López-España RG¹, S Hernández-Verdugo¹, S Parra-Terraza¹, F Porras¹, Antonio Pacheco-Olvera¹, A Valdez-Ortiz², T Osuna-Enciso³, MD Muy-Rangel³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.85, pp. 131-141, 2016, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2016.85.131

Abstract Wild pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum) is a valuable genetic resource for food and agriculture. The patterns of variation of 12 morphological traits of 17 populations of wild pepper collected across a latitudinal and climate gradients in northwestern Mexico were analyzed in a uniform greenhouse experiment. The morphological traits data were axamined by univariate and multivarite analysis. The relationship between phenotypic variation and latitude of population origen was tested using linear regression analysis. We found high variation within and among populations for most of the measured traits. Populations were clearly differentiated by univariate analysis of variance… More >

Xuechuan Wang¹, Satya N. Atluri²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.111, No.6, pp. 567-585, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2016.111.567

Abstract This paper compares the variational iteration method (VIM), the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) and the Picard iteration method (PIM) for solving a system of first order nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). A unification of the concepts underlying these three methods is attempted by considering a very general iterative algorithm for VIM. It is found that all the three methods can be regarded as special cases of using a very general matrix of Lagrange multipliers in the iterative algorithm of VIM. The global variational iteration method is briefly reviewed, and further recast into a Local VIM, More >

Jianhang Du^1,2,3, Liang Wang⁴

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 249-263, 2015, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2015.012.249

Abstract Growing evidences suggest that long-term enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) treatment can inhibit the initiation of atherosclerotic lesion by improving the hemodynamic environment in aortas. However, whether this kind procedure will intervene the progression of advanced atherosclerotic plaque remains elusive and causes great concern in its clinical application presently. In the current paper, a pilot study combining animal experiment and numerical simulation was conducted to investigate the acute mechanical stress variations during EECP intervention, and then to assess the possible chronic effects. An experimentally induced hypercholesterolemic porcine model was developed and the basic hemodynamic measurement was… More >

Ravishankar Sathyamurthy^a,*, P.K. Nagarajan^b, Hyacinth J. Kennady^a, T.S. Ravikumar^a, V. Paulson^c, Amimul Ahsan^d

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.5, pp. 1-5, 2014, DOI:10.5098/hmt.5.3

Abstract This paper presents the method of improvement of enhancing the performance of triangular pyramid solar still with and without latent heat energy storage. For comparing the productivity of solar still with and without LHTESS a solar still is designed, fabricated. Experiments are conducted in hot and humid climate of Chennai, India. Paraffin wax is used as LHTESS due to its feasible general and economic properties. The hourly productivity is slightly higher in case of solar still without LHTESS during sunny days. There is an increase of about 35% in production of fresh water with LHTESS More >

Castellón Martínez E¹, JC Carrillo-Rodríguez¹, JL Chávez-Servia², AM Vera-Guzmán²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 225-236, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.225

Abstract Farmers’ role is important for the selection and conservation of the local diversity of native peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), which are distinguished by pod shape, plant traits, and show high levels of biogeographic and cultural heterogeneity. Our objective was to evaluate the phenotypic variation and postharvest changes of fruits in six morphotypes of native peppers from the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico. This would contribute information on the diversity of pepper landraces. Collection and characterization of plant and fruits were undertaken for 52 samples grouped into six morphotypes, under a completely randomized block design with three… More >

Tizkar B¹, A Seidavi², M Sudagar³, JT Ponce-Palafox⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 109-116, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.109

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a granular or liquid fertilizer on the temporal variation of phytoplankton. Enrichment of the pond water with nitrogen and phosphorus resulted in an increased gross photosynthesis and biomass of the dominant algal species. Nutrient concentrations and dilution rates can determine the temporal variation in phytoplankton abundance and primary production. The variation may be largely maintained by nutrient regeneration or turnover from different forms. More >

R. Jegadeeshwaran¹, V. Sugumaran², K.P. Soman³

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 81-97, 2014, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2014.010.081

Abstract In automobile, brake system is an essential part responsible for control of the vehicle. Vibration signals of a rotating machine contain the dynamic information about its health condition. Many research papers have reported the suitability of vibration signals for fault diagnosis applications. Many of them are based on (Fast Fourier Transform) FFT, which have their own drawback with nonstationary signals. Hence, there is a need for development of new methodologies to infer diagnostic information from such non stationary signals. This paper uses vibration signals acquired from a hydraulic brake system under good and simulated faulty… More >

Akhil Muralidharan^1,2, V. Sugumaran¹, K.P Soman³, M. Amarnath⁴

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 55-80, 2014, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2014.010.055

Abstract Gears are machine elements that transmit motion by means of successively engaging teeth. In purely scientific terms, gears are used to transmit motion. A faulty gear is a matter of serious concern as it affects the functionality of a machine to a great extent. Thus it is essential to diagnose the faults at an initial stage so as to reduce the losses that might be incurred. This necessitates the need for continuous monitoring of the gears. The vibrations produced by gears from good and simulated faulty conditions can be effectively used to detect the faults… More >

N.A. Dumont ¹, D. Huamán¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.101, No.6, pp. 387-419, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2014.101.387

Abstract The present paper starts with Mindlin’s theory of the strain gradient elasticity, based on three additional constants for homogeneous materials (besides the Lamé’s constants), to arrive at a proposition made by Aifantis with just one additional parameter. Aifantis’characteristic material length g², as it multiplies the Laplacian of the Cauchy stresses, may be seen as a penalty parameter to enforce interelement displacement gradient compatibility also in the case of a material in which the microstructure peculiarities are in principle not too relevant, but where high stress gradients occur. It is shown that the hybrid finite element formulation… More >

Q.W. Yang^1,2, S.G. Du¹, C.F. Liang¹, L.J. Yang¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.100, No.3, pp. 223-248, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2014.100.223

Abstract Although the model-independent damage localization algorithms have been extensively developed in recent years, the theoretical relationship between these damage indicators and the definition of damage is not clear. Moreover the existing damage localization methods are usually dependent on the boundary conditions and the type of structure. In view of this, the paper presents a universal model-independent algorithm for structural damage localization. To this end, the explicit relationship between the damage and damage-induced displacement variation is firstly clarified by using the well-known Sherman-Morrison and Woodbury formulas. A theorem is then presented for structural damage localization. According More >