Failure regime in (1+1) dimensions in fibrous materials

In this paper, we introduce a model for fracture in fibrous materials that takes into account the rupture height of the fibers, in contrast with previous models. Thus, we obtain the profile of the fracture and calculate its roughness, defined as the variance around the mean height. We investigate the relationship between the fracture roughness and the fracture toughness.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures.eps, Revte

Expression of BAFF and BR3 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF) and BAFF receptor in patients with disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Real-time RT-PCR was used to examine BAFF mRNA expression in peripheral blood monocytes of active and stable SLE patients and healthy controls. The percentage of BAFF receptor 3 (BR3) on B lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry. Soluble BAFF levels in serum were assayed by ELISA. Microalbumin levels were assayed by an automatic immune analysis machine. BAFF mRNA and soluble BAFF levels were highest in the active SLE group, followed by the stable SLE group, and controls (P<0.01). The percentage of BR3 on B lymphocytes was downregulated in the active SLE group compared with the stable SLE group and controls (P<0.01). BAFF mRNA levels and soluble BAFF levels were higher in patients who were positive for proteinuria than in those who were negative (P<0.01). The percentage of BR3 on B lymphocytes was lower in patients who were positive for proteinuria than in those who were negative (P<0.01). The BAFF/BR3 axis may be over-activated in SLE patients. BAFF and BR3 levels may be useful parameters for evaluating treatment

Land Use/Cover Change and its Impact on Net Primary Productivity in Huangfuchuan Watershed Temperate Grassland, China

This study take the Huangfuchuan Watershed temperate grassland as the study area, RS and GIS techniques are used to explore the relationship between LUCC and NPP. With the combination of CASA model, the dynamic characteristics of NPP in 1987-2011 are studied. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) land use structure changes obviously in Huangfuchuan Watershed. The main trend of land use change was the gradual increase of construction land and woodland, the gradual decrease of water. Arable land, grass, shrub, bare rock and sand were fluctuant. It could be seen from land use dynamic degree. (2) Through the calculation of NPP model, the total value of NPP in 1987, 1995, 2000, 2007 and 2011 was 28.12GgC, 53.47GgC, 73.23GgC, 157.92GgC and 78.52GgC. (3) Through the analysis of land use change effects on NPP, it indicates the main reason for the increase of NPP is due to grassland transfer to shrub between 1987 and 1995. The decade of bare rock is the main reason for the increase of NPP in 1995-2000. Shrub transferring to grassland is the main reason for the increase of NPP in 2000-2007. Grassland transferring to shrub is the main reason for the reduction of NPP in 2007-2011. The results of the study is very meaningful for rational using of temperate grassland resources and improvement of the fragile ecological environment

First observation of high-spin states in 116In and possible new region of chirality

High-spin states in neutron-rich indium isotope 116In have been observed for the first time by using incomplete fusion of 7Li on a 116Cd target at a beam energy of 42 MeV. A negative-parity band with πg9/2−1⊗νh11/2 configuration and a pair of positive-parity doublet bands with πg9/2−1⊗ν(g7/2/d5/2)h11/22 configurations have been identified. The positive-parity doublet bands are tentatively interpreted as chiral doublet bands, which is supported by the adiabatic and configuration-fixed constrained triaxial relativistic-mean-field and multiparticle plus rotor model calculations. This observation reports a possible new region of chirality in neutron-rich A≈ 120 mass region