116,894 research outputs found
Numerical simulation of performance of concrete-filled FRP tubes under impact loading
No full textC. Wu, T. Ozbakkaloglu, G. Ma and Z. Y. Huanghttp://www.rpsonline.com.sg/proceedings/9789810844554/html/tp.htm
Validity of Erectile Function Assessment Questionnaires in Premature Ejaculation Patients: A Comparative Study Between the Abridged Forms of the International Index of Erectile Function and Proposal for Optimal Cutoff Redefinition
No full textBackground: Patients with premature ejaculation (PE) are often diagnosed as having a comorbid erectile dysfunction (ED). When evaluating erectile function in PE patients with the popular International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5, or Sexual Health Inventory for Men [SHIM]), question #5 (Q5) about sexual satisfaction in the intercourse often lowers the total score of the questionnaire, giving false-positive results for the presence of ED. Aim: We aimed to compare SHIM with the other abridged form of IIEF, which is IIEF-EF, and to discriminate which tool has the best diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of erectile function in PE patients. Methods: The study was conducted from March 2019 to January 2020. A total of 189 heterosexual males with lifelong PE (117, 61.9%) or acquired PE (72, 38.1%) were included. They all compiled Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool, IIEF-15, SHIM, and IIEF-EF and underwent a full clinical examination to evaluate their erectile function. Outcomes: The scores of the 2 erectile function assessment questionnaires (SHIM and IIEF-EF) were compared in terms of their sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of ED in PE patients. Results: In terms of diagnosing ED in PE patients, the sensitivity of SHIM is 100% while the specificity is only 36%; meanwhile, the sensitivity of IIEF-EF is 100% but specificity is 77.2%. Further analysis demonstrates that decreasing cutoff of SHIM to 17.5 would provide an increased specificity of 82.5%, while sensitivity would lower to 96.0%. However, the highest area under the curve (0.966 vs 0.941) is given by the IIEF-EF with 100% sensitivity and 80.7% specificity at the cutoff of 24.5, which is one point lower than the usual cutoff value of 25.5. Clinical Implications: Our study suggests that when evaluating erection function in PE patients, the cutoff of both SHIM and IIEF-EF should be amended. Strengths & Limitations.: We proposed the solution for the bias of erectile function assessment in PE patients. However, other trials are needed to further validate in larger cohorts of PE patients. Conclusion: We suggest that the cutoff of SHIM and IIEF-EF should be amended (SHIM at 17.5 and IIEF-EF at 24.5, respectively) when assessing erectile function among PE population. Xi Y, Colonnello E, Ma G, et al. Validity of Erectile Function Assessment Questionnaires in Premature Ejaculation Patients: A Comparative Study Between the Abridged Forms of the International Index of Erectile Function and Proposal for Optimal Cutoff Redefinition. J Sex Med 2021;18:440–447
Estudio de compuestos formados por bio-HDPE con fibras naturales de residuos agroforestales de pino y PE-g-MA
No full text[EN] En este trabajo de investigación, se han obtenido y analizado materiales compuestos respetuosos con el medio ambiente a partir de una matriz polimérica (bioHDPE) y diferentes fibras vegetales de residuos agroforestales de pino, concretamente la pinocha. Para mejorar la interacción entre las fibras y la matriz se introdujo un copolímero como el PE-g-MA para mejorar las propiedades finales de los compuestos verdes. A partir de las muestras obtenidas, estas fueron sometidas a ensayos mecánicos y morfológicos. El primero de ellos mediante esfuerzos axiales a tracción, impacto y dureza; y el segundo para observar la superficie y comportamiento del material.Morcillo, M.; Gómez-Caturla, J.; Garcia-Sanoguera, D.; Garcia-Garcia, D. (2021). Estudio de compuestos formados por bio-HDPE con fibras naturales de residuos agroforestales de pino y PE-g-MA. Compobell. 57-60. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/191350S576
Thermodynamic analysis and the recuperator's effects on two cycle systems aiming for hypersonic vehicles
No full textFor potential applications of hypersonic vehicles, two cycle systems integrated engine cooling and power generation based on the closed Brayton cycle is analyzed and compared. The investigated two systems are named simple recuperated layout (SRL) and recompressing recuperated layout (RRL) respectively. Thermal performance of the two systems and the required mass flow rate of the working fluid at the given heat source power are explored. The characteristics of the recuperators at the maximum cycle efficiency and the effects of the recuperators on the cycle efficiency are analyzed in detail. The results show that the maximum cycle efficiency of the SRL and RRL are 38.80% and 45.24% respectively. At the given heat source power, the required mass flow rate of the SRL and RRL are 4.85 kg/s and 6.67 kg/s respectively. Compared to the SRL, the RRL has an absolute increment rate of 16.60% for the cycle efficiency and 37.53% for the required mass flow rate. At the given heat source power, heat transfer in the recuperators of the RRL is 726.81 kW higher than that of the SRL, which is beneficial to the improvement of the cycle efficiency. The effectiveness and the pressure drop of the recuperators have significant influence on the performance of both cycle systems. The cycle system performances are affected more by the pressure drop in the hot side of recuperators than that in the cold side. This study provides a reference for the design of recuperators in an onboard power cycle system and for the researches on engine cooling and power generation of hypersonic vehicles
The loss of *g before *m in Proto-Slavic
No full textThis paper proposes a new sound rule for Proto-Slavic, according to which *g (from PIE *g, *gw, *gh, and *gwh) was lost before *m. This development was posterior to Winter’s law and the merger of voiced and aspirated stop in Slavic. The operation of the rule is illustrated by new etymologies of four Slavic words: *ama, *jama ‘hole, pit’, *těmę ‘sinciput’, *mąžь ‘husband, man’, and *remy ‘leather belt’
Bonding similarities and differences between Y-Sb-Te and Sc-Sb-Te phase-change memory materials
No full textThe scandium (Sc)-alloyed Sb2Te3 phase-change alloy has recently been found to enable ultrafast crystal nucleation due to the formation of Sc-stabilized octahedral motifs in the amorphous phase, rendering cache-type phase-change memory feasible. When yttrium (Y) is added, however, non-octahedral bonding patterns form in the amorphous Sb2Te3-based network even though Y has a valence electron configuration similar to that of Sc and also forms perfect octahedral bonding environments with tellurium in the YTe crystal. Here we elucidate the origin of this difference between Sc and Y, by carrying out thorough ab initio simulations and orbital-based bonding analyses on amorphous Y-Sb-Te and Sc-Sb-Te compounds. We also demonstrate how the smooth overlap of atomic positions (SOAP) similarity kernel can be used to quantify the structural similarity of local motifs in the amorphous phase with respect to various crystalline yttrium and scandium tellurides, both in the nearest-neighbor shell and beyond. We find that the bonding contrast of Y- and Sc-centered structural motifs in amorphous Sb2Te3 stems from their parent crystals at high Te concentrations. The larger atomic radius of Y and the weaker charge transfer when bonded with Te is found to allow more Te neighbors and cause a more open bonding environment, leading to higher coordination numbers and non-octahedral environments. We discuss the implications of the different local environments for practical applications in memory devices
Figure 7 in Phylogeny of a new ciliate family Clampidae fam. nov. (Protista: Ciliophora), with notes on morphology and morphogenesis
No full textFigure 7. The infraciliature of eight urostylid families. A–D, four families assigned in the order Urostylida by Lynn (2008), arrow in D indicates the rightmost midventral row as a pseudorow. C–F, four families assigned in the Urostyloidea by Berger (2006). G, Bergeriellidae Liu et al., 2010. H, the new family Clampidae.Published as part of Xu, Wenxin, Ma, Jiyang, Li, Yuan, Bourland, William A., Petroni, Giulio, Luo, Xiaotian & Song, Weibo, 2022, Phylogeny of a new ciliate family Clampidae fam. nov. (Protista: Ciliophora), with notes on morphology and morphogenesis, pp. 88-104 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196 on page 101, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab102, http://zenodo.org/record/703492
Estimación de la volatilidad de la inflación en presencia de observaciones atípicas y heteroscedasticidad condicional
No full textEn este trabajo se analizan las implicaciones que tiene la presencia de observaciones atípicas y heteroscedasticidad condicional en series temporales con características similares a las observadas en las series mensuales de IPC de los países del G-7. Se rea1izan estimaciones del nivel y la volatilidad de la inflación para estas economías y se discuten algunos de los problemas que presenta la investigación aplicada de la relación entre el nivel y la volatilidad de la inflación. Los resultados empíricos indican que en la mayor parte de las series del IPC del G-7 se detecta simultáneamente la presencia de observaciones atípicas y heteroscedasticidad condicional y que las estimaciones de volatilidad condicional rea1izadas son sensibles a la presencia de observaciones atípicas. Se observa que la dependencia temporal encontrada en la varianza condicional es duradera y que la línea de causalidad iría desde el nivel a la volatilidad de la inflación
HDPE/chitosan composites modified with PE-g-MA. Thermal, morphological and antibacterial analysis
No full textIn this work, composites of high density polyethylene (HDPE) with chitosan were prepared by melt compounding in a laboratory internal mixer. Maleic anhydride grafted HDPE (PE-g-MA) in a concentration up to 25 phr was used as a compatibilizer to enhance the dispersing effect of chitosan in the HDPE matrix. The degree of crystallinity was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the thermal properties were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). The morphology was investigated by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The integrity of composites was evaluated by mechanical properties and antibacterial properties were assessed against Escherichia coli (DH5a). Neither crystallinity nor HDPE’s melting parameters changed upon addition of chitosan and PE-g-MA. Chitosan aggregates were observed, which were dispersed upon addition of PE-g-MA, which also provided improved mechanical performance. Chitosan significantly improved the bacteriostatic effect of HDPE compounds preventing bacteria to colonize thus reducing the number of viable colony-forming units (CFU). This study revealed that HDPE/chitosan composites could be obtained by melt compounding, at lower cost and additionally having antibacterial properties, which might provide a new formulation option for developing antimicrobial film for food packaging.Financial support from the theheConselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq—Brazil), Grant # 478968/2013-2, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES—Brazil) and Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE—Brazil), DCR-0009-3.03/12, for financial support. LR acknowledges the financial support from Spanish MICINN (MAT201573656-JIN).Peer reviewe
Exploring Emptiness: An Investigation of MA and MU in My Sonic Composition Practice
No full textThe commentary investigates Japanese aesthetics of space, silence and emptiness - ma and mu - that informed my compositional practice during the research period 2012 - 2015. The portfolio comprises text compositions and sound installations in which forms of micro events and sustained events are employed. Throughout, the emphasis is on my personal engagement with, and manifestation of emptiness that concerns a particular model of listening and perception.
Chapter 1 discusses six primary research areas: ma and mu, material, text, form, listening and perception. Firstly, I introduce ma and mu by examining noh culture and Zeami's teaching of senu hima (where there is no-action) in the context of my personal approaches to music. The following subjects are then used to contextualise my PhD practice by means of examples from various composers and visual artists. Here, these particular and enigmatic concepts are explored through Japanese art as well as Western contemporary works by Alvin Lucier, Eliane Radigue and those of the Wandelweiser collective.
Part 2 provides contextual commentaries on selected compositions from the portfolio that mostly articulate my aesthetics in relation to the topics covered in Chapter 1. koso koso addresses my methodologies to investigate the essence of senu hima, followed by treow that discusses my approach to materials and the importance of space. I move on to grade two and grade two extended in order to examine text scores, and then, look into Espèces d'espaces 03 and 04 as examples of musical forms that I employ.
Finally, listening and perception are investigated through the compositions gnome and con.de.structuring. Throughout, I describe how my works explore emptiness as a result of my particular emphasis on listening over composing
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