Response of armour steel plates to localised air blast load : a dimensional analysis

We report on the results of dimensional analyses on the dynamic plastic response of square armour steel plates due to detonation of proximal cylindrical charges and ensued air blast loading. By assuming a generic function for the blast load, which is multiplicative comprising its spatial and temporal parts, a set of 14 dimensionless parameters, representative of the load and plate deformation, were identified and recast in the form of dimensionless functions of stand-off to charge diameter ratio. Parametric studies were performed using commercial code ABAQUS’s module of Finite Element hydrocode using MMALE and MMAE techniques, and combined with regression analyses to quantify the dimensional parameters and the expressions for dimensionless functions. A few numerical studies with various FE mesh types were also performed to validate the transient deflections against the small-scale experiments. For pulse loading due to proximal charges of small orders of stand-off/charge diameter ratio, the magnitude of the transverse deflection increased abruptly with incremental decrease in stand-off, in contradistinction to the plate deformations at higher stand-offs where variations in displacement are smooth. This confirmed the existence of a stand-off at which a transition in behaviour takes place. For stand-off values less than charge diameter, a dimensionless energy absorbing effectiveness factor was considered to investigate the prediction of rupture in the plate corresponding to different charge masses. This factor is measured as a baseline parameter to predict, using solely numerical means, the blast loads which ensue rupture on full-scale prototypes

On zero sets in the Dirichlet space

We study the zeros sets of functions in the Dirichlet space. Using Carleson formula for Dirichlet integral, we obtain some new families of zero sets. We also show that any closed subset of E \subset \TT with logarithmic capacity zero is the accumulation points of the zeros of a function in the Dirichlet space. The zeros satisfy a growth restriction which depends on $E$.Comment: Journal of Geometric Analysis (2011

Helicobacter pylori infection is a significant factor risk for hyperhomocysteinemia in the patients with coronary artery disease

This work aimed to determine whether seropositivity to Helicobacter pylori infection was an independent risk factor for hyperhomocysteinemia patients with cardiovascular disease. The H. pylori IgG, IgA and homocystein levels in 96 patients with cardiovascular disease and 64 participants free of cardiovascular disease as control subjects were determined by ELISA assay. The results showed that seropositivity to H. pylori IgG and IgA levels of coronary artery disease (CAD)patients was significantly higher than the controls and CAD patients with H. pylori IgG and IgA negative antibodies. A significant correlation was found between the seropositivity to H. pylori IgG and homocysteine levels of CAD patients in comparison with the controls and CAD patients with seronegativity to H. pylori IgG and IgA (r = 0.233, P = 0.019). The involvement of H. pylori infection in atherosclerosis process was based on the chronic inflammation, which might facilitate the CAD-related pathologies. The effect of the presence of H. pylori infection on homocysteine levels elevation in the CAD patients (as a risk factor independent of other traditional factors) was remarkable

Prevalence of beta lactamase producing species of pseudomonas and acinetobacter in pediatric burn patients Prevalence de pseudomonas et acinetobacter secreteurs de blse et metallo-beta lactamases chez les brules pediatriques

Burn wound infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in burn victims. Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species are among the most common organisms complicating burn wounds. Presence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) genes plays an important role in spreading β-lactam resistant strains of these organisms and is a serious condition in the treatment of the affected patients. As a result, we aimed to determine the prevalence of SHV, TEM, PER and VIM β-lactamases in Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species isolates from burn wound swabs of children with burn injury. In this descriptive observational study, 107 Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter isolates collected from burn patients were subjected to PCR assay. Using PCR method and DNA sequencing, the existence of SHV-, TEM-, PER- and VIM-type β-lactamase encoding genes were determined. Out of the 107 Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter isolates, 66 (77.6) were ESBL positive, 26.2 were positive for SHV gene, 37.4 were positive for TEM gene, 14 were positive for PER gene and 15.9 of them harbored VIM gene. More than half of the Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter strains in our pediatric burn unit harbor β-lactamase encoding genes that make them resistant to a wide range of β-lactam antibiotics. Consequently, it is suggested to choose an appropriate antibiotic regimen based on the antibiogram pattern of the strains. © 2015, Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters. All rights reserved

Energy efficient torque vectoring control

Tire forces are at the heart of the dynamic qualities of vehicles. With the advent of electric vehicles the precise and accurate control of the traction and braking forces at the individual wheel becomes a possibility and a reality outside test labs and virtual proving grounds. Benefits of individual wheel torque control, or torque-vectoring, in terms of vehicle dynamics behavior have been well documented in the literature. However, very few studies exist which analyze the individual wheel torque control integrated with vehicle efficiency considerations. This paper focuses on this aspect and discusses the possibilities and benefits of integrated, energy efficient torque vectoring control. Experiments with a four-wheel-drive electric vehicle show that considerable energy savings can be achieved by considering drivetrain and tire power losses through energy efficient torque vectoring control

The impact of combined paraoxonase1 Q/R 192 and 5A6A matrix metalloproteinase-3 polymorphisms on coronary artery disease

Background: It has been suggested that Q/R 192 polymorphism of paraoxonase1 (PON1) and 5A/6A polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) might be associated with the predisposition to coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore to investigate the significance of these polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of CAD we performed an association study of the polymorphisms with CAD and the number of diseased vessels in patients with CAD. Methods: We studied the human PON1 and MMP3 gene polymorphisms in patients with CAD by polymerase chain reaction/ restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP). These polymorphisms were determined in 129 CAD patients and 115 control subjects who underwent coronary angiography. CAD was defined as the presence of one or more stenoses>50 in at least one major coronary artery and subjects with 0.05). Conclusion: The combined PON1 192 and MMP-3 5A6A polymorphisms are associated with CAD but don't have any effect on the number of diseased vessels

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and paraoxonase 1 Q/R192 gene polymorphisms and the risk of coronary artery stenosis in Iranian subjects

Purpose: To investigate the association of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) 192 polymorphisms with susceptibility to coronary artery stenosis (CAS) and the number of diseased vessels in patients with CAS. Methods: The study population comprised 302 unrelated Iranian individuals, including 145 patients with CAS and 157 control subjects. Genotypes for MMP-9 and PON1 192 polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Results: In our study, distributions of the TT genotype of MMP-9 and the RR genotype of PON1 192 were significantly higher in patients compared with healthy control subjects (P0.05). Conclusions: The observation indicates that the polymorphisms in the MMP-9 and PON1 192 genes potentially play a role in the manifestation of coronary atherosclerosis but does not have any effect on the number of diseased vessels in Iran. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Spatial planning, urban governance and the economic context: The case of 'Mehr' housing plan, Iran

With the increasing concentration of population and economic activities in metropolitan regions, dwelling shortages and housing quality have become critical issues in urban management. Town plans considering social, economic, political, and cultural features of local communities have been developed with the aim of supporting housing, especially in emerging economies. In Iran, the 'Mehr Housing' Plan has been considered as one of the most relevant strategies for social housing since the 2000s. However, the acceptance of 'Mehr Housing' plans at the community scale has been rather low, reflecting the fact that it is a top-down, non-participatory policy. The present study investigates the most important factors affecting social acceptance of 'Mehr Housing' plans by interviewing 45 experts through a structured questionnaire that evaluated multiple analyses' dimensions of housing and urban planning in Iran. Results showed that six dimensions (physical, institutional-managerial, economic, socio-cultural, legal, and locational) had contributed to social dissatisfaction with 'Mehr Housing' local initiatives. In particular, socio-cultural and legal dimensions were demonstrated to have a large impact on local communities' dissatisfaction