A Simple and Unified Three-Dimensional Model to Describe Various Characteristics of Soils

A simple and unified model to describe some features of soil behavior in one dimensional condition is presented in another related paper (Nakai et al., 2011). In the present paper, this one-dimensional model is extended to describe not only the soil features explained in the related paper three-dimensionally (3D), but also to explain other soil features found in multi-dimensional conditions, such as shear behavior considering the influence of intermediate principal stress on the deformation and strength of soils, and the positive and negative soil dilatancy. Firstly, the first step in extending any kind of one-dimensional model to a three-dimensional one is explained in detail: the significance of t_ij concept and its stress invariants (t_N and t_S) is explained and compared with the idea of ordinary stress invariants (p and q) used in the Cam clay model. Then, the advanced elastoplastic relations (stages I to III) in the one-dimensional condition presented in the related paper are re-formulated as three-dimensional models—e.g., a model for over consolidated soil, a model for structured soil and a model which considers time-dependent behavior. The three-dimensional models for over consolidated soil (stage I) and structured soil (stage II) are formulated so as to coincide with the subloading t_ij model developed by Nakai and Hinokio (2004) and by Nakai (2007), respectively. The validity of the models in stage I and stage II is checked by simulations of various shear tests for sands with different void ratios and for over consolidated and natural clays under drained and undrained conditions. The model in stage III is verified by simulations of shear tests with different strain rates, and by simulating creep tests and others, not only for normally consolidated clay but also for non-structured and structured over consolidated clays under drained and undrained conditions.     

Inverse problem of fracture mechanics for a circular disc under mixed boundary conditions

Solution method for the problem of prevention of early brittle fracture of a circular disc with mixed boundary conditions was proposed. Theoretical analysis on determination of normal displacement of points on the boundary of a circular disc weakened by arbitrarily allocated rectilinear cracks was carried out. A closed system of algebraic equations permitting to provide minimization of fracture parameters (stress intensity factors) subject to geometrical and mechanical characteristics of a disc was constructed. Minimization of the stress intensity factors in a circular disc was carried out. They found normal displacement of points on the boundary of the circular disc increases carrying capacity of the disc.     

Single string planning problem arising in liner shipping industries: A heuristic approach

We propose an efficient heuristic approach for solving instances of the Single String Planning Problem (SSPP) arising in the liner shipping industry. In the SSPP a Liner Service Provider (LSP) only revises one of its many operational strings, and it is assumed that the other strings are unchangeable. A string is a service route composed of a sequence of port calls—a call is a visit to a port followed by loading/unloading operations made by a vessel. In a string the vessel's round trip terminates at the same port that it started from, and the port calls follow a published itinerary. The SSPP is regularly encountered by all LSPs, and a major part of their seasonal network planning process is devoted to repeatedly solving SSPP for different regions using experts' knowledge. Despite the practical importance of the problem, very little has been written about it in the literature. A revision is carried out in the form of a controlled re-sequencing, insertion and elimination of ports from along the current string, given a set of ports limited to those that exist on the string and a set of potential ones. The outcome determines the required capacity, service level (frequency), call sequence, etc., corresponding to the LSP's seasonal strategy. Exact decomposition methods are limited and can solve only very small size instances—small in terms of the number of ports, vessel classes, vessel number and commodities. In contrast, the proposed heuristic method is an efficient approach for obtaining high quality and practical solutions to real-size instances in significantly less computational time.     

Walking dynamics are symmetric (enough)

Many biological phenomena such as locomotion, circadian cycles and breathing are rhythmic in nature and can be modelled as rhythmic dynamical systems. Dynamical systems modelling often involves neglecting certain characteristics of a physical system as a modelling convenience. For example, human locomotion is frequently treated as symmetric about the sagittal plane. In this work, we test this assumption by examining human walking dynamics around the steady state (limit-cycle). Here, we adapt statistical cross-validation in order to examine whether there are statistically significant asymmetries and, even if so, test the consequences of assuming bilateral symmetry anyway. Indeed, we identify significant asymmetries in the dynamics of human walking, but nevertheless show that ignoring these asymmetries results in a more consistent and predictive model. In general, neglecting evident characteristics of a system can be more than a modelling convenience—it can produce a better model.     

Sprouting detection at early stages in individual CWAD and CWRS wheat kernels using SWIR spectroscopy

Reflectance spectra (1,250–2,390 nm) of two classes of western Canadian wheat (CWAD and CWRS) were studied to detect sprouting damage in individual kernels at the early stages of germination. Alpha-amylase activity levels were used as an indicator for the sprouting stage. Partial least squared discriminant analysis (PLSDA) and Logistic regression methods were used to build classification models. The optimal threshold α-amylase activity value for the separation of sprout damage classes was determined according to the area under the ROC curves. The results show that both PLSDA and logistic regression could distinguish kernels with an α-amylase activity larger than 1 SKB unit of activity from those with less enzyme activity. A total classification accuracy of over 91 and 86% was obtained for CWRS and CWAD, respectively.     

Speaker identification in emotional talking environments based on CSPHMM2s

Speaker recognition systems perform almost ideal in neutral talking environments; however, these systems perform poorly in emotional talking environments. This research is devoted to enhancing the low performance of text-independent and emotion-dependent speaker identification in emotional talking environments based on employing Second-Order Circular Suprasegmental Hidden Markov Models (CSPHMM2s) as classifiers. This work has been tested on our speech database which is composed of 50 speakers talking in six different emotional states. These states are neutral, angry, sad, happy, disgust, and fear. Our results show that the average speaker identification performance in these talking environments based on CSPHMM2s is 81.50% with an improvement rate of 5.61%, 3.39%, and 3.06% compared, respectively, to First-Order Left-to-Right Suprasegmental Hidden Markov Models (LTRSPHMM1s), Second-Order Left-to-Right Suprasegmental Hidden Markov Models (LTRSPHMM2s), and First-Order Circular Suprasegmental Hidden Markov Models (CSPHMM1s). Our results based on subjective evaluation by human judges fall within 2.26% of those obtained based on CSPHMM2s.     

Evaluation of the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on hybrid biomimetic scaffolds

Hybrid materials are widely and promisingly used as scaffolds in cartilage tissue remodeling. In this study, hybrid scaffolds consist of polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with/without gelatin (GEL) to mimic natural cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) were investigated. Scaffolds were prepared by freeze drying and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and compressive mechanical testing. Biological assays of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) cultures, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide, and dimethyl methylene blue were performed, and real‐time polymerization chain reaction analysis of the cartilage‐specific ECM gene marker expression was done. The results show an open interconnected porous structure with a compression modulus of 1.27 ± 0.04 MPa. The surface of the scaffolds showed an excellent efficiency in the adhesion and proliferation of MSCs. A significant increase in the proteoglycan content from 3.70 ± 0.96 to 5.4 ± 1.13 μg/mL was observed after 14 days in the PCL–PVA–GEL scaffolds. The expression amount of the sex‐determining region Y–Box 9 (SOX9) and collagen II (COL2) mRNA levels of the MSCs showed significant increases in SOX9 and COL2, respectively in comparison with PCL–PVA scaffold. The study revealed that the aforementioned scaffold as a blend of natural and synthetic polymers may be a promising substrate in tissue engineering for cartilage repair with MSC transplantation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40635.     

State Variable Approach for the Structural Analysis of Hormonal Controlled Long Term Blood Pressure Regulatory System

Long term arterial blood pressure regulation involves complex interactions of the cardiovascular system, kidney and other organs. In hypertension related diseases, the control pathways are impaired and parameters for its quantification might be of prognostic importance. In this paper, we introduce methods based on the state variable approach for the enhanced analysis of complex interactions. To assess the dynamics of arterial blood pressure regulation, the linearized state model has been employed. This paper presents a seventh order nonlinear mathematical model of the long term arterial blood pressure regulation incorporating many of the nervous control mechanisms and hormonal activities. Subsequently, the structural properties, as well as the transient and steady state properties, are assessed using the eigen value concept. The comparison of model response with those of the nonlinear model shows close matching. In conclusion, the analysis of the linearised model provides insights into complex, nonlinear physiological interactions and furthermore reveals physiological cardiovascular control about the equilibrium point.