Valuable Reference For Further Research Research Articles

Mechanical properties and constitutive models of foamed steels under monotonic and cyclic loading

Foamed steel applications in civil engineering are at their beginning stage. Compared to foamed aluminum, advantages of using steel as a base metal are distinct (e.g., higher strength and modulus). In order to investigate the mechanical properties of foamed steels and to obtain representative material constitutive parameters for finite element analysis, fourteen specimens were tested under monotonic and eleven different cyclic loading schemes in this study. The monotonic and cyclic tensile-to-yield ratios were 2.17 and 1.90 ± 0.17, respectively, and the energy dissipation coefficient ranged from 2.70 to 3.35. The cyclic hardening behavior of foamed steels comprised isotropic and kinematic hardening characteristics, and the isotropic part played the dominate role. Based on the test results, the corresponding material parameters for two cyclic constitutive models, including the Chaboche model and the Giuffré-Menegotto-Pinto model were obtained. Then, the accuracy of the parameters was verified by nonlinear analysis results in ABAQUS and OpenSEES. This work may provide a valuable reference for further research into the cyclic characteristics of foamed steels.

Material properties and partial factors for resistance of low yield point steels in China

Abstract As promising structural materials in seismic isolation and energy dissipation systems, low yield point (LYP) steels have been developed and have begun to be adopted in seismic design. This article reports statistical analyses of the material properties of LYP steels and calibration of their partial factors for resistance. An extensive range of mill test data collected from major steel manufacturers in China was analyzed using a mathematical statistical method. On the basis of the statistical analyses and existing research results, reliability analysis was performed for LYP steels using probabilistic theories and structural reliability theories. Finally, suggested partial factors for the resistance of LYP steels were provided. As an important part for codifying the Technical specification for application of low yield point steel in China, this paper may provide valuable reference for further research and promote the engineering applications of LYP steels in China.

Hydraulic Characteristics of Transporting a Piped Carriage in a Horizontal Pipe Based on the Bidirectional Fluid-Structure Interaction

Energy shortage restricts the rapid development of the global transport industry. Trying to develop innovative modes of transport becomes an inevitable trend. Hydraulic Capsule Pipelines (HCPs) are the freight transportation modes that use a kind of fluid to push capsules filled with bulk solids materials through water-filled pipelines. HCPs not only alleviate everincreasing costs caused by energy scarcities and oil price up, but also solve issues like traffic congestion and environmental pollution. Published literature is mainly limited to numerical simulation of the unidirectional fluid-structure interaction between the capsules and the fluid inside the pipelines; furthermore, the hydraulic characteristics only involve the speed of the capsules and the pressure drop characteristics of the fluid within the pipe. This research was conducted on the following four aspects of HCPs. First, an improved cylindrical capsule called a “piped carriage” was evaluated. Second, an associated solution between the fluid domain within the pipe and the solid domain of the piped carriage was investigated numerically on the basis of the bidirectional fluid-structure interaction methods. Third, the effects of diameter ratiob(ratio of a diameter of the piped carriageDeto a pipe diameterDp, widely ranging inb=0.4~0.95) on hydraulic characteristics of transporting the piped carriage within the pipeline were extensively discussed. Finally, based on Least-Cost Principle, an optimization model of HCPs was effectively built. The results showed that the simulated results were in good agreement with the experimental results, which further indicated that it was feasible for solving the hydraulic characteristics of transporting the piped carriage by using the bidirectional fluid-structure interaction methods. The results will be of great reference value for further research on HCPs and also provide a theoretical foundation for the optimal design of HCPs.

Chemical and pharmacological progress on usnic acid and its derivatives

Usnic acid and its derivatives, a group of organic molecules with great importance, are characteristic to lichens, possessing pharmacological activities such as anti-virus, anti-bacteria, anti-humor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anaesthetic effects. Many of them have been widely used as medicine, but also bring side effects such as dermatitis and liver damages. In the past decades, great efforts by isolation, organic synthesis, and structure modification methods were put on discovery of UA derivatives with higher biological activities or less side effects. This paper describes herein the most progress on natural sources, isolation and structure elucidation, structural characteristics, synthesis and modification results, pharmacological activities and toxicities of UA and its derivatives, hopefully to provide valuable reference for further research.

Genetic engineering to alter carbon flux for various higher alcohol productions by Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Chinese Baijiu fermentation.

Higher alcohols significantly influence the quality and flavor profiles of Chinese Baijiu. ILV1-encoded threonine deaminase, LEU1-encoded α-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase, and LEU2-encoded β-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase are involved in the production of higher alcohols. In this work, ILV1, LEU1, and LEU2 deletions in α-type haploid, a-type haploid, and diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and ILV1, LEU1, and LEU2 single-allele deletions in diploid strains were constructed to examine the effects of these alterations on the metabolism of higher alcohols. Results showed that different genetic engineering strategies influence carbon flux and higher alcohol metabolism in different manners. Compared with the parental diploid strain, the ILV1 double-allele-deletion diploid mutant produced lower concentrations of n-propanol, active amyl alcohol, and 2-phenylethanol by 30.33, 35.58, and 11.71%, respectively. Moreover, the production of isobutanol and isoamyl alcohol increased by 326.39 and 57.6%, respectively. The LEU1 double-allele-deletion diploid mutant exhibited 14.09% increased n-propanol, 33.74% decreased isoamyl alcohol, and 13.21% decreased 2-phenylethanol production, which were similar to those of the LEU2 mutant. Furthermore, the LEU1 and LEU2 double-allele-deletion diploid mutants exhibited 41.72 and 52.18% increased isobutanol production, respectively. The effects of ILV1, LEU1, and LEU2 deletions on the production of higher alcohols by α-type and a-type haploid strains were similar to those of double-allele deletion in diploid strains. Moreover, the isobutanol production of the ILV1 single-allele-deletion diploid strain increased by 27.76%. Variations in higher alcohol production by the mutants are due to the carbon flux changes in yeast metabolism. This study could provide a valuable reference for further research on higher alcohol metabolism and future optimization of yeast strains for alcoholic beverages.

Enhanced electronic-transport modulation in single-crystalline VO2 nanowire-based solid-state field-effect transistors

Field-effect transistors using correlated electron materials with an electronic phase transition pave a new avenue to realize steep slope switching, to overcome device size limitations and to investigate fundamental science. Here, we present a new finding in gate-bias-induced electronic transport switching in a correlated electron material, i.e., a VO2 nanowire channel through a hybrid gate, which showed an enhancement in the resistive modulation efficiency accompanied by expansion of metallic nano-domains in an insulating matrix by applying gate biases near the metal-insulator transition temperature. Our results offer an understanding of the innate ability of coexistence state of metallic and insulating domains in correlated materials through carrier tuning and serve as a valuable reference for further research into the development of correlated materials and their devices.

BTH treatment caused physiological, biochemical and proteomic changes of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit during ripening.

The study offers new proteomic evidences for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of muskmelon fruit ripening by BTH treatment at proteomic level, and provides a valuable reference for further research on the relationship between fruit quality and induction disease resistance in BTH-treated fruits.

Simulation of Non-Destructive Testing on Weld Surface Crack of Metal Structure by Electromagnetically Stimulated Infrared Thermography

With the wider use of metal welded structure in engineering machine, on-line inspection on weld crack is of great significance. This paper reports an emerging nondestructive approach----electromagnetically stimulated infrared thermography technique, for the detection and characterization of surface cracks. According to the electromagnetic thermal coupling analysis theory, different abnormal temperature field distributions caused by various crack dimensions , coil lifting heights, stimulated frequencies and paint film thickness were obtained, via 3D finite element analysis (FEA).The results show that the weld surface crack detectability are greatly influenced by the crack width and the paint layer thickness, with coil life-off height decreasing and electromagnetic excitation frequency increasing, the maximum abnormal temperature difference increases. There is a certain reference value for further research on the design of the electromagnetically stimulated control device.

Transcriptome and proteomic analysis of mango (Mangifera indica Linn) fruits

Here we used Illumina RNA-seq technology for transcriptome sequencing of a mixed fruit sample from 'Zill' mango (Mangifera indica Linn) fruit pericarp and pulp during the development and ripening stages. RNA-seq generated 68,419,722 sequence reads that were assembled into 54,207 transcripts with a mean length of 858bp, including 26,413 clusters and 27,794 singletons. A total of 42,515(78.43%) transcripts were annotated using public protein databases, with a cut-off E-value above 10(-5), of which 35,198 and 14,619 transcripts were assigned to gene ontology terms and clusters of orthologous groups respectively. Functional annotation against the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database identified 23,741(43.79%) transcripts which were mapped to 128 pathways. These pathways revealed many previously unknown transcripts. We also applied mass spectrometry-based transcriptome data to characterize the proteome of ripe fruit. LC-MS/MS analysis of the mango fruit proteome was using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in an LTQ Orbitrap Velos (Thermo) coupled online to the HPLC. This approach enabled the identification of 7536 peptides that matched 2754 proteins. Our study provides a comprehensive sequence for a systemic view of transcriptome during mango fruit development and the most comprehensive fruit proteome to date, which are useful for further genomics research and proteomic studies. Our study provides a comprehensive sequence for a systemic view of both the transcriptome and proteome of mango fruit, and a valuable reference for further research on gene expression and protein identification. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics of non-model organisms.

Formation Mechanism Study on Houchuangzi Slope Debris Flow

Taken the Houchuangzi slope debris flow along Kunming- -Songming highway as instance, analyzed the mineral composition of provenance on the slope debris flow adopted the polycrystal X ray diffractometer, which was rich in hydrophilic clay mineralssuch as kaolinite and montmorillnite; analyzed the fornation mechanism of the HouChuangzi slope debris flow by the laboratory model test, compartmentalized the fornation process of the HouChuangzi slope debris flow in to five stages from the aspects of slope debris flow morphology and crack extension mechanism.The results provide certain reference value for further research of the formation mechanical mechanism.

Seven Months to Oregon: 1853 Diaries, Letters and Reminiscent Accounts by Harold J. Peters, Celinda Hines, Gustavus Hines, Harvey HinesBest of Covered Wagon Women by Kenneth L. Holmes

the thoughtful and high quality production represented by thisvolume. This readable and handsome work describes and analyzes an important aspect of the art and culture of the Pacific Northwest during the early twentieth century and serves as a valuable reference for further research. Scholars, collectors, and interested layreaderswill all enjoy and benefit from reading thisbook. William R Willingham Portland, Oregon in 1853. The bulk of the material isprovided by threedifferent writers ? Celinda Hines, Gusta vus Hines, and Harvey Hines ? with added material from others wherever available. Unfortunately, since theHines trip was not historically noteworthy and, admittedly, came offwith very fewhitches, the effectof having threedifferentpeople describe the same non incidents isa littlelike making the reader hike fifteen miles of the trail, then backtrack and do it again twomore times before proceed ing to achieve some actual forward progress. Whenever some slightvariances inviewpoint might add interestto thenarrative, the editor frequently intrudesand exacerbates the repeti tiveeffect by quoting directlywhat will be said in the very next paragraph. On page 143, for example, he writes: "Harvey in fact reports, cThiswas the hardest single night of our journey...' Celinda though, says only, 'In the night itrained and hailed.'" And sure enough, in the very next paragraph, we get Celinda's account: "In the night it rained and hailed." This gets old fast. Another problem is that, although one of the accounts is a daily diary kept by Celinda Hines (and previously collected in Covered Wagon Women), much of thematerial was writ ten later as reminiscences or ? heaven help us ? sermons. In reading awide range of Oregon Trail accounts, one comes to understand that what an individualwrote or said ina speech for public consumption lateroften says far more about the person's own character than about the trip itself. Perhaps that iswhy thisvolume seems towork better as a character study than as an Oregon Trail chronicle. SevenMonths to Oregon is actually a Hines familyhistory and Peters, aHines descendant, has given his fellow descendants a true family treasure in putting together thisvolume. It should also appeal to scholarswishing tomake a studyofChristian ministers duringWestward Expansion aswell as those with an interest in trail conditions specific to theyear 1853.Others, however,will find itslow going, as even trailbuffs who never SEVEN MONTHS TO OREGON: 1853 DIARIES,LETTERS AND REMINISCENT ACCOUNTS byHarold J.Peters The Patrice Press, Tooele, Utah, 2008. Photographs, maps, tables, indexes, bibliography. 443 pages. $39.95 cloth. $24.95 paper. BESTOF COVERED WAGONWOMEN by Kenneth L. Holmes University ofOklahoma Press, Norman, 2008. Maps, index. 304 pages. $19.95 paper. The plot, ifyou will, of any given account of pioneers traveling theOregon Trail is always the same. Brave souls load up theirwagons in the east and travel west. The suspense comes inwondering what, inparticular,will befall a certain group. In SevenMonths toOregon, the editor, Harold Peters, seems determined to deny the reader any such sense ofpage-turning eagerness by announcing on page four of the introduction: "Tragically, in by far themost emotional event of the journey, Obadiah drowned while attempting to cross the Snake River." It soon becomes clear thatreadability is not thegoal here. Instead,Peters seems tohave aimed for themost thorough documentation possible of everythingwritten before, during, and aftera particular crossing of theplains by a group of Methodist ministers and theirfamilies 628 OHQ vol. 109, no. 4 tireof readingdetails of thehistoric expedition might wonder why theyarebeing asked toplow through someone's discourse on the slavery situation in Jamaica or thebad fictionwritten by one of theministers ? a novel about a brave minister heading into thewilderness. To simply enjoy accounts of the journey, readers will do better to turn to what has apparently become the gold standard of trail diary collections,Kenneth L.Holmes's Covered Wagon Women. The series of eleven volumes has proven popular since itwas published, one volume at a time,by theArthur H. Clark Company. Now, after reprinting the entire series in paperback, theUniversity of Okla homa Press has come out with a new volume, The Best ofCoveredWagon Women, showcasing a selection of eight traildiaries written from 1848 to 1864. The women who wrote traildiaries surely did not imagine theirwords would remain entirelyprivate. How else can we explain the universal delicacy in never mentioning their...

The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest by Lawrence Kreisman, Glenn Mason

In termsof thewriting,much of thebook tends toward somewhat dry narration of political conflicts rather than attempting to draw rivetingpersonal portraits or continually advancing interpretive arguments. And thebook could have used amuch more robust conclu sion,placing Putman's findings about Seattle in conversationwith other scholarlywork about theworkings of Progressivism. That said, Put man's book isa valuable contribution that will definitely interestnot only scholars but also many lay-readersof PacificNorthwest history. Robert D. Johnston University at Illinois at Chicago Craftsman style,and survivingArts and Crafts objects ina variety ofmaterials, Kreisman and Mason masterfully convey the essence of the movement and its talented practitioners in many artisticfields. To establish a context for the advent of theArts and Craftsmovement, the authors take great care to describe how themovement's ideals came to the Pacific Northwest. The authors emphasize the role of themajor expositions inPortland (1905) and Seattle (1909) and the educational effortsof other public institutions,such as libraries,art museums, and colleges, in stimulating interest in theArts and Crafts ethos. InPartOne of the book, the authors provide the national and international context and describe thedesign philosophy of key Arts and Crafts thinkers and artisans and how theydisseminated their message. The remaining three parts focus on architecture, applied arts, and artistic expression through painting, print making, and photography. Appropriately, the crafts man styleof architecture and itspublic and private application iscovered at length.Those who love bungalows will not be disappointed in the authors' discussion of the subject. Of particular interest is the discussion of how Native American hand-crafted objects became a focus and inspiration of theArts and Crafts movement in the Pacific Northwest and how thisdevelopment helped keep alive traditional Native American crafts in the region.Also of great value toboth scholars and lay readers is the authors' recovery and discussion ofwell known and not sowell remembered artistsand crafts persons of the various artistic endeavors of themovement. The collective biographies and critical evaluations form a beginning point for furtherconsideration of their lives and work. An outstanding feature of thisbook is its high design quality and the execution of a layout that expertlydeploys illustrations and photographs to support and expand on the text.Timber Press should be commended for THEARTSAND CRAFTS MOVEMENT IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST by Lawrence Kreisman and Glenn Mason Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2007. Illustrations, photographs, maps, notes, bibliography, index. 400 pages. $39.95 cloth. In amajor social and cultural study,Lawrence Kreisman and Glenn Mason's The Arts and Crafts Movement in thePacificNorthwest sur veys the impact of that artisticmovement in Oregon andWashington between 1900 and 1925. The authors attempt to"examine products and buildings by regional designers, architects, and artisans in order to convey how theArts and Craftsmovement influenced urban and rural lifestyles"(p. ii). The key question they ask is how regional practitioners of theArts and Crafts aesthetic adapted designs developed in the eastern United States and overseas to reflectthe climate, landscape, and lifestyleof thePacificNorthwest. The study is wide rang ing,well researched, and provides examples from all corners of the two states to support the authors' presentation. Drawing on awealth ofwritten documen tation, a large repository of buildings in the Reviews 627 the thoughtful and high quality production represented by thisvolume. This readable and handsome work describes and analyzes an important aspect of the art and culture of the Pacific Northwest during the early twentieth century and serves as a valuable reference for further research. Scholars, collectors, and interested layreaderswill all enjoy and benefit from reading thisbook. William R Willingham Portland, Oregon in 1853. The bulk of the material isprovided by threedifferent writers ? Celinda Hines, Gusta vus Hines, and Harvey Hines ? with added material from others wherever available. Unfortunately, since theHines trip was not historically noteworthy and, admittedly, came offwith very fewhitches, the effectof having threedifferentpeople describe the same non incidents isa littlelike making the reader hike fifteen miles of the trail, then backtrack and do it again twomore times before proceed ing to achieve some actual forward progress. Whenever some slightvariances inviewpoint might add interestto thenarrative, the editor frequently intrudesand exacerbates the repeti tiveeffect by quoting directlywhat will be said in the very next paragraph. On page 143, for example, he writes: "Harvey in...

Study on the professional liability insurance system of the supervision engineer in China

Although the supervision system has been adopted in the construction industry for more than 10 years in China, a professional liability insurance system for the supervision engineer has yet to be established. The implementation of a professional liability insurance for the supervision engineer in China is suggested. The range of issues cover the professional liabilities and typical professional faults of the supervision engineer, the scope of the insurance liability, exclusions, insurance types and the assured. The three premium‐rating methods are presented. A five‐thrust implementation strategy for professional liability insurance for the supervision engineer is offered in order to overcome the main obstacles. The data applied for the analysis in the study were collected from a comprehensive questionnaire survey to the Shenzhen‐based supervision firms. Selected interviews were conducted to supplement the survey data. This study provides a valuable reference for further research in examining project supervision practices in other construction industries.