivate crops for a higher content of n‐3 PUFA and hence the opportunity to deliver more n‐3 PUFA and CLA into beef.
‘Voting with dollars’: a cross‐polity and multilevel analysis of political consumerism
Authors: Zhang Xinzhi 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIn addition to canonical political actions, political consumerism, i.e. using market purchases to express political and societal concerns, is becoming a new form of political participation, and it varies significantly among societies. Two society‐level distinctions would account for such variations: the level of political freedom and the level of economic development. Using data from the 2004 International Social Survey Program, multilevel models estimate the effects of both individual and structural factors on individuals’ political consumerism, i.e. boycotting certain products, across 21 countries (n = 30 666). Political consumerism takes place in affluent countries with lower levels of political rights but higher levels of civil liberties. Individual‐level political media uses, political orientation and demographics account for boycott behaviours as well. Furthermore, canonical discriminant analysis differentiates political consumption from other types of political behaviours. The study reveals that political consumerism results from the impacts of both individual characteristics and societal determinants.
Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in MPO and COX genes with oral lichen planus
Authors: Wu D. , Chen X. , Dong C. , Liu Q. , Yang Y. , He C. , Wang J. , Sun M. , Wu Y. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryOral lichen planus (OLP) is an intractable, chronic inflammatory disorder, and its pathogenesis is still largely unknown. Some literatures supported that genes involved in both oxidative stress and prostaglandin metabolism play an important role in the process of inflammation. To explore their association with OLP, we investigated four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from myeloperoxidase (MPO) and cyclooxygenase (COX) genes in 475 Chinese individuals (242 case and 233 controls) by MassArray. Although the genotype distributions had no significant differences between the patients and controls, we found that in different gender, rs2243828 from MPO displayed the statistically significant variance genotype frequencies between patients and controls (P = 0.018 in females, P = 0.035 in males). Moreover, for the major allele recessive model, this SNP also showed a significant difference between case and control groups in males (P = 0.015). In this study, we first observed significant association with MPO polymorphism and OLP risk in different gender groups in Chinese, suggesting MPO polymorphism is a gender‐specific risk factor of OLP probably by influencing sex hormone‐sensitive elements to regulate inflammatory gene expression networks, and we further revealed that oxidative stress was actually involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. Moreover, these findings inspire us some constructive solutions to the treatment of this disease.
Association between FokI,ApaI and TaqI RFLP polymorphisms in VDR gene and Hashimoto's thyroiditis: preliminary data from female patients in Serbia
Authors: Djurovic J. , Stojkovic O. , Ozdemir O. , Silan F. , Akurut C. , Todorovic J. , Savic K. , Stamenkovic G. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryHashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most prevalent autoimmune thyroid disorder caused by an interaction between genes and environmental triggers. Intrathyroid lymphocytic infiltration may lead to progressive destruction of thyroid tissue and consequently to hypothyroidism. Many studies in different populations have shown association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and various autoimmune diseases, including HT. The study included 44 female patients (mean age ± standard deviation 38 ± 5.4) with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 32 healthy age‐matched, sex‐matched and geographically matched controls without personal history of autoimmune and endocrine diseases. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood–EDTA, and the target VDR gene was genotyped by PCR‐RFLP technique after VDR‐FokI (rs2228570), VDR‐ApaI (rs7975232) and VDR‐TaqI (rs731236) restriction enzymes digestion. We used spss 20.0 integrated software for data analysis and found a significant difference in the genotype distribution of VDR‐FokI polymorphism between patients with HT and controls (P = 0.009). For ApaI and TaqI, we observed a higher frequency of variant allele in patients with HT, which was not significantly different compared to control women (P > 0.05). The current first and preliminary results identified the association between VDR‐FokI gene polymorphism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in Serbian population. Results need to be supported by further investigations that define haplotype patterns for VDR gene polymorphisms in a larger group of HT patients of both sexes.
Identification of the Thermodynamically Stable Fe‐Containing Phase in Aged Cement Pastes
Authors: Vespa Marika , Wieland Erich , Dähn Rainer , Lothenbach Barbara 
Published: March 2015

Current developments in cement chemistry increasingly rely on predictive thermodynamic modeling of the phase composition in cementitious composites with the aim of linking the performance of the material with the phase composition of the material. This approach requires identification of the cement phases that form in hydrating cementitious materials using standard techniques, such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (DTA, TGA), but also state‐of‐the‐art synchrotron‐based techniques, in particular for those cases in which the signals of solid solutions overlap in XRD and TGA measurements. In this study, two ordinary Portland cements, with different chemical compositions and subject to different hydration times (~10, ~50 yr), were investigated aiming at identifying the most stable Fe‐containing cement phase in the cement pastes. The Fe‐containing cement phases and their solid solutions with the Al analogues in the complex cement matrix were analyzed with X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, indicating the formation of a mixed Fe–Al siliceous hydrogarnet as the major Fe‐containing phase. The presence of this phase after long hydration periods and upon selective dissolution of the pastes further indicates that, independent of the chemical compositions of cements, formation of the mixed Fe–Al siliceous hydrogarnet is thermodynamically favored in aged pastes, which is supported by published thermodynamic calculations.
The Role of MgAl2O4 Powder Packing on Phase Stability of Hydroxyapatite During Sintering
Authors: Yoon Hyung‐Joon , Yoon Jun‐Ho , Park Soon‐Hyo , Lee Myung‐Hyun , Han Jung‐Suk , Kim Dae‐Joon 
Published: March 2015

MgAl2O4 (spinel) was utilized as a packing powder in the sintering of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and the composite of HAp/3 mol% Y2O3‐stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3Y‐TZP). The influence of spinel on phase stability of HAp was investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to reveal the reaction in the vicinity of the interface between HAp and spinel. When covered with spinel powder, decomposition temperatures for both HAp monolith and HAp in the composite were raised from 1360°C to 1470°C and from 930°C to 1280°C, respectively. SEM images supported the role of spinel on retardation of the decomposition, showing a dense cross section of the monolith after sintering for 2 h at 1400°C with the spinel as opposed to a porous feature without the covering. XRD results indicated that the increase in the decomposition temperatures was accompanied by a decrease in the a‐axis dimension of the hexagonal structure of HAp, probably as a result of the substitution of F− for OH−. EPMA revealed that negligible reaction occurred between HAp and spinel even at 1500°C, but the Ca2+ in HAp diffused about 20 μm into 3Y‐TZP to form a cubic zirconia solid solution at 1275°C, resulting in the decomposition. The involvement of F− ion in the contraction of a‐axis parameter and the consequent phase stability were manifested by an increase in the Raman band of the symmetric stretching of the P–O bonds at 962.3 cm−1 and the appearance of a band for fluoroapatite at 3538 cm−1.
Thermodynamic Stability of Spinel Phase at the Interface Between Alumina Refractory and CaO–CaF2–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO–MnO Slags
Authors: Park Jun Seok , Kim Da Hye , Park Joo Hyun 
Published: March 2015

The interfacial reaction between alumina refractory and CaO–CaF2–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO–MnO slag was observed at 1873 K to estimate the stability of the spinel phase using computational thermodynamics under refining conditions of Mn‐containing steels. The concentration of MnO formed by the slag–steel reaction in the CaO–CaF2–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO melts generally increased by decreasing the CaO/SiO2 ratio of the initial melts. No intermediate compounds were formed at the refractory–slag interface when the initial CaO/SiO2 ratio was 0.5, whereas CaAl12O19 (CA6) and Mg(Mn)Al2O4 (spinel), identified from TEM analysis using EDS mapping and SAED patterns, were observed at the refractory–slag interface when the CaO/SiO2 ratio was 1.0 or greater. The (at.%Mg)/(at.%Mn) ratio in the spinel solution increased by increasing the CaO/SiO2 ratio, which originated from the fact that MgO activity continuously increased as the CaO/SiO2 ratio increased. From thermodynamic analysis considering the equilibrium constant (KSP) and activity quotient (QSP) of the spinel formation reaction at the slag–refractory interface and the bulk slag phase, the precipitation–dissolution behavior of the spinel phase was predicted, which exhibited good consistency with the experimental results. Hence, the dissolutive corrosion mechanism of alumina refractory into the CaO–CaF2–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO–MnO slag was proposed.
Effect of Electric Field/Current on Liquid Phase Sintering
Authors: Gonzalez‐Julian Jesus , Guillon Olivier 
Published: March 2015

The sintering behavior of alumina containing different amounts of calcium–aluminum–silicate glass as sintering aid was analyzed under AC electric fields between 0 and 150 V/cm. Liquid phase sintering was enhanced by the electric field, and “flash sintering” behavior depending on the current density and power dissipation within the specimen could be observed. Current flowed only through the liquid phase at high temperature and enhanced the densification process by two effects: Joule heating and athermal response of the viscous liquid under the electric field. Joule heating increased the temperature within the specimen, whereas the applied electric field reduced the viscosity of the liquid phase promoting a more effective matter transport.
The effects of implicit anxiety on the performance of skin self‐examinations
Authors: Millar Murray , Westfall R. Shane 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis study examined the effects of implicit anxiety on the performance of skin self‐examinations. It was hypothesized that implicit anxiety would contribute to the prediction of skin self‐examinations beyond the contributions of variables suggested by social‐cognitive models of health behavior. In addition, it was hypothesized that implicit anxiety's impact on self‐examinations would not be influenced by deliberative cognition about efficacy. To test these hypotheses, 128 participants completed measures of explicit anxiety, self and task efficacy, and an implicit associations test designed to measure implicit anxiety. As expected, self‐examination behavior was better predicted when implicit anxiety was added to models containing explicit anxiety and efficacy. Furthermore, thoughts about efficacy did not moderate the effects of implicit anxiety on self‐examination behavior.
Expected influence of linkage disequilibrium on genetic variance caused by dominance and epistasis on quantitative traits
Authors: Hill W.G. , Mäki‐Tanila A. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryLinkage disequilibrium (LD) influences the genetic variation in a quantitative trait contributed by two or more loci, with positive LD increasing the variance. The magnitude of LD also affects the relative magnitude of dominance and epistatic variation. We quantify the extent of the non‐additive variance expected within populations, deriving analytical expressions for simple models and using numerical simulation in finite population more generally. As LD generates non‐independence among loci, a simple partition into additive, dominance and epistatic components is not possible, so we merely distinguish between additive and non‐additive components based on comparing covariances among close relatives, such as full sibs, half sibs and offspring–parent. As tight linkage is needed to yield substantial LD in outbred populations, we ignore recombination in the generation used to estimate components and it is analogous to a multi‐allelic model. The expected magnitude of the non‐additive variance is generally increased but not greatly so by the LD in outbred populations. Thus, as found in previous studies for unlinked loci, independent of the type and strength of gene interaction, the epistatic variance contributes little to the total.