bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of χT Estimation Techniques: Implications for Batchelor Fitting and ɛ
Authors: Steinbuck Jonah V. , Stacey Mark T. , Monismith Stephen G. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Techniques for the accurate estimation of the dissipation rate of temperature variance χT from temperature microstructure measurements are synthesized and evaluated. The techniques focus on the treatment of contamination in the integration of the vertical temperature gradient spectrum. The essential improvements come from estimating χT from the wavenumber domain in which the signal exceeds the noise and from reconstructing unresolved wavenumber contributions using the best-fit Batchelor spectrum. The improvement in the estimates of χT results in better Batchelor fits and more robust estimates of the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy ɛ. High correlations of independent measurements of χT and ɛ from two collocated FP07 thermistors demonstrate the value of the techniques and highlight the improvements at the low end of the resolvable ranges of χT and ɛ.
The PHA Depolymerase Engineering Database: A systematic analysis tool for the diverse family of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) depolymerases
Authors: Knoll Michael , Hamm Thomas M , Wagner Florian , Martinez Virginia , Pleiss Jürgen 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) can be degraded by many microorganisms using intra- or extracellular PHA depolymerases. PHA depolymerases are very diverse in sequence and substrate specificity, but share a common α/β-hydrolase fold and a catalytic triad, which is also found in other α/β-hydrolases.

Results
The PHA Depolymerase Engineering Database (DED, http://www.ded.uni-stuttgart.de) has been established as a tool for systematic analysis of this enzyme family. The DED contains sequence entries of 587 PHA depolymerases, which were assigned to 8 superfamilies and 38 homologous families based on their sequence similarity. For each family, multiple sequence alignments and profile hidden Markov models are provided, and functionally relevant residues are annotated.

Conclusion
The DED is a valuable tool which can be applied to identify new PHA depolymerase sequences from complete genomes in silico, to classify PHA depolymerases, to predict their biochemical properties, and to design enzyme variants with improved properties.
Age and gender specific normal values of left ventricular mass, volume and function for gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging: a cross sectional study
Authors: Cain Peter A , Ahl Ragnhild , Hedstrom Erik , Ugander Martin , Allansdotter-Johnsson Ase , Friberg Peter , Arheden Hakan 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Knowledge about age-specific normal values for left ventricular mass (LVM), end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is of importance to differentiate between health and disease and to assess the severity of disease. The aims of the study were to determine age and gender specific normal reference values and to explore the normal physiological variation of these parameters from adolescence to late adulthood, in a cross sectional study.

Methods
Gradient echo CMR was performed at 1.5 T in 96 healthy volunteers (11–81 years, 50 male). Gender-specific analysis of parameters was undertaken in both absolute values and adjusted for body surface area (BSA).

Results
Age and gender specific normal ranges for LV volumes, mass and function are presented from the second through the eighth decade of life. LVM, ESV and EDV rose during adolescence and declined in adulthood. SV and EF decreased with age. Compared to adult females, adult males had higher BSA-adjusted values of EDV (p = 0.006) and ESV (p < 0.001), similar SV (p = 0.51) and lower EF (p = 0.014). No gender differences were seen in the youngest, 11–15 year, age range.

Conclusion
LV volumes, mass and function vary over a broad age range in healthy individuals. LV volumes and mass both rise in adolescence and decline with age. EF showed a rapid decline in adolescence compared to changes throughout adulthood. These findings demonstrate the need for age and gender specific normal ranges for clinical use.
Quantitative Analysis of Human Kallikrein 5 (KLK5) Expression in Prostate Needle Biopsies: An Independent Cancer Biomarker
Authors: Korbakis Dimitrios , Gregorakis Alkiviades K , Scorilas Andreas 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Background: Kallikrein 5 (KLK5), a recently cloned member of the kallikrein family, codes for the secreted protein KLK5. Active KLK5 protein has a trypsin activity, and the expression of KLK5 gene seems to be regulated by steroid hormones. We performed an expression analysis and clinical evaluation of the KLK5 gene, at the mRNA level, in prostate needle biopsies.
Methods: We examined KLK5 mRNA concentrations in 103 prostate tissue specimens. After testing of RNA quality, cDNA was prepared by reverse transcription. A highly sensitive quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method for KLK5 mRNA quantification was developed using the SYBR Green chemistry. GAPDH was used as a housekeeping gene.
Results: Specimens from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) showed higher levels of KLK5 mRNA expression than those from patients with prostate cancer (PCa) (P = 0.024). ROC analysis demonstrated that KLK5 expression had significant discriminatory value between BPH and PCa (AUC 0.64; P = 0.016). KLK5 mRNA expression showed a statistically significant negative correlation with the total PSA serum concentration in the PCa patients (P = 0.003). Early-stage tumors showed higher KLK5 expression than late-stage ones (P = 0.014), whereas KLK5 expression was negatively correlated to Gleason score (P = 0.005).
Conclusions: KLK5 mRNA, analyzed by quantitative PCR in prostate needle biopsies, could be an independent biomarker for the differential diagnosis and prognosis in prostate cancer.
Experimental Determination of the High-Temperature Crack Growth Behavior of Incoloy 800H
Authors: Hollstein T , Voss B 
Published: March 2009

Crack growth and the crack growth rate can be determined continuously by using the single-specimen partial unloading compliance technique, modified for high-temperature tests, or a direct-current potential drop technique with similar accuracy for temperatures up to 800C and test durations from a few hours up to several months. The possibilities and limitations of the experimental setup are discussed.
The increasing influence of time-dependent processes with increasing test temperature is shown on the basis of J-integral versus crack growth resistance curves (J-R curves), determined in short-time tests in the temperature range from room temperature to 800C. Creep deformation and creep crack growth are significant for this alloy at temperatures higher than about 600C.
An evaluation in terms of J-R curves represents the limiting case of negligible time-dependent effects, and therefore it is only meaningful for relatively high loading with relatively high deformation rates. This is demonstrated for high-temperature crack growth experiments with different loading rates. For these cases the evaluation of the short-time tests (less than one day) in terms of the C*-integral for steady-state creep conditions is consistent with results of long-time creep tests at 800C.
Combined-Mode Low-Cycle Fatigue Crack Growth Under Torsional Loading
Authors: Williams RA , Wilkening WW 
Published: March 2009

Faults or other disturbances in an electrical distribution system can potentially feed back to the turbine-generator and produce large-amplitude torsional oscillations in the turbine-generator shaft. These transient torques, in combination with gravity-induced and misalignment-induced bending stresses in the shaft, can give rise to significant combined-mode fatigue crack growth phenomena. Prediction of the fatigue damage or of the growth rate of existing flaws under these complex loading conditions has been the subject of numerous investigations in the past. The work described here focuses upon the development of a correlation of the experimentally measured combined-mode fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) with a suitable fracture mechanics characterizing parameter.
Since the torsional stress levels involved in transient oscillations can be comparable to the yield strength, linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) parameters (for example, K, the stress-intensity factor range) are not appropriate for correlating the crack growth rate. Consequently, a set of elastic-plastic crack driving force solutions was developed for part-circumferential through cracks in a thin-walled tube. Another similar set of elastic-plastic crack driving force solutions for circumferential cracks in a solid cylinder was also developed. Elastic-plastic finite-element analysis techniques, including the virtual crack extension method, were used to develop these solutions, in terms of the energy release rate, J. The geometry and the constitutive behavior of the models mimicked that of the corresponding specimens tested in the associated experimental portion of this program.
Pure Mode II fatigue crack growth was obtained in thin-walled tubular specimens through pure torsional loading, while combined Mode I plus Mode II crack growth was obtained by superimposing in-phase tensile cycling. Similarly, Mode III fatigue crack growth was achieved via torsional loading of the solid cylindrical specimens.
The analytical and experimental results discussed here demonstrate that the measured FCGR can be correlated with the range of the energy release rate,J, computed by elastic-plastic means, or with the corresponding range of the elastic-plastic effective stress-intensity factor range, Kj(EJ). In addition, for the shaft material studied here, the FCGR relation for all combined-mode cases was found to be essentially identical to that for pure Mode I fatigue crack growth.
Urethane Sealants
Authors: Evans RM , Greene RB 
Published: March 2009

This paper presents a discussion of urethane sealants in three parts: commercial applications, chemistry, and specifications. In the first part, urethane sealants for use on concrete structures, glass and glazing, curtain walls, split slabs, highways, and in vehicles are discussed. The price and performance of urethanes are compared to other sealants.
The chemistry section shows how commercially desirable properties are produced by the use of various chemical functional groups.
The specification section relates test methods to commercial properties and chemical groupings.
Assessment of Fish Flesh Tainting Substances
Authors: Thomas NA 
Published: March 2009

Increased use of lakes and rivers for sport and commercial fishing in the vicinity of large municipal and industrial discharges has led to the realization that fish in many bodies of water are not palatable. The discharge of organic compounds has led to the contamination of fish flesh to such an extent that fishing is curtailed more because of poor eating quality rather than the lack of fish.
To evaluate the magnitude of the tainting of fish flesh in a large river, studies were conducted on the flavor of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque) flesh from the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Cairo, Ill. Tasting of fish flesh determined that a panel could differentiate between fish held upstream and downstream from a wastewater discharge. Caged test fish exposed for three days acquired a minimum of 70 percent of the off-flavor of native fish.
Asphalt Viscosity-Related Properties of In-Service Pavements in Pennsylvania
Authors: Kandhal PS , Sandvig LD , Koehler WC , Wenger ME 
Published: March 2009

Six viscosity-graded asphalts from different sources were used in the construction of the pavements studied and reported in this paper. Tests to determine the viscosity-related properties of the original asphalts, as well as the asphalts recovered from time to time from the pavements in service, have been conducted. Evaluation of the performance of these test pavements has been carried out by a team of five engineers.
The aging index based on viscosity at 77 F (25 C) has been found to conform to the pavement performance rating and thus seems to be more meaningful to indicate comparative aging and life expectancy of the test pavements. Shear susceptibility of the asphalt cements seems to be one of the major factors affecting the pavement performance. Present viscosity-graded specifications should be supplemented with a maximum permissible shear-susceptibility value at 77 F so as to control the durability of the asphalts. The maximum amount of shear susceptibility that may develop in a paving-grade asphalt prior to pavement failure is indicated in the data obtained.
Collection and Handling of Physical Evidence for a Forensic Laboratory
Authors: Buscemi PC , Washington WD 
Published: March 2009

The special considerations which must be given to the collection and handling of physical evidence from the scene of a crime for a forensic laboratory are presented. Specifically covered are the handling of physical evidence from criminal acts which violate those jurisdictions comprising an important segment of the responsibilities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in the U.S. Treasury Department.
Many of the unique characteristics of this unusual type of sampling are discussed, particularly those aspects differing markedly from the more routine types of chemical sampling. Topics covered in detail include the following: the selection of materials of possible evidential value; the process of collecting and gathering such items of interest; the importance of marking and labeling properly; the packaging of these materials; their preservation; the proper transmission to the forensic laboratory; and the associated legal requirements which must be adhered to throughout this procedure.
Concepts and Applications of Multidimensional Scaling
Authors: Wish M , Carroll JD 
Published: March 2009

Multidimensional scaling (MDS) is a general term for a class of techniques that can be used to develop spatial representations of psychological stimuli or other objects. The typical input data for these procedures is a matrix of distance-like numbers which indicate how similar or different every stimulus is to each of the others. These similarity or dissimilarity values may be based on objective measurements or subjective judgments. MDS techniques involve iterative algorithms, usually requiring high-speed computers, for constructing the spatial configuration, or “map.”
Although some mention is made of earlier MDS procedures, primary attention is given to describing and illustrating a new technique called “INDSCAL,” for INdividual Differences SCALing. The input to INDSCAL is several matrices of similarities or dissimilarities among the objects, usually one for each subject participating in a study. The output from INDSCAL includes information about the weight, or perceptual importance, of each dimension for every subject, as well as a multidimensional space for the stimulus objects. The applications illustrate the wide range of stimuli and experimental methods that can be used in studies involving MDS, and demonstrate some special advantages of INDSCAL.
Radiation-Induced Changes in the Fracture Extension Resistance (R-Curve) of Structural Steels
Authors: Hawthorne JR , Watson HE 
Published: March 2009

The effects of irradiation on the fracture extension resistance of low- and medium-strength steel plates were explored using R-curve assessment procedures newly developed at the Naval Research Laboratory. The study employed four thick plates of A212-B, A302-B, A533-B, and A543-1 steel. The plates were specifically selected to depict a broad range of pre-irradiation dynamic tear (DT) upper-shelf toughness. Irradiations were conducted at low temperatures, &lt; 450 F (232 C), and at an elevated temperature, ∼ 550 F (288 C).
A subsize R-specimen (0.4 in. thick), patterned after the 5/8-in. dynamic tear specimen, was employed for pre- and postirradiation R-curve determinations. R-curves were constructed by plotting specimen energy absorption per unit fracture surface area against relative crack extension distance.
Radiation exposure was revealed to have a highly detrimental effect on R-curve performance. The effect was observed for all test plates regardless of their pre-irradiation shelf toughness level. The effect encompassed R-curve performance at temperatures corresponding to the dynamic tear upper shelf and at temperatures within the dynamic tear transition regime. The primary detrimental change for the upper-shelf condition was a reduction in R-curve level. A tendency for irradiation to reduce R-curve slope was also evident. The analysis suggests that, with sufficiently high fluence, neutron irradiation can cause a transition from rising R-curve to flat R-curve behavior at upper-shelf temperatures.
Service Experience with H Grades of Austenitic Steel
Authors: Schnabel GJ 
Published: March 2009

Premature creep-rupture swelling of AISI 321 austenitic stainless steel superheater tubes resulted in failures in the middle 1950s and promoted an extensive investigation. These failures in large utility boilers operating at pressures above 1500 psi and temperatures above 1000 F seriously challenged the economics and reliability of high pressure and high temperature. Failures were initially attributed to an extremely fine grain size occasioned by a low temperature solution heat treatment. Reheat treatment at higher temperatures to produce a coarser grain structure reduced the incidence of failure.
Subsequent results of a research project provided evidence that the final solution heat treatment and not the grain size was the most significant factor. Control of the carbon content was also found to be an important factor. A new grade called the “H” grade was introduced which incorporated specific heat treatments and control of carbon. This was applied to the 300 series steel in all product forms. Service experience has been successful with the H grades.
Recent investigations of Type 304 austenitic stainless steel indicate that a controlled nitrogen addition significantly enhanced the rupture life of this material, thereby increasing reliability. While the quest for higher temperature steam fossil units has been blunted with the advent of nuclear power, the fact still exists that higher pressures and temperatures result in significant increases in efficiency, and eventually will be pursued.
Some Measurements of Inhomogeneous Permanent Magnets by the Pole-Coil Method
Authors: Steingroever E 
Published: March 2009

The pole-coil method for measuring demagnetization curves of permanent magnets is applied to inhomogeneous magnets. It allows the analysis of different causes of inhomogeneities: differences in the intrinsic magnetic properties within one test sample, in the degree of orientation of otherwise homogeneous material, in the effectiveness of magnetic heat and annealing treatment; inclusion of holes or nonmagnetic contaminations; unequal cross sections of the tested magnet, for example, with conical shape.
By the pole-coil method inhomogeneities can be recognized by differences in remanence and coercivity. But in the case of serial arrangement of different components the resulting coercivity of an inhomogeneous sample is an average value of the coercivities of the components and nearly unaffected by the location of the measuring spot. The measurement of a magnet with different cross-sectional areas on both faces yields data for immediate magnetic circuit design.
Effect of Mean Stress on the High-Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Udimet 710 at 1000 F
Authors: Moon DM , Sabol GP 
Published: March 2009

The effect of mean stress on the high-cycle fatigue behavior of a wrought nickel-base superalloy, Udimet 710, was studied in air at 1000 F. Under the conditions of testing, which varied from a ratio of the alternating to mean stress, A, of 0.25 to ∞, the endurance limit was almost independent of mean stress. At all values of mean stress, the alloy deformed by superlattice dislocation pairs, shearing both the gamma and gamma-prime phases, resulting in dense planar bands of dislocations. The number of planar bands of dislocations, however, was found to decrease with decreasing mean stress. Independent of the mean stress, fatigue crack initiation took place along the dense bands of dislocations by slip plane decohesion.
Once initiated, the fatigue crack continued to propagate for one or two grain diameters in a Stage I mode before changing to a Stage II mode of propagation. The amount of the remaining fracture surface covered by Stage II crack growth prior to overload decreased with increasing mean stress. However, in the Stage II region of crack growth, the striation spacing, 0.5 µm, was found to be independent of mean stress.
The independence of the fatigue strength on mean stress was concluded to result from the interaction of two competing factors. As the mean stress is increased, the time spent in crack propagation is decreased due to the fact that the Stage I crack growth rate is accelerated, and less Stage II crack growth is required to exceed the fracture strength of the remaining specimen. In addition, at the higher mean stresses, the increased slip dispersal resulted in a greater amount of time being required to build up the dislocation density within a deformation band to the density required for decohesion. The independence of the endurance limit on mean stress, therefore, is related to the shorter time spent in crack propagation at the high mean stress being compensated for by the longer time spent in initiating a crack due to the dispersal of slip onto a greater number of slip planes.
Elevated Temperature Test of Welded Furnace Wall Sections
Authors: Lawton CW , Bynum JE 
Published: March 2009

Welded furnace walls of a modern utility steam generator are subjected to a cyclic system of complex stresses from thermal gradients and mechanical loads as the generator responds to the power load demand. In the fatigue evaluation of the walls, the designer needs a design curve which relates and incorporates the broad spectrum of production tolerances (geometry and material) to the basic material fatigue properties at the elevated temperatures experienced by the steam generator. A research program has been conducted to evaluate the fatigue behavior of a composite (combined wrought and welded structure) furnace wall section.
The fatigue capabilities of the welded furnace wall construction were established experimentally using production specimens of the wall. The specimens were subjected to deflection-controlled alternating flexure tests. The test series were run at 1050 F and included both continuous cycling and holdtimes applied at both extremes of the deflection cycle and at one extreme of the deflection cycle.
Building Seals and Sealants
Authors: Panek J 
Published: March 2009

Description
The Book Committee of ASTM Committee C24 on Building Joint Sealants deeply appreciates the efforts of the many contributors who wrote papers and gave their time and effort to make this book a relatively complete treatise on the subject, and thanks them for their assistance. The authors of the papers have been allowed wide latitude in expressing their views, opinions, and details related to their subject matter.