L.K. Keppas¹, G.I. Giannopoulos¹, N.K. Anifantis¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.25, No.3, pp. 181-196, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.025.181

Abstract In the present paper a boundary element procedure is formulated to treat two-dimensional time dependent thermo-elastic contact problems incorporating thermal resistance along the contacting surfaces. The existence of pressure-dependent thermal contact leads to coupling of temperature and stress fields. Therefore, the inherent non-linearity of the problem demands simultaneous treating of both thermal and mechanical boundary integral equations while iterative procedures are introduced to ensure equilibrium of mechanical and thermal contact conditions at each step of the process. The transient behavior of interfacial cracks in bimaterial solids when undergo thermal shock in the presence of partial More >

L. Wang¹, S. Zhang, W. M. Gao, X. Wang

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 11-20, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.020.011

Abstract In this paper, the penetration of a knife through a plain woven fabric is simulated with the finite element method to understand the process of stabbing and the mechanism of fiber breakage. The model focuses on the study of the deformation of individual yarns, and the effects of their material properties and fabric structure on the stabbing resistant force. The performance of the fabric is analyzed as a response of stabbing and the stress distributions in yarn transverse and longitudinal directions. An equation derived from energy and momentum conservations of the knife is proposed to More >

Jean-Philippe Bastard¹, Mustapha Maachi¹, Claire Lagathu¹, Min Ji Kim¹, Martine Caron¹, Hubert Vidal², Jacqueline Capeau¹, Bruno Feve³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 4-12, 2006

Abstract It now appears that, in most obese patients, obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue (WAT) resulting from chronic activation of the innate immune system and which can subsequently lead to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and even diabetes. WAT is the physiological site of energy storage as lipids. In addition, it has been more recently recognized as an active participant in numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. In obesity, WAT is characterized by an increased production and secretion of a wide range of inflammatory molecules including TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which… More >

Lei Zhou, Yixing Li, Tao Xia, Shengqiu Feng, Xiaodong Chen, Zaiqing Yang

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 189-195, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0039

Abstract Resistin is a 12.5-kDa cysteine-rich protein secreted from adipose tissue and is an important factorlinking obesity with insulin resistance. Here, we investigated the effect of resistin on glucose tolerance in adulthuman hepatocytes (L-02 cells). In this study, resistin cDNA was transfected into L-02 cells, and glucoseconcentration and glucokinase activity were determined subsequently. The data indicated resistin impaired,insulin-stimulated glucose utilization, which implied liver was a target tissue of resistin. To understand itsmolecular mechanism, mRNA levels of key genes in glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathway wereanalyzed. The results demonstrated resistin-stimulated expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), sterolregulatory element-binding More >

S. Baragetti¹, A. Terranova²

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.1, No.4, pp. 267-276, 2005, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2005.001.267

Abstract Aim of this work is to investigate into the possibility of enhancing the fatigue resistance of CrN PVD coated components. In particular PVD coated spur gears were tested and numerical simulation of crack propagation was carried out. The coating layer micro-hardness and the residual stresses characterising the surface film were measured and the obtained results were introduced in a numerical modelling predicting fatigue life procedure of coated gears used in gearboxes for automotive applications. The number of cycles necessary to reach specified crack depths of coated and uncoated samples was numerically determined and represents a More >

L. Fratini¹, S. Pasta²

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.1, No.4, pp. 245-252, 2005, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2005.001.245

Abstract In the last years friction stir welding (FSW) has reached a quite large diffusion in the welding of aluminium alloys, difficult to be welded with traditional technologies. The objective of this investigation was to investigate the influence of FSW process parameters on the fatigue strength of the developed joints. Moreover, in order to improvement the strength of joint, the effect of a post-welding treatment has been highlighted; what is more a surface finish treatment has been developed with the aim to eliminate the stress concentration caused by welding process on the surface of the joints. More >

Eva Villamón¹, Daniel Gozalbo¹, Patricia Roig¹, Celia Murciano¹, José Enrique O’Connor², Didier Fradelizi³, M. Luisa Gil¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 263-271, 2004

Abstract We have studied the role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), the universal Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptor protein, in murine defenses against We have studied the role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), the universal Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptor protein, in murine defenses against Candida albicans. MyD88-deficient mice, experimen-tally infected in vivo, had a very significant impaired survival, and a higher tissue fungal burden when compared with control mice. The recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection was also significantly diminished in MyD88^-/- mice. In vitro production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ and… More >

Michael Ramharter^1,2,3, Peter G. Kremsner^2,3, Martin Willheim⁴, Heidi Winkler^1,3, Wolfgang Graninger¹, Stefan Winkler^1,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 189-196, 2004

Abstract The frequency of P. falciparum-specific interleukin (IL)-2-, interferon (IFN)-γ-, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α- and IL-10-expressing CD3⁺ cells was studied in healthy Gabonese children segregated according to their clinical presentation at admission to a longitudinal study of severe and mild malaria. The percentage of IL-2- and TNF-α- expressing P. falciparum-specific CD3⁺ cells was significantly higher in the children with prior mild malaria and less frequent reinfections compared to the children with prior severe malaria and more frequent reinfections. No differences were shown for P. falciparum-specific IFN-γ and IL-10 expression within CD3⁺ cells and parasite-non-specific expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, More >

T.H. Satoh², T.A. Surmacz³, O. Nyormoi⁴, C.M. Whitacre¹

BIOCELL, Vol.27, No.1, pp. 47-55, 2003, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2003.27.047

Abstract This study shows a strong association between cell attachment to substratum and activation of β1-integrin-signaling with resistance to the camptothecin derivative topotecan (TPT) in breast cancer cells. We propose a mechanistic-driven approach to sensitize the cells to camptothecins. ZR-75-1 anchoragedependent breast cancer cell line, its derivative 9D3S suspension cells (9D3S-S), and 9D3S cells attached to fibronectin-coated plates (9D3S-A) were treated with TPT (1 µM) or CPT-11 (40 µM) for 48 h. Programmed cell death (PCD), as shown by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), pro-caspase-3 and pro-caspase-9 cleavage, was observed in 9D3S-S cells but not in ZR-75-1 or More >

S. Okamoto¹, Y. Omura¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.4, No.2, pp. 287-300, 2003, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2003.004.287

Abstract The purpose of this study is to develop a procedure for performing a dynamic analysis in the case that a structure undergoes large translational and rotational displacements when moving along a nonlinear trajectory at variable velocity. Finite-element equations of motion that include the inertial force of the structure's motion have been derived. The equations also account for the geometric nonlinearity that has to be considered in a problem of finite translational and rotational displacements. A finite rotational matrix was used to transfer vectors or matrices measured in a certain coordinate frame to those measured in More >