Fracture analysis of bounded magnetoelectroelastic layers with interfacial cracks under magnetoelectromechanical loads: Plane problem

Fracture behaviors of multiple interfacial cracks between dissimilar magnetoelectroelastic layers subjected to in-plane magnetoelectromechanical loads are investigated by using integral transform method and singular integral equation technique. The number of the interfacial cracks is arbitrary, and the crack surfaces are assumed to be magnetoelectrically impermeable. The field intensity factors including stress, electric displacement and magnetic induction intensity factors as well as the energy release rates (ERRs) are derived. The effects of loading combinations, crack configurations and material property parameters on the fracture behaviors are evaluated according to energy release rate criterion. Numerical results show that both negative electrical and magnetic loads inhibit crack extension, and that the material constants have different and important effects on the ERRs. The results presented here should have potential applications to the design of multilayered magnetoelectroelastic structures. © The Author(s), 2010.postprin

Subcellular partitioning of MRP RNA assessed by ultrastructural and biochemical analysis.

A small RNA encoded within the nucleus is an essential subunit of a RNA processing endonuclease (RNase MRP) hypothesized to generate primers for mitochondrial DNA replication from the heavy strand origin of replication. Controversy has arisen, however, concerning the authenticity of an intramitochondrial pool of MRP RNA, and has called into question the existence of pathways for nucleo-mitochondrial transport of nucleic acids in animal cells. In an effort to resolve this controversy, we combined ultrastructural in situ hybridization and biochemical techniques to assess the subcellular partitioning of MRP RNA. Cryosections of mouse cardiomyocytes were hybridized with biotin-labeled RNA probes complementary to different regions of MRP RNA and varying in length from 115 to 230 nucleotides, followed by immunogold labeling. In addition, we transfected mouse C2C12 myogenic cells with constructs bearing mutated forms of the mouse MRP RNA gene and compared the relative abundance of the resulting transcripts to that of control RNAs within whole cell and mitochondrial fractions. In the former analysis we observed preferential localization of MRP RNA to nucleoli and mitochondria in comparison to the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. In the latter series of studies we observed that wild-type MRP RNA partitions to the mitochondrial fraction by comparison to other RNA transcripts that are localized to the extramitochondrial cytoplasmic space (28S rRNA) or to the nucleoplasm (U1 snRNA). Deletions within 5' or 3' regions of the MRP RNA gene produced transcripts that remain competent for mitochondrial targeting. In contrast, deletion of the midportion of the coding region (nt 118 to 175) of the MRP RNA gene resulted in transcripts that fail to partition to the mitochondrial fraction. We conclude that an authentic intramitochondrial pool of MRP RNA is present in these actively respiring cells, and that specific structural determinants within the MRP RNA molecule permit it to be partitioned to mitochondria

The extended finite element method with new crack-tip enrichment functions for an interface crack between two dissimilar piezoelectric materials

This paper studies the static fracture problems of an interface crack in linear piezoelectric bimaterial by means of the extended finite element method (X-FEM) with new crack-tip enrichment functions. In the X-FEM, crack modeling is facilitated by adding a discontinuous function and crack-tip asymptotic functions to the classical finite element approximation within the framework of the partition of unity. In this work, the coupled effects of an elastic field and an electric field in piezoelectricity are considered. Corresponding to the two classes of singularities of the aforementioned interface crack problem, namely, E class and class, two classes of crack-tip enrichment functions are newly derived, and the former that exhibits oscillating feature at the crack tip is numerically investigated. Computation of the fracture parameter, i.e., the J-integral, using the domain form of the contour integral, is presented. Excellent accuracy of the proposed formulation is demonstrated on benchmark interface crack problems through comparisons with analytical solutions and numerical results obtained by the classical FEM. Moreover, it is shown that the geometrical enrichment combining the mesh with local refinement is substantially better in terms of accuracy and efficiency.postprin

原特提斯的消減極性:西昆侖128公里巖體的啟示

The Yirba (128 km) pluton is an early Paleozoic dioritic intrusion of western Kunlun orogenic belt, northwest China as an important element when reconstructing the evolution history of this belt. Due to the scarcity of field data and methodological difference in studying this pluton, however, no consensus for its age, source and tectonic setting has been adopted. In this paper, we present new geochronological and geochemical data for the Yirba pluton, aiming to better understand its age, source, and hence the early Paleozoic tectonic evolutionary history of western Kunlun. U-Pb data by single grain zircon analyses suggest that the Yirba pluton was emplaced 471 ± 5 Ma ago and contains ca. 490 Ma zircon grains inherited from source, or captured in the magma chamber. The pluton is enriched in Al 2 O 3 (15.7% ∼ 18.4%), Sr (470 ∼ 864 μg/g) and other LILEs (large ion lithosphile elements), but relatively depleted in HFSE (high field strength elements and HREE), with LREE-enriched patterns and low to medium europium anomalies (δEu = ∼ 0.7), showing typical characteristics of I-type, volcanic arc granitoids. Although its relatively high Al 2 O 3, Sr and low MgO contents make it resemble adakite, its relatively high Yb (1.92 ∼ 2.88 μg/g), Y (19.4 ∼ 34.0 μg/g) contents, low Sr/Y (24.2 ∼ 37.0) , Zr/Sm (7.3 ∼ 21) and relatively high initial Sr isotope ratios (0.7075 ∼ 0.7091) do not support a subducting slab origin. Its Nd model ages (1.06 ∼ 1.35 Ga) indicate a juvenile source, while its O isotope compositions (+5.7‰ ∼ + 7.4‰) and Sr-O isotope relationship preclude significant involvement of sialic materials. The major, trace, REE and Nd-Sr-O isotope compositions strongly suggest that the Yirba pluton was formed by partial melting of mafic lower crust in a southward growing, active continental margin environment. The existence of volcanic arc granitoids in the south margin of the North Kunlun terrane suggests that the subduction polarity of the Proto-Tethys was northward.128公里巖體是西昆侖造山帶中一個早古生代的花崗閃長巖體,長期以來一直是研究西昆侖構造演化的重要參考依據。然而由于區域地質資料的不足和研究手段的不同,對該巖體的形成年代、源區性質以及構造背景等方面還存在著不同的認識。本文試圖通過地質年代學和地球化學方面的研究,明確128公里巖體的成巖時代和構造背景,進而制約西昆侖的早古生代構造演化。單顆粒鋯石的U-Pb定年結果表明128公里巖體形成于471±5 Ma并含有可能形成于早期巖漿房或繼承自源區的490 Ma左右的鋯石。128公里巖體富Al_2O_3(15.7％～18.4％),Sr(470～864μg/g)和大離子親石元素但相對虧損 高場強元素,相對富集輕稀土且具有低到中等的負銪異常(δEu=～0.7),顯示出典型的Ⅰ型弧花崗巖特征。盡管其富集Al_2O_3、Sr、相對低的MgO含量和Y/Yb比值使其非常類似于埃達克巖,但其相對高的Yb(1.92～2.88μg/g)、Y(19.4～34.0μg/g)含量,低的Sr/Y(24.2～37.0)和Zr/Sm(7.3～21)比值以及相對高的初始Sr同位素組成(0.7075～0.7091)排除了消減板塊在石榴石穩定區發生部分熔融的可能性。低的氧同位素组成( + 5.7％～7.4％) 以及Sr-O 同位素关系表明该岩体并非形成于地慢来源的岩泉与变质围岩间的同化混染。高的稀土含量、明显的稀土分馏以及相对高的Sr 同位素组成表明12 8 公里岩体不大可能形成于受陆源物质影响较小的大洋岛弧, 而更可能形成于活动大陆边缘环境中基性地壳物质的部分熔融。北昆仑地体的南缘存在火山弧型花岗岩的事实表明, 原特提斯的消减方向应当是向北的。published_or_final_versio

Investigation of the shape change of bio-flocs and its influence on mass transport using particle image velocimetry

postprin

Tumor Epithelial Cell Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer

Presented at American Association Cancer Research in 2008 Zuzga D.S., Gibbons A.V., Li P., Lubbe W.J., Chervoneva I., Pitari G.M. “Tumor epithelial cell MMP-9 is a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer”. In: American Association for Cancer Research Special Conference, Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development: Proceedings; 2008 Sept 22-25; Philadelphia, PA. Abstract A40. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality indeveloped nations. Mortality from colon cancer largely reflects metastasis, thespread of the disease to distant sites. Early diagnosis of pre-metastatic diseaseand accurate stratification of patients with metastasis is pivotal to decreasemortality rates from colon cancer by effectively administering surgery alone orwith chemotherapy. However, specific pathological markers of colorectal cancermetastasis have not emerged. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a keyregulator of metastasis and a therapeutic target in colon cancer. Here, MMP-9overexpression in pure tumor epithelial, but nor stromal, cell populations frompatients was associated with metastatic colorectal cancer progression as definedby RT-PCR and confirmed by immunostaining. Thus, tumors with increasedMMP-9 expression compared to matched normal adjacent tissues alwaysexhibited metastatic dissemination. In particular, MMP-9 overexpression in tumorepithelial cells, compared to normal epithelial cells, specifically predicted lymphnode involvement. Importantly, patients with relative increase of MMP-9 levels intumor epithelial cells were characterized by more advanced disease stages, withsignificantly higher proportion of regional lymph nodes harboring metastasis,compared to patients with a relative decrease in MMP-9 expression. Together,these observations suggest tumor epithelial cell MMP-9 is a novel prognosticmarker that may be exploited for more efficient disease stage stratification andtherapeutic regimen selection in patients with colorectal cancer

Thermal evolution history after collision of North China plate with Yangtze plate

对采自苏北一胶南一大别高压变质构造混杂岩带的片麻岩、糜棱岩和郑庐断裂带上的片麻岩中9个钾长石进行了40Ar-39Ar 年龄测定和多重扩散域(MDD)模式处理, 9个样品的热演化史表明上述地区存在5个不同的快速冷却时段, 并就其可能的构造含义, 提出了华北与扬子板块碰撞后的折返历史过程。40Ar-39Ar analyses and MDD（multiple diffusion domain）model treatements were performed for 9 K-feldspar samples. They were collected from gneiss and mylonite of North Jiangsu-Jiaonan-Dabie tectonic melange belt and Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone. The thermal evolution history exhibits five fast ccoling stages found in these samples．In relation with their possible tectonic implications a recovery process after the collision of the North China plate with the Yangtze plate is suggested here.published_or_final_versio

Minimal clinically important difference of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 for worsening peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy.

Context/objectivesThis is the first study to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN twenty-item scale (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20), a validated instrument designed to elicit cancer patients' experience of symptoms and functional limitations related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.MethodsCancer patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy completed EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity [FACT/GOG-NTX] at baseline, second cycle of chemotherapy (T2, n = 287), and 12 months after chemotherapy (T3, n = 191). Anchor-based approach used the validated FACT/GOG-NTX neurotoxicity (Ntx) subscale to identify optimal MCID cutoff for deterioration. Distribution-based approach used one-third standard deviation (SD), half SD, and one standard error of measurement of the total EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 score.ResultsThere was a moderate correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and sensory and motor subscales of QLQ-CIPN20 (T2: r = - 0.722, p < 0.001 and r = - 0.518, p < 0.001, respectively; T3: r = - 0.699; p < 0.001 and r = - 0.523, p < 0.001, respectively). The correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and the QLQ-CIPN20 autonomic subscale was poor (T2: r = - 0.354, p < 0.001; T3: r = 0.286, p < 0.001). Based on the MCID derived using distribution-based method, the MCID for the QLQ-CIPN20 sensory subscale was 2.5-5.9 (6.9% to 16.4% of the subdomain score) and for motor subscale was 2.6-5.0 (8.1%-15.6% of the subdomain score).ConclusionThe MCID for the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 established using distribution-based approaches was 2.5-5.9 for the sensory subscale and 2.6-5.0 for the motor subscale. When noted in assessments even with small change in scores, clinicians can be alerted for appropriate intervention

Разработка техники и технологии для осуществления зарезки боковых стволов в добывающих скважинах Нефтегорского месторождения

Surface alloys were made on mild steel, coated with nicker and chromium using laser surface alloying. Mild steel was coated with a composite layer of nickel and chromium using the plasma technique. This was followed by laser irradiation using a continuous carbon dioxide laser. Oxidation and corrosion behaviour of these alloys was then determined by carrying out oxidation in air at 800 degrees C and corrosion tests at room temperatures in 1 N H2SO4 With a 75 mu m layer of nickel and chromium each, it was possible to make surface alloys on mild steel, which had a chromium concentration of 6-7 wt%, but the nickel concentration varied from 10-20 wt%. Oxidation behaviour improved significantly over the as-coated specimen and aqueous corrosion improved considerably

GIVE: portable genome browsers for personal websites.

Growing popularity and diversity of genomic data demand portable and versatile genome browsers. Here, we present an open source programming library called GIVE that facilitates the creation of personalized genome browsers without requiring a system administrator. By inserting HTML tags, one can add to a personal webpage interactive visualization of multiple types of genomics data, including genome annotation, "linear" quantitative data, and genome interaction data. GIVE includes a graphical interface called HUG (HTML Universal Generator) that automatically generates HTML code for displaying user chosen data, which can be copy-pasted into user's personal website or saved and shared with collaborators. GIVE is available at: https://www.givengine.org/