bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a secure genome sequence search platform on public cloud-leveraging open source solutions
Authors: Saxena Vikas , Doddavula Shyam Kumar , Jain Akansha 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
With looming patent cliffs, resulting in no patent protections for several block buster drugs, several Life sciences organizations are looking at ways to reduce the costs of drug discovery. They are looking to change business models from having all drug discovery activities being done in-house to a more economical collaborative innovation model by forming ecosystems through consortiums and alliances with several other partners to collaborate especially in the pre-competitive areas of drug discovery. They are considering leveraging cloud computing platforms to create the collaborative drug discovery platforms needed to support these new drug discovery models. Another area of focus is to improve the success rate of drug discovery by creating more complex computer models and performing more data intensive simulations. Next generation sequence sequencers are also providing unprecedented amounts of data to work with. Cloud computing has proven to be scalable and capable of meeting the computation needs in life sciences domain but a key inhibitor has been security concerns. This paper is an extension of an earlier paper we had written that describes how to leverage a public cloud to build a scalable genome sequence search platform to enable secure collaboration among multiple partners. This paper describes a few additional techniques and open source solutions that can be leveraged to address security concerns while leveraging public cloud platforms for collaborative drug discovery activities.
Persistence of circannual rhythms under constant periodic and aperiodic light conditions: sex differences and relationship with the external environment
Authors: Budki Puja , Rani Sangeeta , Kumar Vinod 
Published: July 2012

Summary
The timing and duration of gonadal phases in the year indicates that breeding cycles are regulated by endogenous mechanisms. The present study on tropical Spotted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) investigates whether such mechanisms are based on circannual rhythms, and whether circannual rhythms between sexes differ in their relationship with the light environment. Birds were subjected to 12 h light per day (12L:12D), alternate days of light and darkness (24L:24D, LL/DD) and continuous light (LL), with L= 22 lux and D = &lt;1 lux, for 28 months (mo) at constant temperature (18±1°C). Groups kept on natural day lengths (NDL) served as controls. Measurement of body mass, gonads, and molts of the primary wing feathers and body plumage at regular intervals showed that birds underwent repeated cycles in gonads and molt, but not in the body mass. In NDL, gonadal phases in both sexes cycled with 12 mo periods. In other conditions, males cycled with similar periods of about 11 mo, but females cycled with relatively large period variations, about 10 to 13 mo. Gonadal recrudescence – regression phase was longer in males than in females and, in both sexes, in the second year as compared to the first year. The molt of wing primaries was more closely coupled to gonadal maturation in groups on NDL and 12L:12D than in groups on LL and LL/DD, but this relationship drifted apart in the second year. Body plumage molts were relatively more highly variable in both the frequency and pattern. It is suggested that annual breeding cycle in spotted munia is regulated by the self-sustained circannual rhythms, which probably interact with the annual photoperiodic cycle to synchronize breeding cycles to calendar year. Both sexes seem to have independent timing strategies, but females appear to share a greater role in defining the reproductive season in relation with the environment.
Vibrational playback by means of airborne stimuli
Authors: Rebar Darren , Höbel Gerlinde , Rodríguez Rafael L. 
Published: July 2012

SummarySubstrate-borne vibrational communication is a common form of communication in animals. Current contact-based playback methods limit the number of substrates that can be stimulated simultaneously and potentially change the transmission properties of the substrate. Here, we explore a solution to these limitations by broadcasting airborne stimuli onto plant substrates in an attempt to impart vibrational playbacks. We demonstrate that one can effectively compensate for the filtering properties of any individual plant across a range of frequencies. We then address how well both compensated broad-band and pure-tone stimuli for one plant individual apply to other individuals across days. Variation within and between plants was similar across the range tested, but was quite variable at certain frequencies. Focusing on a subset of this range, at low frequencies responses were flat across days and pure-tone frequency stimuli in this range were consistently transmitted despite repositioning of plants relative to the loudspeaker. Our results present a potential solution to researchers interested in exposing large samples of individuals to vibrational signals, but also highlight the importance of validating the use of airborne stimuli as vibrational playbacks to the particular substrate type and frequency range of interest.
Novel monoclonal antibody recognizing triglyceride-rich oxidized LDLs associated with severe liver disease and small oxidized LDLs in normal subjects
Authors: Sakurai Toshihiro , Ichikawa Ayako , Furukawa Hiroyuki , Wada Norio , Nagasaka Atsushi , Takahashi Yuji , Fujikawa Masato , Ikuta Akiko , Furumaki Hiroaki , Shiga Maiko , Shimizu Chikara , Hui Shu-Ping , Jin Shigeki , Takeda Seiji , Fuda Hirotoshi , Nagasaka Hironori , Kobayashi Seiichi , Chiba Hitoshi 
Published: July 2012

Background Triglyceride-rich low-density lipoproteins (TG-rich LDLs) in the plasma of patients with severe liver disease are reported to change macrophages into foam cells in vitro. Methods Male BALB/c mice were immunized with TG-rich LDLs isolated from the plasma of a patient with severe liver disease. The resulting monoclonal antibody (G11-6) was used in a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in combination with polyclonal anti-apolipoprotein B antibodies. The time course of copper-mediated LDL oxidation was monitored using this ELISA. The results were compared with those of the two commercial ELISAs for oxidized LDLs using DLH or ML25, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the optical absorbance for the conjugated dienes generated in lipid peroxides. Furthermore, the lipoprotein fractions separated by gel filtration were tested with this ELISA in healthy volunteers ( n = 11) and patients ( n = 3) with liver disease. Results G11-6 reacted with oxidized LDLs during only the early phase of copper oxidation, being distinct from the other monoclonal antibodies and methods. G11-6 was confirmed to react with TG-rich LDLs in patients, while it reacted with small LDL particles in normal controls. Conclusions The monoclonal antibody G11-6 is useful for detecting oxidized small LDLs in normal controls and oxidized TG-rich LDLs in patients with severe liver disease.
Antioxidant and renoprotective effects of paricalcitol on experimental contrast-induced nephropathy model
Authors: Ari E , Kedrah A E , Alahdab Y , Bulut G , Eren Z , Baytekin O , Odabasi D 
Published: July 2012

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of paricalcitol on the experimental contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) model. We hypothesised that paricalcitol may prevent CIN.
Methods: 32 Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n=8 each): control group, paricalcitol group, CIN group and paricalcitol plus CIN group. Paricalcitol (0.4 µg kg–1 day–1) was given intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days prior to induction of CIN. CIN was induced at day 4 by intravenous injection of indometacin (10 mg kg–1), Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg kg–1) and meglumine amidotrizoate (6 ml kg–1). Renal function parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, histopathological findings and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoexpression were evaluated.
Results: The paricalcitol plus CIN group had lower mean serum creatinine levels (p=0.034) as well as higher creatinine clearance (p=0.042) than the CIN group. Serum malondialdehyde and kidney thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances levels were significantly lower in the paricalcitol plus CIN group than in the CIN group (p=0.024 and p=0.042, respectively). The mean scores of tubular necrosis (p=0.024), proteinaceous casts (p=0.038), medullary congestion (p=0.035) and VEGF immunoexpression (p=0.018) in the paricalcitol plus CIN group were also significantly lower.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the protective effect of paricalcitol in the prevention of CIN in an experimental model.
The flexural stress-strain relationship of concrete confined by rectangular transverse reinforcement
Authors: Soliman M. T. M. , Yu C. W. 
Published: July 2012

Summary To understand the plastic deformation capacity of critical regions reinforced with longitudinal and transverse reinforcement, it was felt that the stress-strain relationship of bound concrete in flexure must first be established. Sixteen specimens were tested in a specially constructed testing frame under the action of a major and a minor load. The stress-strain relationship for the concrete was obtained by an approach similar to that used by Hognestad, Hanson and McHenry in conjunction with a special graphical interpolation technique. A generalized relationship was finally developed expressed as a function of: the spacing of binders; the ratio of the bound area to the total area under compression; the size of the binders; and the shape of the concrete cross-section.
Hydration and strength of neat Portland cement
Authors: Chandra D. , Sereda P. J. , Swenson E. G. 
Published: July 2012

Summary In order to examine the relationship between some of the mechanical properties and the degree of hydration of Portland cement, two different methods were used to prepare samples of hydrated cement paste. One method involved hydrating the cement in suspension for different lengths of time in rotating polyethylene bottles (water/cement ratio = 5). The dried powder was then compacted to different porosities. In the other method, the dry unhydrated cement was mixed with plastic beads in the ratio of l:3 by weight and compacted at 10,000 lb/in2 to give a porosity oJ about 38%, and then hydrated by immersion in water. These compacts, which were in the shape of discs of 1·25 in. diameter, were used to measure the modulus of elasticity, fracture strength and indentation hardness. This work indicated that these types of sample can be used to follow the characteristic change in mechanical properties with time and degree of hydration of the cement.
Failure criteria for concrete in compression
Authors: Hannant D. J. , Frederick C. O. 
Published: July 2012

Summary This paper describes the failure surface in three-dimensional stress space of concrete subjected to multiaxial compression with maximum stresses up to eight times the uniaxial compressive strength. It is shown that, if the experimental results presented by several authors are correct, the failure surface for concrete cannot be rotationally axi-symmetric. The suggested shape of failure envelope is approximated to aform which can be represented by simple equations, and a safety factor is defined which enables design equations to be presented.
A modified splitting test for concrete specimens
Authors: Davies J. D. 
Published: July 2012

Summary The paper describes a modified splitting test by means of which it is possible to trace the complete load deformation characteristics of plain concrete loaded beyond the nominal splitting load. It is known that concrete will not exhibit a sudden brittle tensile failure provided the deformation is adequately restrained in some way. In this test, the restraint is provided by a steel beam acting in parallel with the concrete specimen in resisting the load applied by the testing machine. The applied load is carried partly by the concrete and partly by the steel in relation to their respective stiffnesses. As the load increases, the steel carries a higher proportion, and it is possible to extend the test on the concrete into the region where its portion of the applied load decreases as the deformation increases, that is, into the zone of negative stiffness.
Slender reinforced concrete columns with biaxial eccentricity of loading
Authors: Pannell F. N. , Robinson J. L. , Swenson E. G. 
Published: July 2012

Summary Seventeen slender reinforced concrete columns have been tested and the results indicate that the failure load of a slender column under biaxial bending may be predicted in terms of the failure load of an equivalent axially loaded column and the load-moment failure surface of a similar short column under biaxial bending.
Creep of air-entrained concrete
Authors: Ward M. A. , Neville A. M. , Singh S. P. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis The creep of mixes having the same workability and strength at loading is shown not to be affected by the presence or absence of entrained air, so that the approximate linear relationship between creep and stress/strength ratio previously foundfor plain concrete applies also to air-entrained concrete. A correlation between specific creep and the modulus of elasticity at loading is shown to exist for the full range of concrete, mortar and neat cement paste mixes tested. Air-entrained concrete fits the same curve as that obtained for plain mixes of the same strength because both have the same total void content (air, capillary pores and gel pores). This void content is of fundamental importance in understanding the mechanical properties of concrete.
Strain-hardening effects in reinforced concrete
Authors: Eiklid Gunnar-Erik , Gerstle Kurt H. , Tulin Leonard G. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis This study is concerned with the effect of strain-hardening upon the response of continuous reinforced concrete beams. An analysis including the effect of strain-hardening of the steel is developed to determine moment-rotation relationships of a beam section, and the results are verified experimentally. These moment-rotation relationships are then used in a piecewiselinear analysis in which the non-linear effects are represented by discrete strain-hardening hinges in order to predict the behaviour of the continuous beams. Analytical and experimental results showed good correlation. The increased load-carrying capacity of under-reinforced beams above that predicted by the simple plastic theory is therefore attributed to the strain-hardening of the steel. A reinforcing parameter called the ‘strain-hardening index’ is introduced to determine the effect of yield range and strain-hardening of the steel upon the strength and rotation capacity of the beam. Lastly, it is shown that the energy absorption capacity is only very slightly affected by the shape of the stress-strain curve of the reinforcing steel.
A curiosity of yield-line analysis
Authors: Taylor R. , Mohamedbhai G. T. G. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis In the analysis of rectangular reinforced concrete slabs by yield-line theory using the simple diagonal patterns of collapse, it has always been considered a necessary part of the calculation to check that the correct diagonal mode has been used. It is shown that,for most practical cases of slab design, this is not necessary, because the values from the correct and incorrect patterns are almost identical.
Yield-line theory and limit analysis of plates and slabs
Authors: Bræstrup M. W. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis The usual geometrical, statical and physical conditions for the anisotropic, perfectly plastic plate are given. It is demonstrated that the normal moment criterion usually employed in modern yield-line theory is identical with the ‘stepped’ criterion of the classical theory, and that they both correspond to a yield surface, called the upper yield surface, which satisfies the requirements of limit analysis. When the actual yield surface of the plate is different from the upper yield surface, then the yield load predicted by limit analysis can generally not be determined by yield-line theory. It is not even possible to approach the solution by successive refinement of the yield-line pattern. The common yield surfaces of metal plates are compared with the upper yield surface, and the yield surface of the arbitrarily reinforced concrete slab is derived. Finally, the relationship between yield-line theory and limit analysis is discussed, and it is concluded that the two theories are consistent in their foundation.
Regain of strength after firing of concrete
Authors: Crook D. N. , Murray M. J. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis The mechanism of regain of strength as observed in work on the glazing of concrete was investigated on fired and unfired industrially made masonry units by methods including DTA, pore size distribution, and determination of the degree of carbonation. Immediate loss of strength after firing is attributed to the dehydration of cement paste gel, and the main factor in the regain of mechanical strength in a fired block is a carbonation process facilitated by a new capillary system created in firing.
The effect of longitudinal gradients of compressive stress upon the failure of concrete
Authors: Uppal J. Y. , Kemp K. O. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis The results of an experimental programme on the failure of concrete when subjected to longitudinal gradients of compressive stress are reported. The test specimens are point-loaded reinforced concrete beams. beams of tapering width under constant moment and tapering prisms under axial compression. The results confirm that the compressive strength of concrete is significantly increased in the presence of such non-uniform stress states. Existing theories of failure, which are usually derived from and tested under uniform stress states, do not appear to be capable of explaining this effect. The fracture mechanism observed involves a finite volume of material rather than a section as is usually implied, and appears to be due to the formation of a post-cracking macro-structure of longitudinal strips which fails owing to flexural instability. Such a fracture model could explain the observed increases in the compressive strength of concrete due to longitudinal stress gradients.
An apparatus for measuring the shrinkage characteristics of plastic mortars
Authors: Orr D. M. F. , Haigh G. F. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis An apparatus designed primarily to measure shrinkage forces developed in a restrained specimen of cement paste or mortar is described. On the basis of tests carried out, it is concluded that the apparatus may be used to assess qualitatively the tendency for mortars to form plastic shrinkage cracks.
Prediction and assessment of concrete properties from pulse-velocity tests
Authors: Nwokoye Daniel N. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis A study has been made of the feasibility of applying multi-phase theory to the interpretation of pulse-velocity tests. This included a general examination of certain non-destructive test parameters. It was found that the stiffness constant is a better index for the assessment of the dynamic modulus of elasticity than the pulse velocity and also that it reflects the elastic modulus of other materials. It was also found that the calculated propagation velocity through the cement-paste phase gave better correlation with crushing strength and modulus of rupture than the pulse velocity through the concrete. The relationship is influenced by the type of aggregate, but there is indication that aggregate groupings could be used since the results for some aggregates of different types were found to lie reasonably under one curve. It is suggested that multi-phase interpretation of pulse-velocity tests could be used to examine the property and behaviour of mortars and of cement-paste phases in concretes.
An examination of the effects of age at loading upon the creep of hardened cement paste
Authors: Parrott L. J. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis Experiments on sealed specimens of hardened cement paste, initially conditioned to different moisture contents, have shown that measured reductions in creep with age at loading were not due solely to hydration changes. A 50% reduction in creep with age at load was measured on non-hydrating specimens. There was a correlation between elastic and creep strains of specimens with a wide range of porosities and moisture contents which was age-dependent. The experimental results for hardened cement paste compare well with published data for concrete.
Variation of concrete strength in existing buildings
Authors: Drysdale Robert G. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis Ultrasonic-pulse-velocity measurements from 1145 concrete columns in 15 existing buildings were used as data to indicate variability of concrete strength. The factors considered were: differences between columns. location within column height. column size. storey location. and differences between buildings. Coefficients of variation of concrete strength are used to indicate control of quality: five buildings with values of less than 10% are regarded as having excellent control; five with from 10 to 15%. good control; three with from 15 to 20%. satisfactory control; and two with values of 26 and 30%, poor control. Isolated cases of very-low-strength concrete (below 7 N/mm2) were found and verified by coring. It is suggested that the information provided illustrates the value of such measurements for inspection purposes and that the distribution of concrete strength provides for the statistical evaluation of strength of concrete columns.
Polymer-impregnated concrete as a structural material
Authors: Chen Wai-Fah , Dahl-Jorgensen Einar 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis Polymer-impregnated concrete (PIC) impregnated with the most often used polymers, polymethyl methacrylate and polystyrene, shows little ductility. The ultimate strength is often three to four times higher than that of ordinary concrete, but failure comes without warning in a brittle, almost explosive manner. This paper reports an investigation designed to increase the ductility of PIC so that some plastic yielding can take place before and after the ultimate load is reached. Various percentages of monomer combinations of the methyl methacrylate were used with an elastomer, n-butyl-acrylate. The entire stress-strain relationship of the materials was determined by means of the splitting tensile and axial compression tests. The investigation shows that PIC can be modified to give either a material with high strength and little ductility or one with a somewhat lower strength and large ductility. Thus potentially material properties can be tailored to particular structural service requirements.
Nodal forces in the analysis of the ultimate torsional moment for rectangular beams
Authors: Elfgren Lennart , Karlsson Inge , Losberg Anders 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis Equilibrium and work (energy) methods are reviewed for analysis of the ultimate torsional moment of rectangular under-reinforced concrete beams. In analogy with the yield-line theory for slabs, it is shown that the equilibrium method can be brought to complete agreement with the work method if nodal forces are introduced. The nature of the nodal forces in torsional analysis is discussed.
The influence of fibres upon crack development in reinforced concrete subject to uniaxial tension
Authors: Samarrai Mufid A. , Elvery Robert H. 
Published: July 2012

Synopsis This investigation was designed to assess the possibility of incorporating steel fibres in reinforced concrete to retard the development of cracks and thus facilitate the use of steels of higher strength. To obtain this information, 75 × 75 × 500 mm concrete prisms were tested in uniaxial tension applied to the protruding ends of the concentrically placed reinforcing bars. Variables that were studied included type, size and quantity of fibre and type of main reinforcing bar. The inclusion of steel fibres in the concrete significantly increased the stress in the reinforcement corresponding to the development of the maximum allowable crack width in the concrete.