Proliferation and apoptosis in the guinea pig adrenal cortex during postnatal development

The aim of the study was to determine the relation between involution of the FZ and the proliferation and apoptosis of the adrenal cortex cells. The study was carried out with adrenal glands from guinea pigs aged 1, 3, 9, 14, 21, 35 and 90 days. Paraffin slices were stained with Mayer haematoxylin and eosin and with acid fuchsin. For the immunohistochemical reaction the Anti -PCNA Clone PC10 (Dako) was used. Apoptosis evaluation was performed with use of the TUNEL method (Roche). The results support the theory of involution of the FZ cells realised mainly by way of apoptosis. Analysis of the distribution and number of PCNA-positive cells in the adrenal cortex on subsequent days of PD may also back up the migration theory of renewal of the adrenal cortex cells

Anderson lattice with explicit Kondo coupling: general features and the field-induced suppression of heavy-fermion state in ferromagnetic phase

We apply the extended (statistically-consistent, SGA) Gutzwiller-type approach to the periodic Anderson model (PAM) in an applied magnetic field and in the strong correlation limit. The finite-U corrections are included systematically by transforming PAM into the form with Kondo-type interaction and residual hybridization, appearing both at the same time. This effective Hamiltonian represents the essence of \textit{Anderson-Kondo lattice model}. We show that in ferromagnetic phases the low-energy single-particle states are strongly affected by the presence of the applied magnetic field. We also find that for large values of hybridization strength the system enters the so-called \textit{locked heavy fermion state}. In this state the chemical potential lies in the majority-spin hybridization gap and as a consequence, the system evolution is insensitive to further increase of the applied field. However, for a sufficiently strong magnetic field, the system transforms from the locked state to the fully spin-polarized phase. This is accompanied by a metamagnetic transition, as well as by drastic reduction of the effective mass of quasiparticles. In particular, we observe a reduction of effective mass enhancement in the majority-spin subband by as much as 20% in the fully polarized state. The findings are consistent with experimental results for Ce$_x$La$_{1-x}$B$_6$ compounds. The mass enhancement for the spin-minority electrons may also diminish with the increasing field, unlike for the quasiparticles states in a single narrow band in the same limit of strong correlations

Multi-scale finite element based time-dependent reliability analysis for laminated fibre reinforced composites.

No abstract available

Stochastic multi-scale finite element based reliability analysis for laminated composite structures

This paper proposes a novel multi-scale approach for the reliability analysis of composite structures that accounts for both microscopic and macroscopic uncertainties, such as constituent material properties and ply angle. The stochastic structural responses, which establish the relationship between structural responses and random variables, are achieved using a stochastic multi-scale finite element method, which integrates computational homogenisation with the stochastic finite element method. This is further combined with the first- and second-order reliability methods to create a unique reliability analysis framework. To assess this approach, the deterministic computational homogenisation method is combined with the Monte Carlo method as an alternative reliability method. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the capability of the proposed method in measuring the safety of composite structures. The paper shows that it provides estimates very close to those from Monte Carlo method, but is significantly more efficient in terms of computational time. It is advocated that this new method can be a fundamental element in the development of stochastic multi-scale design methods for composite structures

Modelling of thermal behaviour of iron oxide layers on boiler tubes

Slender boiler tubes are subject to localised swelling when they are expose to excessive heat. The latter is due to the formation of an oxide layer, which acts as an insulation barrier. This excessive heat can lead to microstructural changes in the material that would reduce the mechanical strength and would eventually lead to critical and catastrophic failure. Detecting such creep damage remains a formidable challenge for boiler operators. It involves a costly process of shutting down the plant, performing electromagnetic and ultrasonic non-destructive inspection, repairing or replacing damaged tubes and finally restarting the plant to resume its service. This research explores through a model developed using a finite element computer simulation platform the thermal behaviour of slender tubes under constant temperature exceeding 723 \K. Our simulation results demonstrate that hematite layers up to 15 \μm thickness inside the tubes do not act as insulation. They clearly show the process of long term overheating on the outside of boiler tubes which in turn leads to initiation of flaws

Measurements of Gas Pressure into the MV Arc Plasma Environment

Current interrupters equipped with arc quenching system based on combination of forced air flow and gassing material were the object of the research described in this paper. Arc quenching gas pressure inside the extinguishing chamber in direct vicinity of plasma arc was recorded by means of developed measurement system resistant for heavy duty conditions existent inside the chamber during breaking. Gas pressure was estimated for several values of load current at 12/24 kV source voltage

Non-linear dynamic response of a cable system with a tuned mass damper to stochastic base excitation via equivalent linearization technique

Abstract: Non-linear dynamic model of a cable–mass system with a transverse tuned mass damper is considered. The system is moving in a vertical host structure therefore the cable length varies slowly over time. Under the time-dependent external loads the sway of host structure with low frequencies and high amplitudes can be observed. That yields the base excitation which in turn results in the excitation of a cable system. The original model is governed by a system of non-linear partial differential equations with corresponding boundary conditions defined in a slowly time-variant space domain. To discretise the continuous model the Galerkin method is used. The assumption of the analysis is that the lateral displacements of the cable are coupled with its longitudinal elastic stretching. This brings the quadratic couplings between the longitudinal and transverse modes and cubic nonlinear terms due to the couplings between the transverse modes. To mitigate the dynamic response of the cable in the resonance region the tuned mass damper is applied. The stochastic base excitation, assumed as a narrow-band process mean-square equivalent to the harmonic process, is idealized with the aid of two linear filters: one second-order and one first-order. To determine the stochastic response the equivalent linearization technique is used. Mean values and variances of particular random state variable have been calculated numerically under various operational conditions. The stochastic results have been compared with the deterministic response to a harmonic process base excitation

Classification of Construction Projects

The final publication is available at World Academy of Science via https://waset.org/Publication/classification-of-construction-projects/10001697 © 2015, This unmodified version is made available under the CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/In order to address construction project requirements and specifications, scholars and practitioners need to establish taxonomy according to a scheme that best fits their need. While existing characterization methods are continuously being improved, new ones are devised to cover project properties which have not been previously addressed. One such method, the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI), has received limited consideration strictly as a classification scheme. Developed by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) in 1996, the PDRI has been refined over the last two decades as a method for evaluating a project's scope definition completeness during front-end planning (FEP). The main contribution of this study is a review of practical project classification methods, and a discussion of how PDRI can be used to classify projects based on their readiness in the FEP phase. The proposed model has been applied to 59 construction projects in Ontario, and the results are discussed

DNA double strand breaks repair and apoptosis induction in peripheral blood lymphocytes of head and neck cancer patients

Aim: To evaluate the generation and repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) as a critical factors that define the efficiency of radiation therapy of cancer patients. Methods: Peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from 18 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and 18 healthy donors were studied. The efficiency of DSBs repair after genotoxic treatment with hydrogen peroxide and γ-radiation were examined by neutral comet assay. MTT assay was used for cell viability analysis and Annexin V-FITC kit specific for kinase-3 was employed to determine apoptosis. Results: Lymphocytes from HNSCC patients were sensitive to genotoxic treatment and displayed impaired DSBs repair. Finally, as a consequence of this finding we have evidenced higher rate of apoptosis induction after γ-radiation treatment of lymphocytes from HNSCC patients than those from healthy controls. Conclusions: DSBs repair and increased apoptosis in cells of patients with head and neck cancer is relevant for efficient therapy of HNSCC