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Constant Regardless (constant + regardless)
Selected AbstractsEstimate of input energy for elasto-plastic SDOF systems during earthquakes based on discrete wavelet coefficientsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 15 2005Jun Iyama Abstract The response of an elasto-plastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) system to ground motion is estimated based on wavelet coefficients calculated by discrete wavelet transform. Wavelet coefficients represent both the time and frequency characteristics of input ground motion, and thus can be considered to be directly related to the dynamic response of a non-linear system. This relationship between the energy input into an elastic SDOF system and wavelet coefficients is derived based on the assumption that wavelets deliver energy to the structure instantaneously and the quantity of energy is constant regardless of yielding. These assumptions are shown to be valid when the natural period of the system is in the predominant period range of the wavelet, the most common scenario for real structures, through dynamic response analysis of a single wavelet. The wavelet-based estimation of elastic and plastic energy transferred by earthquake ground motion is thus shown to be in good agreement with the dynamic response analysis when the natural period is in the predominant range of the input. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Wave propagation in an inhomogeneous cross-anisotropic mediumINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 7 2010Cheng-Der Wang Abstract Analytical solutions for wave velocities and wave vectors are yielded for a continuously inhomogeneous cross-anisotropic medium, in which Young's moduli (E, E,) and shear modulus (G,) varied exponentially as depth increased. However, for the rest moduli in cross-anisotropic materials, , and ,, remained constant regardless of depth. We assume that cross-anisotropy planes are parallel to the horizontal surface. The generalized Hooke's law, strain,displacement relationships, and equilibrium equations are integrated to constitute governing equations. In these equations, displacement components are fundamental variables and, hence, the solutions of three quasi-wave velocities, VP, VSV, and VSH, and the wave vectors, , and , can be generated for the inhomogeneous cross-anisotropic media. The proposed solutions and those obtained by Daley and Hron, and Levin correlate well with each other when the inhomogeneity parameter, k, is 0. Additionally, parametric study results indicate that the magnitudes and directions of wave velocity are markedly affected by (1) the inhomogeneous parameter, k; (2) the type and degree of geomaterial anisotropy (E/E,, G,/E,, and ,/,,); and (3) the phase angle, ,. Consequently, one must consider the influence of inhomogeneous characteristic when investigating the behaviors of wave propagation in a cross-anisotropic medium. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Rotationally molded polyethylene: Structural characterization by x-ray and microhardness measurementsADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Maria Clara Cramez Rotationally molded polyethylene (PE) blended in two ways (turbo blending and extrusion) with nucleating and nonnucleating pigments is structurally characterized by wide- and small-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS and SAXS, respectively), DSC and microhardness measurements. Morphological observations are performed by polarized light microscopy. The melting temperature and the degree of crystallinity (from both DSC and WAXS) remain essentially constant regardless of sample preparation and type of pigment. The same holds for the crystal sizes from WAXS and the lamella thickness from SAXS. Only the values of microhardness depend on the type of pigment, increasing about 10% when a nucleating type is used. The almost constant values of these properties, contrasting to the spherulitic morphology, are explained by the fact that the processing conditions in rotational molding are very favorable for crystallization. As a consequence, optimal crystalline structure is achieved, which masks significantly the effect of pigments and blending conditions on the crystallization behavior of polyethylene. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 20: 116,124, 2001 [source] Molecular Characteristics of Poly(N -isopropylacrylamide) Separated from Nanocomposite Gels by Removal of Clay from the Polymer/Clay NetworkMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 8 2010Kazutoshi Haraguchi Abstract The extraordinary mechanical and swelling/deswelling properties of nanocomposite (NC) gels are attributed to their unique organic (polymer)/inorganic (clay) network structure. In this study, poly(N -isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) was successfully separated from an NC gel network by decomposing the clay (hectorite) using hydrofluoric acid (HF). A very low HF concentration (0.2,wt.-%) was adequate for the decomposition of the clay without causing any damage to PNIPA. The separated PNIPA had a high (=5.5,×,106 g,·,mol,1). Also, was almost constant regardless of the clay concentration (Cclay,=,1,25,×,10,2 mol,·,l,1), even though the properties of the NC gel varied widely over this Cclay range. Comparisons of NC gels, PNIPA, and SiO2 -NC gels indicated that the clay platelets specifically play an important role in NC gels. [source] Strain-specific regulation of intracellular Wolbachia density in multiply infected insectsMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 12 2003L. Mouton Abstract Vertically transmitted symbionts suffer a severe reduction in numbers when they pass through host generations, resulting in genetic homogeneity or even clonality of their populations. Wolbachia endosymbionts that induce cytoplasmic incompatibility in their hosts depart from this rule, because cytoplasmic incompatibility actively maintains multiple infection within hosts. Hosts and symbionts are thus probably under peculiar selective pressures that must shape the way intracellular bacterial populations are regulated. We studied the density and location of Wolbachia within adult Leptopilina heterotoma, a haplodiploid wasp that is parasitic on Drosophila and that is naturally infected with three Wolbachia strains, but for which we also obtained one simply infected and two doubly infected lines. Comparison of these four lines by quantitative polymerase chain reaction using a real-time detection system showed that total Wolbachia density varies according to the infection status of individuals, while the specific density of each Wolbachia strain remains constant regardless of the presence of other strains. This suggests that Wolbachia strains do not compete with one another within the same host individual, and that a strain-specific regulatory mechanism is operating. We discuss the regulatory mechanisms that are involved, and how this process might have evolved as a response to selective pressures acting on both partners. [source] Cowpea weevil flights to a point source of female sex pheromone: analyses of flight tracks at three wind speedsPHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2006L. P. S. Kuenen Abstract., Two-day-old male cowpea weevils, Callosobruchus maculatus, fly upwind to a point source of female sex pheromone at three wind speeds. All beetles initiating flight along the pheromone plume make contact with the pheromone source. Analysis of digitized flight tracks indicates that C. maculatus males respond similarly to moths tested at several wind speeds. Beetles' mean net upwind speeds and speeds along their track are similar (P > 0.05) across wind speeds, whereas airspeeds increase (P < 0.01) with increasing wind speed. Beetles adjust their course angles to fly more directly upwind in higher wind speeds, whereas track angles are almost identical at each wind speed. The zigzag flight paths are generally narrow compared with most moth flight tracks and interturn distances are similar (P > 0.05) at the wind speeds employed. The frequency of these counterturns across the wind line is almost constant regardless of wind speed, and there is little variation between individuals. The upwind flight tracks are more directly upwind than those typically seen for male moths flying upwind toward sex pheromone sources. Male moths typically produce a bimodal distribution of track angles to the left and right of the windline, whereas C. maculatus males' track angles are centred about 0°. Preliminary examination of two other beetle species indicates that they fly upwind in a similar fashion. [source] Carbohydrate utilization by juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell).AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003Abstract The ability of juvenile silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) to utilize dietary raw wheat meal, raw wheat starch, gelatinized wheat starch and dextrin as energy sources to spare protein for growth was quantified. Energy utilization and protein sparing were assessed by comparing the weight gain, energy retention efficiency, protein retention and body composition of silver perch that had been fed a series of diets in which the basal diet (low carbohydrate) was systematically replaced with graded levels of each carbohydrate ingredient or an inert diluent, diatomaceous earth. The protein content decreased as the carbohydrate content increased, giving four different protein to energy ratios for each of the four carbohydrate sources (except for the 60% inclusion level, at which only three carbohydrate sources were tested). Silver perch were efficient at utilizing carbohydrate for energy to spare protein. Silver perch fed diets containing up to 30% wheat meal, raw wheat starch, gelatinized wheat starch or dextrin exhibited similar growth, protein retention and energy retention efficiency to the fish fed the basal diet. Weight gain of silver perch fed diets containing wheat meal or carbohydrates at 45% inclusion content had significantly reduced weight gain when compared with fish fed the basal diet. However, protein retention and energy retention efficiency were similar or better. Whole-body protein levels of silver perch remained constant regardless of carbohydrate sources, and there was no evidence of increasing whole-body lipid concentrations for fish fed diets with up to 60% dietary carbohydrate. Silver perch were more efficient at utilizing processed starch (either gelatinized starch or dextrin) than wheat meal or raw wheat starch. [source] | |||||||||||||