bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Verification of load factors for concrete components by reliability and optimization analysis: Background documents for implementing Eurocodes
Authors: Holický Milan , Marková Jana 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe European standards for the design of construction works, the Structural Eurocodes, are presently at a stage of transformation from their ENV status to operational EN documents. Available drafts and other working materials clearly indicate that the decision concerning alternative procedures and reliability elements will remain in the competency of national responsible authorities. One of the most important issues is the determination of the partial safety factors for permanent and variable loads. Simple examples of reinforced concrete components, considered in the present study, indicate that a structure designed on the basis of the recommended values for these safety factors in the latest drafts of the proposed EN standards will be of adequate reliability. Moreover, in some cases reduction of the safety factors may lead to unsatisfactory reliability. Thus it appears that a possible downward modification of recommended safety factors and other reliability elements should be supported by comprehensive studies, and preferably limited to those cases which are linked to national (regional) conditions, e.g. to climatic actions and their combinations. This recommendation is supported by probabilistic optimization, taking the total expected cost as an objective function and the partial safety factors for permanent and imposed loads as decisive parameters. The total cost further depends on the malfunction cost to the marginal costs for permanent and imposed loads. It appears that the optimum values of the partial safety factors may be expected to be very close to the values recommended in the draft of EN 1990.
The serviceability design of low‐rise masonry structures
Authors: Page A W 
Published: August 2002

AbstractModern structural design requires consideration of both strength and serviceability. With advances in technology, reasonable estimates of strength can be obtained. However, for masonry structures which are brittle and lack tensile strength, the serviceability performance is more difficult to predict and yet is extremely important. For many low‐rise masonry structures (particularly housing) the most common problems which arise after construction relate to serviceability, especially cracking. This cracking may not be structurally significant, but often is aesthetically unacceptable and must be repaired, sometimes at considerable cost. Cracking can result from a variety of sources including external effects (shrinking and swelling of reactive clays with moisture variations, differential foundation movements, etc.), interactions of the masonry with other structural elements, or from dimensional changes in the masonry itself.Structural systems and masonry types vary, with the masonry sometimes being load‐bearing or otherwise serving as a veneer. In all cases masonry behaves as a brittle material with relatively low tensile strength and is therefore prone to cracking. Cracking can be avoided or minimized by ensuring that induced tensile stresses are kept as low as possible. The structure must also be correctly designed, detailed and constructed and have adequate tensile (bond) strength. This paper reviews all the above aspects, particularly in relation to recent research in structural serviceability carried out at the University of Newcastle, Australia.
Andrographis paniculata (Ness) induces relaxation of uterus by blocking voltage operated calcium channels and inhibits Ca+2 influx
Authors: Burgos Rafael A. , Aguila Marcela J. , Santiesteban Elson. T. , Sánchez Nury S. , Hancke Juan L. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe possible relaxation of uterine smooth muscle by Andrographis paniculata dried extract via a blockade of voltage operated calcium channels was investigated in rats. Uterine horns pretreated with oestradiol were incubated in Ca+2‐free Jalon's solution and stimulated with KCl (20–60 mM) in order to produce depolarization of the membrane. The isometric contractile response to 1 mM or cumulative concentrations of CaCl2 were blockaded by 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL of A. paniculata. The maximum contractile response induced by acetylcholine was moderately antagonized by A. paniculata. The possible blockade of Ca+2 entry by A. paniculata was evaluated with 45Ca+2 uptake in uterine rings incubated with free‐Ca+2‐Ringer's solution high in K+ (KCl 40 mM). The influx was completely blockaded with 0.4 mg/mL of A. paniculata. These results strongly suggest that A. paniculata blockades voltage operated calcium channels inhibiting the entry of Ca+2 from the external medium. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory effect on immunoglobulin E production in vivo and in vitro by Siegesbeckia glabrescens
Authors: Kim Hyung‐Min , Lee Joon‐Ho , Won Jin‐Hee , Park Eun‐Jeung , Chae Han‐Jung , Kim Hyung‐Ryong , Kim Cheorl‐Ho , Baek Seung‐Hwa 
Published: August 2002

AbstractElevated levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)E are associated with immediate‐type allergic reactions. The effect of an aqueous extract of Siegesbeckia glabrescens (Compositae) whole plants (SGWP) on in vivo and in vitro IgE production was studied in mice. SGWP dose‐dependently inhibited the active systemic anaphylaxis and serum IgE production induced by immunization with ovalbumin and Bordetella pertussis toxin absorbed to aluminium hydroxide gel. SGWP dose‐dependently inhibited IL‐4‐dependent IgE production by lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated murine whole spleen cells. In the case of U266 human IgE‐bearing B cells, SGWP also showed an inhibitory effect on IgE production. These results suggest that SGWP has an anti‐allergic activity by inhibiting IgE production from B cells. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of triterpenoids from Heliotropium marifolium Koen. ex Retz. in vivo and in vitro. I. Antimicrobial screening
Authors: Singh B. , Dubey M. M. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe hexane extract of Heliotropium marifolium yielded a mixture of triterpenoids: β‐sitosterol, stigmasterol, β‐amyrin, friedelan‐3β‐ol (epifriedelenol), cycloartenone, β‐amyrin acetate, friedelin and epifriedenyl acetate. Isolated triterpenoid and reference antibiotics (gentamycin/mycostatin) were tested against selected pathogenic bacteria and fungi, e.g. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum. The inhibition zone (IZ) and the activity index (AI) of isolated compounds were recorded and it was found that epifriedenyl acetate (IZ = 17; AI = 1.06) was the most active. The present study deals with the quantification and assessment of their growth inhibitory potency. It has been reported that cycloartenone was the major triterpenoid in both in vivo (0.54%) and in vitro (0.11%) cell cultures. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of tumour necrosis factor‐α secretion from rat astrocytes by Sesim‐Tang
Authors: Kim H. M. , Shin H. Y. , Lee S. P. , Ryu S. T. , Shin T. Y. , Chae H. J. , Kim H. R. , Lyu Y. S. , Lim K. S. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractSubstance P (SP) can stimulate secretion of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we have examined whether an aqueous extract of Sesim‐Tang inhibits the secretion of TNF‐α from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Sesim‐Tang (10–1000μg/mL) significantly inhibited the TNF‐α secretion by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and SP. Interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) has been shown to elevate TNF‐α secretion from LPS‐stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore examined whether IL‐1 mediated inhibition of TNF‐α secretion from primary astrocytes by Sesim‐Tang. Treatment with Sesim‐Tang (10–1000 μg/mL) of astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL‐1 secretion significantly. Moreover, the secretion of TNF‐α by LPS and SP in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amounts of IL‐1 neutralizing antibody. Our results suggest that Sesim‐Tang may inhibit TNF‐α secretion by inhibiting IL‐1 secretion and that Sesim‐Tang has an antiinflammatory activity in the central nervous system. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical composition and biological activity of the volatiles of Anthemis melampodina and Pluchea dioscoridis
Authors: Grace Mary H. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe volatile fractions obtained by hydrodistillation of the fresh leaves of Anthemis melampodina and Pluchea dioscoridis were analysed by GC‐MS technique. Of 38 components identified in the volatile oil of A. melampodina, santolinatriene was the major component (27.33%). The oil was characterized by a high percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons (49.94%) while sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes represented only 7.41% and 11.43% of the oil. 36 components were identified in the volatile oil of P. dioscoridis. Farnesol was the major component (16.50%) accompanied by a high percentage of sesquiterpene alcohols. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (26.43%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (39.43%) represented the main constituents in the oil. P. dioscoridis showed a marked mosquito larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens (LC50 71.86 ppm), while A. melampodina was moderately active (LC50 139.42 ppm). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiosensitizing effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) oil
Authors: Kumar Ashok , Rao A. R. , Kimura H. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractRadiosensitization by neem oil was studied using Balbc/3T3 cells and SCID cells. Neem oil enhanced the radiosensitivity of the cells when applied both during and after x‐irradiation under aerobic conditions. Neem oil completely inhibited the repair of sublethal damage and potentially lethal damage repair in Balbc/3T3 cells. The cytofluorimeter data show that neem oil treatment before and after x‐irradiation reduced the G2 + M phase, thus inhibiting the expression of the radiation induced arrest of cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. However, SCIK cells (derived from the SCID mouse), deficient in DSB repair, treated with neem oil did not show any enhancement in the radiosensitivity. There was no effect of neem oil on SLD repair or its inhibition in SCIK cells. These results suggest that neem oil enhanced the radiosensitivity of cells by interacting with residual damage after x‐irradiation, thereby converting the sublethal damage or potentially lethal damage into lethal damage, inhibiting the double‐strand break repair or reducing the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retracted:Nootropic‐like effect of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) in mice
Authors: Dhuley Jayant N. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe above article has been retracted by agreement between the author, the Editor‐in‐Chief of Phytotherapy research (PTR) and John Wiley & Sons,Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to inclusion of data in this paper from that published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 1992 36(1) 29‐34 (PMID: 1597339) by SK Kulkarni and A. Verma 'Evidence for notropic effect of BR‐16A (Mentat), a herbal psychotropic preperation, in mice' . The origin of the material in question was not correctly attributed to the authors Kulkarni and Verma
In vivo Antiviral Activity of Stephania cepharantha against Herpes Simplex Virus Type‐1
Authors: Nawawi As'ari , Nakamura Norio , Meselhy Meselhy R. , Hattori Masao , Kurokawa Masahiko , Shiraki Kimiyasu , Kashiwaba Noriaki , Ono Minoru 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe antiviral activity of a MeOH extract of Stephania cepharantha (root tubers), its CHCl3‐soluble fraction (alkaloid fraction) and the major alkaloid FK‐3000 (1) were investigated in BALB/c mice cutaneously infected with HSV‐1 strain 7401H. At doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight, p.o., the MeOH extract significantly delayed skin lesion on score 2 (vesicles in the local region), limited the development of further lesions on score 6 (mild zosteriform lesion) and prolonged the mean survival time of HSV‐1 infected mice. After p.o. administration of the CHCl3‐soluble fraction at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg or FK‐3000 (1) at 10 and 25 mg/kg, similar results were obtained. Although the alkaloid improved the survival of infected mice, it had a narrow therapeutic index. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abietic acid inhibits lipoxygenase activity
Authors: Ulusu N. Nuray , Ercil Dilek , Sakar M. Koray , Tezcan E. Ferhan 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIn this study, it was shown that abietic acid, an abietane diterpenoid, inhibited soybean 5‐lipoxygenase (linoleate: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.13.11.12) and an IC50 of 29.5 ± 1.29 µM was determined. Since the lipoxygenase pathway leads to the biosynthesis of leukotrienes this result supports the view that abietic acid may be used in the treatment of allergic reactions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
21 CFR Part 11: electronic records. An interactive voice response system. Case study for success
Authors: Weldon Phyllis M. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractA large full‐service clinical research organization in the US needed to replace their legacy interactive voice response system which did not provide 21 CFR Part 11 compliant audit trails. They chose to custom‐build the new software using C++ component architecture, eXtensible Markup Language (XML), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and Microsoft web telephony engine. The case study described in this article illustrates that when systems developers read, study, understand, and embrace 21 CFR Part 11 before designing and validating their product, the regulations are easily met. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TDR handbook ‐ quality standards in basic biomedical research
Authors: Kioy D. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractYou will no doubt read the interview with Dr Deborah Kioy of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), published in this issue on pages 113–117. In that interview, Dr Kioy talked about the TDR publication on Quality Standards in Basic Biomedical Research. This draft document represents an initial step toward providing scientists working in biomedical research, especially those in the developing world, with some uniform guidelines on how to ensure the acceptability of their data in the scientific community at large.The document was produced as a draft by a Scientific Working Group set up at the initiative of TDR to discuss the issues related to ensuring that researchers produce “quality data”. TDR realises that in order to produce a final document on this important topic, it is essential to obtain input from both a wide cross‐section of scientists and from specialists working in the field of quality management. Hence, TDR is inviting comments on the existing document so that the final publication will incorporate truly global input and will reflect a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary consensus. To attain this goal, TDR is attempting to assure that the document is widely circulated.At The Quality Assurance Journal we are pleased to contribute to the TDR initiative by publishing in extenso the draft document and by calling upon all our readers to carefully consider the text and send comments for consideration to the address below:TDR would like the final publication to be ready for publication in the year 2003. Consequently, comments and viewpoints for consideration should reach TDR in Geneva by 31 January 2003. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computer‐aided tolerance synthesis with statistical method and optimization techniques
Authors: Jeang Angus 
Published: August 2002

AbstractMost tolerance design optimization problems have focused on developing exact methods to reduce manufacturing cost or to increase product quality. The inherent assumption with this approach is that assembly functions are known before a tolerance design problem is analyzed. With the current development of CAD (Computer‐Aided Design) software, design engineers can address the tolerance design problem without knowing assembly functions in advance. In this study, VSA‐3D/Pro software, which contains a set of simulation tools, is employed to generate experimental assembly data. These computer experimental data will be converted into other forms such as total cost and Process Capability Index. Total cost consists of tolerance cost and quality loss. Then, empirical equations representing two variables can be obtained through a statistical regression method. After that, mathematical optimization and sensitivity analysis are performed within the constrained ‘desired design and process’ space. Consequently, tolerance design via computer experiments enables engineers to optimize design tolerance and manufacturing variation to achieve the highest quality at the most cost effective price during the design and planning stage. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimated incapability index: reliability and decision making with sample information
Authors: Pearn W. L. , Lin G. H. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe process incapability index $C_{pp}$, which provides an uncontaminated separation between information concerning the process precision and process accuracy, has been proposed to measure process performance for industry applications. In this paper, we investigate the reliability of the natural estimator computationally, based on the $\alpha$‐level confidence relative error for various sample sizes. We also develop a decision‐making procedure for judging if the process satisfies the preset quality requirement. The investigation is useful to the practitioners in determining the sample sizes required in their applications for the decisions reliable to the desired level. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Weighted moments estimation of the scale parameter of the exponential distribution based on a multiply type II censored sample
Authors: Wu Jong‐Wuu , Yang Chi‐Chin 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIn this paper, we propose the weighted moments estimators (WMEs) of the scale parameter of the exponential distribution based on a multiply type II censored sample. When compared to the approximate maximum likelihood estimator (AMLE) by Balakrishnan (1990) and the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE) by Balasubramanian and Balakrishnan (1992) (or Upadhyay et al. (1996)) in terms of the simulated mean squared errors (MSEs) of AMLE and BLUE and exact MSEs of WMEs, we find that some of the WMEs are better than the AMLE and BLUE for given sample sizes and different censoring schemes. Further, we also obtain the best estimator among the WMEs, AMLE and BLUE. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A modified short‐run type II continuous sampling plan
Authors: Tsai Tzong‐Ru 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIn this article, a modified continuous sampling of type II is provided for finite production runs. The suggested sampling plan revises the continuous sampling plan‐2 of Yang (1983). The proposed plan places no predetermined limit on the number of items to be inspected until the second defect is detected when in partial inspection mode. A similar derivation to that of Yang is used to find an approximation to the average outgoing quality of the modified continuous sampling plan‐2 in finite production runs. Some tables are provided to aid in the selection of the clearance number and sampling fraction when the production run length and an average outgoing quality limit are given. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An analytical molecular orbital approach for modeling of low‐dimensional conductors in molecular crystals
Authors: Tada Tomofumi , Aoki Yuriko 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIn low‐dimensional molecular crystals that exhibit Peierls instability, the intercolumnar interaction plays an important role in the determination of the conducting property. To predict the crystal structure that exhibits an electronic conduction, we proposed a simple formula based on the molecular orbital theory. In this approach, analytical molecular orbitals of polyene were extended to be applicable for molecular crystals of charge–transfer complexes, and the Peierls distortion was represented by using the first‐ and second‐order perturbation theory. It was concluded that the energetic behaviors and structures calculated by the analytical method developed in the present work are identical to those obtained by the tight‐binding ab initio molecular orbital calculation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001
Occupation numbers for atomic shells in direct space bounded by the maxima of the one‐electron potential
Authors: Kohout M. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractAtomic shells defined as wells of the one‐electron potential \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\nabla^{2}\sqrt{\rho}/2\sqrt{\rho}$\end{document} bounded by successive maxima of this electron density function give reasonable electron numbers for the occupation of shells with empty d orbitals. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 83: 324–331, 2001
Theoretical study of the excited singlet and triplet states of alloxan
Authors: Kakkar Rita , Sarma Bhupendra K. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe possibility of excited‐state protomeric shifts in the biologically important molecule, alloxan, is investigated. We have focused on the S1 and T1 excited states of alloxan and its hydroxy tautomers. Modifications brought in by excitation on the relative stabilities, activation barriers, and optimized geometries, computed at the MNDO, AM1, and PM3 levels of approximation, have been discussed for both excited electronic states. The absorption and fluorescence spectra for the three tautomers are also discussed. Results show significant changes in the geometries on excitation, although the changes are similar for the singlet and triplet excited states. Though the relative stability orders do not change, the 2‐hydroxy tautomer is stabilized, while the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. The excited states are (n,π*) states, involving the promotion of a nonbonding oxygen lone pair from the COCOCO moiety, which explains why the oxygens of this group become less basic and the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. However, the activation barriers do not reduce significantly on excitation, and this precludes the possibility of ground‐ or excited‐state proton transfer in the gas phase. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001
Alcohol in breath and blood: a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometric study
Authors: Wilson Paul F. , Freeman Colin G. , McEwan Murray J. , Milligan Daniel B. , Allardyce Randall A. , Shaw Geoffrey M. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIn this paper we compare the amounts of ethanol in breath and in blood after ingestion of whisky using analysis by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS). Blood ethanol concentrations were also obtained using standard hospital forensic procedures for blood alcohol analyses. We demonstrate the quantitative nature of SIFT‐MS analysis by correlating the observed alcohol content of the headspace above 5‐mL amounts of venous blood and aqueous solution to which known trace amounts of alcohol have been added. This procedure provides a Henry's Law coefficient for ethanol in aqueous solution at 298 ± 3 K of 209 ± 7 mol/kg*bar. We also demonstrate that measurement of the ethanol concentration in the alveolar portion of a single breath using the SIFT‐MS technique gives an accurate measure of blood alcohol and could obviate the need for blood samples in forensic processing. The storage performance of breath samples in Mylar bags with a volume greater than 1 L has been shown to maintain the mixture integrity for ethanol but not for some other species. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.