179 research outputs found
Effects Of Cold Working Under Pressure On Subsequent Yield
A method utilizing high pressure fluid environments is described whereby a three-dimensional subsequent yield surface was determined for 304 stainless steel cylindrical parent specimens of this material were prestrained in axial compression under fluid pressure and then small sub specimens were sectioned from these parent specimens. Finite element techniques were used to optimize the parent specimen size so that a zone of uniform axial stress woidd result during the prestraining. Longitudinal strains in this zone were monitored during the prestraining and the subspecimens were cut from this region in a manner that did not allow the machining to appreciably affect the properties of the specimens. Following this, conventional tension and compression tests were performed on the subspecimens in various fluid pressure environments to determine the yield strengths for the cold-worked material in the direction of the principal axis of prestrain and the two transverse axes. These data are used to construct the three-dimensional subsequent yield surface which clearly illustrates the effects on 304 stainless steel, of cold working under pressure. © 1972 by ASME
GNSS transpolar earth reflectometry exploriNg system (G-TERN): Mission concept
The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) Transpolar Earth Reflectometry exploriNg system (G-TERN) was proposed in response to ESA's Earth Explorer 9 revised call by a team of 33 multi-disciplinary scientists. The primary objective of the mission is to quantify at high spatio-temporal resolution crucial characteristics, processes and interactions between sea ice, and other Earth system components in order to advance the understanding and prediction of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. The objective is articulated through three key questions. 1) In a rapidly changing Arctic regime and under the resilient Antarctic sea ice trend, how will highly dynamic forcings and couplings between the various components of the ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere modify or influence the processes governing the characteristics of the sea ice cover (ice production, growth, deformation, and melt)? 2) What are the impacts of extreme events and feedback mechanisms on sea ice evolution? 3) What are the effects of the cryosphere behaviors, either rapidly changing or resiliently stable, on the global oceanic and atmospheric circulation and mid-latitude extreme events? To contribute answering these questions, G-TERN will measure key parameters of the sea ice, the oceans, and the atmosphere with frequent and dense coverage over polar areas, becoming a "dynamic mapper" of the ice conditions, the ice production, and the loss in multiple time and space scales, and surrounding environment. Over polar areas, the G-TERN will measure sea ice surface elevation (<10 cm precision), roughness, and polarimetry aspects at 30-km resolution and 3-days full coverage. G-TERN will implement the interferometric GNSS reflectometry concept, from a single satellite in near-polar orbit with capability for 12 simultaneous observations. Unlike currently orbiting GNSS reflectometry missions, the G-TERN uses the full GNSS available bandwidth to improve its ranging measurements. The lifetime would be 2025-2030 or optimally 2025-2035, covering key stages of the transition toward a nearly ice-free Arctic Ocean in summer. This paper describes the mission objectives, it reviews its measurement techniques, summarizes the suggested implementation, and finally, it estimates the expected performance
Host Sexual Dimorphism and Parasite Adaptation
Disease expression and prevalence often vary in the different sexes of the host. This is typically attributed to innate differences of the two sexes but specific adaptations by the parasite to one or other host sex may also contribute to these observations
Genomics and proteomics of vertebrate cholesterol ester lipase (LIPA) and cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H)
Cholesterol ester lipase (LIPA; EC 3.1.1.13) and cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H; EC 1.14.99.48) play essential role in cholesterol metabolism in the body by hydrolysing cholesteryl esters and triglycerides within lysosomes (LIPA) and catalysing the formation of 25-hydroxycholesterol from cholesterol (CH25H) which acts to repress cholesterol biosynthesis. Bioinformatic methods were used to predict the amino acid sequences, structures and genomic features of several vertebrate LIPA and CH25H genes and proteins, and to examine the phylogeny of vertebrate LIPA. Amino acid sequence alignments and predicted subunit structures enabled the identification of key sequences previously reported for human LIPA and CH25H and transmembrane structures for vertebrate CH25H sequences. Vertebrate LIPA and CH25H genes were located in tandem on all vertebrate genomes examined and showed several predicted transcription factor binding sites and CpG islands located within the 5′ regions of the human genes. Vertebrate LIPA genes contained nine coding exons, while all vertebrate CH25H genes were without introns. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the distinct nature of the vertebrate LIPA gene and protein family in comparison with other vertebrate acid lipases and has apparently evolved from an ancestral LIPA gene which predated the appearance of vertebrates
Experts’ opinions on threats to Leach’s Storm-Petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) across their global range
This is the final version. Available on open access from Resilience Alliance via the DOI in this recordSeabirds are declining globally, though the threats they face differ among and within species and populations. Following substantial population declines at several breeding colonies, Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) was uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2016. Reasons for these declines are unclear, and it is important to identify threats the species faces across its global breeding range to guide research directions and inform conservation efforts. We solicited feedback from 37 Leach’s Storm-Petrel scientific experts from eight countries on the importance of different threats facing the species on land and at sea. Perceived threats to extant colonies varied spatially, with a consensus within regions for main threats. Most researchers agreed that the main threats at or near colonies are avian and mammalian predators and onshore light attraction. At-sea threats have been less studied and were harder to identify and rank, but include offshore lights and structures, spatial shifts in prey, and contaminants. Climate change was not listed specifically because of its multifaceted repercussions, but several perceived threats are linked to climate change. Globally, introduction of mammalian predators is an overarching driver of seabird colony decline or extirpation; thus biosecurity must be considered an important measure for the conservation of storm-petrels. In addition, filling knowledge gaps and implementing a series of regionally relevant and targeted strategies that lead to small but cumulative conservation successes may be the best approach for this species.MITACS fellowshi
Young, healthy males and females present cardiometabolic protection against the detrimental effects of a 7-day high-fat high-calorie diet
Purpose: High-fat, high-calorie (HFHC) diets have been used as a model to investigate lipid-induced insulin resistance. Short-term HFHC diets reduce insulin sensitivity in young healthy males, but to date, no study has directly compared males and females to elucidate sex-specific differences in the effects of a HFHC diet on functional metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes.
Methods: Eleven males (24 ± 4 years; BMI 23 ± 2 kg.m−2; V̇O2 peak 62.3 ± 8.7 ml.min−1.kg−1FFM) were matched to 10 females (25 ± 4 years; BMI 23 ± 2 kg.m−2; V̇O2 peak 58.2 ± 8.2 ml.min−1.kg−1FFM). Insulin sensitivity, measured via oral glucose tolerance test, metabolic flexibility, arterial stiffness, body composition and blood lipids and liver enzymes were measured before and after 7 days of a high-fat (65% energy) high-calorie (+ 50% kcal) diet.
Results: The HFHC diet did not change measures of insulin sensitivity, metabolic flexibility or arterial stiffness in either sex. There was a trend towards increased total body fat mass (kg) after the HFHC diet (+ 1.8% and + 2.3% for males and females, respectively; P = 0.056). In contrast to females, males had a significant increase in trunk to leg fat mass ratio (+ 5.1%; P = 0.005).
Conclusion: Lean, healthy young males and females appear to be protected from the negative cardio-metabolic effects of a 7-day HFHC diet. Future research should use a prolonged positive energy balance achieved via increased energy intake and reduced energy expenditure to exacerbate negative metabolic and cardiovascular functional outcomes to determine whether sex-specific differences exist under more metabolically challenging conditions
Spectral and atmospheric characterization of 51 Eridani b using VLT/SPHERE
51 Eridani b is an exoplanet around a young (20 Myr) nearby (29.4 pc) F0-type
star, recently discovered by direct imaging. Being only 0.5" away from its host
star it is well suited for spectroscopic analysis using integral field
spectrographs. We aim to refine the atmospheric properties of this and to
further constrain the architecture of the system by searching for additional
companions. Using the SPHERE instrument at the VLT we extend the spectral
coverage of the planet to the complete Y- to H-band range and provide
photometry in the K12-bands (2.11, 2.25 micron). The object is compared to
other cool and peculiar dwarfs. Furthermore, the posterior probability
distributions of cloudy and clear atmospheric models are explored using MCMC.
We verified our methods by determining atmospheric parameters for the two
benchmark brown dwarfs Gl 570D and HD 3651B. For probing the innermost region
for additional companions, archival VLT-NACO (L') SAM data is used. We present
the first spectrophotometric measurements in the Y- and K-bands for the planet
and revise its J-band flux to values 40% fainter than previous measurements.
Cloudy models with uniform cloud coverage provide a good match to the data. We
derive the temperature, radius, surface gravity, metallicity and cloud
sedimentation parameter f_sed. We find that the atmosphere is highly
super-solar (Fe/H~1.0) with an extended, thick cloud cover of small particles.
The model radius and surface gravity suggest planetary masses of about 9 M_jup.
The evolutionary model only provides a lower mass limit of >2 M_jup (for pure
hot-start). The cold-start model cannot explain the planet's luminosity. The
SPHERE and NACO/SAM detection limits probe the 51 Eri system at Solar System
scales and exclude brown-dwarf companions more massive than 20 M_jup beyond
separations of ~2.5 au and giant planets more massive than 2 M_jup beyond 9 au.Comment: 29 pages, 31 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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