Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Cracked Beam on Elastic Foundation Subjected to Moving Mass

This paper presents a finite element algorithm for nonlinear dynamic analysis of cracked beams on an elastic foundation subjected to moving mass. Quantity surveying with parameters of varied cracks, foundation and loads shows their influence levels on the nonlinear dynamic response of the beams. The findings of the paper are the basis for the analysis, evaluation, and diagnosis of damages of beam structures on the elastic foundation subjected to moving loads, in which the common defects of the beams such as cracks are considered in order to improve the system's operational efficiency in a wide range of engineering applications

Required flows for aquatic ecosystems in Ma River, Vietnam

Ecological flow requirements for the Ma River in dry season were assessed in three reaches of Ma – Buoi, Ma – Len and Ma – Chu. 5 indictor fish species was chosen based on biodiversity survey and roles of those species in aquatic ecosystem as well as local communities. Biological and hydrological data (dry season of 2016- 2017) and 35 year recorded hydrological data were collected and analyzed as input data for a physical habitat model River HYdraulic and HABitat SImulation Model – RHYHABSIM. Model results shown that the optimal flows of the reaches were very much higher compare with the minimum annual low flow - MALF. In this study, MALF7day were applied to calculate the recommended minimum flows of the three reaches. The recommended required minimum flows for Ma – Buoi, Ma – Len and Ma – Chu reaches were 51 m3/s, 49 m3/s and 61 m3/s, respectively. It must be stressed that this study only assessed whether or not there is enough habitat available for the river to sustain a healthy ecosystem

Insights into the genetics of the Zhonghua 11 Resistance to Meloidogyne graminicola and its molecular determinism in rice

This research and HN were funded by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research Program on rice-agrifood systems (CRP-RICE, 2017–2022), the French National Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD–France), and the International Join Laboratory (LMI-Rice 2) in Vietnam. Funding for some parts of this work was also provided through an SFC ODA GCRF award via the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom. The James Hutton Institute receives funding from the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government.Meloidogyne graminicola is a widely spread nematode pest of rice that reduces crop yield up to 20% on average in Asia, with devastating consequences for local and global rice production. Due to the ban on many chemical nematicides and the recent changes in water management practices in rice agriculture, an even greater impact of M. graminicola can be expected in the future, stressing the demand for the development of new sustainable nematode management solutions. Recently, a source of resistance to M. graminicola was identified in the Oryza sativa japonica rice variety Zhonghua 11 (Zh11). In the present study, we examine the genetics of the Zh11 resistance to M. graminicola and provide new insights into its cellular and molecular mechanisms. The segregation of the resistance in F2 hybrid populations indicated that two dominant genes may be contributing to the resistance. The incompatible interaction of M. graminicola in Zh11 was distinguished by a lack of swelling of the root tips normally observed in compatible interactions. At the cellular level, the incompatible interaction was characterised by a rapid accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the vicinity of the nematodes, accompanied by extensive necrosis of neighbouring cells. The expression profiles of several genes involved in plant immunity were analysed at the early stages of infection during compatible (susceptible plant) and incompatible (resistant plant) interactions. Notably, the expression of OsAtg4 and OsAtg7, significantly increased in roots of resistant plants in parallel with the cell death response, suggesting that autophagy is activated and may contribute to the resistance-mediated hypersensitive response. Similarly, transcriptional regulation of genes involved in hormonal pathways in Zh11 indicated that salicylate signalling may be important in the resistance response towards M. graminicola. Finally, the nature of the resistance to M. graminicola and the potential exploitation of the Zh11 resistance for breeding are discussed.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A MATLAB based simulation program for indoor visible light communication system

We report a simulation program for indoor visible light communication environment based on MATLAB and Simulink. The program considers the positions of the transmitters and the reflections at each wall. For visible light communication environment, the illumination light-emitting diode is used not only as a lighting device, but also as a communication device. Using the simulation program, the distributions of illuminance and root-mean-square delay spread are analyzed at bottom surface

A pair of peptides inhibits seeding of the hormone transporter transthyretin into amyloid fibrils

The tetrameric protein transthyretin is a transporter of retinol and thyroxine in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and the eye, and is secreted by the liver, choroid plexus, and retinal epithelium, respectively. Systemic amyloid deposition of aggregated transthyretin causes hereditary and sporadic amyloidoses. A common treatment of patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is liver transplantation. However, this procedure, which replaces the patient's variant transthyretin with the WT protein, can fail to stop subsequent cardiac deposition, ultimately requiring heart transplantation. We recently showed that preformed amyloid fibrils present in the heart at the time of surgery can template or seed further amyloid aggregation of native transthyretin. Here we assess possible interventions to halt this seeding, using biochemical and EM assays. We found that chemical or mutational stabilization of the transthyretin tetramer does not hinder amyloid seeding. In contrast, binding of the peptide inhibitor TabFH2 to ex vivo fibrils efficiently inhibits amyloid seeding by impeding self-association of the amyloid-driving strands F and H in a tissue-independent manner. Our findings point to inhibition of amyloid seeding by peptide inhibitors as a potential therapeutic approach.This work was supported by Amyloidosis Foundation Grant 20160759 and 20170827, National Institutes of Health Grant R01-AG048120, and The Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The authors and UCLA have filed an international patent application for the TTR inhibitors (number PCT/US17/40103). D. S. E. is an advisor and equity holder of ADRx, Inc. L. S. is a consultant of ADRx, Inc. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Magnetic droplet solitons in orthogonal nano-contact spin torque oscillators

We study microwave signal generation as a function of drive current and applied perpendicular magnetic field in nano-contact spin torque oscillators (NC-STOs) based on orthogonal (pseudo) spin valves where the Co fixed layer has strong easy-plane anisotropy, and the [Co/Ni] free layer has a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The orthogonal NC-STOs exhibit a dramatic transition from the conventional ferromagnetic resonance-like spin wave mode to a magnetic droplet soliton mode. In particular, the field and current dependence of the droplet soliton near threshold are discussed. Near threshold the droplet soliton undergoes complex dynamics that include mode hopping, as evident in the experimental frequency domain and magnetoresistance response

Community Support Model on Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices in Remote Areas in Vietnam: Implementation, Cost, and Effectiveness

Background Poor access to healthcare facilities and consequently nutrition counseling services hinders the uptake of recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. To address these barriers and improve IYCF practices, Alive & Thrive (A&T) initiated community support groups in remote villages across nine provinces in Vietnam. Objective This study examines the effectiveness of the support group model and related project costs for reaching underserved areas to improve IYCF practices. Methods To evaluate the model’s implementation and project costs, we reviewed implementation guidelines, expenditure and coverage reports, monitoring data, and budgets for the nine provinces. To evaluate the model’s effectiveness, we used a 3-stage sampling method to conduct a cross-sectional survey from April to May 2014 in three provinces entailing interviewing mothers of children aged 0–23 months in communes with (intervention; n = 551) and without support groups (comparison; n = 559). Findings Coverage: From November 2011 to November 2014, in partnership with the government, A&T supported training for 1513 facilitators and the establishing 801 IYCF support groups in 267 villages across nine provinces. During this period, facilitators provided ~ 166,000 meeting/support contacts with ~ 33,000 pregnant women and mothers with children aged 0–23 months in intervention villages. Costs: The average project costs for supporting the meetings, compensating village collaborators, and providing supportive supervision through staff in commune health stations were USD 5 per client and USD 1 per contact. After adding expenditures for training, supportive supervision, and additional administrative costs at central and provincial levels, the average project cost was USD 15 per client and USD 3 per contact. Effectiveness: Survey participants in intervention and comparison communes had similar maternal, child, and household characteristics. Multiple logistic regression models showed that living in intervention communes was associated with higher odds of early initiation of breastfeeding (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.7), exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to 5 months (OR: 12.5; 95% CI: 6.7, 23.4), no bottle feeding (OR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.82, 3.99), and minimum acceptable diet (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 0.98, 2.33) compared to those living in comparison communes. Conclusion The IYCF support group model was effective in reaching populations residing in remote areas and likely contributed to improved IYCF practices. The study suggests that the model could be scaled up to promote equity in breastfeeding support

Spin transfer torque generated magnetic droplet solitons (invited)

We present recent experimental and numerical advancements in the understanding of spin transfer torque generated magnetic droplet solitons. The experimental work focuses on nano-contact spin torque oscillators (NC-STOs) based on orthogonal (pseudo) spin valves where the Co fixed layer has an easy-plane anisotropy, and the [Co/Ni] free layer has a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The NC-STO resistance and microwave signal generation are measured simultaneously as a function of drive current and applied perpendicular magnetic field. Both exhibit dramatic transitions at a certain current dependent critical field value, where the microwave frequency drops 10 GHz, modulation sidebands appear, and the resistance exhibits a jump, while the magnetoresistance changes sign. We interpret these observations as the nucleation of a magnetic droplet soliton with a large fraction of its magnetization processing with an angle greater than 90°, i.e., around a direction opposite that of the applied field. This interpretation is corroborated by numerical simulations. When the field is further increased, we find that the droplet eventually collapses under the pressure from the Zeeman energy