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Appropriate Combination (appropriate + combination)
Selected AbstractsSeismic reliability of V-braced frames: Influence of design methodologiesEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 14 2009Alessandra Longo Abstract According to the most modern trend, performance-based seismic design is aimed at the evaluation of the seismic structural reliability defined as the mean annual frequency (MAF) of exceeding a threshold level of damage, i.e. a limit state. The methodology for the evaluation of the MAF of exceeding a limit state is herein applied with reference to concentrically ,V'-braced steel frames designed according to different criteria. In particular, two design approaches are examined. The first approach corresponds to the provisions suggested by Eurocode 8 (prEN 1998,Eurocode 8: design of structures for earthquake resistance. Part 1: general rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings), while the second approach is based on a rigorous application of capacity design criteria aiming at the control of the failure mode (J. Earthquake Eng. 2008; 12:1246,1266; J. Earthquake Eng. 2008; 12:728,759). The aim of the presented work is to focus on the seismic reliability obtained through these design methodologies. The probabilistic performance evaluation is based on an appropriate combination of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, probabilistic seismic demand analysis (PSDA) and probabilistic seismic capacity analysis. Regarding PSDA, nonlinear dynamic analyses have been carried out in order to obtain the parameters describing the probability distribution laws of demand, conditioned to given values of the earthquake intensity measure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Adhesive bonding of titanium nitride-plated stainless steel for magnetic attachmentsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 3 2001Yohsuke Taira The purpose of this study was to evaluate adhesive bonding of resin to titanium nitride ion-plated stainless steel in order for magnetic attachments to survive in the oral environment. Two primers, Cesead II Opaque Primer (CPII) and Metal Primer II (MPII), and one bonding agent, Super-Bond C&B (SB), were used. The surfaces of stainless steel disks were ground and then plated with titanium nitride. After the primer and SB resin were applied, a self-curing resin was bonded to the metal surfaces. Shear bond strengths were determined after 24 h of water storage and after 2,000 thermocycles. Titanium nitride ion-plated stainless steel showed bond strength comparable to the non-plated material. After thermocycling, all specimens of the group no primer/no SB were debonded. The bond strengths of groups CPII/no SB, MPII/no SB and no primer/SB were significantly lower bond strengths than groups CPII/SB and MPII/SB. An appropriate combination of primer and bonding agent should be selected when bonding a magnetic attachment to the denture base. [source] Cover Picture: Hierarchically Organized Superstructure Emerging from the Exquisite Association of Inorganic Crystals, Organic Polymers, and Dyes: A Model Approach Towards Suprabiomineral Materials (Adv. Funct.ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2005Mater. Abstract Suprabiomineral materials possessing hierarchically organized superstructures are investigated by Imai and Oaki on p.,1407. Inorganic crystals, organic polymers, and functional dyes have assembled via a simple biomimetic route into a superstructure that contains six different tiers, from the macroscale to the nanoscale. The hierarchy originates from the strong interaction between crystals and polymers and the diffusion-controlled conditions. The versatile role of the polymer is found to be essential for the construction of a superstructure. This approach promises to generate novel types of functional materials with controllable structures and properties. We report a novel hierarchically organized superstructure emerging from an exquisite association of inorganic crystals, organic polymers, and dyes. The resultant K2SO4/poly(acrylic acid) composite includes five different tiers from the nanoscopic to the macroscopic. An additional new tier leading to functionality is formed by the incorporation of organic dyes that are organized in a nanospace. The emergent superstructure and properties are designed through changes in polymer concentration. The multiple roles of the polymer realize the generation of the architecture at each size scale. This model approach should be widely applicable to other systems, allowing for the preparation of innovative materials by an appropriate combination of crystals, polymers, and functional molecules. [source] Biodegradability of slaughterhouse wastewater with high blood content under anaerobic and aerobic conditionsJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Rodrigo del Pozo Abstract In this work, the biodegradability of wastewater from a slaughterhouse located in Ke,an, Turkey, was studied under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A very high total COD content of 7230,mg,dm,3 was found, due to an inefficient blood recovery system. Low BOD5/COD ratio, high organic nitrogen and soluble COD contents, were in accordance with a high blood content. A respirometry test for COD fractionation showed a very low readily biodegradable fraction (SS) of 2%, a rapidly hydrolysable fraction (SH) of 51%, a slowly hydrolysable fraction (XS) of 33% and an inert fraction of 6%. Kinetic analysis revealed that hydrolysis rates were much slower than these of domestic sewage. The results underlined the need for an anaerobic stage prior to aerobic treatment. Tests with an anaerobic batch reactor indicated efficient COD degradation, up to around 80% removal. Further anaerobic degradation of the remaining COD was much slower and resulted in the build up of inert COD compounds generated as part of the metabolic activities in the anaerobic reactor. Accordingly, it is suggested that an appropriate combination of anaerobic and aerobic reactors would have to limit anaerobic degradation to around 80% of the tCOD and an effluent concentration above 1000,mg,dm,3, for the optimum operation of the following aerobic stage. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Basic ingredients of free energy calculations: A reviewJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2010Clara D. Christ Abstract Methods to compute free energy differences between different states of a molecular system are reviewed with the aim of identifying their basic ingredients and their utility when applied in practice to biomolecular systems. A free energy calculation is comprised of three basic components: (i) a suitable model or Hamiltonian, (ii) a sampling protocol with which one can generate a representative ensemble of molecular configurations, and (iii) an estimator of the free energy difference itself. Alternative sampling protocols can be distinguished according to whether one or more states are to be sampled. In cases where only a single state is considered, six alternative techniques could be distinguished: (i) changing the dynamics, (ii) deforming the energy surface, (iii) extending the dimensionality, (iv) perturbing the forces, (v) reducing the number of degrees of freedom, and (vi) multi-copy approaches. In cases where multiple states are to be sampled, the three primary techniques are staging, importance sampling, and adiabatic decoupling. Estimators of the free energy can be classified as global methods that either count the number of times a given state is sampled or use energy differences. Or, they can be classified as local methods that either make use of the force or are based on transition probabilities. Finally, this overview of the available techniques and how they can be best used in a practical context is aimed at helping the reader choose the most appropriate combination of approaches for the biomolecular system, Hamiltonian and free energy difference of interest. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010 [source] High-sensitivity analysis of specific peptides in complex samples by selected MS/MS ion monitoring and linear ion trap mass spectrometry: Application to biological studiesJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 11 2007Inmaculada Jorge Abstract Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique of paramount importance in Proteomics, and developments in this field have been possible owing to novel MS instrumentation, experimental strategies, and bioinformatics tools. Today it is possible to identify and determine relative expression levels of thousands of proteins in a biological system by MS analysis of peptides produced by proteolytic digestion. In some situations, however, the precise characterization of a particular peptide species in a very complex peptide mixture is needed. While single-fragment ion-based scanning modes such as selected ion reaction monitoring (SIRM) or consecutive reaction monitoring (CRM) may be highly sensitive, they do not produce MS/MS information and their actual specificity must be determined in advance, a prerequisite that is not usually met in a basic research context. In such cases, the MS detector may be programmed to perform continuous MS/MS spectra on the peptide ion of interest in order to obtain structural information. This selected MS/MS ion monitoring (SMIM) mode has a number of advantages that are fully exploited by MS detectors that, like the linear ion trap, are characterized by high scanning speeds. In this work, we show some applications of this technique in the context of biological studies. These results were obtained by selecting an appropriate combination of scans according to the purpose of each one of these research scenarios. They include highly specific identification of proteins present in low amounts, characterization and relative quantification of post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and S -nitrosylation and species-specific peptide identification. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled to multiangle laser light scattering detector: Optimization of crossflow rate, carrier characteristics, and injected mass in alginate separationJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 14 2007Enrica Alasonati Abstract The coupling of the flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) to differential refractive index (DRI) and multiangle laser light scattering (LS) detectors is a powerful tool for characterizing charged polysaccharides such as alginate. However, the correct interpretation of the experimental results and extrapolation of meaningful molecular parameters by using an analytical tool with such a level of complexity requires improvement of the knowledge of the alginate behavior in the channel and careful optimization of the operating conditions. Therefore, the influence of the critical operating parameters, such as crossflow rate, carrier composition and concentration, and sample load, on the alginate retention was carefully evaluated. Combined information obtained simultaneously by DRI and LS detectors over the wide range of the crossflow rate, carrier liquid concentration, and injected amount, allowed to set the appropriate combination of optimal parameters. It was found that the crossflow rate of 0.25 mL/min, carrier solution containing 5×10,2 mol/L ammonium or sodium chloride, and 50,100 ,g of injected sample mass were necessary to achieve complete separation and determination of the meaningful molecular characteristics. The values of the weight-average hydrodynamic radius (RHw), radius of gyration (RG), and molar mass (M), obtained under the optimal conditions were in good agreement to those found for alginates in the literature. [source] Coupling between dissimilar rectangular dielectric waveguidesMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2003H. Cory Abstract The coupling between two identically excited, dissimilar rectangular dielectric waveguides, whose axes are parallel, is studied as a function of frequency and of the geometrical and the electrical properties of the structure. It is found that, for a given permittivity ratio, the power transfer between the guides is maximal, but not complete, at some particular frequency. It is also found that, for a given frequency, the power transfer between the guides is complete for the appropriate combination of permittivity and size of the guides, thus the same propagation coefficient is achieved for both. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 136,139, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10996 [source] Conjugated Macrocycles as Active Materials in Nonlinear Optical Processes: Optical Limiting Effect with Phthalocyanines and Related CompoundsTHE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 3 2002Michael Hanack Abstract An overview of the optical limiting (OL) processes in phthalocyanines and related compounds is presented, particularly a description of the synthesis and relevant optical properties of a series of axially substituted indium(III), titanium(IV), phthalo- and naphthalocyanines, and octaarylporphyrazines. Several techniques, such as transient absorption, Z-scan, and degenerate four-wave mixing, were used to assess the optical properties and OL performance of the investigated compounds. The versatility of the methods of organic synthesis leads to the achievement of effective systems in terms of OL performance through the appropriate combination and modulation of several structural components. The chemistry of the macrocycles here considered allows the variation of the different chemical features, such as the degree of electronic conjugation of the macrocycle and the nature of the ring substituents, the central atom, and the ligands attached to the central atom. © 2002 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 2: 129,148, 2002: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.10024 [source] A Power Efficient Electronic Implant for a Visual Cortical NeuroprosthesisARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 3 2005Jonathan Coulombe Abstract:, An integrated microstimulator designed for a cortical visual prosthesis is presented, along with a pixel reordering algorithm, together minimizing the peak total current and voltage required for stimulation of large numbers of electrodes at a high rate. In order to maximize the available voltage for stimulation at a given supply voltage for generating biphasic pulses, the device uses monopolar stimulation, where the return electrode voltage is dynamically varied. Thus, the voltage available for stimulation is maximized, as opposed to the conventional fixed return voltage monopolar approach, and impedance is significantly lower than can be achieved using bipolar stimulation with microelectrodes. This enables the use of a low voltage power supply, minimizing power consumption of the device. An important constraint resulting from this stimulation strategy, however, is that current generation needs to be simultaneous and in-phase for all active parallel channels, imposing heavy stress on the wireless power recovery and regulation circuitry in large electrode count systems such as a visual prosthesis. An ordering algorithm to be implemented in the external controller of the prosthesis is then proposed. Based on the data for each frame of the video signal to be transmitted to the implant, the algorithm minimizes the total generated current standard deviation between time multiplexed stimulations by determining the most appropriate combination of parallel stimulation channels to be activated simultaneously. A stimulator prototype has been implemented in CMOS technology and successfully tested. Execution of the external controller reordering algorithm on an application specific hardware architecture has been verified using a System-On-Chip development platform. A near 75% decrease in the total stimulation current standard deviation was observed with a one-pass algorithm, whereas a recursive variation of the algorithm resulted in a greater than 95% decrease of the same variable. [source] Contactless passive diagnosis for brain intracranial applications: A study using dielectric matching materialsBIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 5 2010Ioannis A. Gouzouasis Abstract A prototype system for passive intracranial monitoring using microwave radiometry is proposed. It comprises an ellipsoidal conductive wall cavity to achieve beamforming and focusing, in conjunction with sensitive multiband receivers for detection. The system has already shown the capability to provide temperature and/or conductivity variations in phantoms and biological tissue. In this article, a variant of the initially constructed modality is theoretically and experimentally investigated. Specifically, dielectric matching materials are used in an effort to improve the system's focusing attributes. The theoretical study investigates the effect of dielectric matching materials on the system's detection depth, whereas measurements with phantoms focus on the investigation of the system's detection level and spatial resolution. The combined results suggest that the dielectric matching layers lead to the improvement of the system's detection depth and temperature detection level. Also, the system's spatial resolution is explored at various experimental setups. Theoretical and experimental results conclude that with the appropriate combination of operation frequencies and dielectric layers, it is possible to monitor areas of interest inside human head models with a variety of detection depths and spatial resolutions. Bioelectromagnetics 31:335,349, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] NEURAL NETWORK MODELING OF END-OVER-END THERMAL PROCESSING OF PARTICULATES IN VISCOUS FLUIDSJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 2010YANG MENG ABSTRACT Modeling of the heat transfer process in thermal processing is important for the process design and control. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been used in recent years in heat transfer modeling as a potential alternative to conventional dimensionless correlation approach and shown to be even better performers. In this study, ANN models were developed for apparent heat transfer coefficients associated with canned particulates in high viscous Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids during end-over-end thermal processing in a pilot-scale rotary retort. A portion of experimental data obtained for the associated heat transfer coefficients were used for training while the rest were used for testing. The principal configuration parameters were the combination of learning rules and transfer functions, number of hidden layers, number of neurons in each hidden layer and number of learning runs. For the Newtonian fluids, the optimal conditions were two hidden layers, five neurons in each hidden layer, the delta learning rule, a sine transfer function and 40,000 learning runs, while for the non-Newtonian fluids, the optimal conditions were one hidden layer, six neurons in each hidden layer, the delta learning rule, a hyperbolic tangent transfer function and 50,000 learning runs. The prediction accuracies for the ANN models were much better compared with those from the dimensionless correlations. The trained network was found to predict responses with a mean relative error of 2.9,3.9% for the Newtonian fluids and 4.7,5.9% for the non-Newtonian fluids, which were 27,62% lower than those associated with the dimensionless correlations. Algebraic solutions were included, which could be used to predict the heat transfer coefficients without requiring an ANN. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The artificial neural network (ANN) model is a network of computational elements that was originally developed to mimic the function of the human brain. ANN models do not require the prior knowledge of the relationship between the input and output variables because they can discover the relationship through successive training. Moreover, ANN models can predict several output variables at the same time, which is difficult in general regression methods. ANN concepts have been successfully used in food processing for prediction, quality control and pattern recognition. ANN models have been used in recent years for heat transfer modeling as a potential alternative to conventional dimensionless correlation approach and shown to be even better performers. In this study, ANN models were successfully developed for the heat transfer parameters associated with canned particulate high viscous Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids during an end-over-end rotation thermal processing. Optimized configuration parameters were obtained by choosing appropriate combinations of learning rule, transfer function, learning runs, hidden layers and number of neurons. The trained network was found to predict parameter responses with mean relative errors considerably lower than from dimensionless correlations. [source] Morphological evaluation of epitaxial GaN grown on r -plane sapphire by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxyPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 6 2006K. Kusakabe Abstract Morphological evaluation of epitaxial GaN films grown on r -plane sapphire substrates by atmospheric metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy was investigated. The surface frequently showed rough morphology when the GaN was grown at conventional epitaxial conditions. It was found, however, that the surface roughness was improved by using appropriate combinations of growth temperature and low-temperature GaN buffer thickness. Thereby, a peak-to-valley value of the roughness was reduced from 4 ,m to 0.8 ,m. The rotation of crystallographic orientations was observed in the flattened GaN films. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] WHAT MAKES A CGRP2 RECEPTOR?CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 10 2007DL Hay SUMMARY 1Heterogeneity in the receptors for the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been apparent for nearly 20 years. This is most clearly manifested in the observation of CGRP8,37 -sensitive and -insensitive populations of CGRP-activated receptors. The pA2 values for CGRP8,37 in excess of 7 are widely considered to be the result of antagonism of CGRP1 receptors, whereas those below 7 are believed to be the consequence of antagonism of a second population of receptors, namely CGRP2 receptors. 2However, a multitude of pA2 values exist for CGRP8,37, spanning several log units, and as such no obvious clusters of values are apparent. Understanding the molecular nature of the receptors that underlie this phenomenon is likely to aid the development of selective pharmacological tools to progress our understanding of the physiology of CGRP and related peptides. Because there is active development of CGRP agonists and antagonists as therapeutics, such information would also further this pursuit. 3The CGRP1 receptor is pharmacologically and molecularly well defined as a heterodimer of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CL) and receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP) 1. The CL/RAMP1 complex is highly sensitive to CGRP8,37. Conversely, the constituents of the CGRP2 receptor have not been identified. In fact, there is little evidence for a distinct molecular entity that represents the CGRP2 receptor. 4Recent pharmacological characterization of receptors related to CGRP1 has revealed that some of these receptors may explain CGRP2 receptor pharmacology. Specifically, AMY1(a) (calcitonin receptor/RAMP1) and AM2 (CL/RAMP3) receptors can be activated by CGRP but are relatively insensitive to CGRP8,37. 5This, along with other supporting data, suggests that the ,CGRP2 receptor' that has been extensively reported in the literature may, in fact, be an amalgamation of contributions from a variety of CGRP-activated receptors. The use of appropriate combinations of agonists and antagonists, along with receptor expression studies, could allow such receptors to be separated. [source] | ||||||||||||||||