197 research outputs found
A comparative study of stress intensity factor extraction techniques for the generalized finite element method
No full textGeneralized Finite Element Method (GFEM) is a Partition of Unity Method where
shape functions are constructed by the product of standard finite element shape
function and some additional shape functions. These additional shape functions
take the benefit of some prior knowledge of the solution. They are especially useful
in fracture mechanics problems where crack singularities are addressed. A
crack can be represented with the help of discontinuous and singular shape functions.
This gives a great flexibility to the user in a choice of an appropriate mesh.
Stress intensity factor is an important quantity in fracture mechanics which is used
to predict the stress state around a crack front. This report presents a comprehensive
study of stress intensity factor extraction techniques: The Contour Integral
Method (CIM), the Cut-off Function Method (CFM) and the Displacement Correlation
Method (DCM). A few techniques are also shown to improve Displacement
Correlation Method with the use of additional sampling points.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2018-05-01The student, Amit Kumar Dhankhar, accepted the attached license on 2016-04-26 at 22:10.The student, Amit Kumar Dhankhar, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2016-04-26 at 22:20.This Thesis was approved for publication on 2016-04-28 at 09:07.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #9536 on 2016-07-07 at 14:18:07Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-07T21:18:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2016-04-28Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 93323
Lift date: 2018-07-07T21:18:16Z
Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemLimited Restriction Lifted for Item 93323 on 2018-07-08T09:15:29Z
All-norms and all-Lp-norms approximation algorithms
No full textwork was done while the author was at Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik, Saarbrücken, Germany
A parameter back-calculation technique for pavements under moving loads
No full textMaintenance and rehabilitation strategies of pavements are usually made based on the results of performance evaluation. An efficient tool for pavement structural evaluation at network level is the traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) test. In order to deal with TSD measurements, this paper proposes a parameter back-calculation technique. Firstly, the sensitivity of the surface response for an elastic pavement structure with hysteretic damping to different structural parameters is investigated. Then, the ability of the parameter backcalculation technique is verified by conducting a case study. The results show that the proposed technique is able to back-calculate the structural parameters of pavements by analysing TSD measurements. The presented work contributes to the development of parameter back-calculation techniques for the TSD test.Accepted author manuscriptPavement EngineeringDynamics of Structure
Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Structure-Activity Relationships of 2-Phenylbenzofuran derivatives.
No full textButyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Structure-Activity
Relationships of 2-Phenylbenzofuran derivatives
Antonella Fais1*, Giovanna L. Delogu 1, Benedetta Era 1, Amalia Di Petrillo1,
Amit Kumar2,3, Paola Caria4, Sonia Floris1, Francesca Pintus1
1Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy;
2Department of Mech., Chem. and Material Engineering , University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy;
3Biosciences Sector, CRS4 ,Pula , Italy
4Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder which is characterized by
progressive memory loss and a wide range of cognitive impairments.1 Although the precise cause of AD is
not completely known, there are some factors that seem to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Since AD is characterized by a forebrain cholinergic neuron loss and a progressive decline in acetylcholine, a
possible therapeutic strategy involves the use of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors to restore the
neurotransmitter level and thus alleviate AD symptoms.2
Benzofuran scaffold has drawn considerable attention over the last few years due to its profound
physiological and chemotherapeutic properties. Recent studies have also investigated their inhibitory activity
towards ChEs.3,4
In this study, a series of 2-phenylbezonfurans compounds were synthesized and their inhibition
activity towards the ChE enzymes were investigated. We further combined biochemical analysis and
molecular modelling studies to identify selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition by benzofuran
scaffold. In particular, two compounds exhibited the highest BChE inhibition with IC50 values better than the
standard cholinesterase inhibitor compound. Molecular modelling studies highlighted the importance of
catalytic and peripheral site residues in BChE inhibition. Subsequently, the biosafety of the two promising
compounds was evaluated, in NSC-34 cells at the concentration in which BChE activity is inhibited, and no
considerable cytotoxic effect was found.
References
1. Schuster et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. (2010) 18, 5071.
2. Zemek et al. Expert Opin Drug Saf (2014) 13, 759.
3. Mostofi et al. Eur. J. Med. Chem. (2015) 103, 361.
4. Delogu et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. (2016) 26, 2308
A Simple New Classification for Diabetic Foot Ulcers
No full textGangrene, infections like abscesses and ulcers are some of the common diabetic foot complications. Of all these, diabetic foot ulcers pose a major public health problem. Around 80% of all the lower limb amputations are preceded by a foot ulcer. There are various classifications for diabetic foot ulcers out of which the two commonly used classifications are Wagners ulcer classification and the classification of University of Texas. The author proposes another simple new classification specific for diabetic foot ulcer which is one of the common diabetic foot complication. This classification is an addition to the authors already existing new classifications on various aspects of diabetic foot so that a new Amit Jains principle and practice of diabetic foot could be devised for improvising and standardizing the practice of diabetic foot. According to this new classification, diabetic foot can be clinically classified into 3 simple classes. [Med-Science 2015; 4(2.000): 2109-20
Ageing effect on the relaxation properties of bitumen
No full textThe ageing of bitumen has a significant impact on the mechanical behavior of asphalt concrete. In this study, Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) tests were utilized to investigate the effect of ageing on the relaxation properties of bituminous materials. PEN 70/100 bitumen films with thickness of 2 mm were exposed to laboratory ageing at various conditions. Specifically, different combinations of ageing time, temperature and pressure were applied on the bitumen films. Three evaluation indices, explicitly the shear stress at 0 s and 100 s, the ratio of shear stress at 0 s and 100 s and the time that shear stress reduces to 50% and 25% of the initial value, were used to determine the evolution of the relaxation properties of bitumen. The results show that, in comparison to fresh bitumen, aged samples show higher residual shear stresses after relaxation and are more susceptible to stress accumulation thus cracking. In addition, temperature, followed by pressure and ageing time, was found to have the stronger impact on bitumen ageing.Pavement Engineerin
A Retrospective Cephalometric Evaluation of Dental Changes with Activator and Activator Headgear Combination in the Treatment of Skeletal Class II Malocclusion
No full textABSTRACT
Aim
The aims of this study were to evaluate the dental changes brought about by activator and activator headgear combination (ACHG) and to determine whether we can achieve control over the lower incisor proclination which is a side effect of using functional appliances; or not, while treating cases of skeletal class II malocclusions.
Methods
Lateral cephalograms of 45 skeletal class II division 1 patients were selected for the study. Fifteen of them were successfully treated with an Andresen activator and the other 15 with an activator headgear combination. Fifteen class II subjects who had declined treatment served as the control group. Cephalometric landmarks were marked by one author to avoid interobserver variability.
Results
The results revealed that both the activator and the activator headgear combination significantly (p < 0.001) affected dental variables measured. The mandibular incisor proclination was effectively controlled in the activator headgear combination group.
Conclusion
An activator headgear combination would offer itself as a better option compared with activator alone in the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusions especially in cases with proclined mandibular incisors.
Clinical significance
When one of the treatment goals is to achieve a greater control over mandibular incisor proclination in the treatment of Skeletal Class II malocclusions, employing a combination of activator and headgear may substantially improve clinical outcomes.
How to cite this article
Lall R, Kumar GA, Maheshwari A Kumar M. A Retrospective Cephalometric Evaluation of Dental Changes with Activator and Activator Headgear Combination in the Treatment of Skeletal Class II Malocclusion. J Contemp Dent Pract 2011;12(1):14-18.
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Framework for replacing steel with aluminum fibers in bituminous mixes
No full textThis research explores the incentives for replacing steel fibers with aluminum fibers in fiber modified bituminous mixes. In this work the focus is on fiber modified bituminous mixes especially designed for induction heating. Inductive fibers are heated up because eddy currents are generated - according to Joule’s law - when alternating magnetic field is applied by electro-magnetic induction coil. Aluminum fiber-type particles are proposed as an alternative solution for developing corrosion resistant and lightweight bituminous mixes capable to be induced by electro-magnetic fields. In another publication (Pavlatos et al., Inductive bituminous mortar with steel and aluminum fibers, Advances in Materials and Pavement Performance Prediction, Submitted, 2018), a finite element three-dimensional model is developed in order to determine the effective electrical conductivity of steel and aluminum fiber modified bituminous mortar, as well as to show the potential utilization of alternative particles for developing multi-functional paving materials with improved properties.Pavement Engineerin
Conserved regions of bovine adenovirus-3 pVIII contain functional domains involved in nuclear localization and packaging in mature infectious virions
No full textAdenoviruses are non-enveloped DNA viruses that replicate in the nucleus of infected cells. One of the core proteins, named pVIII, is a minor capsid protein connecting the core with the inner surface of the capsid. Here, we report the characterization of minor capsid protein pVIII encoded by the L6 region of bovine adenovirus (BAdV)-3. Anti-pVIII serum detected a 24 kDa protein at 12–48 h post-infection and an additional 8 kDa protein at 24–48 h post-infection. While the 24 kDa protein was detected in empty capsids, only the C-terminal-cleaved 8 kDa protein was detected in the mature virion, suggesting that amino acids147–216 of the conserved C-terminus of BAdV-3 pVIII are incorporated in mature virions. Detection of hexon protein associated with both precursor (24 kDa) and cleaved (8 kDa) forms of pVIII suggest that the C-terminus of pVIII interacts with the hexon. The pVIII protein predominantly localizes to the nucleus of BAdV-3-infected cells utilizing the classical importin α/β dependent nuclear import pathway. Analysis of mutant pVIII demonstrated that amino acids 52–72 of the conserved N-terminus bind to importin α-3 with high affinity and are required for the nuclear localization
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