M. Kumosa¹

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 35-50, 2007, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2007.003.035

Abstract This paper deals with the structural integrity and durability of suspension composite (non-ceramic, polymer) insulators widely used in power transmission systems around the world. Under certain conditions, the insulators can fail in-service both electrically and mechanically resulting in the drop of energized transmission lines and power outages. In this work, predominantly mechanical failures of the insulators are discussed. In particular, the most important characteristics of a catastrophic failure process called brittle fracture are described. Subsequently, two examples of insulator failures by brittle fracture are shown and their causes explained. Finally, several recommendations on how to More >

C.P. Providakis¹

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 29-34, 2007, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2007.003.029

Abstract Actuators are structures that give micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) the ability to interact with their environment rather than just passively sensing it. Recent studies of MEMS thermal micro-actuators have shown that simple in design and production devices can provide deflection of the order of 10 μm at low voltages. Recently, metals and single-crystal silicon materials were included in the range of materials used for thermal actuators since they operate at lower temperatures than the commonly used (poly)silicon devices. These actuators are liable to meet the loads in service, so the corresponding integrity and stability analysis constitutes a… More >

Abdulnaser M. Alshoaibi^1,2, M. S. A. Hadi², A. K. Ariffin²

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 15-28, 2007, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2007.003.015

Abstract An adaptive finite element method is employed to analyze two-dimensional linear elastic fracture problems. The mesh is generated by the advancing front method and the norm stress error is taken as a posteriori error estimator for the h-type adaptive refinement. The stress intensity factors are estimated by a displacement extrapolation technique. The near crack tip displacements used are obtained from specific nodes of natural six-noded quarter-point elements which are generated around the crack tip defined by the user. The crack growth and its direction are determined by the calculated stress intensity factors as the maximum circumference More >

M. M. Rahman¹, A. K. Ariffin¹, S. Abdullah¹, N. Jamaludin¹

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 1-14, 2007, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2007.003.001

Abstract A modern computational approach based on finite element analysis for durability assessment in a two-stroke free piston linear engine component using the variable amplitude loadings is presented. This paper describes the finite element analysis techniques to predict the fatigue life and identify the critical locations of the component. The effect of mean stress on the fatigue life is also investigated. The finite element modeling and analysis has been performed using a computer-aided design and a finite element analysis software package, and the fatigue life prediction was carried out using finite element based fatigue life prediction… More >

VÍCTOR PANZA^1,2, VERÓNICA LÁINEZ² , SARA MALDONADO^1,2, HORACIO L. MARODER³

BIOCELL, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 383-390, 2007, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2007.31.383

Abstract Information on desiccation sensitivity of Euterpe edulis seeds under two drying rates is presented. The sensitivity was studied during the course of germination and normal germination. The water content was evaluated for both seeds and embryos. Results showed the following: (a) For both drying treatments and for both germination and normal germination, desiccation sensitivity values were higher for measurements based on the water content of the embryo than for those of the seed. (b) For both drying treatments, desiccation sensitivity were higher for normal germination than for germination based on both the embryo and seed water… More >

JOÃO PAULO MARDEGAN ISSA^*, RODRIGO TIOSSI^*, MAMIE MIZUSAKI IYOMASA^**

BIOCELL, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 375-382, 2007, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2007.31.375

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in the masseter muscle of 30 male guinea-pigs submitted to occlusal alteration. The animals were divided into 2 equal groups, the control group (C) only submitted to surgical stress, and the occlusal altered group (T) submitted to teeth extraction. Each group was subdivided into 3 groups, with 5 animals, for the following studies: macroscopy and vessels distribution, light microscopy and histochemical analysis, with animals’ perfusion 2 months after surgery. Data were submitted to statistical analysis. Macroscopically, an anteroposterior orientation of the muscular fibers was found and More >

MARÍA ESTHER DIUPOTEX-CHONG^*, NÉSTOR J. CAZZANIGA^**, MANUEL URIBE-ALCOCER^*

BIOCELL, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 365-373, 2007, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2007.31.365

Abstract The widespread Mexican apple snail Pomacea flagellata (Say 1827) and the strictly endemic "tegogolo" P. patula catemacensis (Baker 1922) (restricted to Lake Catemaco), are the only known American Ampullariidae that have haploid complements n=13. Pomacea patula catemacensis has suffered a critical reduction in abundance due to immoderate fishing for human consumption. Chromosome slides were obtained from colchicine-injected Pomacea snails collected from nine locations along the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico, including Lake Catemaco, for use in principal component analysis (PCA). Total proteins in foot homogenates were analyzed through isoelectric focusing (IEF) and native-PAGE electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels.… More >

VANINA L. JULIANELLI¹ , LILIANA N. GUERRA^*1, JUAN C. CALVO^*1,2

BIOCELL, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 237-245, 2007, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2007.31.237

Abstract Interaction between parenchyma and stroma is essential for organogenesis, morphogenesis, and differentiation. Mammary gland has being the chosen model for developmental biologist because the most striking changes in morphology and function take place after birth. We have demonstrated a regulation of triglyceride accumulation by protein factors synthesized by normal mouse mammary gland epithelial cells (NMMG), acting on a cell line, 3T3-L1, long used as a model for adipogenesis. In this paper, we demonstrate that this inhibitory effect seems to be shared by other cells of epithelial origin but not by other cell types. We found More >

KHESLLER PATRÍCIA OLÁZIA NAME, GIULIANO PAGY FELIPE DOS REIS, SÔNIA NAIR BÁO

BIOCELL, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 229-236, 2007, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2007.31.229

Abstract The spermiogenesis of Sitophilus zeamais and Sitophilus oryzae, the maize and the rice weevil, respectively, was studied by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Sitophilus spp. is the most widespread and destructive primary pest of stored cereals in the world. The spermiogenesis occurs within cysts. There are approximately 256 germ line cells per cyst. Inside each cysts, all the spermatids are in the same stage of maturation. The ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of S. zeamais and S. oryzae is similar to that described for other beetles. The head is formed by a three-layered acrosome with the perforatorium, the More >

MARCELO SILVA-BRIANO¹ , SANDRA LUZ MARTÍNEZ-HERNÁNDEZ¹ , ARACELI ADABACHE-ORTÍZ¹ , JAVIER VENTURA-JUÁREZ² , EVA SALINAS³ , J. LUIS QUINTANAR⁴

BIOCELL, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 225-228, 2007, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2007.31.225

Abstract Syntaxin-1 and 25-kDa Synaptosome-associated Protein (SNAP-25) are present in the plasma membrane of several different secretory cell types and are involved in the exocytosis process. In this work, the free-living amoeba Difflugia corona was studied in relation to ultrastructure, structural membrane proteins, and proteins such as Syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25. Our results obtained by scanning electron microscopy in the amoeba without its theca, showed many membrane projections and several pore-like structures. Using immunocytochemistry, we found structural proteins Syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25. More >