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Bridge modal identification using an instrumented test vehicle as a moving sensor is promising but challenging. A key factor is to extract bridge dynamic components from vehicle responses measured when the bridge is operating. A new method based on an advanced adaptive signal decomposition technique, the successive variational mode decomposition (SVMD), has been developed to estimate the bridge modal parameters from the dynamic responses of a passing test vehicle. When bridge-related dynamic components are extracted from the decomposition, the natural excitation technique and/or random-decrement technique based fitting methods are used to estimate the modal frequencies and damping ratios of the bridge. Effects of measurement noise, moving speed and vehicle properties on the decomposition are investigated numerically. The superiority of SVMD in the decomposition is verified by comparing to another adaptive decomposition technique, the singular spectrum decomposition. The results of the proposed method confirm that the bridge modal frequencies can be identified from bridge related components with high accuracy, while damping ratio is more sensitive to the random operational load. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method for bridge monitoring using a moving test vehicle is further verified by an in-situ experimental test on a cable-stayed bridge. The components related to the bridge dynamic responses are successfully extracted from vehicle responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A potent, selective glucagon receptor antagonist 9m, N-[(4-{(1S)-1-[3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethyl}phenyl)carbonyl]-β-alanine, wasdiscovered by optimization of a previously identified lead. Compound 9mis a reversible and competitive antagonist with high bindingaffinity (IC50of 6.6 nM) and functional cAMP activity(IC50of 15.7 nM). It is selective for glucagon receptorrelative to other family B GPCRs, showing IC50values of1020 nM for GIPR, 9200 nM for PAC1, and >10000 nM for GLP-1R, VPAC1,and VPAC2. Compound 9mblunted glucagon-induced glucoseelevation in hGCGR mice and rhesus monkeys. It also lowered ambientglucose levels in both acute and chronic mouse models: in hGCGR ob/obmice it reduced glucose (AUC 0–6 h) by 32% and 39% at 3 and10 mpk single doses, respectively. In hGCGR mice on a high fat diet,compound 9mat 3, and 10 mpk po in feed lowered bloodglucose levels by 89% and 94% at day 10, respectively, relative tothe difference between the vehicle control and lean hGCGR mice. Onthe basis of its favorable biological and DMPK properties, compound 9m(MK-0893) was selected for further preclinical and clinicalevaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although researchers have demonstrated that studying multiple examples is more effective than studying one example to facilitate learning, the principles found in the literature for designing multiple examples remain ambiguous. This paper reviews variation theory research on example design which sheds light on unclear issues regarding the effects of example variability. First, the distinction of surface/structural should be replaced by critical/uncritical in example study. Aspects and features that are critical to students' understanding should be identified and compared in example design. Second, variation as well as similarity among examples should be taken into consideration in example design. Certain patterns of variation and invariance should be adopted to systematically determine the variability of examples. Third, students with different levels of prior knowledge perceive different aspects of examples that are critical for their learning. Examples should be designed according to aspects that are critical to specific students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the relativistic effect of spin and pseudospin symmetries. It reflects that the origin of spin symmetry is entirely due to the relativistic effect, while the origin of pseudospin symmetry cannot be uniquely attributed to the relativistic effect. It states that wave function splittings between the spin doublets are associated with the relativistic effects and spin splitting can be treated as a perturbation, while pseudospin splitting cannot be regarded as a perturbation.

Abstract: A new plasmonic photocatalyst of Ag–AgCl@TiO2 was prepared by deposition–precipitation and photoreduction. This photocatalyst exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol and photoreduction of Cr(VI) ion under visible light irradiation. Its high photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles, which were highly dispersed on the surface of Ag–AgCl@TiO2. N2 adsorption and desorption isotherm spectra, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the correlation between the micro-structure and the catalytic properties of the as-prepared photocatalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary Poor solubility caused by thermal aggregation usually limits the utilisation of soy proteins in food industry. In this study, the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), was found to be effective in suppressing thermal aggregation of glycinin which was the main composition of the insoluble aggregates of soy proteins. Turbidity, dynamic light scattering, surface tension, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra analysis were used to reveal the mechanism for the inhibitory of thermal aggregation by SDS. Bound to SDS, the exposed hydrophobic groups on the protein molecules were covered by the ionic head groups of SDS. The approaching of the particles was unavailable in the presence of the strong electrostatic repulsive force. Therefore, the particles remained stable and disperse. Thermal aggregation was not effectively suppressed until the binding sites which interacted with SDS on the glycinin molecules were saturated. The strategy for improving the solubility of food protein was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the interactive effects of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) availability on the growth rates, Cu quotas, and steady-state Cu-uptake rates (ρssCu) of 12 phytoplankton (from four classes and two marine environments). A mixed-effect statistical model indicated that low Fe significantly decreased phytoplankton growth rates. In contrast, lowering Cu levels only decreased the growth rates of the oceanic phytoplankton. Under Fe/Cu sufficiency, the Cu quotas ranged from 0.36 to 3.8 μmol Cu · mol−1 C. Copper levels in the growth medium had a significant positive effect on the Cu quotas, and this effect was dependent on the algal class. Under Fe/Cu sufficiency, the highest average Cu quotas were observed for the Bacillariophyceae, followed by the Cyanophyceae, Prymnesiophyceae, and lastly the Dinophyceae. Similar taxonomic trends were observed for the ρssCu. Although the Cu:C ratios were not significantly higher in oceanic strains, there are five independent lines of evidence supporting a more important role of Cu in the physiology of the oceanic phytoplankton. The mixed-effect model indicated a significant Cu effect on the growth rates and ρssCu of the oceanic strains, but not the coastal strains. In addition, lowering the Cu concentration in the media decreased the Cu quotas and ρssCu of the oceanic strains to a greater extent (5.5- and 5.4-fold, respectively) than those of the coastals (3.8- and 4.7-fold, respectively). Iron limitation only had a significant effect on the Cu quotas of the oceanic strains, and this effect was dependent on Cu level and taxonomic class. Our results highlight a complex physiological interaction between Fe and Cu in marine phytoplankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze, an invasive plant, poses a serious threat to the structure and function of the native ecosystem in Hebei Provience, China. However, little is known about the allelopathic activity of the residues of this plant species. In this study, the impact of the phytotoxicity of unburnt (UR) and burnt (BR) residues of the exotic invasive weed on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivvm L.) was assessed. Extracts prepared from both UR and BR reduced the shoot length, root length and dry weight of wheat significantly compared with the control, thereby indicating the presence of some water-soluble allelochemicals in F. bidentis residues. Growth studies conducted in soil amended with UR and BR extracts or residues also revealed phytotoxic effects towards wheat. A significant amount of phenolics was detected in the residue extracts and in residue-incorporated soil. The phenolic content rose with increasing residue concentration, thereby showing their direct involvement in the observed growth inhibition. The inhibition of wheat growth by the burnt residue and its water extracts was similar to that of unburnt residue, so burning it is not a good way to eliminate the allelopathic effects of the residue of F. bidentis on native plants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ophraella communa is a biological control agent of invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia. To understand the mate choice tactic of the beetle and improve mass-rearing of high-quality populations, the effects of morphological traits, age and copulation experience on mate choice in this beetle were studied in the laboratory. The results showed thatmate choice of male or female was related to certain adult morphological traits. Wing length, black streak width of frons and metaleg femur length of males were central to female mate choice. Females with longer wing length, black streak width of frons, pronotum width and foreleg tibia length were more attractive to males than those with the smaller ones. The chosen rate of older males was significantly higher than those of younger ones, and the chosen rate of females reached a maximum value on the 8th day after eclosion. The newly copulated females were less attractive to males than virgins, but females that have copulated in the distant past were more attractive than or were similar to virgins. The chosen rates of virgin males were significantly higher than those of newly copulated and 8 days past copulated ones, but no difference between virgin males and 3, 5 or 12 days past copulated ones in O. communa. The results of our study have added much needed empirical data regarding the significance of morphological traits, age and copulation experience as a source of variation in insect copulation signals. In addition, the results provide valuable information for mass-rearing of high-quality populations of O. communa. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In this work, a novel two-step method for preparing food globular protein-based hydrogel with transparent appearance and stable network was described. First, soy glycinin dispersion (6% w/v) was heated at 95 °C for 30 min in order to obtain partial unfolding conformation and expose more residues for the following enzymatic cross-linking. An anionic polysaccharide, dextran sulfate (DS), was added before glycinin was heated, forming highly charged complexes with glycinin and maintaining the transparency of the dispersion. Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) was introduced for gelation, creating a covalent network. Transparent cold-set hydrogels could be obtained when the weight ratio of DS to glycinin was over 1/200. It was found that larger amounts of DS and lower ionic strength were favorable for increasing the transparency of the gels. At pH 7.0, effects of DS amounts and ionic strength on the rheological and mechanical properties of the hydrogels were investigated. Hydrogels with distinctive textural properties could be obtained by different combinations of DS amount and ionic strength. Scanning electron microscopy observation indicated that the addition of DS could promote the formation of regular and stable gel network. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

SUMMARY A generalized refined Arnoldi method based on the weighted inner product is presented for computing PageRank. The properties of the generalized refined Arnoldi method were studied. To speed up the convergence performance for computing PageRank, we propose to change the weights adaptively where the weights are calculated based on the current residual corresponding to the approximate PageRank vector. Numerical results show that the proposed Arnoldi method converges faster than existing methods, in particular when the damping factor is large. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyzes TOMS AOD at 500 nm (1980–2001), along with MODIS data (2000–2008) at 550 nm to investigate variations at one-degree grid over eight typical regions in China and the trends in AODs, temporally and spatially. In contrast to recently reported global decrease in AOD over global ocean beginning around 1990, we find there virtually exists no apparent AOD transition in China for that: firstly no notable upward tendencies in AOD during 1980–1992 for the relative low value (+0.001/decade), then during 1996–2001 a discernible ascending tendency with larger magnitude at 0.01/decade, and finally, since 2000, a weak upward trend with +0.004/decade. The large increases during 1996–2001 are presumably consequences of large increases in industrial activities and bear a strong resemblance to the long-term decreasing observations of incident solar radiation and cloud cover in China. Specifically, in late 1990’s, only in Taklimakan Desert a negative trend with a maximum magnitude of −0.04/decade is detected. However, over regions such as Jingjinji and Pearl River Delta influenced by industrial activities, positive tendencies at +0.01/decade are observed. Seasonal patterns in the AOD regional long-term trend are evident. AODs exhibit generally similar seasonality and the summer dominates higher AOD value than the autumn. In particular, during the period 1980–2001, all the eight regions except Taklimakan Desert witness the maximum aerosols in winter while there is not such seasonality during the period 2000–2008. Geographically, we also document spatial patterns of AOD variations over China. Results reveal that no apparent upward trends in AOD (about 15% per decade) are observed in 1980’s, while beginning 1990 till 2008, both data (TOMS and MODIS) are indicative of a significant AOD increase across China, especially in 1990’s it is indeed the case, roughly in accordance with the overall trends at regional scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) based indoor wireless sensor networks localization system, RSSI measurements are very susceptible to multipath fading, anisotropy of antenna, low supply voltage of node and so on, which will cause the system failure to achieve a high location accuracy. This paper presents an environmental-adaptive path loss model. In the process of localization, the calibrated coefficient LSV of low supply voltage, which can be determined by monitoring the supply voltage of the sender, is used to calibrate ranging errors caused by its low supply voltage. The blind node utilizes the absolute value of RSSI to generate the phase of the corresponding receiver''s location so as to determine the correction coefficient of indoor multipath fading R i . Furthermore, in order to improve the accuracy of RSSI measurements, we also take full consideration of the effect of antenna to accurately determine the corresponding path loss model of the two communication nodes. The proposed path loss model is suitable for the majority of wireless location systems that are on the basis of RSSI-based ranging techniques. Experiment results show that the estimation accuracy and adaptability of the proposed path loss model are significantly higher than that of the traditional one. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In experiment 1, novice fourth-grade students ( N = 92) who compared multiple examples that separately varied each critical aspect and then simultaneously varied all critical aspects developed better conceptual knowledge about the altitude of a triangle than students who compared multiple examples that did not separately vary each critical aspect but simultaneously varied all critical aspects. In experiment 2, this pattern was the same for fourth-grade students ( N = 90) but not for sixth-grade students ( N = 94) who had greater prior knowledge about the concept. Aspects that are critical for learning should be varied first separately and then simultaneously, and students with different levels of prior knowledge may perceive different aspects as critical for their learning and thus benefit differently from the identical instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a W-band single pole single throw (SPST) switch based on a novel PIN diode model is presented. The PIN diode is modeled using a full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulator and its parasitic parameters under both forward and reverse bias states are described by a T-network. By this approach, the measurement-based model, which is usually a must for high performance switch design, is no longer necessary. A compensation structure is optimized to obtain a high isolation of the switch. Accordingly, a W-band SPST switch is designed using a full wave EM simulator. Measurement results agree very well with simulated ones. Our measurements show that the developed switch has less than 1.5 dB insertion loss under the 'on' state from 88 GHz to 98 GHz. Isolation greater than 30 dB over 2 GHz bandwidth and greater than 20 dB over 5 GHz bandwidth can be achieved at the center frequency of 94 GHz under the 'off' state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: The placebo effect is a fascinating yet puzzling phenomenon, which has challenged investigators over the past 50 years. In previous studies, the investigators only focused on the placebo effect obtained within a single domain, and pain is the field in which most of the placebo research has been performed. However, recent research by our laboratory (Zhang and Luo in Psychophysiology 46:626-634, ; Zhang et al. ) showed that, in human subjects, the placebo effect can be transferred from one domain to the other, namely from pain to emotion. Objectives: The scope of this study was to investigate whether placebo analgesia could affect the depressive behavior in mice. Materials and methods: Female C57/BL6 mice were trained to associate the context cue with elevated pain tolerance via a set of procedures. Then the forced swim test and tail suspension test were used to measure the depressive-like behaviors on the test day. Plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone were also detected. Results: Our results showed that the placebo analgesia, which was established by a set of procedures in mice, was transferable and could produce a significant antidepressant effect on depressive test. Plasma levels of corticosterone and ACTH further proved that the placebo analgesia that was established from pain-reducing training not only induced a significant placebo effect on pain, but also decreased significantly the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) response to stress and produced a stress-alleviating effect. Conclusions: These data show that placebo analgesia affects the behavioral despair tests and hormonal secretions in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanosilica particles were dispersed into polymer diols by high pressure shearing homogenizer (HPSH), then polyurethane nanocomposites were prepared via in-situ polymerization of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and polymer diols. FTIR analysis indicated that the -NCO groups of MDI had reacted with the hydroxy on the surface of nanosilica during in-situ polymerization. TGA suggested that polyurethane/nanosilica composites obtained by in-situ polymerization had better thermal stability than pure polyurethane. Meanwhile, the tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of the samples prepared by HPSH were superior to those by directly ultrasonic dispersing nanosilica, accompanied by more homogeneous dispersion of nanosilica particles in the polymer matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nicotine is considered to be a specific substrate for UGT2B10, an isoform of human uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT). In the present study, a sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) method for quantification of nicotine N-glucuronide in pooled human liver microsomal incubates was developed and validated. Proteins in a 200μL aliquot of incubation solution were precipitated by adding 40μL 35% perchloric acid. The overall extraction efficiency was greater than 98%. Nicotine N-glucuronide and internal standard were recorded using selected reaction monitoring in positive ion electrospray with ion transitions of m/z 339–163 and m/z 342–166, respectively. The linear calibration curve was obtained over the concentration range of 10–1000nM, with a lower limit of quantification of 10nM. The intra-day and inter-day precision (% CV) and accuracy (% bias) of the method were within 15% at all quality control levels. Nicotine glucuronide in processed samples was stable for 24h at room temperature and 48h at 4°C based on the stability experiments performed in this study. This established method was employed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of five target compounds including amitriptyline, hecogenin, imipramine, lamotrigine, and trifluoperazine on enzymatic activity of UGT2B10. IC50 values for inhibition of nicotine N-glucuronidation by amitriptyline, imipramine, lamotrigine, and trifluoperazine were calculated. Trifluoperazine was found to be a non-substrate inhibitor for human UGT2B10. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The novel ligand 4′-diferrocenylalkyne-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (7; Fc-CC-Fc-tpy; tpy = terpyridyl; Fc = ferrocenyl) and its Ru2+complexes 8–10have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, and UV–vis and luminescence spectroscopy. Electrochemical data and UV absorption and emission spectra indicate that the insertion of an ethynyl group causes delocalization of electrons in the extended π* orbitals. Cyclic voltammetric measurements of 7show two successive reversible one-electron-oxidation processes with half-wave potentials of 0.53 and 0.78 V. The small variations of the E1/2values for the Fe2+/Fe3+redox couples after the coordination of the Ru2+ion suggest a weak interaction between the Ru2+and Fe2+centers. After insertion of an ethynyl group, UV–vis absorption spectra show a red shift of the absorption peak of the 1[(d(π)Fe)6] → 1[(d(π)Fe)5(π*tpyRu)1] MMLCT of the Ru2+complexes. The Ru2+complex 8exhibits the strongest luminescence intensity (λmaxem712 nm, Φem= 2.63 × 10–4, τ = 323 ns) relative to analogous ferrocene-based terpyridine Ru(II) complexes in H2O/CH3CN (4/1 v/v) solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since insects are ectothermic, they are highly vulnerable to the sudden increase of temperature. Indeed, it has been hypothesized that the survival, development, fecundity, and even population expansion of insects are all affected significantly by extremely high temperature. We studied the effect of short-term high temperature stress on the survival and development of different stages, adult longevity and fecundity of Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of the invasive plant, the common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asterales: Asteraceae) in the laboratory. The results showed that egg, larval, pupal and adult survival rates were significantly affected after 2 hour-short-stress at high temperatures (35 to 47°C) when compared to the 28°C control. With the exceptions of the control and 35°C stress, survival rate of females was significantly higher than that of males after short-stress at any high temperature. Short-term high temperature stress also significantly impacted longevity and fecundity of adult beetles. Except for control, female longevity was significantly longer than male's after short-stress at any high temperature. The survival rates of different stages, and adult longevity and fecundity of the beetle decreased significantly with the increase of short-term stress temperature. Based on the results of the present study, we conclude that the development and population expansion of O. communa may be significantly affected when they are exposed to a high temperature stage in a summer day in the areas invaded by common ragweed, in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Twisted tape is a widely used technique for heat transfer enhancement. In the present paper, we proposed a center-cleared twisted tape aiming at acxhieving good thermohydraulic performance. A comparative study between this type and the short-width twisted tape was performed numerically in laminar tubular flows. The computation results demonstrated that the flow resistance can be reduced by both methods; however, the thermal behaviors are very different from each other. For tubes with short-width twisted tapes, the heat transfer and thermohydraulic performance are weakened by cutting off the tape edge. Contrarily, for tubes with center-cleared twisted tapes, the heat transfer can be even enhanced in the cases with a suitable central clearance ratio. The thermal performance factor of the tube with center-cleared twisted tape can be enhanced by 7–20% as compared with the tube with conventional twisted tape. All these demonstrated that the center-cleared twisted tape is a promising technique for laminar convective heat transfer enhancement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective. SS is an autoimmune disease characterized by salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction leading to dry mouth (xerostomia) and dry eyes (xerophthalmia). Anti-muscarinic acetylcholine type-3 receptor (anti-M3R) autoantibodies have been shown to be a good serum marker in primary SS (pSS). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical correlations of anti-M3R-derived peptide antibodies in patients with pSS.Methods. Sequences of the first to fourth cycle-M3R (c1M3R–c4M3R)-derived peptide was synthesized by a solid-phase technique on an Applied Biosytems Peptide Synthesizer. Synthesized cM3R peptide (cM3RP) was used as substrate in an ELISA to detect IgG anti-cM3RP antibodies in serum samples of patients and controls. The clinical and biological parameters of the diseases were also evaluated. The EULAR SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) score was used to measure disease activity in patients with primary SS.Results. (i) Anti-c2M3RP antibodies were highly prevalent in pSS patients, and the titre is much higher than anti-c1,3,4M3RP antibodies. (ii) The prevalence of anti-c2M3RP antibodies in pSS, SLE, RA and healthy controls was 62.2, 7.1, 5.3 and 1.6%, respectively. The prevalence of anti-linear-2-M3RP antibodies in pSS, SLE and RA patients and healthy controls were 56.1, 20.0, 14.7 and 9.4%. (iii) The specificity of anti-c2M3RP antibodies was 95.1%, much higher than that of linear polypeptide (84.7%) for pSS diagnosis. (iv) In pSS patients, anti-c2M3RP positivity had significantly increased frequency in patients who were RF or ANA positive, and had several haematological abnormalities, such as leucopenia, anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, the ESSDAI score was significantly higher in anti-c2M3RP-positive pSS patients (P < 0.05).Conclusion. Anti-c2M3RP antibody was highly specific for patients with pSS. The presence of anti-c2M3RP antibody in pSS indicates that c2M3RP may act as an autoantigen that may play a role in the pathogenesis of pSS. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

4-Amino-8-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-propylcinnoline-3-carboxamide (AZD6280) is a selective GABA-Aα2/3 receptor modulator under development for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders. Absorption, metabolism, and excretion of [14C]-AZD6280 was studied in rats following a single oral (7 mg/kg) or intravenous (i.v., 1 mg/kg) administration of [14C]-AZD6280. The results from the bile duct-cannulated study revealed that AZD6280 was well-absorbed in rats. The pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using unlabelled parent drug that was rapidly absorbed (plasma Tmax ~1 h) and exhibited a mean apparent terminal half-life of ~4.2 h. The overall mean recoveries in the excreta were 98.6% and 100.3% after oral and i.v. administration of [14C]-AZD6280, respectively. The major route for elimination of [14C]-AZD6280 and its metabolites was through faeces. The radiochromatographic analysis of the excreta demonstrated that AZD6280 underwent extensive biotransformation. A total of 28 metabolites of AZD6280 were detected and profiled in urine, bile, and faeces in this study. The structures of metabolites were elucidated by high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Similar metabolite profiles were observed in rats given AZD6280 orally or intravenously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The clearance in joints influences the dynamic stability and the performance of deployable space structures (DSS). A virtual experimental modal analysis (VEMA) method is proposed to deal with the effects of joint clearance and link flexibility on the dynamic characteristics of the DSS in this paper. The focus is on the finite element modeling of the clearance joint, VEMA and the modal parameters identification of the DSS. The finite element models (FEM) of the clearance joint and the deployable structure are established in ANSYS. The transient dynamic analysis is conducted to provide the time history data of excitation and response for the VEMA. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique is used to transform the data from time domain to frequency domain. The frequency response function is calculated to identify the modal parameters of the deployable structure. Experimental verification is provided to indicate the VEMA method is both a cost and time efficient approach to obtain the dynamic characteristics of the DSS. Finally, we analyze the effects of clearance size and gravity on the dynamic characteristics of the DSS. The analysis results indicate that the joint clearance and gravity strongly influence the dynamic characteristics of the DSS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pseudo weak effect algebras are base on an noncommutative, associative and cancellative partial addition, but in general not determined by it. Every pseudo BL-algebra gives rise to a pseudo weak effect algebra. We introduce two different operations in pseudo weak effect algebras and also in the pseudo weak difference posets. We prove that the pseudo weak effect algebras and the pseudo weak difference posets are the same thing. We give the exact conditions that an equivalence relation does not only allow the formation of a quotient algebra, but that this quotient is also again a pseudo weak effect algebra. Last, we show that pseudo BL-effect algebras are subdirect products of linearly ordered ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 2,3-Diamino-9,9-dioctylfluorene (DADOF), as a new multifunctional intermediate for π conjugated molecules, was efficiently synthesized via a seven-step procedure with an overall yield of 30%. Novel 9,9-dihydro-9,9-dioctyl-2-phenylfluoreno[3,2-d]imidazole (DOFIPh)-type fluorophores with polar substituents were designed and conveniently synthesized from DADOF, and their absorption and fluorescence properties were investigated in solution and in the solid state. The fluorophore DOFIPh exhibits strong blue emission in solid state and fine-tuning of the emission is possible depending on the electronic nature of the substituents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Gaussian graphical models explore dependence relationships between random variables, through the estimation of the corresponding inverse covariance matrices. In this paper we develop an estimator for such models appropriate for data from several graphical models that share the same variables and some of the dependence structure. In this setting, estimating a single graphical model would mask the underlying heterogeneity, while estimating separate models for each category does not take advantage of the common structure. We propose a method that jointly estimates the graphical models corresponding to the different categories present in the data, aiming to preserve the common structure, while allowing for differences between the categories. This is achieved through a hierarchical penalty that targets the removal of common zeros in the inverse covariance matrices across categories. We establish the asymptotic consistency and sparsity of the proposed estimator in the high-dimensional case, and illustrate its performance on a number of simulated networks. An application to learning semantic connections between terms from webpages collected from computer science departments is included. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: A new plasmonic photocatalyst of Ag–AgI/Fe3O4@SiO2 was prepared by deposition–precipitation and photoreduction method. The catalyst exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B dye and 4-chlorophenol under visible light irradiation. The degradation rate of rhodamine B and 4-chlorophenol over Ag–AgI/Fe3O4@SiO2 was about 10 times and 4.1 times faster than that of N–TiO2, respectively. The catalyst could be easily recovered due to its paramagnetic property. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope were used to characterize the catalyst. The specified photocatalytic reaction and the study of electron paramagnetic resonance verified that both the O2 − glyph name="rad" />OH radicals were the main active species in this reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we propose a new method for principal component analysis (PCA), whose main objective is to capture natural 'blocking' structures in the variables. Further, the method, beyond selecting different variables for different components, also encourages the loadings of highly correlated variables to have the same magnitude. These two features often help in interpreting the principal components. To achieve these goals, a fusion penalty is introduced and the resulting optimization problem solved by an alternating block optimization algorithm. The method is applied to a number of simulated and real datasets and it is shown that it achieves the stated objectives. The supplemental materials for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the multi-generation effects of transgenic Bt cotton on the metabolism of secondary target herbivores, the activities of digestive and detoxification enzymes in beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), fed with transgenic Bt (cv. GK-12) vs. non-Bt cotton (cv. Simian-3) for three successive generations were examined. Significantly lower activities of lipase, carboxylesterase (CarE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and higher activities of trypsin and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) were observed in Bt-fed S. exigua than in non-Bt fed individuals during the three generations. But the activity of amylase did not differ between the Bt-fed and non-Bt fed S. exigua. Among the three generations of Bt-fed S. exigua, the activities of lipase and trypsin decreased significantly in the second or third generation than in the first generation. But those of CarE and AChE were increased significantly. Among the three generations of non-Bt fed S. exigua, the activity of lipase was significantly higher in the second and third generations than in the first generation. The increasing adaptation and fitness of S. exigua after continuous exposure to Bt cotton was supposed to be associated with the enhanced activities of detoxification enzymes. Measuring multi-generational enzymes activities of S. exigua in response to Bt cotton can provide proofs of its adaptation development, which is suggested to be a mandatory part of risk assessment of transgenic Bt plants on secondary target herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated copper (Cu) acquisition mechanisms and uptake kinetics of the marine diatoms Thalassiosira oceanica Hasle, an oceanic strain, and Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle et Heimdal, a coastal strain, grown under replete and limiting iron (Fe) and Cu availabilities. The Cu-uptake kinetics of these two diatoms followed classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Biphasic uptake kinetics as a function of Cu concentration were observed, suggesting the presence of both high- and low-affinity Cu-transport systems. The half-saturation constants ( K) and the maximum Cu-uptake rates ( V) of the high-affinity Cu-transport systems (∼7-350 nM and 1.5-17 zmol · μm · h, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the low-affinity systems (>800 nM and 30-250 zmol · μm · h, respectively). The two Cu-transport systems were controlled differently by low Fe and/or Cu. The high-affinity Cu-transport system of both diatoms was down-regulated under Fe limitation. Under optimal-Fe and low-Cu growth conditions, the K of the high-affinity transport system of T. oceanica was lower (7.3 nM) than that of T. pseudonana (373 nM), indicating that T. oceanica had a better ability to acquire Cu at subsaturating concentrations. When Fe was sufficient, the low-affinity Cu-transport system of T. oceanica saturated at 2,000 nM Cu, while that of T. pseudonana did not saturate, indicating different Cu-transport regulation by these two diatoms. Using CuEDTA as a model organic complex, our results also suggest that diatoms might be able to access Cu bound within organic Cu complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many high-dimensional microarray classification problems, an important task is to identify subsets of genes that best discriminate the classes. Nevertheless, existing gene selection methods for microarray classification cannot identify which classes are discriminable by these selected genes. In this paper, we propose an improved linear discriminant analysis (LDA) method that simultaneously selects important genes and identifies the discriminable classes. Specifically, a pairwise fusion penalty for LDA was used to shrink the differences of the class centroids in pairs for each variable and fuse the centroids of indiscriminable classes altogether. The numerical results in analyzing 2 gene expression profiles demonstrate the proposed approach help improve the interpretation of important genes in microarray classification problems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recently, mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene were reported to correlate with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor response in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we attempted to detect EGFR mutations in plasma and pleural effusion samples and to make clear its correlations with gefitinib response and survival in NSCLC patients. The free DNA was isolated from the plasma of 56 cases and pleural effusion of another 32 cases of advanced NSCLC. Five common types of EGFR mutations were analyzed by LightCycle PCR with Taqman-MGB probes. EGFR gene mutations were found in 22 of all the 88 (25%) NSCLC patients (23.2% of 56 plasma samples, 28.1% of another 32 pleural effusion samples). EGFR mutations were more frequently present in females, never-smokers and adenocarcinomas ( P < 0.01). It also showed that patients with EGFR mutations had a significantly better response rate when compared with that of the wild-type patients ( P < 0.001). The median progression-free survival (11.2 vs. 2.7 months P = 0.005) and overall survival (21.8 vs. 5.8 months P = 0.003) were significantly higher in patients with EGFR mutations than in patients with wild-type EGFR. The EGFR mutations in the serum and the pleural effusion from advanced NSCLC patients can be detected with LightCycle PCR using Taqman-MGB probes. The mutations highly predict the efficacy of gefitinib in advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The steroidal liver X receptor agonist, 3α,6α,24-trihydroxy-24,24-di(trifluoromethyl)-5β-cholane (ATI-829) is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of atherosclerosis. A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) method for the quantification of ATI-829 in mouse plasma was developed and validated. Proteins in a 25μL aliquot of mouse plasma were precipitated, and ATI-829 was extracted from the precipitate by the addition of 125μL methanol. The overall extraction efficiency was greater than 99%. LC–MS–MS with negative ion electrospray and selected reaction monitoring was used for the quantitative analysis of ATI-829. The lower limit of quantitation of ATI-829 corresponded to 5.0ng/mL (9.7nM) plasma. Interference from matrix was negligible. The calibration curve was linear over the range 5–2000ng/mL. The intra-day precision and inter-day precision of the analyses were <4.5% and <6%, respectively, and the accuracy ranged from 92% to 103%. ATI-829 in plasma was stable for at least 6h at room temperature, 1 week at 4°C, and 3 weeks at −20°C. The validated method was then utilized for pharmacokinetic studies of ATI-829 administered to mice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work presents six CuII, CoII, and NiII supramolecular complexes assembled from a bent dipyridyl ligand 2,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (3-bpo) and R-isophthalic acids (R =–CH3 for 5-methylisophthalic acid or R =–OCH3 for 5-methoxyisophthalic acid), which have been prepared using the layer-separation diffusion method and fully characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) techniques. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that these complexes show 1-D tube-like (for CuII complexes 1 and 2) or discrete cage-like dinuclear (for CoII and NiII complexes 3–6) coordination patterns. Furthermore, extended 3-D supramolecular architectures are constructed via secondary interactions between the coordination arrays, and three types of packing fashions are observed for the dinuclear species 3–6. Structural diversification for these complexes can be properly attributed to the inherent discrepancy of metal ions and the substituent effect of R-isophthalate tectons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The systematic investigation of shape evolution between spherical U(5) and γ-unstable O(6) for Mo isotopes has been carried out by the microscopic quadrupole constrained relativistic mean field model plus BCS method with all the most used interactions, i.e. PK1, NL3, TM1 and NLSH. The calculated potential energy surfaces show a clear shape evolution for the even–even Mo isotopes with N = 50~64 and 94Mo is suggested to be the γ-unstable nucleus, which is favored by the experimental data. Similar conclusion is also drawn from the neutron single particle spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ni–P alloy with overall composition of 7.0wt.% phosphorus was fabricated via electroless plating on substrate of aluminum foil. The effects of this Ni–P master alloy on the modification and the processing for hypereutectic Al–20wt.%Si alloy have been investigated. Primary silicon of hypereutectic alloy can be refined sufficiently by adding this Ni–P master alloy with total amount of 0.008wt.% phosphorus above 800°C. There is no phosphorus burning loss during fabrication of hypereutectic Al–Si alloy modifier by electroless deposition, and environment pollution is reduced. Refinement of primary silicon can be achieved with less addition and a shorter time of processing by use of this electroless deposited Ni–P master alloy as modifier. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Limited filamentous bulking caused by low dissolved oxygen (DO) was proposed to establish a low energy consumption wastewater treatment system. This method for energy saving was derived from two full-scale field observations, which showed pollutants removal would be enhanced and energy consumption could be reduced by atleast 10% using limited filamentous bulking. Furthermore, preliminary investigation including the abundance evaluation and the identification of filamentous bacteria demonstrated that the limited filamentous bulking could be repeated steadily in a lab-scale anoxic–oxic reactor fed with domestic wastewater. The sludge loss did not occur in the secondary clarifier, while COD and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were improved by controlling DO for optimal filamentous bacterial population. Suspended solids in effluent were negligible and turbidity was lower than 2 NTU, which were distinctly lower than those under no bulking. Theoretical and experimental results indicated the aeration consumption could be saved by the application of limited filamentous bulking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) are being developed for the treatment of various human cancers. Methods: MTT assay was used to test the proliferation of SKOV3 and CaOV3. The splice variant expression of GHRH receptors was examined by RT-PCR. The expression of protein in signal pathway was examined by Western blotting. siRNA was used to block the effect of EGFR. Results: In this study, we investigated the effects of a new GHRH antagonist JMR-132, in ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and CaOV3 expressing splice variant (SV)1 of GHRH receptors. MTT assay showed that JMR-132 had strong antiproliferative effects on SKOV3 and CaOV3 cells in both a time-dependent and dose-dependent fashion. JMR-132 also induced the activation and increased cleaved caspase3 in a time- and dose-dependent manner in both cell lines. In addition, JMR-132 treatments decreased significantly the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) level and the phosphorylation of Akt (p-Akt), suggesting that JMR-132 inhibits the EGFR-Akt pathway in ovarian cancer cells. More importantly, treatment of SKOV3 and CaOV3 cells with 100 nM JMR-132 attenuated proliferation and the antiapoptotic effect induced by EGF in both cell lines. After the knockdown of the expression of EGFR by siRNA, the antiproliferative effect of JMR-132 was abolished in SKOV3 and CaOV3 cells. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that the inhibitory effect of the GHRH antagonist JMR-132 on proliferation is due, in part, to an interference with the EGFR-Akt pathway in ovarian cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using one year of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite and particular matter (PM) contents measured at eleven sites located mostly in the eastern China in 2007, the relationship between columnar AOD and hourly and daily average (DA) PM were established. The peak AOD observed from MODIS was generally consistent with the surface PM measurements in eastern China, where Zhengzhou had the maximum annual mean PM10 of 182.1 μg m−3, while Longfengshan had the minimum annual mean of 38.1 μg m−3. Ground level observations indicated that PM concentration varies widely across different regions, which was mainly due to the difference in weather conditions and anthropogenic emissions. The coarse particles accounted for the main air pollution in Zhengzhou and Benxi whiles the fine particles, however, were the main constituents in other sites. Results showed that MODIS AOD (averaged over the box of 5 × 5 and 3 × 3 pixels) had a better positive correlation with the coincident hourly average (HA) PM concentration than with DA due to diurnal variation in PM mass measurements. After correcting AOD for relative humidity (RH), the correlation did not improve significantly, suggesting that the RH was not the main factor affecting the correlation of PM with AOD. The statistical regression analysis between MODIS AOD and PM mass suggested that the satellite-derived AOD is a useful tool for mapping PM distribution over large spatial domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Reactions of 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (1,4-H2nda) and a bent dipyridyl co-ligand 4-amino-3,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole (4bpt) with CoII, ZnII, or CdII acetate afford four coordination polymers, [Co(1,4-nda)(4bpt)(H2O)] n (1), {[Co(1,4-nda)2(4bpt)(H2O)2][Co(4bpt)(H2O)4](H2O)1.5} n (2), {[Zn(1,4-nda)2(4bpt)(H2O)2][Zn(4bpt)(H2O)4](H2O)1.5} n (3), and {[Cd2(1,4-nda)2(4bpt)2(H2O)2](DMF)1.5(H2O)3} n (4). In the structure of the CoII complex 1, the polycatenation of inclined 2-D (4,4) coordination layers leads to the formation of a 3-D supramolecular framework, whereas two types of 1-D polymeric chains are observed in another CoII coordination species 2, which are interconnected via H-bonding to result in an unusual 3-D host–guest lattice. Notably, complexes 1 and 2 have been prepared under similar hydrothermal conditions and their structural discrepancy can only be ascribed to a subtle change of basicity for the reaction solution. The ZnII complex 3 is isostructural to 2, and the CdII complex 4 displays a 2-fold parallel interpenetrating array of undulating (4,4) coordination layers. By using the conventional solvent evaporation method, two PbII naphthalenedicarboxylates [Pb(1,4-nda)(DMF)] n (5) and {[Pb2(2,6-nda)2(DMF)2](DMF)} n (6) have also been prepared (2,6-nda=2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate). Complex 5 has a unique 5-connected 3-D coordination architecture, whereas 6 represents a 3-fold interpenetrating framework of 4-connected diamond topology. Their structural difference suggests the significant isomeric effect of the naphthalenedicarboxylate tectons on structural assemblies. Thermal stability of these crystalline materials has been investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) technique and solid-state luminescent properties of the ZnII, CdII, and PbII complexes have also been explored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple schemes are proposed for implementing deterministic teleportation, superdense coding, and quantum information splitting with W-type entangled states. The physical realization of these schemes should be much simpler than previous ones due to the assistance of an auxiliary particle. We illustrate the ideas in cavity quantum electrodynamics. The important features of our schemes can also be demonstrated in other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four sets of remote sensing images from 1987, 1994, 2000, and 2006, 50 years of meteorological and soil moisture data corresponding to different desertified lands were combined with populations and livestock data to analyze the process and cause of desertification in a portion of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). It showed that surface soil temperature in the region has increased at an average rate of 0.6 °C per decade between 1980 and 2005, the thawing days on the surface have increased by 60 days from 1983 to 2001, and the depth of the seasonal thawing layer has increased by 54 cm, 102 cm and 77 cm in April, May and June, respectively, from 1983 to 2003. As a result, the upper soil layer has become drier due to the thickening active layer and soil water infiltration. These changes, in turn, have inhibited the growth of alpine meadow vegetation that has shallow root systems. It is concluded that climate warming and permafrost thawing have caused desertification in grazing regions of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent clinical trails reported that adjunctive cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibition with celecoxib is beneficial in treating depression. However, another clinical study showed celecoxib did not have inhibitory effect of COX-2 in human brain when given at a therapeutic dose. Therefore, whether celecoxib is exerting its influence through COX inhibition or by some other mechanism remains unclear. The present study further investigated the effect of celecoxib on COX-2 expression, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, a major COX-2-mediated inflammatory mediator) concentration and the depressive-like behaviors in rats. Celecoxib was administrated by oral gavage to naive rats (16 mg/kg) or stressed rats (2, 8, 16 mg/kg, respectively) for 21 days, or to stressed rats for a single dose (16 mg/kg). The results showed that 21 days chronic unpredictable stress induced depressive-like behaviors and increased the COX-2 expression and PGE2 concentration in rat brain. Chronic treatments with celecoxib alleviated the depressive-like behavior and reversed the levels of COX-2 expression and PGE2 concentration in stressed rat in a dose-dependent manner. Celecoxib also improved the emotional state and decreased COX-2 expression and PGE2 concentration in naive rats. In addition, a single dose of celecoxib treatment reversed COX-2 expression and PGE2 concentration, but didn''t alter the depressive-like behavior in stressed rat. These results suggest that COX-2 enzyme might play a key role in pathophysiology of depression. Furthermore, these data indicate that chronic celecoxib treatment reverse chronic unpredictable stress-induced depressive-like behavior might via reducing COX-2 enzyme in brain, and the selective COX-2 inhibitors could be developed as potential remedies for the management of depression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The static and dynamic instabilities of a torsional MEMS/NEMS actuator caused by capillary effects are studied, respectively. An instability number, η, is defined, and the critical gap distance, , between the mainplate and the substrate is derived. According to the values of η and g, the instability criteria of the actuator are presented. The dimensionless motion equation of the MEMS/NEMS torsional actuator is derived when it makes nonlinear oscillation under capillary force. The qualitative analysis of the nonlinear equation is made, and the phase portraits are presented on the phase plane. In addition, the bifurcation phenomena in the system are also analyzed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Meandering channel flows are simulated using two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann models (LBM) for the shallow water equations. A boundary approach is designed for curved boundary treatment, which is applicable to no-slip, semi-slip and slip boundaries at a second-order accuracy. The large eddy simulation model is added in the lattice Boltzmann model, so that the turbulence can be taken into account and modelled efficiently. The model is verified by three numerical tests: the first two involve flows in meandering channels with 60° and 90° consecutive bends; the third is a 180° sharply curved channel. The numerical results are compared with available experimental data, showing good agreement. This provides a second-order accurate scheme for the LBM to simulate complex flows with curved boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nickel-doped gold cluster anions, Au n Ni− (n =1–5), were investigated using the density functional method B3LYP with relativistic effective core potentials (RECP) and LANL2DZ basis set. The possible stable geometrical configurations with their electronic states are determined, and many of them in electronic configurations with a high spin multiplicity. The stability trend of the anionic clusters is compared to that of neutral clusters. Our results show that the one excess electron is strong enough to modify the known growth pattern and stability trend of the neutral Au n Ni clusters, and indicate that the stability and electron affinity of the clusters alter with odd-even oscillations as a function of the number of gold atoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although garlic has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for its medical properties for thousands of years, investigations into its mode of action are relatively recent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-fungal efficacy of the active principle of garlic, pure allicin and polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with allicin. Pure allicin was prepared by reacting synthetic alliin with a stabilized process of the garlic enzyme alliinase. PBCA NPs were prepared by emulsion polymerization method and pure allicin was wrapped into it. The in vitro efficacy of pure allicin and PBCA-allicin NPs to Candida albicans, Cryputococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubum, Microsporum gypseum, M. canis and Epidermophyton floccosum was examined and evaluated by MIC and MFC. The MIC of PBCA-allicin NPs to C. albicans (2.93 × 10-2mg/ml), T. rubum (1.46 × 10-2mg/ml) and E. floccosum (1.46 × 10-2mg/ml) was significantly lower than that of pure allicin (5.86 × 10-2mg/ml, 2.93 × 10-2mg/ml, 2.93 × 10-2mg/ml, respectively); accordingly, the MFC of PBCA-allicin NPs to C. albicans (5.86 × 10-2mg/ml), T. rubum (2.93 × 10-2mg/ml), E. floccosum (2.93 × 10-2mg/ml) and M. canis (2.93 × 10-2mg/ml) also decreased dramatically. These favourable results indicated that pure allicin has stronger in vitro anti-fungal efficacy to six tested fungi than alliinase and alliin. Moreover, it has improved significantly after pure allicin being wrapped into PBCA NP, which may be due to the NP's good prolonged release effect and nano-scale dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]