Interaction of an edge dislocation with a coated elliptic inclusion

a b s t r a c t This paper presents an analytical solution for plane elasticity problems of an elliptically cylindrical layered media subject to an arbitrary edge dislocation. Based on the technique of conformal mapping and the method of analytical continuation in conjunction with the alternating technique, the general expressions of the displacements and stresses, where an edge dislocation is located in matrix, coating layer and inclusion are obtained. The numerical results of image forces exerted on a generalized edge dislocation are carried out by using the generalized Peach-Koehler equation. As a numerical illustration, both the image forces and equilibrium positions are presented for different material combinations and relative thickness of a coating layer. The result shows that the thickness and the shear modulus of the coating layer have a strong influence on the stability of dislocation

(4-Chloro-3-nitro­benzoato)triphenyl­tin(IV)

In the title compound, [Sn(C6H5)3(C7H3ClNO4)], the four-coordinate SnIV atom exists in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry, formed by a monodentate carboxyl­ate group and three phenyl rings. The conformation is stabilized by an intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bond, which generates an S(5) ring. The aromatic ring of the 4-chloro-3-nitro­benzoate ligand makes dihedral angles of 75.64 (12), 64.37 (12) and 2.97 (12)° with the three phenyl ligands. The O atoms of the nitro group are disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.817 (5):0.183 (5) ratio. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked via inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains running parallel to [010]

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Single-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial

We tested the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. A total of 42 BPH patients with LUTS were randomly assigned to either the EA group (EG), received 2 Hz EA for 20 min twice/week for a total of twelve treatments, or a sham EA group (CG), received sham EA. The increase of voiding volume, average flow rate, and maximal flow rate in the EG were 32.2 ± 104.4 mL, 1.2 ± 1.6 mL/sec, and 2.3 ± 3.7 mL/sec, respectively, from baseline value (before EA) using the measurement of an uroflowmetry. These increases were greater than −37.9 ± 120.4, −0.22 ± 2.7, and −0.3 ± 4.3, respectively, in the CG (P = .038, .026, and .030, resp.). The changes of prostate special antigen and international prostatic symptom score were not significantly different between two groups (P = .573, .175, resp.), suggesting the clinical improvement of 2 Hz EA was quite limited to the LUTS of patients with BPH

Anti-Oxidative Abilities of Essential Oils from Atractylodes ovata Rhizome

The rhizome of Atractylodes ovata De Candolle is rich in essential oils, which are usually removed by processing. In this study, anti-oxidative abilities of essential oils and aqueous extracts of A. ovata rhizome were explored, and the influence of processing on the anti-oxidative abilities was examined. Essential oils and aqueous extracts of A. ovata were extracted by boiling water and steam distillation, respectively. Quality of these two A. ovata samples was controlled by HPLC and GC-MS system, and anti-oxidative abilities were then evaluated. Results showed that surface color of A. ovata turned to brown and chemical components were changed by processing. Contents of both atractylon and atractylenolide II decreased in the essential oils, but only the contents of atractylon decreased by processing. Atractylenolide III increased in both A. ovata samples. However, A. ovata essential oils displayed stronger anti-oxidative abilities than aqueous extracts in DPPH-scavenging, TBH-induced lipid peroxidation and catalase activity assays. Moreover, the bioactivity of essential oils from raw A. ovata was stronger than oils from processed A. ovata. On the other hand, cytotoxicity of A. ovata essential oils was stronger than that of aqueous extracts, and was more sensitive on H9C2 cell than NIH-3T3 and WI-38 cells. In contrast, stir-frying processing method increased cytotoxicity of essential oils, but the cytotoxicity was ameliorated when processed with assistant substances. The results suggested that phytochemical components and bioactivity of A. ovata were changed after processing and the essential oils from raw A. ovata showed better anti-oxidative and fewer cytotoxicity effects

(2-Chloro-4-nitro­benzoato)(methanol)triphenyl­tin(IV)

In the title complex, [Sn(C6H5)3(C7H3ClNO4)(CH4O)], the five-coordinate SnIV atom exists in a trigonal–bipyramidal environment, formed by a monodentate carboxyl­ate group, three phenyl rings and a methanol mol­ecule. The axial sites are occupied by the O atoms of the methanol mol­ecule and the carboxyl­ate group, while the equatorial plane is formed by the C atoms of three phenyl rings. The benzene ring of the 2-chloro-4-nitro­benzoate ligand makes dihedral angles of 66.18 (7), 74.71 (7) and 77.39 (7)° with respect to the three phenyl rings. In the crystal, the mol­ecules are linked via inter­molecular O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a column along the b axis

Experimental Investigation on Thermoelectric Chiller Driven by Solar Cell

This paper presents experimental explorations on cooling performance of thermoelectric chillers being driven by solar cells, as well as comparison results to the performance being driven by fixed direct current. Solar energy is clear and limitless and can be collected by solar cells. We use solar cells to drive thermoelectric chillers, where the cold side is connected to the water tank. It is found that 250 mL of water can be cooled from 18.5°C to 13°C, where the corresponding coefficient of performance (COP) is changed between 0.55 and 1.05, when solar insolation is changed between 450 W/m2 and 1000 W/m2. The experimental results demonstrate that the thermoelectric chiller driven by solar cell is feasible and effective for energy saving issues

Synthesis and Characterization of a Photoelectrode with a Novel 3D Structure for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

This study designs a novel dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) in which the photoanode is derived from its three-dimensional (3D) structure. The inside of the cell has a positive illumination structure, with the purposes of increasing the area of photoelectrode thin film and of increasing the illuminated area within a fixed area in order to achieve the objective of enhancing the photoelectric conversion efficiency of cell. For the cell structure experiment, the study uses graphite paper, carbon and platinum as counter electrode materials, and then conducts measurement with cell heights of 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm. The electrolyte used is a gel polymer electrolyte. The assembly of the cell is divided into vertical assembly, inclined assembly, and tandem assembly. In the 3D tandem cell experiment, the counter electrode material is platinum. Experimental results show that when cell height is 7 mm and illuminated area is 0.28 cm2, open-loop voltage is 0.662 V, short-circuit current density is 18.42 mA/cm2, fill factor is 0.31, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency is 3.85%, which is 1.65 times that under vertical assembly (2.34%) and 2.15 times that of the flat cell (1.79%)

Activation of Endothelial Cells by Antiphospholipid Antibodies—A Possible Mechanism Triggering Thrombosis in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an antibody-mediated hypercoagulable state characterized by recurrent venous and arterial thromboembolic events. The presence of serum antibodies are collectively termed as antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and is the hallmark of the disease. Interest in the pathogenesis has mostly been focused on the blood coagulation factor. However, endothelial cells might play an important role. When stimulated, cell membrane would flip to expose negatively charged phospholipids and activation markers such as adhesive molecules may appear. We consider that these changes may play an important role in the initiation of the thrombotic process when endothelial cells encounter aPL. In this study, we incubated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with IgG isolated from patients with APS and found that the HUVECs were activated by the expression of negatively charged phospholipids, as shown by high annexin V binding and negative propidium iodide staining and by an increase in the level of intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 on the cell surface. The above findings indicate that endothelial cells can be activated on exposure to aPL and trigger the thrombotic event

The Antiinfective Effects of Velvet Antler of Formosan Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) on Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Mice

We assayed the effects of velvet antler (VA) of Formosan sambar deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) and its extracts on the anti-infective activity against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo in this study. In vitro data indicated that the VA extracts stimulated the proliferation of resting splenocytes and macrophages in a dose-dependent manner up to the highest concentration used (150 μg mL−1). The production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12) by lipoteichoic acid was significantly suppressed after being cocultured with the VA extracts in a dose-dependent manner. Animal test in S. aureus-infected mice demonstrated that the numbers of bacteria determined in the kidneys and peritoneal lavage fluid of S. aureus-infected mice were significantly higher than those found in the same organs of mice pretreated with the VA samples. Moreover, the highly enhanced phagocytic activity of macrophages was further verified after in vitro treatment with the VA samples. The protective mechanisms of the VA samples might include an immune enhancer and an inflammatory cytokine suppressor