bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the earthquake performance of anchored wine tanks during the San Juan, Argentina, 1977 earthquakexs
Authors: Manos George C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper details the damage sustained by a number of wine tanks during the San Juan, Argentina, 1977 earthquake. The available ground motion information is used to compare the actual tank performance with that predicted. Two of the tanks examined were located quite near the two accelerographs that recorded the ground motion in the city of San Juan for the main shock. An empirical attenuation formula which describes the intensity of the shaking was derived for this earthquake and used in a quantitative evaluation of the performance of a number of other tanks. By correlating and comparing the observed performance of the anchors and what was predicted we see the predictions are upheld by the actual damage. When the anchoring system failed during the earthquake the tanks were rendered effectively unanchored. Consequently, the state of stress that results from their base uplift was then examined in conjunction with the tank wall stability approach proposed by the author, and seen to give results consistent with the observed tank wall performance.
Equivalent ductility factors, taking into account low‐cycle fatigue
Authors: Fajfar Peter 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDuring strong earthquakes, the deformation capacity of structures is reduced due to the cumulative damage caused by cyclic load reversals. In the paper, equivalent (reduced) ductility factors have been proposed, which take into account this effect. They are based on different failure hypotheses. Ductility reduction due to low‐cycle fatigue is controlled by a dimensionless parameter γ, which is a function of dissipated hysteretic energy, maximum displacement and the natural frequency of the structural system, and which has been proved to be a relatively stable quantity in the whole period range. If approximate values for γ are used, the determination of equivalent ductility is very simple, and thus appropriate for design purposes. The formulae for equivalent ductility factors include damage indices, and permit the designer to choose acceptable level of structural damage explicitly. As an example, equivalent ductility factors have been used to construct inelastic acceleration spectra, which are proportional to strength demand, for the El Centro 1940 SOOE record. The results have been compared with the ‘exact’ spectra obtained by non‐linear dynamic analysis.
Seismic analysis of the fatih sultan mehmet (second Bosporus) suspension bridge
Authors: Dumanoglu A. A. , Brownjohn J. M. W. , Severn R. T. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTheoretical dynamic characteristics of the Fatih Bridge in terms of natural frequencies and mode shapes of free vibration were obtained using a range of finite element models. Based on this free‐vibration data, separate analyses of the asynchronous response of the bridge to earthquake excitation in three orthogonal axes with different speeds of wave propagation, and of stochastic response to vertical excitation were used to estimate levels of dynamic response due to seismic loading.Fatih is the third of three modern European long‐span box‐girder suspension bridges that have been investigated and the relationship of the different design features and the dynamic responses of this type of bridge is reviewed.The main conclusion is that where seismic response is an important consideration, the effects of asynchronous excitation can be significant and must be considered.
Some aspects of testing small‐scale masonry building models on simple earthquake simulators
Authors: Tomaževič Miha , Velechovsky Tomaž 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe basic aspects of testing small‐scale masonry building models on simple earthquake simulators are discussed. Since the scale effects represent a difficult problem to solve, the overall seismic behaviour of structural systems, and not the behaviour of structulal details, has been studied by testing the reduced‐sized models on a simple earthquake simulator. Accurate results regarding the dynamic behaviour and failure mechanism of the tested structures have been obtained by means of testing the relatively simple, adequately designed small‐scale masonry building models. A simple earthquake simulator capable of simulating the uni‐directional earthquake ground motion has been developed to study the seismic behaviour of masonry building models. Although a multipurpose programmable actuator was used to drive the shaking table, the comparison of the dynamic characteristics of the generated shaking‐table motion and the earthquake acceleration records used for the simulation of seismic loads showed an acceptable degree of correlation between the input and output seismic motion.
Assessment of the Application of Fuel Cell APUs and Starter‐Generators to Reduce Automobile Fuel Consumption
Authors: Grube T. , Höhlein B. , Menzer R. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAuxiliary power units (APUs) provide electrical power, with favourable efficiency and independent of the drive system, for a variety of mobile applications. The demand for electricity increases with increasing demand for convenience and safety functions, as well as for control and regulation services. Examples of these functions are engine‐independent air conditioning in motor vehicles or by‐wire technologies in aircraft. The additional power must be provided with the greatest possible efficiency, due to the general requirement for an overall reduction in fuel consumption.This contribution compares the present status of on‐board electricity supply in conventional passenger cars with variants, based on the starter‐generator and the auxiliary power unit (APU). The results of a process engineering analysis define the potential efficiency of electricity generation with solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based systems. In addition to the load profiles of the auxiliaries, the driving cycle must be defined within the framework of a model‐based dynamic drive train simulation, in order to finally determine the fuel consumption per kilometre in dynamic operation. As a result, the fuel consumption of the variants investigated is presented and the possibilities for applying fuel cell APUs and starter‐generators assessed.
N‐WASP regulates extension of filopodia and processes by oligodendrocyte progenitors, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells—implications for axon ensheathment at myelination
Authors: Bacon Claire , Lakics Viktor , Machesky Laura , Rumsby Martin 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe molecular mechanisms used by oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), oligodendrocytes (OLs), and Schwann cells (SCs) to advance processes for motility in the developing nervous system and to ensheath axons at myelination are currently not well defined. Here we demonstrate that OPCs, OLs, and SCs express the major proteins involved in actin polymerization‐driven protrusion; these key proteins including F‐actin, the Arp2/3 complex, neural‐Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome protein (N‐WASP) and WAVE proteins, and the RhoGTPases Rac and Cdc42 are present at the leading edges of processes being extended by OPCs, OLs, and SCs. We reveal by real‐time PCR that OLs and SCs have different dominant WAVE isoforms. Inhibition of the WASP/WAVE protein, N‐WASP, with wiskostatin that prevents activation of the Arp2/3 complex, blocks process extension by OPCs and SCs. Inhibition of N‐WASP also causes OPC and SC process retraction, which is preceded by retraction of filopodia. This implicates filopodia in OPC and SC process stability and also of N‐WASP in OPC and SC process dynamics. We also demonstrate that p34 (a component of the Arp2/3 complex), WASP/WAVE proteins, actin, α‐tubulin, Rac, Cdc42, vinculin, and focal adhesion kinase are detected in water‐shocked myelin purified from brain. Inhibition of N‐WASP with wiskostatin decreases the number of axons undergoing initial ensheathment in intact optic nerve samples and reduces the Po content of dorsal root ganglia:SC co‐cultures. Our findings indicate that OPCs, OLs, and SCs extend processes using actin polymerization‐driven protrusion dependent on N‐WASP. We hypothesize that inner mesaxons of OLs and SCs use the same mechanism to ensheath axons at myelination. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy and the risk of major malformations: a systematic review
Authors: Bellantuono Cesario , Migliarese Giovanni , Gentile Salvatore 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo review studies conducted to establish the risk of major congenital malformations in women exposed to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) during the first trimester of pregnancy.MethodsA literature research was conducted within PsychoINFO, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases from 1966 to October 2006, to identify studies assessing the risk of major malformations in infants whose mother was taking SRIs (SSRIs and SNRIs) during the first trimester of pregnancy.ResultsFifteen studies were selected for the analysis: seven adopted a prospective cohort design and seven a retrospective design, of these one was a case‐control study.Data Synthesis and ConclusionsThe reviewed studies suggest that exposure to fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and venlafaxine in early pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of major congenital malformations. For paroxetine, recent data call for caution in prescribing such a drug in early pregnancy. For the other SRIs, the risk remains substantially undetermined, as data are so far scanty. Given this background, large prospective cohort studies are urgently needed to better assess the risk/benefit ratio of SRIs‐treatment during pregnancy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental influences on reading‐related outcomes: an adoption study
Authors: Petrill Stephen A. , Deater‐Deckard Kirby , Schatschneider Christopher , Davis Chayna 
Published: April 2007

AbstractEvidence from intervention studies, quantitative genetic and molecular genetic studies suggests that genetic, and to a lesser extent, shared environmental influences are important to the development of reading and related cognitive skills. The Northeast‐Northwest Collaborative Adoption Projects (N2CAP) is a sample of 241 adoptive families, containing 354 children and their adoptive parents. Negative parent outcome × child age interactions significantly predicted child outcomes, suggesting that shared environmental influences related to parent–offspring resemblance, although modest, are most salient in younger children. Additional analyses suggested that identified measures of the family environment largely accounted for these parent–offspring correlations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Finding a safe place to cross the road: the effect of distractors and the role of attention in children's identification of safe and dangerous road‐crossing sites
Authors: Tabibi Z. , Pfeffer K. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractNegotiating traffic requires the ability to focus attention on the traffic environment and ignore distracting stimuli. The aims of this study were (1) to examine the effect of distractors on children's ability to identify safe and dangerous road‐crossing sites and (2) to examine the relationship between identification of safe/dangerous sites and attention (selective attention, attention switching, sustained attention and divided attention). Participants were 88 children (aged between 6 and 11 years) and 29 adults. Ability to identify safe and dangerous road‐crossing sites was assessed using computer presentations of sites with and without visual and auditory distractions. Measures of attention were examined using the Test of Everyday Attention (child and adult versions). The ability to identify safe and dangerous road‐crossing sites and performance on the attention tests were found to improve with increasing age. Correct identification of safe/dangerous road‐crossing sites was related to selective attention and divided attention for children but not for adults. Road safety training should take into account the development of these skills. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stability and prediction of parenting stress
Authors: Östberg Monica , Hagekull Berit , Hagelin Elisabet 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe study focused on stability and prediction of parenting stress experiences over a 6‐year period. Mothers (N=93) who had received a clinical intervention for feeding or sleeping problems during infancy (Time 1; T 1) were followed‐up when the children were 5–10 years old (Time 2; T 2). An age‐ and sex‐of‐child matched normal group was used for comparison of stress levels at T 2. Parenting stress was measured by the Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire, which consists of a general parenting stress scale and sub‐scales tapping different aspects of parenting stress experiences. T 1 predictors were clinical assessments of child problem load, maternal unresponsiveness, and family psychosocial problems. T 2 predictors were mother‐reported concurrent child problem load and psychosocial problems. The individual stability in stress experiences was moderate. Effect sizes indicated that mothers with early clinical contacts had reduced their stress to levels close to those in the normal sample. Parenting stress at T 2 could be predicted from early and from concurrent child and family problems. The results point to the relevance of early clinical assessments and to the importance of a sub‐area approach in parenting stress research, as there were differences between stress sub‐areas regarding both prediction and stability. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frequent inactivation of SPARC by promoter hypermethylation in colon cancers
Authors: Yang Eungi , Kang Hyun Ju , Koh Kwi Hye , Rhee Hwanseok , Kim Nam Kyu , Kim Hoguen 
Published: March 2007

AbstractEpigenetic modification of gene expression plays an important role in the development of human cancers. The inactivation of SPARC through CpG island methylation was studied in colon cancers using oligonucleotide microarray analysis and methylation specific PCR (MSP). Gene expression of 7 colon cancer cell lines was evaluated before and after treatment with the demethylating agent 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine (5Aza‐dC) by oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Expression of SPARC was further examined in colon cancer cell lines and primary colorectal cancers, and the methylation status of the SPARC promoter was determined by MSP. SPARC expression was undetectable in 5 of 7 (71%) colorectal cancer cell lines. Induction of SPARC was demonstrated after treatment with the demethylating agent 5Aza‐dC in 5 of the 7 cell lines. We examined the methylation status of the CpG island of SPARC in 7 colon cancer cell lines and in 20 test set of colon cancer tissues. MSP demonstrated hypermethylation of the CpG island of SPARC in 6 of 7 cell lines and in all 20 primary colon cancers, when compared with only 3 of 20 normal colon mucosa. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that SPARC expression was downregulated or absent in 17 of 20 colon cancers. A survival analysis of 292 validation set of colorectal carcinoma patients revealed a poorer prognosis for patients lacking SPARC expression than for patients with normal SPARC expression (56.79% vs. 75.83% 5‐year survival rate, p = 0.0014). The results indicate that epigenetic gene silencing of SPARC is frequent in colon cancers, and that inactivation of SPARC is related to rapid progression of colon cancers. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of unidirectional permeability in asymmetric poly(DL‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) conduits on peripheral nerve regeneration: An in vitro and in vivo study
Authors: Chang Chen‐Jung , Hsu Shan‐hui , Yen Hung‐Jen , Chang Han , Hsu Shih‐Kuang 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe high outflow permeability of the nerve conduit used to emit the drained waste generated from the traumatized host nerve stump is critical in peripheral nerve regeneration. Our earlier studies have established that asymmetric conduits fulfill the basic requirements for use as nerve guide conduits. In this study, the inflow characteristics of optimal nerve conduits were further examined using in vivo and in vitro trials. Various asymmetric poly(DL‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) conduits were controlled by modifying precipitation baths using 0, 20, and 95% isopropyl alcohol, with high‐porosity (permeability), medium‐porosity (high outflow and low inflow), and low‐porosity (permeability), respectively. In the in vitro trial, the Schwann cells and fibroblasts were seeded on either side of the asymmetric PLGA films in a newly designed coculture system that simulated the repaired nerve conduit environment. The results of the directional permeable films indicated the statistically significant proliferation of Schwann cells and the inhibition of the division of fibroblasts in lactate dehydrogenase release and inhibition of 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)2,5‐diphenyl‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction, compared with the other films. In the in vivo trial, the PLGA conduits seeded with Schwann cells were implanted into 10 mm right sciatic nerve defects in rats. After 6 weeks, implanted conduits were harvested. Histological examination verified that directional permeable conduits had markedly more A‐type and B‐type myelin fibers in the midconduit and distal nerve. In this work, the directional transport characteristics were established as an extremely important factor to the design and development of optimal nerve guide conduits in peripheral nerve regeneration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Quantum correction to the pair distribution function
Authors: Levashov V. A. , Billinge S. J. L. , Thorpe M. F. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe report a numerical technique that allows the quantum effects of zero‐point motion to be incorporated into Pair Distribution Functions calculated classically for molecules using Monte Carlo or Molecular Dynamics simulations. We establish the basis for this approximation using a diatomic molecule described by a Morse potential. The correction should significantly improve the agreement between modeled and experimental data, and facilitate conclusions about inter‐ and intra‐molecular motion and flexibility. We describe a similar approach to obtain the energy and the specific heat. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007
Nuclear localisation and pDNA condensation in non‐viral gene delivery
Authors: Collins Elizabeth , Birchall James C. , Williams Julie L. , Gumbleton Mark 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackgroundNon‐viral gene delivery vectors are multi‐component systems reflecting various functionalities required for effective cell transfection, including DNA condensation, promotion of cell membrane interactions and provision for subcellular targeting through endosomal escape and/or nuclear delivery. Elements mediating these functions will clearly display inter‐dependency. In this study we sought to explore the relationship within non‐viral vectors of condensation and nuclear localisation.MethodsBinary, tertiary and quaternary vectors were prepared with combinations of pDNA, DOTAP lipid, the polycation peptide protamine and either SV40 nuclear localisation sequence peptide (‘SV40 NLS’) or a one amino acid substituted mutant of SV40 NLS (‘mutant sequence’). The efficiency of pDNA condensation was determined by gel electrophoresis and quantitative fluorescence spectroscopy. Transfection efficiency was examined in mammalian cells in vitro using standard methods, by electroporation to bypass the plasma membrane barrier and in cells arrested in G0/G1 cell cycle phase to examine the effect of cell division and nuclear membrane disruption.ResultsSmall NLS peptide sequences, despite possessing a significant proportion of basic amino acids, display minimal pDNA‐condensing ability when compared to larger polycations such as protamine. In standard in vitro cell adherent transfection studies the predominant elements affording enhanced gene expression were effective pDNA condensation and lipid enhancement of cell membrane interactions. These features conversely hinder efficient gene expression in cells that have undergone electroporation. The benefit of SV40 NLS was only apparent when used in non‐dividing cell populations.ConclusionsWhilst effective levels of non‐viral‐mediated gene expression generally rely on efficient condensation of pDNA and enhanced interactions with cellular membranes, non‐covalently associated NLS within a multi‐component non‐viral gene vector appears to contribute benefit in sustaining gene expression in non‐dividing cells. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein kinase C activity affects neurotransmitter release at polyinnervated neuromuscular synapses
Authors: Santafé M.M. , Garcia N. , Lanuza M.A. , Tomàs J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBy using intracellular recording, we studied how protein kinase C (PKC) activity affected transmitter release in singly and dually innervated endplates of the Levator auris longus muscle of 5–6‐day‐old rats during axonal competition in the postnatal synaptic elimination period. In dually innervated fibers, a second endplate potential (EPP) may appear after the first one when the stimulation intensity is increased. The nerve terminals that generate the lowest and the highest EPP amplitudes are designated “small‐EPP generating ending” (SEGE) and “large‐EPP generating ending” (LEGE), respectively. Blocking PKC with calphostin C, staurosporine, or chelerythrine results in an increased release from SEGE (∼80%), whereas release from LEGE and from endings generating only one EPP (OEGE) is not significantly affected. Blocking PKC also leads to the recruitment of silent synapses (acetylcholine cannot be released before PKC inhibition). The mean number of functional axon terminals per synapse increases by ∼47%, and these are now designated the “recruited‐EPP generating endings” (REGE). This suggests that axonal PKC can modulate postnatal synaptic elimination by favoring the nerve terminal disconnection of certain weak axonal endings (REGE and SEGE). We conclude that a PKC‐mediated mechanism should occupy a pivotal place in neonatal synapse elimination, because functional axonal withdrawal can indeed be turned back by PKC block. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Confocal Raman microscopy: how to correct depth profiles considering diffraction and refraction effects
Authors: Gallardo Alberto , Spells Stephen , Navarro Rodrigo , Reinecke Helmut 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA new approach to obtain corrected depth profiles by confocal Raman microscopy, which considers diffraction and refraction effects is presented.The problem of diffraction effects encountered intrinsically in the confocal configuration can be described using a linear Fredholm integral equation of the first kind, which correlates apparent and true Raman intensities with the depth resolution curve of the instrument. Refractive index differences between air and the polymer sample, which cause further errors in the obtained depth profile due to strong aberration effects have been considered. This has been carried out using an empirical variation of the depth resolution function, which is able to simulate the broadening of the depth of focus with depth and also the discrepancy between nominal and measured depth scales.It is shown that considerable differences between apparent and corrected depth profiles exist at the surface and that these depend on the gradient of the profile and the depth resolution of the Raman microscope. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.