Finite element and reliability: a method for compound variables—application on a cracked heating system

Nuclear engineering systems are designed to ensure safety criteria. To predict the behavior of mechanical systems, the finite element analysis (FEA) is actually the main tool for numerical analysis of mechanical problems. In order to design a system under data variability considerations, performance functions have to be defined by the relationship between the action effects and the material strengths. Then a certain level of safety should be satisfied with sufficiently high probability. This is the subject of the reliability theory. Controlling a FEA software in order to carry out the reliability analysis, it is to define a ‘combination method’. This paper proposes a general method for the reliability analysis combined with FEA codes. The method is efficient for independent, correlated and compound random variables. The proposed method is illustrated by numerical example of a cracked membrane exposed to thermal shortening. The risk to evaluate is represented by the crack propagation in the material.     

Molecular characterization of two monoclonal antibodies specific for the LDL receptor-binding site of human apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein E (apoE), a 299 amino acid protein, is a ligand for the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr). It has been established that basic amino acids situated between apoE residues 136 and 150 participate in the interaction of apoE with the LDLr. Evidence suggests that apoE is heterogeneous on lipoproteins in its conformation and in its ability to react with cell surface receptors. Our goal was to produce mAbs that could serve as conformational probes of the LDLr binding site of apoE. We used a series of apoE variants that have amino acid substitutions at residues 136, 140, 143, 144, 145, 150, 152, and 158 to identify the epitopes of two anti-human apoE monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 1D7 and 2E8, that inhibit apoE-mediated binding to the LDLr. We show that most of the variants that have reduced reactivity with the LDL receptor also have reduced reactivity with the mAbs. The epitopes for both mAbs appear to include residues 143 through 150 and thus coincide with the LDLr-binding site of apoE. It is notable that mAb 2E8, but not 1D7, resembles the LDLr in showing a reduced reactivity with apoE (Arg158 --> Cys). While most of the receptor-defective variants involve replacement of apoE residues directly implicated in binding, substitution of Arg158 by Cys is thought to indirectly affect binding of apoE to the LDLr by altering the conformation of the receptor-binding site. To determine whether the similarity in specificities of the mAbs and the LDLr reflect structural similarities, we cloned and characterized the cDNAs encoding the light and heavy chains of both mAbs. Primary sequence analysis revealed that, although these two antibodies react with overlapping epitopes, their respective complementarity determining regions (CDRs) share little homology, especially those of their heavy chains. The two mAbs, therefore, likely recognize different epitopes or topologies within a limited surface of the apoE molecule. Four negatively charged amino acids were present in the second CDR of the 2E8 heavy chain that could be approximately aligned with acidic amino acids within the consensus sequence of the LDLr ligand-binding domain. This could indicate that mAb 2E8 and the LDLr use a common mode of interaction with apoE.     

An analysis of mood in neurotics.

The study tested for the existence of a set of mood factors, replicated the factors, and determined their sensitivity to brief chemotherapy and psychotherapy. 5 moods were hypothesized, identified in 1 study, and replicated in 2 studies involving large groups of psychiatric outpatients. These moods were: Tension, Anger, Depression, Vigor, and Fatigue. 2 additional moods, Friendliness and Confusion, were identified but have not been confirmed. Evidence is presented for the factorial and concurrent validity of the mood factors and for their sensitivity to various treatment effects. A cross-study comparison is made of mood factors in the literature. The mood scales are thus shown to provide a useful method for assessing mood profiles in psychiatric outpatients. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Another look at phonetic symbolism.

Various possible meanings of "phonetic symbolism" are discussed. Phonetic symbolism is distinguised from onomatopoeia. "Elemental" and "structural" phonetic symbolism are defined. Elemental phonetic symbolism is discussed in terms of 7 hierarchically arranged questions which define "subjective" phonetic symbolism (that detected by Os) and "objective" phonetic symbolism (over-representation of particular sounds in words of particular connotations in natural languages). Experimental and empirical evidence relevant to each question are discussed, and it is concluded that both subjective and objective elemental phonetic symbolism are real phenomena, but that the patterns of symbolism are unrelated in historically unrelated languages. The feedback theory of phonetic symbolism (Taylor) is considered in greater detail than heretofore. (31 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)