Cause Of Breakage Research Articles

Three Quantitative Trait Loci Conferring Resistance to Kernel Fissuring in Rice Identified by Selective Genotyping in Two Tropical Japonica Populations

ABSTRACTKernel fissures in rice (Oryza sativa L.) caused by pre‐ or postharvest stresses are the leading cause of breakage among milled rice, causing economic losses for producers, millers, and processors. The present study identified three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with fissure resistance (FisR) through selective genotyping of two mapping populations, one derived from ‘Cypress’ × ‘LaGrue’ and the other derived from ‘Cybonnet’ × ‘Saber’. Two QTLs were identified on chromosome 1 and one on chromosome 8 in both populations. Further QTL verification as well as improved estimates of QTL locations and effects were obtained using a set of 275 Cybonnet × Saber recombinant inbred lines (RILs) tagged with markers along chromosomes 1 and 8 and phenotyped using seven replications of seed harvested in four environments. Both QTLs on chromosome 1 were statistically significant in all four environments; the chromosome 8 QTL was significant in three. All alleles for FisR originated from Cypress, which was the FisR parent of Cybonnet. The QTL with largest effect, qFIS1‐2, which explained 13% of the RIL variance for FisR, was found linked to the semidwarf sd1 locus on chromosome 1. This explains earlier reports of putative association between FisR and short plant height. This is the first report of rice FisR QTLs whose effects were verified in multiple mapping populations and seed‐production environments.

Response to Early Generation Selection for Resistance to Rice Kernel Fissuring

ABSTRACTThe value of milled rice (Oryza sativa L.) depends on the percent whole versus broken kernels after milling. Kernel fissures caused by pre‐ or postharvest stresses are the leading cause of breakage on milling. ‘Cypress’ is known to be more fissure resistant (FR) than most cultivars, but breeding success has been limited by a lack of ability to identify FR among F2 and F3 progeny. An induced‐fissuring method wherein small samples of seed are evaluated for fissure rates after controlled exposure to humid laboratory conditions can distinguish FR among pure‐breeding rice cultivars. To measure the efficacy of the induced‐fissuring system for evaluating FR among segregating breeding progeny, we applied divergent selection for FR and fissure susceptibility (FS) on seed harvested from ∼300 Cypress (FR) × ‘LaGrue’ (FS) F2 plants and evaluated selection success using seed from F2:3 plants grown in Arkansas and Texas. A second round of divergent selection was made among F3 progeny followed by F3:4 progeny testing. Fissure susceptible F2:3 progeny fissured twice as much as FR progeny, with an average response to selection of 13.5%. Response to F3 selection was smaller (averaging 2.6%), suggesting some fixation of alleles due to the F2 selections. Narrow‐sense heritabilities (h2) were 0.54 and 0.73 for the FR and FS F2 selections, respectively. This study documented successful early‐generation selection for FR, opening new opportunity for breeders to develop rice cultivars improved for this important trait.

Concomitant laparoscopy: An effective technique for successful retrieval of intra pelvic migrated broken guide pin

Many devices are used for fixation of fractures around hip need guide pins for accurate positioning of the final implants. Breakage of these guide pins during surgery is one of the most dreaded complications of such surgeries. The true incidence of this complication is not known and remains under-reported. The most common causes of breakage of guide pins are re-use of the guide pins, blockade of the cannulated drills, and mismatch between the guide pins and cannulated drills. Most commonly, the guide pin breaks either during drilling over the guide pin or during manoeuvring the hip. Such broken guide pins can migrate into pelvis and can cause a variety of complications. At the same time retrieval of such broken guide pins can be a challenge to the treating surgeon, especially if they are found transfixing the hip joint. Techniques described for retrieval of migrated and broken guide pins vary from exploration of the fracture site, creating a window in the femoral neck, hip arthroscopy, extra peritoneal exploration by ilio-inguinal approach to laparotomy. In this report, we document a novel technique for retrieving a broken guide pin that was transfixing the hip joint and protruding in to the pelvis. We retrieved the guide pin from the abdomen via laparoscopy after laparoscopic-guided pushing from the neck of femur. Whilst laparoscopic retrieval of freely migrating k-wires from the pelvis has been documented in the past, this is the first ever documentation of a novel technique used to retrieve intra pelvic migrated broken guide pin.

In-vitro Imaging of Femoral Artery Nitinol Stents for Deformation Analysis

Purpose Femoral artery stents are prone to fracture, and studying their deformations could lead to a better understanding of the cause of breakage. The present study sought to develop a method of imaging and analyzing stent deformation in vitro with use of a calibrated test device. Materials and Methods High-resolution (approximately 200 μm) volumetric data were obtained with a flat-panel detector–based C-arm computed tomography system. A nitinol stent placed in a testing device was imaged with various loads that caused bending, axial tension, and torsion. Semiautomatic software was developed to calculate the bending, extension, and torsion from the stent images by measuring the changes in the radius of curvature, eccentricity, and angular distortions. Results For the axial tension case, there was generally good agreement between the physical measurements and the image-based measurements. The bending measurements had better agreement at bend angles lower than 30°. For stent torsion, the hysteresis between the loading and unloading curves were larger for the image-based results compared with physical measurements. Conclusions An imaging and analysis framework has been set up for the analysis of stent deformations that shows fairly good agreement between physical and image-based measurements.

Multivariable data analysis of a cold rolling control system to minimise defects

This paper focuses on the application of principal component analysis (PCA) to thoroughly analyse and interpret multidimensional data from a cold rolling process. The analysis includes the effects of variables on the final properties of strips in a cold rolling mill. Unscrambler software was used to analyse and identify hidden variables. Variable correlations were also used to derive correlations between the control parameters. The results of this research will be used to improve the selection of material in order to reduce the occurrence of defects in the cold rolling process and to improve the adjustment of the set points that are performed in every pass or section of the cold rolling process. The hot rolled strips that enter the cold rolling mill are made of different materials and are produced by different strip manufacturers. Some strips break during the thickness reduction process in the cold rolling mill. This paper focuses on two possible causes of breakage: non-uniform strip material properties and failures in the rolling mill process. Two types of rolled strips (those that break and those that do not break) were compared to identify causes of breakage. The results indicate that breakages are caused by material or process failures. PCA was applied to the dataset in order to identify and analyse the relationships between the variables in the process. This information was used to interpret and diagnose the process behaviour. Swarm analysis and relating observations to process behaviour were able to distinguish between different start-up conditions, and between desirable and undesirable process conditions.

Causes of breakage and disruption in a homogeniser

Many authors have written in the past regarding the exact causes of breakage and disruption in a high-pressure homogeniser, but there has been little agreement. This paper investigates some of the most likely causes of the rupture of the walls of unicellular organisms and offers suggestions obtained from various papers and work carried out.

Male condoms that break in use do so mostly by a “blunt puncture” mechanism

Background Published condom breakage studies typically report the percentage of failures but rarely provide any evidence on the mechanism of failure. Methods Over a period of 7 years, broken condoms returned to a supplier (SSL, Durex™) via consumer complaints were examined to determine the cause of failure. Also, some consumers who reported breakage but did not return condoms were sent a questionnaire on the causes of breakage. Finally, theories proposed for the mechanism of breakage were investigated on a laboratory coital model. Results Nearly 1000 ( n=972) returned condoms made from natural rubber and polyurethane were examined. Visible features on those that were broken, were classified. Evidence combined from examining returns, questionnaire responses and the coital model strongly suggests a single predominant mechanism of failure we named “blunt puncture,” where the tip of the thrusting male penis progressively stretches one part of the intact condom wall until it ultimately breaks. Conclusions Blunt puncture appears to be the mechanism of breakage responsible for more than 90% of condom breakage not attributable to misuse. Knowledge of the main mechanism of breakage should help develop better user instructions, better test methods and, ultimately, better condoms.

Rationale and Feasibility Study of a Mechanical Model for the Testing of Material Fatigue in Metal Ureteral Stents

Stents are used abundantly to maintain ureteral patency. The majority are plastic tubes that adjust easily to upper urinary-tract motion. Recently, a coiled-wire lumenless stent was introduced (ZebraStent, Neo Medical, Munich, Germany) to facilitate expulsion of stone fragments after lithotripsy. Its metal core is composed of Nitinol, with the soft J ends being of titanium. The thin shape considerably increases the extraluminal space. The ZebraStent stretches the ureter and also provides a surface for the fragments to glide along. In our 18-month experience with the ZebraStent, two of them fractured along the shaft. We sought to learn whether this complication resulted from a defect in stent design or from material fatigue secondary to constant movement. Our model is powered by an electric motor that produces a constant displacement similar to stent movements in vivo. The whole ZebraStent is embedded in a 37 degrees C waterbath to simulate physiological conditions within the ureter. We used an average displacement of 16 mm. The average frequency of ventilatory-cycle simulation was 20 times that in vivo, allowing us to collect data in a shorter time. All 10 stents broke within the proximal Nitinol shaft at the equivalent of 4 to 6 months (125-179 days). Our preliminary results show that all stents break after the equivalent of 4 or more months. The fact that this occurs in the homogenous proximal Nitinol shaft rather than at the welding point between the shaft and the titanium curl implies that breakage is secondary to material fatigue and not design error. Extensive testing is under way to confirm material fatigue as the cause of breakage. We hope to determine a safe dwelling time for these stents, which at the moment should not exceed 3 months.

Ultrasonic non-destructive diagnostics of ceramic line insulators

Failures of high-voltage systems that recently occurred in Europe and USA resulted in the growth of an interest in problems concerning certainty of supply as well as security of exploitation of electrical power lines. This problem is also current in Poland. The serious failure in Warsaw in November 2004 proved the importance of this topic [1] . As a result of the fracture of two strain line insulators, 15% of power was shut off. About two hundred thousand inhabitants of five districts, and the underground and airport transportation systems were afflicted with blackouts for several hours. The main cause of a breakdown was ageing degradation of the material of insulators which had been in operation for over 30 years. This work presents a non-destructive ultrasonic investigation of a group of 15 line insulators of LP 75/17 type. These elements, made 'of C 120 type porcelain, have been in operation for about 30 years. The direct reason for this work was the mechanical breakdown of the line strain insulator on the 110/6 kV power engineering installation. On the basis of the measurements the cause of breakage was ascertained and an analysis was carried out of the quality of the tested insulators.

END BREAKAGE IN ROTOR SPINNING: EFFECT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES ON COTTON YARN END BREAKAGE

Abstract The end breakage in rotor spinning not only reduces the running efficiency of the process, but also deteriorates the quality of the yarn in terms of presence of piecing slubs. A new system has been proposed to classify the end breaks in rotor spinning broadly into seven groups, depending on the configuration of broken ends. By examining the broken end, the probable causes of breakage can be predicted and necessary preventive action can be taken. The rate of end breakage and the proportion of different types of breakages vary with different process variables like yarn count, rotor speed, opening roller speed and residual trash content in draw frame sliver.

Non-destructive ultrasonic measurements of ceramic post insulators used in electricity distribution systems

The authors present a new non-destructive ultrasonic method for investigations of long-rod insulators operating on station isolating switches. The 110/6 kV stations are used in operating the field of domestic industrial power engineering. The main aim of research was to establish a close correlation between the degree of defectiveness of electrotechnical porcelain and the parameters of ultrasonic wave propagation and attenuation. In addition, the causes of breakage of insulator type SWZPAK-110 since 1975 were ascertained. This ceramic element underwent detailed structural and comparative acoustic measurements. The experimental investigations were performed using a specially designed and constructed measuring equipment. Besides establishing the original causes of breakage of the above mentioned insulator, the most significant achievement of work was the elaboration of the methodology of ultrasonic measurements applied directly to objects in use on site. The presented method was also used for analysis of quality of a group of 43 insulators after long-term use on isolating switches.

California Condors and DDE: a re‐evaluation

Eggshells of wild California Condors Gymnogyps californianus were much thinner in the 1960s, when DDT was used heavily, than during earlier pre‐DDT and later reduced‐DDT periods. However, eggshell thickness was more strongly linked to egg size (mass) than to measured levels of p,p′DDE (the primary metabolite of DDT). Egg size was consistent within individual females and yielded correlation coefficients with shell thickness ranging from 0.49 to 0.97, depending on the period and the analysis assumptions used. Measured DDE levels, although often substantial, provided only a weak correlation (r = −0.33) with shell thickness. In part, the absence of a strong DDE/thickness correlation may have been an artefact of losses of DDE from fragment membranes over time. Nevertheless, the extreme (28–29%) shell thinning of the 1960s was not linked with clearly increased egg‐breakage or nest‐failure rates, and one female of the 1980s with 25.6% shell thinning was the most productive female of her era. Some eggs with over 30% shell thinning hatched successfully, and broken eggs closely resembled hatched eggs in shell thickness, strongly suggesting that shell thinning was not an important cause of breakage. The apparent absence of harmful effects from the extreme shell thinning of the 1960s may have resulted from (1) the fact that historic pre‐DDT condor eggs were on average 16.7% thicker shelled for their mass than predicted by the overall egg mass/shell thickness curve for birds, and (2) a possible egg‐size decline or sampling bias toward small‐egged females in the 1960s. That DDE was an important cause of the Condor's decline appears unlikely from overall available data.

院内感染対策に関する臨床的研究 ビニール手袋とラテックス手袋の破損率の比較検討

Breakage of gloves during clinical examinations and surgery has been sporadically reported by various departments. We compared the frequency of breakage of vinyl gloves (VG) with that of latex gloves (LG) during the treatment of outpatients, since no such report has been published previously. We studied 627 pairs of VG (1254 gloves) and 495 pairs of LG (990 gloves) used for treatment in the outpatient clinic of our department. The breakage of VG and LG was compared with regard to the clinical experience of the physician the duration of treatment, the awareness of breakage, as well as the site, extent, and cause of breakage. A water leak test was employed to objectively examine used gloves. Breakage occurred in 27.0% of VG, which was about 4.4 times greater than the breakage rate for LG (6.1%). Breakage of VG was about twice as common for the left glove than for the right, but there was no difference for LG. With both/types of gloves, about 60% of the breaks were not detected during treatment, suggesting the risk of contamination of the surgical field by the fingers. The frequency of breakage of LG during dental treatment varies widely among departments, i. e., from 2.8 to 50%. With VG the most frequent site and cause of damage were needle injuries affecting the index finger of the left hand, whereas with LG the palm of the right hand was most frequently damaged by the needle holder. The fit and strength of gloves were problems with VG, while the breakage of LG was less common. Among physicians with 1 to 2 years' clinical experience, breakage was common despite a short duration of treatment, indicating that the utmost caution is required even when LG are used.

Changes in Internal Pressure of Composite Film Packages by Their Drop Impact.

The consumption of plastic containers used for packing foods was steadily increased in recent years, and so was the percentage in industrial waste. Attracting attention under these circumstances is the composite film with which the consumption of plastics can be reduced to 1/3-1/10 in weight of that required for hard plastic containers and which can be compressed to small volume after use. The subject focused up here relates to flexible packages which facilitate economical utilization of plastics made from limited resources of petroleum and effective reduction of plastic wastes. In particular, dynamic experiments were conducted to determine the causes of breakage during transportation of the packages containing liquid, for different viewparameters points including temperature and internal pressure of contents, and to clarify interrelationships among physical characteristics of film, types of contents and external force, in an effort to establish safe and economical transportation of products.

鍛造材のメリット

On 22 pieces of broken centrifugal cast rolls the cause of breakage is studied. Then it has been concluded that a fatigue crack is initiated at casting defects or inclusions, corrosion occurs at casting defects and this part acts as an origin of fatigue cracking. Forged suction roll has no such defects although one breakage and two cracking troubles were experienced. The origin of fatigue cracking is studied in case of the forged suction rolls by the fractography and stress analysis of the FEM. A crack on the axial direction is created by a shortage of wall thickness which was designed wrong. A crack on the circumferential direction is created by a combination of stress concentration at the irregularly narrow drilled portion and maximum stress shifting based on wrong maintenance.

Breakage patterns of human long bones

In the study of fragmented human remains the plausibility of a cannibalism hypothesis rests primarily on the correct identification of the cause of breakage. Here the use of fracture morphologies and fragmentation indices for distinguishing green from postdepositional bone breakage is assessed using three assemblages of human bone broken by unique and well known causes, i.e., marrow fracturing of green bone, sediment pressure and impact on subfossil bone. Of the tested attributes, five appear to have diagnostic value at the statistical, assemblage level: fracture outline, fracture angle, shaft circumference, shaft fragmentation and breadth/length ratios of shaft splinters.

Bone breakage in the Krapina hominid collection.

The fragmentary condition of the Krapina Neandertal remains has been offered as one line of evidence for the hypothesis that these hominids were the victims of cannibals seeking marrow and brains. Two other hypotheses regarding the causes of the framentation have been raised: a substantial portion of the breakage in the Krapina collection is attributable to excavation damage; and the rest of the breakage is attributable to sedimentary pressure and to natural rock falls that occurred during the site's prehistory. The purpose of this paper is report on tests of these three hypotheses concerning the cause of breakage in the Krapina material. Microscopic inspection of all Krapina hominid specimens showed that 23% of the material was inadvertantly broken during excavation or during quarrying that took place at the end of the last century. The morphology of the prehistoric breakage is inconsistent with the cannibalism hypothesis and supports the hypothesis that prehistoric breakage was caused by sedimentary pressure and/or roof falls.

Benzylamine Tartrate as an Organic Glass Substrate for Carbon Films by Evaporation

Benzylamine tartrate (m.p. 63°C) seems to be a better and more convenient substrate for making carbon films than any of those previously proposed. Using it in the manner described, it is easy consistently to make batches of specimen grids as open as 200 mesh with no broken squares, and without individual handling of the grids. Benzylamine tartrate (hereafter called B.T.) is a viscous liquid when molten, which sets to a glass. Unlike polymeric substrates it does not swell before dissolving; such swelling of the substrate seems to be a principal cause of breakage of carbon film. Mass spectroscopic examination indicates a vapor pressure less than 10−9 Torr at room temperature.

Increasing the Efficiency of Railway Transport by Improvement of Suspension of Freight Wagons

Railway transport has a very important role in economy of every country. The efficiency of railway transport depends both on the quality of transport organization and on the technical reliability of the railway rolling stock. During operation of the railway freight wagons in the last years, a large number of breaks of suspension system elements have been noticed. This feature is especially reported at four-axle double wagon for coal transport (designated Fbd) and three-axle wagon for transport of cars (designated DDam). Frequent breaks of suspension system elements reduce the efficiency of transport and in some cases cause derailment of wagons and lead to large economic losses. In this paper, the causes of breakage of suspension on both wagons (Fbd and DDam) have been analyzed, but also the possibilities of how to resolve these problems, i.e. how to reduce them to a minimum or avoid them completely.

The Strength and Weakness of Cotton Fibers

The structural reversals in cotton fibers are a preferred location of break when the fiber is ruptured in tension. With the aid of a polarizing microscope, observations were made of the fraction of fibers breaking at the reversals under various conditions of moisture content, specimen length, and chemical treatment. It is concluded that the cellulose in the region of the reversals is more highly crystalline than the cellulose between the reversals. The cause for breakage at the reversals is then explained on the basis of internal stresses at these points which cause the fiber to tear apart when tension is applied. The weak places between reversals which give rise to fiber rupture are believed to be at structural defects or thin places. The mean breaking stresses for fibers breaking at the reversals vary significantly from those for fibers breaking between reversals for some varieties of cotton. The distributions of weak-spot location and strength for reversals and structural defects are discussed for three varieties.