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Selected AbstractsGENETIC STUDY: Polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4 VNTR) and cannabinoid CB1 receptor gene (CNR1) are not strongly related to cue-reactivity after alcohol exposureADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Esther Van Den Wildenberg ABSTRACT Polymorphisms in the D4 dopamine receptor gene (DRD4) and the CB1 cannabinoid receptor gene (CNR1) have been associated with a differential response to alcohol after consumption. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether heavy drinkers with these polymorphisms would respond with enhanced cue-reactivity after alcohol exposure. Eighty-eight male heavy drinkers were genotyped for the DRD4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) [either DRD4 long (L) or short (S)] and the CNR1 rs2023239 polymorphism (either CT/CC or TT). Participants were exposed to water and beer in 3-minute trials. Dependent variables of main interest were subjective craving for alcohol, subjective arousal and salivary reactivity. Overall, no strong evidence was found for stronger cue-reactivity (= outcome difference between beer and water trial) in the DRD4 L and CNR1 C allele groups. The DRD4 VNTR polymorphism tended to moderate salivary reactivity such that DRD4 L participants showed a larger beverage effect than the DRD4 S participants. Unexpectedly, the DRD4 L participants reported, on average, less craving for alcohol and more subjective arousal during cue exposure, compared with the DRD4 S participants. As weekly alcohol consumption increased, the CNR1 C allele group tended to report more craving for alcohol during the alcohol exposure than the T allele group. The DRD4 and CNR1 polymorphisms do not appear to strongly moderate cue-reactivity after alcohol cue exposure, in male heavy drinkers. [source] A mode II weight function for subsurface cracks in a two-dimensional half-spaceFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 10 2002A. MAZZÙ ABSTRACT The general properties of a mode II Weight Function for a subsurface crack in a two-dimensional half-space are discussed. A general form for the WF is proposed, and its analytical expression is deduced from the asymptotic properties of the displacements field near the crack tips and from some reference cases obtained by finite elements models. Although the WF has general validity, the main interest is on its application to the study of rolling contact fatigue: its properties are explored for a crack depth range within which the most common failure phenomena in rolling contact are experimentally observed, and for a crack length range within the field of short cracks. The accuracy is estimated by comparison with several results obtained by FEM models, and its validity in the crack depth range explored is shown. [source] Fluid injection and surface deformation at the KTB location: modelling of expected tilt effectsGEOFLUIDS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2005T. JAHR Abstract This investigation is indented to explore the relationship between changes in pore fluid pressure and deformation of the land surface induced by a large-scale injection experiment at the KTB site. Deformation will be monitored by ASKANIA borehole tiltmeters at five locations. During the year 2003, a network of borehole tiltmeters was installed, data transmission links established and tested, and recording of tilt data started. Our first main interest was to receive data sets of all stations well before the injection experiment to start in May 2004, to be able to evaluate local site effects. Thus, the separation of injection-induced effects will be more reliable. Principal 3D numerical modelling (poro-elastic modelling and investigations, using the finite element method, FEM) of poro-elastic behaviour showed that significant tilt amplitudes can be expected during controlled fluid injection. Observed deformation will be investigated within the framework of the fluid flow behaviour and resulting deformation. Two models have been used: a coupled hydro geomechanical finite element model (abaqus) and, as a first step, also a multi-layered poro-elastic crust (poel). With the numerical model two effects can be quantified: (i) the deformation of the upper crust (tilt measurements) and (ii) the spatial distribution and the changes of material properties in the KTB area. The main aim of the project is to improve the knowledge of coupled geomechanic,hydraulic processes and to quantify important parameters. Thus, the understanding of fracture-dominated changes of the hydrogeological parameters will be enhanced, geomechanical parameter changes and the heterogeneity of the parameter field quantified. In addition, the induced stress field variation can be explained, which is believed to be mainly responsible for the increase of local seismic activity. Here, we introduce the tiltmeter array at the KTB site, the modelling for a poro-elastic crust and the preliminary FEM modelling. [source] A new fast hybrid adaptive grid generation technique for arbitrary two-dimensional domainsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2010Mohamed S. Ebeida Abstract This paper describes a new fast hybrid adaptive grid generation technique for arbitrary two-dimensional domains. This technique is based on a Cartesian background grid with square elements and quadtree decomposition. A new algorithm is introduced for the distribution of boundary points based on the curvature of the domain boundaries. The quadtree decomposition is governed either by the distribution of the boundary points or by a size function when a solution-based adaptive grid is desired. The resulting grid is quaddominant and ready for the application of finite element, multi-grid, or line-relaxation methods. All the internal angles in the final grid have a lower bound of 45° and an upper bound of 135°. Although our main interest is in grid generation for unsteady flow simulations, the technique presented in this paper can be employed in many other fields. Several application examples are provided to illustrate the main features of this new approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On the numerical treatment of initial strains in biological soft tissuesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 8 2006E. Peña Abstract In this paper, different methodologies to enforce initial stresses or strains in finite strain problems are compared. Since our main interest relies on the simulation of living tissues, an orthotropic hyperelastic constitutive model has been used to describe their passive material behaviour. Different methods are presented and discussed. Firstly, the initial strain distribution is obtained after deformation from a previously assumed to be known stress-free state using an appropriate finite element approach. This approach usually involves important mesh distortions. The second method consists on imposing the initial strain field from the definition of an initial incompatible ,deformation gradient' field obtained from experimental data. This incompatible tensor field can be imposed in two ways, depending on the origin of the experimental tests. In some cases as ligaments, the experiment is carried out from the stress-free configuration, while in blood vessels the starting point is usually the load-free configuration with residual stresses. So the strain energy function would remain the same for the whole simulation or redefined from the new origin of the experiment. Some validation and realistic examples are presented to show the performance of the strategies and to quantify the errors appearing in each of them. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparison of repeatability and multiple trait threshold models for litter size in sheep using observed and simulated data in Bayesian analysesJOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 4 2010W. Mekkawy Summary Bayesian analyses were used to estimate genetic parameters on 5580 records of litter size in the first four parities from 1758 Mule ewes. To examine the appropriateness of fitting repeatability (RM) or multiple trait threshold models (MTM) to litter size of different parities, both models were used to estimate genetic parameters on the observed data and were thereafter compared in a simulation study. Posterior means of the heritabilities of litter size in different parities using a MTM ranged from 0.12 to 0.18 and were higher than the heritability based on the RM (0.08). Posterior means of the genetic correlations between litter sizes of different parities were positive and ranged from 0.24 to 0.71. Data sets were simulated based on the same pedigree structure and genetic parameters of the Mule ewe population obtained from both models. The simulation showed that the relative loss in accuracy and increase in mean squared error (MSE) was substantially higher when using the RM, given that the parameters estimated from the observed data using the opposite model are the true parameters. In contrast, Bayesian information criterion (BIC) selected the RM as most appropriate model given the data because of substantial penalty for the higher number of parameters to be estimated in the MTM model. In conclusion, when the relative change in accuracy and MSE is of main interest for estimation of breeding values of litter size of different parities, the MTM is recommended for the given population. When reduction in risk of using the wrong model is the main aim, the BIC suggest that the RM is the most appropriate model. [source] A Functional Polymorphism of the , -Opioid Receptor Gene (OPRM1) Influences Cue-Induced Craving for Alcohol in Male Heavy DrinkersALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2007Esther Van Den Wildenberg Background: The , -opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) codes for the , -opioid receptor, which binds , -endorphin. The A118G polymorphism in this gene affects , -endorphin binding such that the Asp40 variant (G allele) binds , -endorphin 3 times more tightly than the more common Asn40 variant (A allele). This study investigated the influence of the A118G polymorphism on cue reactivity after exposure to an alcoholic beverage in male heavy drinkers. Methods: Participants were either homozygous for the A allele (n=84) or carrying at least 1 copy of the G allele (n=24). All participants took part in a cue-reactivity paradigm where they were exposed to water and beer in 3-minute trials. The dependent variables of main interest were subjective craving for alcohol, subjective arousal, and saliva production. Results: G allele carriers reported significantly more craving for alcohol than the A allele participants (as indicated by the within-subject difference in craving after beer vs after water exposure). No differences were found for subjective arousal and saliva. Both groups did not differ in family history of alcoholism. Participants with the G allele reported a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of drug use than participants homozygous for the A allele. Conclusions: A stronger urge to drink alcohol after exposure to an alcoholic beverage might contribute to a heightened risk for developing alcohol-related problems in individuals with a copy of the G allele. The G allele might also predispose to drug use in general. [source] Increasing stable deformation by declining temperature during the processMATERIALWISSENSCHAFT UND WERKSTOFFTECHNIK, Issue 4-5 2008J. Ziegelheim Abstract Recently increasing amount of light metal sheets, especially based on magnesium, is being involved into various structural constructions and functional components. Such a rising trend can be observed, for instance, at automotive, aerospace and electronic industry. On the other hand there exist some processing difficulties, such as forming limits, caused by crystalline structure. To make processing of magnesium materials most reasonable with a maximum economical and material's effect, detailed investigation of the material's mechanical behavior is necessary to realize. Especially, an use of superplasticity is a point of the main interest. By optimum settings of the deformation process (especially temperature and strain rate) the superplastic conditions were determined optimally. Moreover, it was discovered that variable temperature very positively affects the superplasticity of magnesium materials. Actually by changing temperature conditions during the deformation, even higher level of superplastic deformation without rupture can be obtained. This very interesting fact was observed at the elevated temperatures that decrease almost constantly during the deformation process. Thus previously widely used constant temperature treatment opens door to the dynamic problems of searching for the optimal temperature gradient and its variation. [source] Anti-Individualism, Content Preservation, and Discursive JustificationNOUS, Issue 2 2007Sanford C. Goldberg Most explorations of the epistemic implications of Semantic Anti-Individualism (SAI) focus on issues of self-knowledge (first-person authority) and/or external-world skepticism. Less explored has been SAI's implications for the epistemology of reasoning. In this paper I argue that SAI has some nontrivial implications on this score. I bring these out by reflecting on a problem first raised by Boghossian (1992). Whereas Boghossian's main interest was in establishing the incompatibility of SAI and "the a priority of logical abilities" (Boghossian 1992: 22), I argue that Boghossian's argument is better interpreted as pointing to SAI's implications for the nature of discursive justification. [source] Numerical solution of the free-surface viscous flow on a horizontal rotating elliptical cylinderNUMERICAL METHODS FOR PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS, Issue 4 2008Roland Hunt Abstract The numerical solution of the free-surface fluid flow on a rotating elliptical cylinder is presented. Up to the present, research has concentrated on the circular cylinder for which steady solutions are the main interest. However, for noncircular cylinders, such as the ellipse, steady solutions are no longer possible, but there will be periodic solutions in which the solution is repeated after one full revolution of the cylinder. It is this new aspect that makes the investigation of noncircular cylinders novel. Here we consider both the time-dependent and periodic solutions for zero Reynolds number fluid flow. The numerical solution is expedited by first mapping the fluid film domain onto a rectangle such that the position of the free-surface is determined as part of the solution. For the time-dependent case a simple time-marching method of lines approach is adopted. For the periodic solution the discretised nonlinear equations have to be solved simultaneously over a time period. The resulting large system of equations is solved using Newton's method in which the form of the Jacobian enables a straightforward decomposition to be implemented, which makes matrix inversion manageable. In the periodic case all derivatives have been approximated pseudospectrally with the time derivative approximated by a differentiation matrix which has been specially derived so that the weight of fluid is algebraically conserved. Of interest is the solution for which the weight of fluid is at its maximum possible value, and this has been obtained by increasing the weight until a consistency break-down occurs. Time-dependent solutions do not produce the periodic solution after a long time-scale but have protuberances which are constantly appearing and disappearing. Periodic solutions exhibit spectral accuracy solutions and maximum supportable weight solutions have been obtained for ranges of eccentricity and angular velocity. The maximum weights are less than and approximately proportional to those obtained for the circular case. The shapes of maximum weight solutions is distinctly different from sub-maximum weight solutions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2008 [source] Discriminant Analysis for Longitudinal Data with Multiple Continuous Responses and Possibly Missing DataBIOMETRICS, Issue 1 2009Guillermo Marshall Summary Multiple outcomes are often used to properly characterize an effect of interest. This article discusses model-based statistical methods for the classification of units into one of two or more groups where, for each unit, repeated measurements over time are obtained on each outcome. We relate the observed outcomes using multivariate nonlinear mixed-effects models to describe evolutions in different groups. Due to its flexibility, the random-effects approach for the joint modeling of multiple outcomes can be used to estimate population parameters for a discriminant model that classifies units into distinct predefined groups or populations. Parameter estimation is done via the expectation-maximization algorithm with a linear approximation step. We conduct a simulation study that sheds light on the effect that the linear approximation has on classification results. We present an example using data from a study in 161 pregnant women in Santiago, Chile, where the main interest is to predict normal versus abnormal pregnancy outcomes. [source] Applications of ACORN to data at 1.45 Å resolutionJOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 1 2004V. Rajakannan One of the main interests in the molecular biosciences is in understanding structure,function relations and X-ray crystallography plays a major role in this. ACORN can be used as a comprehensive and efficient phasing procedure for the determination of protein structures when atomic resolution data are available. An initial model can automatically be built by ARP/wARP followed by REFMAC for refinement. The , helices and , sheets occurring in many protein structures can be taken as starting fragments for structure solution in ACORN. ACORN, along with ARP/wARP followed by REFMAC, can be an ab initio method for solving protein structure for which data are better than 1.2 Å (atomic resolution). Attempts are here made in extending its applications to real data at 1.45 Å resolution and also to truncated data at 1.6 Å resolution. Two previously known structures, congerin II and alkaline cellulase N257, were resolved using the above approach. Automatic structure solution, phasing and refinement for real data at still lower resolutions for proteins of various complexities are being carried out. Data mining of the secondary structural features using PDB is being carried out for this new approach for `seed-phasing' to ACORN. [source] X-ray absorption spectroscopy to watch catalysis by metalloenzymes: status and perspectives discussed for the water-splitting manganese complex of photosynthesisJOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 1 2003Holger Dau Understanding structure,function relations is one of the main interests in the molecular biosciences. X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples (BioXAS) has gained the status of a useful tool for characterization of the structure of protein-bound metal centers with respect to the electronic structure (oxidation states, orbital occupancies) and atomic structure (arrangement of ligand atoms). Owing to progress in the performance characteristics of synchrotron radiation sources and of experimental stations dedicated to the study of (ultra-dilute) biological samples, it is now possible to carry out new types of BioXAS experiments, which have been impracticable in the past. Of particular interest are approaches to follow biological catalysis at metal sites by characterization of functionally relevant structural changes. In this article, the first steps towards the use of BioXAS to `watch' biological catalysis are reviewed for the water-splitting reactions occurring at the manganese complex of photosynthesis. The following aspects are considered: the role of BioXAS in life sciences; methodological aspects of BioXAS; catalysis at the Mn complex of photosynthesis; combination of EXAFS and crystallographic information; the freeze-quench technique to capture semi-stable states; time-resolved BioXAS using a freeze-quench approach; room-temperature experiments and `real-time' BioXAS; tasks and perspectives. [source] Stories about firms: boundaries, structures, strategies, and processesMANAGERIAL AND DECISION ECONOMICS, Issue 4-5 2001Mark Addleson This paper explores contemporary efforts to enrich the economic theory of firms. Its theme is the search for a postmodern approach to the firm, and it explores how those search efforts are reshaping the narrative of conventional neoclassical economic theory. My main interests are the concepts of firms and markets that emerge from a line of inquiry which views firms as social institutions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Interwell exciton dispersion engineering, coherent phonons generation and optical detectionof exciton condensatePHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 1 2004Yu. E. Lozovik This issue's Editor's Choice [1] discusses interwell excitons in coupled quantum wells as a candidate for observation of different phases in an exciton system, including the very interesting phenomenon of Bose condensation. The cover picture shows schematically how the generation of coherent phonons and the angular distribution of the exciton photoluminescence (PL) from the quantum well system can be controlled by the external electric and magnetic fields. The first author, Yurii E. Lozovik, is head of the Laboratory of Spectroscopy of Nanostructures at the Institute of Spectroscopy and also Professor of Physics at the Moscow Physical and Technical Institute. His main interests are electron and electron,hole systems in nanostructures, cluster physics, quantum electrodynamics in a cavity, matter in strong magnetic fields, nanotechnology, ultrafast and near field optics, and computer simulations. [source] | ||||||||||||||||