The super-connected property of recursive circulant graphs

In a graph G, a k-container C_k(u,v) is a set of k disjoint paths joining u and v. A k-container C_k(u,v) is k∗-container if every vertex of G is passed by some path in C_k(u,v). A graph G is k∗-connected if there exists a k∗-container between any two vertices. An m-regular graph G is super-connected if G is k∗-connected for any k with 1?k?m. In this paper, we prove that the recursive circulant graphs G(2^m,4), proposed by Park and Chwa [Theoret. Comput. Sci. 244 (2000) 35-62], are super-connected if and only if m≠2.     

DISCRETIZED SUB‐OPTIMAL TRACKER FOR NONLINEAR CONTINUOUS TWO‐DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS

The discretized quadratic sub‐optimal tracker for nonlinear continuous two‐dimensional (2‐D) systems is newly proposed in this paper. The proposed method provides a novel methodology for indirect digital redesign for nonlinear continuous 2‐D systems with a continuous performance index. This includes the following features: (1) the 2‐D optimal‐linearization approach of the nonlinear 2‐D Roesser's model (RM), (2) the dynamic programming‐based discretized quadratic optimal tracker for linear continuous 2‐D systems, (3) the steady‐state discretized quadratic sub‐optimal tracker for linear continuous 2‐D systems, and (4) the discretized quadratic sub‐optimal tracker for nonlinear continuous 2‐D systems. Illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure.     

Numerical analysis of welding residual stress using heat source models for the multi-pass weldment

Numerical prediction of welding-induced residual stresses using the finite element method has been a common practice in the development or refinement of welded product designs. Various researchers have studied several thermal models associated with the welding process. Among these thermal models, ramp heat input and double-ellipsoid moving source have been investigated. These heat-source models predict the temperature fields and history with or without accuracy. However, these models can predict the thermal characteristics of the welding process that influence the formation of the inherent plastic strains, which ultimately determines the final state of residual stresses in the weldment. The magnitude and distribution of residual stresses are compared. Although the two models predict similar magnitude of the longitudinal stress, the double-ellipsoid moving source model predicts wider tensile stress zones than the other one. And, both the ramp heating and moving source models predict the stress results in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.     

Three-dimensional tracking and temporal analysis of liposomal transport in live cells using bright-field imaging

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) confined in liposomes of diameters around 200 nm produce strong scattering signal owing to surface plasmon resonance, and therefore bright-field optical tracking of the AuNP-encapsulating liposomes can be conducted in living cells. Using an optical profiling technique called noninterferometric wide-field optical profilometry and a bright-field tracking algorithm, the polynomial-fit Gaussian weight method, we analyze three-dimensional (3D) motion of such liposomes in living fibroblasts. The positioning accuracy in three dimensions is nearly 20 nm. We tag the liposome membranes with fibroblast growth factor-1 and reveal the intracellular transportation processes toward or away from the nucleus. On the basis of a temporal analysis of the intracellular 3D trajectories of AuNP-encapsulating liposomes, we identify directed and diffusive motions in the transportation processes.     

Molecular dynamics studies of atomic-scale tribological characteristics for different sliding systems

A slider-slab sliding model for hard-to-soft and soft-to-soft sliding systems with abrasive and non-abrasive wear conditions is used to investigate atomic-scale friction. The molecular dynamics simulation uses the Morse potential to calculate interatomic forces between atoms. Separation distance between the slider and the slab is changed to simulate repulsive and attractive interactive force fields exerted on interface between two sliding components. Effects of the interaction potential parameters on the sliding friction are investigated. The relationship of frictional force, normal force and temperature rise of the slider and the slab during sliding are established. Comparison of the hard-to-soft and the soft-to-soft sliding system are carried out and shows different tribological phenomena.     

Magnetic multipole line-cusp plasma generator for neutral beam injectors

The magnetic multipole line-cusp device developed by MacKenzie and associates has been adapted for use as a neutral beam ion source. It has produced high-density, large volume, quiescent, uniform hydrogen plasmas, which makes it a potential candidate for use as a plasma generator for neutral beam injectors. The device is a water-cooled cylindrical copper discharge chamber (25 cm in diameter by 36 cm long) with one end enclosed by a set of extraction grids with a 15-cm-diam multi-aperture pattern. The chamber wall serves as an anode and is surrounded by an external system of rare-earth cobalt magnets arranged in a line-cusp geometry of 12 cusps; plasma is produced by electron emission from a hot cathode assembly. This source has achieved extracted beam currents of 12 A at 18.5 kV, radial plasma density uniformities of +/-5% over a 15-cm diameter, noise levels of less than +/-0.5%, and arc efficiencies (beam current/arc power) of 0.6 A/kW.     

High sensitivity of taper-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer embedded in a thinned optical fiber for refractive index sensing

A taper-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) embedded in a thinned optical fiber is demonstrated as a highly sensitive refractive index (RI) sensor. A RI sensitivity of 2210.84 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) is obtained at the external RI of 1.40, which is ten times higher than that of normal taper- and long-period fiber grating (LPFG)-based sensors. The sensitivity can be further improved by decreasing the diameter of the thinned fiber and increasing the interferometer length of the MZI. The proposed MZIs have lower temperature sensitivities compared with normal fiber sensors, which is a desirable merit for RI sensors to reduce the cross sensitivity caused by thermal drift.     

Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of SrRuO3 thin film and its characterization

Synthesis of conducting oxide strontium ruthenate is carried out in a hot-wall tubular reactor, using Sr(C₁₁H₁₉O₂)₂/Ru(C₅H₅)₂/O₂ reaction system. Owing to a large difference in depositing efficiency between strontium and ruthenium precursors, the stoichiometric ratio of thin film is controlled in one cycle of two consecutive depositions at different temperatures. Thin films of SrRuO₃ single phase are synthesized in the subsequent 700°C annealing. Thin films of SrRuO₃ with extra ruthenium oxide can also be prepared by adjusting the molar ratio of RuO₂ and SrO layers. The deposition sequence of ruthenium oxide first, strontium oxide later is preferred. If the deposition sequence is reverse, the thin film is plagued with unreacted oxides even when the annealing temperature is raised to 800°C. The relative ease of preparing SrRuO₃ thin films, when RuO₂ is under SrO, is attributed to evaporation of ruthenium oxide in O₂ and diffusion in its open columnar microstructure. The sheet resistivity of thin film decreases with the ruthenium content. The room temperature resistivity of SrRuO₃ film of Ru/(Sr + Ru) = 0.5 is around 910 ohm-cm. The room-temperature resistivity of Ru/(Ru + Sr) = 0.53 decreases to 470 ohm-cm. The root mean square surface roughness of 700°C synthesized SrRuO₃ thin film is 22 nm, in a 2 × 2 m² area of film thickness 280 nm.     

Global optimization for signomial discrete programming problems in engineering design

Signomial discrete programming (SDP) problems arise frequently in a variety of real applications. Although many optimization techniques have been developed to solve an SDP problem, they use too many binary variables to reformulate the problem for finding a globally optimal solution or can only derive a local or an approximate solution. This article proposes a global optimization method to solve an SDP problem by integrating an efficient linear expression of single variable discrete functions and convexification techniques. An SDP problem can be converted into a convex mixed-integer programming problem solvable to obtain a global optimum. Several illustrative examples are also presented to demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

HSPA4 Is a Biomarker of Placenta Accreta and Enhances the Angiogenesis Ability of Vessel Endothelial Cells

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) accounts for 7% of maternal mortality and is associated with intraoperative and postoperative morbidity caused by massive blood loss, infection, and adjacent organ damage. The aims of this study were to identify the protein biomarkers of PAS and to further explore their pathogenetic roles in PAS. For this purpose, we collected five placentas from pregnant subjects with PAS complications and another five placentas from normal pregnancy (NP) cases. Then, we enriched protein samples by specifically isolating the trophoblast villous, deeply invading into the uterine muscle layer in the PAS patients. Next, fluorescence-based two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and MALDI-TOF/MS were used to identify the proteins differentially abundant between PAS and NP placenta tissues. As a result, nineteen spots were determined as differentially abundant proteins, ten and nine of which were more abundant in PAS and NP placenta tissues, respectively. Then, specific validation with western blot assay and immunohisto/cytochemistry (IHC) assay confirmed that heat shock 70 kDa protein 4 (HSPA4) and chorionic somatomammotropin hormone (CSH) were PAS protein biomarkers. Further tube formation assays demonstrated that HSPA4 promoted the in vitro angiogenesis ability of vessel endothelial cells, which is consistent with the in vivo scenario of PAS complications. In this study, we not only identified PAS protein biomarkers but also connected the promoted angiogenesis with placenta invasion, investigating the pathogenetic mechanism of PAS.