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Selected AbstractsProcesses controlling rapid temperature variations on rock surfaces,EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 5 2010Jamie L. Molaro Abstract In arid environments, thermal oscillations are an important source of rock weathering. Measurements of temperature have been made on the surface of rocks in a desert environment at a sampling interval of 0·375,s, with simultaneous measurements of wind speed, air temperature, and incoming shortwave radiation. Over timescales of hours, the temperature of the rock surface was determined primarily by shortwave radiation and air temperature, while rapid temperature variations, high dT/dt, at intervals of seconds or less, were determined by wind speed. The maximum values of temperature change and time spent above 2°C,min,1 increased at high measurement rates and were much higher than previously reported. The maximum recorded value of dT/dt was 137°C,min,1 and the average percentage time spent above 2°C,min,1 was ,70 ± 13%. Maximum values of dT/dt did not correlate with the maximum values of time spent above 2°C,min,1. Simultaneous measurements of two thermocouples 5·5,cm apart on a single rock surface had similar temperature and dT/dt values, but were not correlated at sampling intervals of less than 10,s. It is suggested that this is resulting from rapid fluctuations due to small spatial and timescale wind effects that are averaged out when data is taken at longer sampling intervals, ,10,s or greater. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Pharmacokinetics of oxolinic acid in gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata L.JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 7 2002G Rigos This is the first study on the pharmacokinetic parameters of oxolinic acid (OA) in gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata L. The kinetic profile of OA was studied after a single intravascular injection (20 mg kg,1) in 100 g fish at 20 °C. The distribution half-life (t1/2,) and the elimination half-life (t1/2,) of the drug were found to be short (0.51 and 12.60 h, respectively). The drug penetration from the plasma to the tissues was adequate as the apparent volume of distribution of the drug at steady-state (Vd(ss)) was found to be 2.11 L kg,1. The mean residence time (MRT) of OA was short (14.25 h) and the total clearance rate (ClT) of the drug was low (0.15 L kg,1 h,1). The bioavailability (F,%) of OA following oral administration (30 mg kg,1) was also low (14%). Maximum values were observed for muscle at 0.5 h after injection, with levels declining as with subsequent sampling. At the first two time points (0.5 and 1 h) plasma levels of OA were higher than muscle, however, the reverse was evident for subsequent samples. Following oral administration, highest muscle levels were found at 16 h and, with the exception of the 24-h sampling, muscle OA concentrations were higher than plasma at all time points. The fast elimination of OA suggests short withdrawal times with reference to human consumption of treated fish. [source] Mechanical properties of wood plastic composite panels made from waste fiberboard and particleboardPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 6 2008Majid Chaharmahali The possibility of producing wood-plastic panels using a melt blend/hot press method was studied in this research. The studied panels were compared with conventional medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) panels. Wood-plastic panels were made from high density polyethylene (as resin) and MDF waste and PB waste (as natural fiber) at 60, 70, and 80% by weight fiber loadings. Nominal density and dimensions of the panels were 1 g/cm3 and 35 × 35 × 1 cm3, respectively. Mechanical properties of the panels including flexural modulus, flexural strength, screw and nail withdrawal resistances, and impact strength were studied. Results indicated that the mechanical properties of the composites were strongly affected by the proportion of the wood flour and polymer. Maximum values of flexural modulus of wood plastic panels were reached at 70% fiber content. Flexural strength, screw and nail withdrawal resistance, and impact strength of wood plastic composites declined with the increase in fiber content from 60 to 80%. This was attributed to the lack of compatibility between the phases. The produced panels outperformed conventional PB panels regarding their mechanical properties, which were acceptable when compared with MDF panels as well. The best feature in the produced panels was their screw withdrawal resistance, which is extremely important for screw joints in cabinet making. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Multimedia vectorization of floating-point MIN/MAX reductionsCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 9 2006Aart J. C. Bik Abstract Finding the minimum or maximum value in an array forms an important step in a variety of applications. This paper discusses vectorization schemes that take advantage of the streaming-SIMD-extensions in commonly used floating-point MIN and MAX reductions. Performance advantages are demonstrated with experimental results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of sulfonylureas on mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channels in cardiac myocytes: implications for sulfonylurea controversyDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 5 2006Toshiaki Sato Abstract Background Mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ (mitoKATP) channel plays a key role in cardioprotection. Hence, a sulfonylurea that does not block mitoKATP channels would be desirable to avoid damage to the heart. Accordingly, we examined the effects of sulfonylureas on the mitoKATP channel and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. Methods Flavoprotein fluorescence in rabbit ventricular myocytes was measured to assay mitoKATP channel activity. The mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration was measured by loading cells with rhod-2. Results The mitoKATP channel opener diazoxide (100 µM) reversibly increased flavoprotein oxidation to 31.8 ± 4.3% (n = 5) of the maximum value induced by 2,4-dinitrophenol. Glimepiride (10 µM) alone did not oxidize the flavoprotein, and the oxidative effect of diazoxide was unaffected by glimepiride (35.4 ± 3.2%, n = 5). Similarly, the diazoxide-induced flavoprotein oxidation was unaffected both by gliclazide (10 µM) and by tolbutamide (100 µM). Exposure to ouabain (1 mM) for 30 min produced mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, and the intensity of rhod-2 fluorescence increased to 197.4 ± 7.2% of baseline (n = 11). Treatment with diazoxide significantly reduced the ouabain-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ overload (149.6 ± 5.1%, n = 11, p < 0.05 versus ouabain alone), and the effect was antagonized by the mitoKATP channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (189.8 ± 27.8%, n = 5) and glibenclamide (193.1 ± 7.7%, n = 8). On the contrary, cardioprotective effect of diazoxide was not abolished by glimepiride (141.8 ± 7.8%, n = 6), gliclazide (139.0 ± 9.4%, n = 5), and tolbutamide (141.1 ± 4.5%, n = 7). Conclusions Our results indicate that glimepiride, gliclazide, and tolbutamide have no effect on mitoKATP channel, and do not abolish the cardioprotective effects of diazoxide. Therefore, these sulfonylureas, unlike glibenclamide, do not interfere with the cellular pathways that confer cardioprotection. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Probabilistic estimate of seismic response design values of RC framesEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 15 2009Angelo D'Ambrisi Abstract Probabilistically controlled design values of the nonlinear seismic response of reinforced concrete frames are obtained using a method previously proposed by the authors. The method allows to calculate conservative design values characterized by a predefined non-exceedance probability, using a limited number of spectrum-fitting generated accelerograms. Herein the method is applied to elastic-strain hardening single degree of freedom systems representative of RC framed structures and is then assessed with reference to four reinforced concrete model frames designed according to EC8. The frames are characterized by different natural periods and aspect ratios. The results, compared with those obtained applying current EC8 recommendations, show the effectiveness of the proposed method. EC8 provides for design values of the seismic response of a structure with a nonlinear behavior computed as the mean value of the responses to seven accelerograms or as the maximum value of the responses to three accelerograms. These two criteria lead to design values characterized by very different and uncontrolled non-exceedance probability levels, while the proposed method allows the analyst to directly control the non-exceedance probability level of the calculated design values. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Spatial variation in population density across the geographical range in helminth parasites of yellow perch Perca flavescensECOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2007Robert Poulin The abundance of a species is not constant across its geographical range; it has often been assumed to decrease from the centre of a species' range toward its margins. The central assumption of this "favourable centre" model is tested for the first time with parasites, using different species of helminth parasites exploiting fish as definitive hosts. Data on prevalence (percentage of hosts that are infected) and abundance (mean no. parasites per host) were compiled for 8 helminth species occurring in 23 populations of yellow perch Perca flavescens, from continental North America. For each parasite species, correlations were computed between latitude and both local prevalence and abundance values. In addition, the relationships between the relative prevalence or abundance in one locality and the distance between that locality and the one where the maximum value was reported, were assessed separately for each species to determine whether abundance tends to decrease away from the presumed centre of the range, where it peaks. For both the cestode Proteocephalus pearsei and the acanthocephalan Leptorhynchoides thecatus, there was a positive relationship between prevalence or abundance and the latitude of the sampled population. There was also a significant negative relationship between relative prevalence and the distance from the locality showing the maximum value in P. pearsei, but no such pattern was observed for the other 7 parasite species. Since this single significant decrease in prevalence with increasing distance from the peak value may be confounded by a latitudinal gradient, it appears that the distribution of abundance in parasites of perch does not follow the favourable centre model. This means that the environmental variables affecting the density of parasites (host availability, abiotic conditions) do not show pronounced spatial autocorrelation, with nearby sites not necessarily providing more similar conditions for the growth of parasite populations than distant sites. [source] Improvement of pulse pattern for space vector modulated matrix convertersELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN JAPAN, Issue 1 2010Kichiro Yamamoto Abstract Novel modulation which consists of conventional space vector modulation (SVM) based on a virtual AC/DC/AC conversion and carrier signal modulation for matrix converters is proposed. In this proposed modulation, duties for the switching pattern decided by conventional SVM are changed into those for each switch of matrix converter. The new duties for each output phase are compared with the triangle carrier. By using proposed modulation, switchings between the input phase voltage with minimum value and the voltage with maximum value are eliminated. In this paper, the conventional SVM and proposed modulation are explained. Next, for both conventional and proposed modulations waveforms of input current, output voltage and output current and their frequency spectra are calculated by PSIM simulation program. Simulation results show the proposed modulation can reduce harmonics of output voltage waveforms. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 171(1): 46,54, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20903 [source] Detection of nodularin in flounders and cod from the Baltic SeaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Vesa Sipiä Abstract The brackish water cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena regularly forms waterblooms in the Baltic Sea. Many N. spumigena strains can produce nodularin, a hepatotoxic penta-peptide, which has caused several animal poisonings in the Baltic Sea area. To improve our understanding of nodularin bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms this study measured nodularin in flounder and cod caught from the Baltic Sea. Flounders were collected from the western Gulf of Finland in July 1996, September 1997, and September 1998, and from the Gulf of Bothnia in August 1997 and September 1998. Flounders were also collected from the coastal areas of Sweden in the Baltic Proper during September 1998. Cod were caught from the southern Baltic Sea in August 1998. Livers and muscles of the 1997 fish were isolated, extracted, and analysed for nodularin using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibition assay. Approximately 30,70 ng of nodularin/g dry weight (maximum value 140 ng/g) were found in the liver tissue samples by ELISA and PP1 inhibition. These concentrations were below the detection limit of HPLC. PP1 assay showed inhibition also in muscle samples, but this may due to other compounds present in the muscle extracts rather than NODLN or due to matrix interference. The recovery of nodularin from liver tissue with ELISA and PP1 assays was about 30%. Nodularin concentrations in samples are not corrected for recovery. Although the concentrations of nodularin found in this study are low further studies of nodularin are needed to assess possible bioaccumulation in brackish water food webs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 121,126, 2001 [source] Forecasting daily high ozone concentrations by classification treesENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 2 2004F. Bruno Abstract This article proposes the use of classification trees (CART) as a suitable technique for forecasting the daily exceedance of ozone standards established by Italian law. A model is formulated for predicting, 1 and 2 days beforehand, the most probable class of the maximum daily urban ozone concentration in the city of Bologna. The standard employed is the so-called ,warning level' (180,,g/m3). Meteorological forecasted variables are considered as predictors. Pollution data show a considerable discrepancy between the dimensions of the two classes of events. The first class includes those days when the observed maximum value exceeds the established standard, while the second class contains those when the observed maximum value does not exceed the said standard. Due to this peculiarity, model selection procedures using cross-validation usually lead to overpruning. We can overcome this drawback by means of techniques which replicate observations, through the modification of their inclusion probabilities in the cross-validation sets. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of adrenaline and potassium on QTc interval and QT dispersion in manEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 2 2003S. Lee Abstract Background Hypoglycaemia alters cardiac repolarization acutely, with increases in rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval and QT dispersion (QTd) on the electrocardiogram (ECG); such changes are related to the counterregulatory sympatho-adrenal response. Adrenaline produces both QTc lengthening and a fall in plasma potassium (K+) when infused into healthy volunteers. Hypokalaemia prolongs cardiac repolarization independently however, and therefore our aim was to determine whether adrenaline-induced repolarization changes are mediated directly or through lowered plasma K+. Materials and methods Ten healthy males were studied on two occasions. At both visits they received similar l- adrenaline infusions but on one occasion potassium was also administered; infusion rates were adjusted to maintain circulating K+ at baseline. The QTc interval, QTd, peripheral physiological responses and plasma adrenaline and potassium concentrations were measured during both visits. Results The QTc interval and QTd increased both with and without potassium clamping. Without K+ replacement, mean (SE) QTc lengthened from 378 (5) ms to a final maximum value of 433 (10) ms, and QTd increased from 36 (5) ms to 69 (8) ms (both P < 0·001). During K+ replacement, QTc duration at baseline and study end was 385 (7) ms and 423 (11) ms, respectively (P < 0·001), and QTd 38 was (4) ms and 63 (5) ms (P = 0·001). Conclusions These data suggest that disturbed cardiac repolarization as a result of increases in circulating adrenaline occurs independently of extracellular potassium. A direct effect of adrenaline upon the myocardium appears the most likely mechanism. [source] Sensors for the Detection and Quantification of Bacterial Contamination in Water for Human Use,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Raquel Barbosa Queirós The deterioration of water quality by Cyanobacteria cause outbreaks and epidemics associated with harmful diseases in Humans and animals because of the toxins that they release. Microcystin-LR is one of the hepatotoxins most widely studied and the World Health Organization, recommend a maximum value of 1,µg,L,1 in drinking water. Highly specific recognition molecules, such as molecular imprinted polymers are developed to quantify microcystins in waters for human use and shown to be of great potential in the analysis of these kinds of samples. The obtained results were auspicious, the detection limit found, 1.5,µg,L,1, being of the same order of magnitude as the guideline limit recommended by the WHO. This technology is very promising because the sensors are stable and specific, and the technology is inexpensive and allows for rapid on-site monitoring. [source] Substrate Channelling in a Creatine Kinase System of Rat Skeletal Muscle Under Various pH ConditionsEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003M. Gregor The aim of this study was to evaluate myofibrillar creatine kinase (CK) activity and to quantify the substrate channelling of ATP between CK and myosin ATPase under different pH conditions within the integrity of myofibrils. A pure myofibrillar fraction was prepared using differential centrifugation. The homogeneity of the preparation and the purity of the fraction were confirmed microscopically and by enzymatic assays for contaminant enzyme activities. The specific activity of myofibrillar CK reached 584 ± 33 nmol PCr min,1 mg,1 at pH 6.75. Two methods were used to detect CK activity: (1) measurement of direct ATP production, and (2) measurement of PCr consumption. This method of evaluation has been tested in experiments with isolated creatine kinase. No discrepancy in CK activity between the methods was observed in the pH range tested (6.0-7.5). However, the same procedures resulted in a significant discrepancy between the amounts of reacted PCr and produced ATP within the pure myofibrillar fraction. This discrepancy represents the portion of ATP produced by the CK reaction, which is preferentially channelled to the myosin ATPase before diffusing into the bulk solution. The maximum evaluated difference reached 42.3 % at pH 6.95. The substrate channelling between myofibrillar-bound CK and myosin ATPase was evaluated under various pH levels within the physiological range and it reached a maximum value in a slightly acidic environment. These results suggest that ATP/ADP flux control by the CK system is more important at lower pH, corresponding to the physiological state of muscle fatigue. [source] The effect of interference-fit fasteners on the fatigue life of central hole specimensFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 7 2005A. LANCIOTTI ABSTRACT Fatigue tests were carried out on 2024-T351, thickness 1.6 mm, central hole specimens containing pins installed with five different interference-fit levels. Tests clearly demonstrated the beneficial effect of interference fit on fatigue resistance, up to the maximum value examined, 2.5%. A three-dimensional (3D) finite-element model was used in order to characterize the stress field around the hole. A large specimen, with a 40-mm-diameter hole filled with interference-fit pin, was instrumented by strain gauges and statically tested in order to check FEM results. A very good correlation existed between measured and numerically evaluated strains. FEM results demonstrated the well-known effect of interference-fit fasteners on reducing stress ranges. By increasing the interference level, the stress range was practically unchanged, while the mean stress decreased. Interference-fit produces a biaxial stress state, which must be taken into account for fatigue evaluation. In the present case, a simple criterion, based on hoop strain, predicted the fatigue results quite well with the exception of open hole fatigue test results, which were overestimated. [source] Molecular monitoring of microbial diversity in expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors treating oleic acidFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Maria Alcina Pereira Abstract A molecular approach was used to evaluate the microbial diversity of bacteria and archaea in two expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors fed with increasing oleic acid loading rates up to 8 kg of chemical oxygen demand (COD) m,3 day,1 as the sole carbon source. One of the reactors was inoculated with granular sludge (RI) and the other with suspended sludge (RII). During operation, the sludge in both reactors was segregated in two layers: a bottom settled one and a top floating one. The composition of the bacterial community, based on 16S rDNA sequence diversity, was affected most during the oleate loading process in the two reactors. The archaeal consortium remained rather stable over operation in RI, whereas in RII the relative abundance of Methanosaeta -like organisms became gradually weaker, starting in the bottom layer. In the range of oleate loads evaluated, 6 kg of COD m,3 day,1 was found as the maximum value that could be applied to the system. A further increase to 8 kg of oleate-COD m,3 day,1 induced a maximal shift on the microbial structure of the sludges. At this time point, methanogenic acetoclastic activity was not detected and only very low methanogenic activity on H2/CO2 was exhibited by the sludges. [source] Population size, weight distribution and food in a persistent population of the rare medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalisFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2008J. M. ELLIOTT Summary 1. It is important for species recovery and conservation management projects to know the minimum viable population size for rare and endangered species, such as the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Therefore, using a catch-removal method, this study estimated every two years (1986, 1988, 1990, 1992) the total number of medicinal leeches in a tarn in the English Lake District, and the number of mature adults in the population. 2. Four samples were taken each year in June and July, when water temperatures exceeded 20 °C. Population size was estimated both by maximum likelihood and regression methods. All leeches were weighed alive and size groups were separated by polymodal frequency analysis. A small sample of the blood meal in each leech gut was taken before the leeches were returned to the tarn, and was used to estimate the proportion of mammalian and non-mammalian blood in the meals. 3. Both methods of estimation produced similar values, increasing confidence in the population estimates. Values for the total population in June and July varied among years from 248 to 288, the maximum value being only 16% higher than the minimum. Values for the number of mature leeches varied from 48 to 58 (19,20% of the total population), and this was an estimate of the effective population size. 4. There were four size groups. The largest mature leeches (live weight >5 g) in group IV formed only 1% of the population, and the smallest (0.02,0.5 g) in group I 14,17%. Most leeches were in two overlapping groups of immature (64,67% of population) and mature (18%) leeches with size ranges of 0.4,3.4 g and 2.5,5 g respectively. The percentage of leeches in each size group was very consistent among years. Blood meals were found in 38,44% of the leeches in group I, 45,50% in group II, 70,75% in group III, and 100% in group IV, but mammalian blood was present only in larger mature leeches (>3.5 g). 5. Medicinal leeches were first detected in the tarn in 1980 and are still present in 2007, so the population has persisted for at least 27 years. Compared with minimum viable population sizes for other species, including many endangered species, values for this medicinal leech population are extremely low, but may be typical of some rare freshwater invertebrates in isolated habitats. [source] Reduced Surfactant Uptake in Three Dimensional Assemblies of VOx Nanotubes Improves Reversible Li+ Intercalation and Charge CapacityADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 11 2009Colm O'Dwyer Abstract The relationship between the nanoscale structure of vanadium pentoxide nanotubes and their ability to accommodate Li+ during intercalation/deintercalation is explored. The nanotubes are synthesized using two different precursors through a surfactant-assisted templating method, resulting in standalone VOx (vanadium oxide) nanotubes and also "nano-urchin". Under highly reducing conditions, where the interlaminar uptake of primary alkylamines is maximized, standalone nanotubes exhibit near-perfect scrolled layers and long-range structural order even at the molecular level. Under less reducing conditions, the degree of amine uptake is reduced due to a lower density of V4+ sites and less V2O5 is functionalized with adsorbed alkylammonium cations. This is typical of the nano-urchin structure. High-resolution TEM studies revealed the unique observation of nanometer-scale nanocrystals of pristine unreacted V2O5 throughout the length of the nanotubes in the nano-urchin. Electrochemical intercalation studies revealed that the very well ordered xerogel-based nanotubes exhibit similar specific capacities (235,mA h g,1) to Na+ -exchange nanorolls of VOx (200,mA h g,1). By comparison, the theoretical maximum value is reported to be 240,mA h g,1. The VOTPP-based nanotubes of the nano-urchin 3D assemblies, however, exhibit useful charge capacities exceeding 437,mA h g,1, which is a considerable advance for VOx based nanomaterials and one of the highest known capacities for Li+ intercalated laminar vanadates. [source] Palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies of Cretaceous rocks in the Gongju Basin, Korea: implication of clockwise rotationGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2002Seong-Jae Doh Summary Palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies have been carried out for Cretaceous non-marine sedimentary rocks (Gongju Group) and volcanic rocks in the Gongju Basin, located along the northern boundary of the Ogcheon Belt, Korea. K,Ar age dating for the volcanic rocks was also performed. It is found that the Gongju Group was remagnetised during the tilting of the strata with the characteristic remanent magnetisation (ChRM) direction of at 30 per cent untilting of the strata with a maximum value of precision parameter (k), while the volcanic rocks are revealed to acquire primary remanence with the direction of after the tilt-correction. The K,Ar ages of the volcanic rocks range from 81.8 ± 2.4 to 73.5 ± 2.2 Ma, corresponding to the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Electron microscope observations of samples from the Gongju Group show authigenic iron-oxide minerals of various sizes distributed along the cleavage of chlorite and in the pore spaces, indicating that the strata acquired the chemical remanent magnetisation due to the formation of secondary magnetic minerals under the influence of fluids. The palaeomagnetic pole positions are at Lat./Long. = 69.6°N/224.3°E (dp= 3.5°, dm= 5.2°) calculated for the 30 per cent tilt-corrected direction of the Gongju Group and at for the volcanic rocks. Based on the results of this study, it is interpreted that the volcanic rocks acquired the primary magnetisation almost at the same time as the remagnetisation of the Gongju Group in the Late Cretaceous. Comparisons of Cretaceous palaeomagnetic poles from the Korean Peninsula with those from Eurasia implies that the Korean Peninsula underwent clockwise rotation of 21.2°± 5.3° for the middle Early Cretaceous, 12.6°± 5.4° for the late Early Cretaceous, and 7.1°± 9.8° for the Late Cretaceous with respect to Eurasia, due to the sinistral motion of the Tan-Lu Fault. [source] The data-driven seismic value chain, providing a business context for the velocity issueGEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 6 2004A.J. Berkhout ABSTRACT Effective communication between seismic specialists should be facilitated by a shared process model that can be used at different levels of abstraction. In this shared model the seismic work-flow is presented as a value chain, showing the complex interrelationships between the broad range of specialized activities that are needed in today's practice. One of these activities is velocity estimation, providing the relationship between seismic time and geological depth. Excellence in the seismic value chain will depend on the quality of the specialized tools and skills (abilities) involved, as well as on the capability of the organization to combine these abilities in an integrated work-flow to realize maximum value at the end of the chain. [source] A new magnetic resonance imaging scoring method for assessment of haemophilic arthropathyHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 4 2004B. Lundin Summary., In a European multicentre study, 39 ankles in 28 haemophilic boys were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A new MRI score was developed in the format A(e:s:h) for evaluating haemophilic arthropathy. This scheme provides high resolution and allows separation of different pathological components. The factor A is calculated as the sum of scores for subchondral cysts (maximum value 6), irregularity/erosion of subchondral cortex (maximum 4) and chondral destruction (maximum 6); e, s and h, respectively, represent effusion/haemarthrosis, synovial hypertrophy and haemosiderin deposition, and they are separately evaluated on a scale of 0,4. Working independently, two radiologists scored the 39 ankles twice using both this new ,European' scoring method and a previously published ,Denver' scoring scheme. Final classification was achieved by consensus. The reproducibility of the readings was assessed, and for both scoring methods the results indicated good or moderate intraobserver agreement, and good, moderate or fair interobserver agreement. These findings suggest that MRI can be useful for semiquantitative evaluation of haemophilic arthropathy, providing the examination is performed according to an appropriate protocol, and the images are evaluated by specially trained radiologists. [source] Internal gravity wave resonance of thermal convection fields in rectangular cavities with heat-flux vibration (effects of aspect ratio on the fields)HEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 3 2007Shota Matsumura Abstract In this paper the thermal convection field and its resonance phenomena in a rectangular cavity with heat-flux vibration are numerically examined and the results are compared with those of a square cavity. As in the case of ,=1, the critical angular velocity at which the relative amplitude of the midplane Nusselt number ,m has a local maximum agrees very well with the resonance angular velocity of the internal gravity wave ,r, estimated by the theoretical equation proposed by Thorpe, even when the aspect ratio is ,=5 and the Prandtl number is Pr=0.71 for a range of the Rayleigh number Ra. However, ,m has two local maxima for a larger Ra, which is peculiar to the case of larger ,. The time variation of sub-components of the fluctuating component of the midplane Nusselt number shows that the phase at the maximum value of ,m agrees well with that of the sub-component of velocity for the first resonance angular velocity ,r. For the other angular velocity ,r2, the phase of ,m agrees with that of the sub-component of temperature. Moreover, we found that the boundary angular velocity ,0 between the first two of the five , regions, which classify the thermal convection fields against ,, can be expressed by a function of ,, Ra, and Pr and that ,m is independent of , and Ra for a relatively wide range of ,/,0. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 36(3): 158, 171, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20149 [source] Research on Marangoni condensation heat transfer for water and ethanol mixture vaporHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 8 2004He Yang-peng Abstract A brass block was constructed as a test block to study the Marangoni condensation in this paper. The maximal temperature difference of the block surface on which pure steam condensed was 11°C when the block was cooled by the normal temperature water. Regulations and modes of Marangoni condensation for mixture vapor with different mass fractions were studied when the speed of vapor was 0.3 m/s. As both temperature gradients and concentration gradients exist on the condensing surface, the experimental results indicate that the maximal heat transfer coefficient of mixture vapor can be 2.8 times that of pure steam when the Marangoni condensation of mixture vapor appears. The heat transfer coefficient of mixture vapor increases with the decrease of surface subcooling, and it appears a steep increase when the surface subcooling is small enough; the heat transfer flux has a maximum value as the surface subcooling rises; and the different modes of condensation are confirmed when the different ethanol concentration and different surface subcooling exist. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 33(8): 505,514, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20035 [source] Relationship between canopy height and the reference value of surface conductance for closed coniferous standsHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 12 2003Hikaru Komatsu Abstract When estimating the dry-canopy evaporation rate of coniferous stands using the Penman,Monteith equation, it is crucial to determine the reference value of surface conductance Gs. This paper examines the relationship between canopy height and the reference value of Gs based on the maximum value of Gs with a vapour pressure deficit , 1·0 kPa, ,s max. There is a clear correlation between canopy height and ,s max when the projected leaf area index ,3·0. This suggests that using this relationship will enable more accurate determination of the reference value of Gs for closed stands. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A classification of drainage and macropore flow in an agricultural catchmentHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 1 2002Dr C. M. Heppell Abstract This paper uses a variety of multivariate statistical techniques in order to improve current understanding of the antecedent and rainfall controls on drainage characteristics for an agricultural underdrained clay site. Using the dataset obtained from a two-year hillslope study at Wytham (Oxfordshire, UK) a number of patterns in the nature and style of drainage events were explored. First, using principal components analysis, a distinction was drawn between drainflow controlled by antecedent conditions and drainflow controlled by rainfall characteristics. Dimensional analysis then distinguished between two further types of drainflow event: antecedent limited events (ALE) and non-antecedent limited events (NALE). These were drainflow events requiring a minimum antecedent hydraulic head to occur (ALE) and events that occurred in response to rainfall irrespective of the antecedent conditions, because the rainfall was either of high enough intensity or duration to prompt a response in drainflow (NALE). 2. The dataset also made possible a preliminary investigation into the controls on and types of macropore flow at the site. Principal components analysis identified that rainfall characteristics were more important than antecedent conditions in generating high proportions of macropore flow in drainflow. Of the rainfall characteristics studied, rainfall amount and intensity were the dominant controls on the amount of macropore flow, with duration as a secondary control. Two styles of macropore flow were identified: intensity-driven and duration-driven. Intensity-driven events are characterized by rainfall of high intensity and short duration. During such events the amount of macropore flow is proportional to the rainfall intensity and the interaction between macropore and matrix flow is kinetically limited. The second style of macropore flow is characterized by long-duration events. For these events the amount of macropore flow approaches a maximum value whatever the rainfall duration. This suggests that these events are characterized by an equilibrium interaction between macropores and matrix flow. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Activity and sequence characterization of two cysteine proteases in the digestive tract of the reduviid bug Triatoma infestansINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2004A. H. Kollien Abstract Cathepsin B- and cathepsin L-like activities were identified in gut extracts of the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans using specific substrates and inhibitors. Activities decreased during the first 2 days after feeding but increased to a maximum value at 5 and 10 days post feeding. The deduced 332 and 328 amino acid sequences showed high levels of identity (50,60%) to other insect cathepsin B- and L-like proteases, respectively. The three amino acid residues of the catalytic domain, CHN, and the GCNGG motif were conserved in both cathepsins, but the occluding loop, characterizing B-like cathepsins, was present only in one. ERFNIN and GNFD motifs occurred in the other sequence, defining it as cathepsin L-like. The cathepsin B-like gene was expressed at low, constitutive levels in unfed and fed T. infestans. [source] Anisotropic mesh adaption by metric-driven optimizationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2004Carlo L. Bottasso Abstract We describe a Gauss,Seidel algorithm for optimizing a three-dimensional unstructured grid so as to conform to a given metric. The objective function for the optimization process is based on the maximum value of an elemental residual measuring the distance of any simplex in the grid to the local target metric. We analyse different possible choices for the objective function, and we highlight their relative merits and deficiencies. Alternative strategies for conducting the optimization are compared and contrasted in terms of resulting grid quality and computational costs. Numerical simulations are used for demonstrating the features of the proposed methodology, and for studying some of its characteristics. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparing vortex methods and finite difference methods in a homogeneous turbulent shear flowINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 7 2010R. Yokota Abstract The vortex method is applied to the calculation of a homogeneous shear turbulence, and compared with a finite difference code using identical calculation conditions. The core spreading method with spatial adaptation is selected as the viscous diffusion scheme of the vortex method. The shear rate is chosen so that it matches the maximum value observed in a fully developed channel flow. The isosurface, anisotropy tensors, and joint probability density functions reflect the ability of the present vortex method to quantitatively reproduce the anisotropic nature of strongly sheared turbulence, both instantaneously and statistically. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Light-Induced Charge Transfer in Pyrene/CdSe-SWNT Hybrids,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 5 2008L. Hu Hybrids of pyrene/CdSe-single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are fabricated by self-assembling surface-functionalized pyrene/CdSe nanoparticles onto CVD-grown SWNTs. Light- induced charge transfer from the nanoparticles to the nanotubes is determined from the threshold voltage shift of a SWNT field-effect transistor, yielding a maximum value of 2.2 electrons per pyrene/CdSe nanoparticle. [source] Frictional behaviors during applications of lotions by use of a novel friction meter and evaluation of tactile feelingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010A. Ishikubo Vol. 43, No.3 (2009) pp.171,176 A novel friction meter that allows us to measure normal force and friction force at the same time was developed, and the frictional behavior of cosmetics during application was investigated for an evaluation of a tactile feeling, permeability. As a result of measurements of four lotion samples by 15 panels, time courses of normal forces, friction forces and friction coefficients were different among the panels though they used the same samples. It was also found that the maximum value of differentiation in friction coefficient with better permeability feeling was larger than those with less permeability feeling. This suggests that relative changes in the time course of friction coefficients have an important influence on a tactile feeling, permeability. [source] Rheology of Dead Sea shampoo containing the antidandruff climbazoleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 6 2004B. Abu-Jdayil Synopsis In this study, the effect of the antidandruff climbazole on the rheology of hair shampoo containing Dead Sea (DS) salt was investigated. The presence of either DS salt or the climbazole led to increase in the shampoo viscosity. An optimum concentration was found where the viscosity of shampoo was maximum. In the absence of DS salt, the viscosity of hair shampoo increased with increasing the climbazole concentration to reach a maximum value at 1.0 wt%. Further addition of climbazole decreased the viscosity of shampoo. Adjusting the pH of the shampoo at 5.5 and 5.0 shifted the optimum climbazole concentration (corresponds to maximum viscosity) to 0.8 wt% and led to increase in the viscosity of shampoo. On the other hand, the addition of climbazole to the shampoo containing DS salt resulted in a decrease in shampoo viscosity. This decrease of shampoo viscosity became more pronounced with increasing the climbazole and/or DS salt concentrations. By controlling the pH of shampoo, an optimum formula of shampoo comprising both climbazole and DS salt and having maximum viscosity was obtained. Résumé L'effet de l'agent antipelliculaire Climbazole sur rhéologie d'un shampooing contenant du Sel de la Mer Morte (DS) a étéétudié. La presence de DS ou de Climbazole conduit à une augmentation de la viscosité du shampooing. Une concentration optimum correspondent à la viscosité maximum du shampooing peut-être déterminée. En l'absence de DS, la viscosité du shampooing augmente avec l'augmentation en concentration du Climbazole et attaint un maximum à 1% en poids. Au delà de cette concentration, la viscosité du shampooing diminue. L'adjustement du pH du shampooing entre 5.5 et 5 induit le glissement de la concentration optimale en Climbazole (correspondent au maximum de viscosité) qui attaint alors la concentration de 0.8% enpoids et accroit encore la viscosité du shampooing. Par ailleurs, l'addition de Climbazole à un shampooing contenant du DS, provoque une diminution de la viscosité. Cette diminution s'amplifie lorsque l'on augmente la concentration en Climbazole et/ou en DS. L'adjustement du pH du Shampooing permet d'obentir une formule optimum présentant une viscosité maximum et contentant du Climbazole de du DS. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||