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1. The role of probiotics in modulating intestinal mucosal immunity in chicks was investigated by measuring migration of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and cytokine signals in chicks fed on a diet supplemented with the Lactobacillus casei compared with those of chicks fed on an unsupplemented diet. 2. Increased numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were detected in the ileal epithelium at d 3 and d 7 after feeding a diet containing 108 CFU/g L. casei. 3. Greater expression of chemokine genes for C-C motif chemokine ligand 3, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12, C-C motif chemokine receptor 5, and C-C motif chemokine receptor 9 were detected in the ileum on d 3, suggesting a greater number of IEL was associated with lymphocyte migration through the chemokine signalling pathway. 4. After IEL migration, cell proliferation was evident in mucosal epithelial cells on d 14. Evidence of immune responses induced in the ileum from d 3–21 after feeding the diet containing L. casei was shown by the significant (P < 0.05) differences in transforming growth factor-β, secretory immunoglobulin A, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4, and interleukin-10. 5. These results indicated that feeding L. casei helps guide IEL migration and modulates intestinal mucosal immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different starch sources (corn, wheat, and rice) on the blood glucose level, glycogen content of liver and muscle, expression of GSK-3β and FAS mRNA, abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat deposition in broiler chickens. 2. A total of 360, one-day-old AA (Arbor Acres) broiler chickens were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, each with six replicates, consisting of 20 chickens per replicate, and fed either a corn-, wheat- or rice-based diet for 21 days. The chickens were then subdivided into groups A and B, and the chickens in these two subgroups were processed or sampled for 28 days, respectively. 3. The results indicated that post-prandial time significantly affected the glucose concentration, glycogen content in the liver and breast muscle and expression of GSK-3β and FAS mRNAs (P < 0.05). The expression of the GSK-3β gene in the chicken liver of the corn-based diet group was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the wheat-based diet group, and the expression of the FAS gene in the corn-based diet group was lower (P < 0.05) than that in the wheat-based and rice-based diet groups. Abdominal fat weight and deposition in the corn-based diet group were lower than those of the wheat-based and rice-based diet groups, but these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). 4. The results suggested that the efficiency of glucose absorption in animals might have an effect on the fat deposition efficiency in the liver and that diets with different starch sources might affect fat deposition in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation of shear horizontal (SH) surface waves in piezoelectric semi-infinite bodies is investigated theoretically. The surface stress exerting on the boundary is taken into account through surface piezoelectricity theory, and the velocity ranges and existence conditions of such surface waves for both electrically open and shorted cases are derived in detail. Analysis results show that the SH surface waves occurring with surface stress are dispersive in contrast to the classical situation, and the propagation characteristics strongly depend on the relative value of surface elasticity, surface piezoelectricity and surface density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basalt discriminant diagrams have been used to identify the tectonic setting of basaltic magmatism since the 1970s and have played an important role in reconstructing paleotectonic environments. However, the significant increase in the availability of geochemical data has led to a reassessment of these diagrams, suggesting that some of the tectonic settings indicated by these diagrams are not accurate. Here, we use a database of global ocean island basalt (OIB), mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), and island arc basalt (IAB) geochemistry to propose a series of new tectonic discriminant diagrams based on the ratios of large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) to high field strength elements (HFSEs). These new diagrams indicate that the LILE can be used to differentiate OIB, MORB, and IAB samples, meaning that LILE/HFSE ratios can discriminate between these basalts that form in different tectonic settings. Our new diagrams can correctly assign samples to OIB, MORB, and IAB categories more than 85% of the time, with the discrimination between OIB and MORB having an accuracy of slightly less than 85%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have presented a high-payload, reversible data hiding scheme that is focused on embedding secret data into joint photographic experts group (JPEG) bitstream by using histogram modification. In JPEG, for AC coefficients, 162 different variable length codes (VLCs) are defined and assigned by Huffman coding for all 162run/sizepossibilities. After parsing VLC usage in the bitstream, we generated a histogram ofrun/size. According to a peak point and the nearest zero point of the histogram, the secret data were embedded by modifying the corresponding VLC values slightly. The experimental results and comparing the performance of our scheme with those of other existing schemes demonstrated that the proposed scheme preserved the quality of the image with no distortion and achieved the goal of high embedding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional geochemical methods to correlate oil and source are not quite fit for too many layers in steep offshore regions. Therefore, more biomarkers and new methods are needed to finish more complicated correlations. Resources in Chengbei Beach zone are generally shallow and high-quality light oil. There are two hydrocarbon source sags and many oil-source layers, and the sources are still disputed. More parameters are used to correlate oil source (i.e., relative group compositions, δ13C, steroids, hopanes, and terpenoids). Some special methods are found, such as the triangular chart of aromatic, asphalt, and saturated hydrocarbon, and the comprehensive use of gammacerane, hopance, and tricyclic terpanes. It is found that there are mainly three oil types. The first type mainly derives from source rocks in Es3, the second type from Es1, and the third type is their mixture. These three oil types are found to have regional features. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Based on the durability test data of the existing bridges in Hainan province, this study explored how the following factors, namely, the strength grade of concrete, stress condition, chloride ion content and environment influenced the depth of the concrete carbonation. A prediction model for the concrete carbonation depth of the in-service bridges in Hainan was established. The actual bridge carbonation data collected in recent years were employed to calculate the concrete quality impact coefficients. The impact on the carbonation depth of concrete from stress condition is large, the results show that the greater the concrete compressive stress, the slower the concrete carbonation rate; the larger the tensile stress, the faster the concrete carbonation rate. After inspection, it was found that the calculation results of the model agreed well with the bridge field test results, which suggested that the model would have good applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the cutting stiffness coefficient is one of the important keys to carrying out the stability limit prediction in hard cutting process. The high-speed precision turning system of hardened steel was established in numerical control lathe of CAK6150DI which used the method that applied the forced vibration to knife rest in feeding direction and two kinds of hardened bearing steel as cutting materials whose rigidity are different. First, the stiffness coefficient kf changed along with the feeding and the phase difference Φ between the signal of tool vibration and the cutting force were measured, then the cutting stiffness coefficient of cutting materials which are hardened bearing steel with hardness of HRC62-64 and HRC50-52 were obtained. The research could provide technical support for stability limit prediction and reference for the measure of lathe system in hard cutting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the bending fatigue load test and static load test on concrete specimens in a chloride environment, we, in this research, studied the law of chloride ion diffusion in concretes under the coupled effect of bending fatigue load and chloride. The results showed that the concrete chloride ion diffusion coefficient was higher under bending fatigue load than that under static load at the same load level. When the load level was greater than 47%, the amplification was very obvious. Under the coupled effect of bending fatigue load and chloride, the service life of the concrete structure would be greatly shortened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report the hydrothermal synthesis of undoped ZrO2 nanospindles and yttria as well as ceria doped or dual doped ZrO2 nanoparticles at a temperature as low as 160°C. Y(NO3)3.6H2O, Ce(Ac)3.nH2O and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide were employed as modifiers to control the morphology and phase composition of the final product. Composite phase ZrO2 nanospindles and superfine Y2O3-ZrO2, CeO2-ZrO2 as well as Y2O3-CeO2-ZrO2 nanoparticles were successfully obtained independent on the absence or presence of Y2O3 and CeO2. However, the addition of Y(NO3)3.6H2O and Ce(Ac)3.nH2O dramatically influence the morphology and stabilization of the metastable tetragonal ZrO2. The undoped pure ZrO2 nanospindles show diameters of several tens of nanometers and lengths of ∼100 nm. Differently, the doped or dual doped ZrO2 nanoparticles have almost same size with diameters of ∼5 nm independent of the hydrothermal time, which is consistent with the results of crystallite size calculated from XRD patterns using Scherrer equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of time and temperature dependencies is considered in the behaviour of advanced fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials. Currently, for the vast majority of analyses of composite structures, time and temperature are considered invariant. In an effort to further improve the design of composite structures, more advanced analyses are now being developed to accurately capture the behaviour under a range of conditions. Various events and load cases in which time and temperature are critical are described in general terms. The specific cases of viscoelastic distortion under mechanical and thermal loading, the behaviour of adhesive joints and the structural response of composites to fire are discussed in detail. The key material response, characterisation methods and analysis approaches developed are described. It is observed that key challenges in the development of improved predictive models are measurement of time- and temperature-dependent material properties and the implementation of efficient multidisciplinary analysis methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foams have been used successfully in oilfields as a diverting agent to decrease mobility of the gas phase and to control channeling of the water phase in heterogeneous porous media. A series of experiments and numerical simulations focused on foam blocking ability and anti-water-coning technology. The experiments were carried out to measure foaming ability in order to optimize foaming agents. This article discusses the results from several experiments in which factors such as foaming agent concentration, permeability, oil saturation, and gas-liquid ratio were varied systematically to evaluate foam blocking ability. The mechanics of nitrogen foam anti-water-coning are analyzed according to the results of experiments. In order to quantitatively evaluate the production performance by nitrogen foam anti-water-coning, a numerical simulation method was employed to determine the optimal nitrogen injection time, shutting-in time, daily fluid production, nitrogen foam injection method, and nitrogen foam injection occasion. The results of numerical simulations show that nitrogen foam can effectively repress water-coning and allow incremental oil production in a bottom water reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design of a novel dual-band unequal Wilkinson power divider. The proposed power divider can operate at arbitrary two frequencies without reactive components. To achieve the dual-band operation, four groups of transmission lines called network 1, 2, 3 and 4 are introduced. The design and analysis of power divider are presented. Closed-form design equations are derived based on network theory. The validity of this analysis is confirmed through the design, simulation, and experimental results with a power divider for 1 and 2 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broadband of circularly polarized (CP) patch antenna fed by L-probes has been presented in this paper. In order to improve axial ratio bandwidth, wideband 90° hybrids with two L-probe feeds are used as feeding netwok, and cones act as radiator instead of common circular patch. A total of 6 array elements are used in a 2 × 3 configuration to achieve a maximum gain target of 14 dBi. However, it will enlarge the overall size of the antenna. The feeding network is located on the lower side of the substrate for compacting the size. The measured results agree well with simulations, indicating that the antenna array possesses an impedance (VSWR < 2) bandwidth of 42% and axial ratio (AR < 3 dB) bandwidth of 47.6%. In addition, the 8-dB gain bandwidth and peak gain are 55% and 14 dBi, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steam stimulation and steam flooding are two kinds of effective processes of enhanced oil recovery for a heavy oil reservoir. But steam can lead to severe and permanent formation damage due to interactions between injected fluids and reservoir rock and liquids. This article presents the laboratory studies undertaken to evaluate the influence of fluid composition, temperature, salinity, pH, dissolution and transformation of minerals, and asphalt deposition on formation damage during steam injection. The degree of damage during steam injection is observed to be dependent on pH and temperature. The technology of casting samples micrographs and scanning electron micrographs is employed to study the variations of reservoir properties after steam injection in each experiment. The mechanisms of formation damage and the characteristics of reservoir property variations are analyzed in heavy oil reservoirs during steam stimulation or steam flooding. The results show that the solubilities of rock and clay increase with increasing temperature and pH. Formation pores are blocked and plugged due to migration and precipitation of new minerals and asphalt deposition away from the steam injection well due to temperature drop and pH reduction in reservoirs. A great deal of asphalt deposition alters formation wettability to increase seepage resistance. Average porosity and average permeability increase near the steam injection well due to the generation of earthworm holes and steam channeling zones under the effect of high pH and elevated temperature. But a large amount of crude oil is left in large and mid-size pores during steam injection in heavy oil reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of TiO2 on the mineral formation and properties of alite-sulphoaluminate cement was studied, using pure chemicals and commercial raw materials. The results showed that a smaller amount of TiO2 (<1·0%) could improve the burnability of raw mix, accelerate the absorption of f-CaO, and promote the formation of the major minerals C3S and C4A3S. If the amount of TiO2 is larger than 1·0%, the content of f-CaO increased, while C3S and C4A3S decreased. A proper amount of TiO2 can increase the strength of cement at various hydration ages. Little amount of TiO2 could rarely affect the setting time of cement, but when the amount is over 1·0%, the setting time of cement was obviously delayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in rodent models has proved to be an effective therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury (SCI). However, further studies in primate models are still needed before clinical application of MSC to patients. Methods MSC were isolated from rhesus monkey BM and induced ex vivo to differentiate into neural lineage cells. Induced cells were labeled with Hoechst 33342 and injected into the injured sites of rhesus SCI models. Function of the injured spinal cord was assessed using Tarlov behavior assessment, sensory responses and electrophysiologic tests of cortical somatosensory-evoked potential (CSEP) and motor-evoked potential (MEP). In vivo differentiation of the implanted cells was demonstrated by the presence of neural cell markers in Hoechst 33342-labeled cells. The re-establishment of the axonal pathway was demonstrated using a true blue (TB) chloride retrograde tracing study. Results Monkeys achieved Tarlov grades 2–3 and nearly normal sensory responses 3 months after cell transplantation. Both CSEP and MEP showed recovery features. The presence of the neural cell markers neurofilament (NF), neuro-specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was observed in approximately 10% of Hoechst 33342-labeled cells. TB, originally injected at the caudal side of injured sites, was traceable in the rostral thoracic spinal cord, red nucleus and sensory motor cortex. Discussion Our results suggest that the implantation of MSC-derived cells elicits de novo neurogenesis and functional recovery in a non-human primate SCI model and should harness the clinical application of BM MSC in SCI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]