Asymptotic limits and stabilization for the 1D nonlinear Mindlin-Timoshenko system

<正> This paper shows how the so called von Karman model can be obtained as a singular limitof a modified Mindlin-Timoshenko system when the modulus of elasticity in shear k tends to infinity,provided a regularizing term through a fourth order dispersive operator is added.Introducing dampingmechanisms,the authors also show that the energy of solutions for this modified Mindlin-Timoshenkosystem decays exponentially,uniformly with respect to the parameter k.As k→∞,the authors obtainthe damped von Karman model with associated energy exponentially decaying to zero as well.     

Have national trends in fertility between 1986 and 2006 occurred evenly across England and Wales?

During the past 20 years fertility patterns within England and Wales have changed considerably. The total fertility rate experienced a prolonged decline during the 1990s and hit a record low in 2001. Since then the level of fertility has increased fairly rapidly. Over the two decades, fertility has been constantly increasing at ages above 30, and as a consequence the mean age of motherhood has been rising. This article explores fertility trends within statistical regions and local authorities to improve our understanding of changes in fertility at the subnational level between 1986 and 2006.     

Waveform diversity based sonar system for target localization

A new monostatic army system taking advantage of diverse waveforms to improve the performance of underwater target localization is proposed.Unlike the coherent signals between different elements in common active array,the transmitted signals from different elements here are spatially orthogonal waveforms which allow for array processing in the transit mode and result in an extension of array aperture.The mathematical derivation of Capon estimator for this sonar system is described in detail.And the performance of this orthogonal-waveform based sonar is analyzed and compared with that of its phased-array counterpart by water tank experiments.Experimental results show that this sonar system could achieve 12 dB-15 dB additional array gain over its phased-array counterpart,which means a doubling of maximum detection range.Moreover,the angular resolution is significantly improved at lower SNR.     

Evolutionary Programming for IP/MIP Problems with Linear Constraints

1. INTSODUCTIONThe common illteger programming (lP) is a mathematical model which is designed to find aset of non-negative variables to medmize (or minimize) a nonlinear objective function whilesatisfying a set of constraints under integer restrictions of variables. An lP model with somevariables reqllired to be real is a mixed integer programming (MIP).The history of solving lP/MIP problems is not very old. According to reference [1], ageneral method for solvillg such problems may not…     

Children's family change: reports and records of mothers, fathers and children compared

Family change, when adults depart or arrive around children, raises policy issues. Its measurement depends upon the evidence collected and from whom. This paper compares British children's histories obtained from fathers and mothers. The evidence, on one birth cohort of parents, comes from two sources: the National Child Development Study and the ONS Longitudinal Study. The resulting account of family change is not substantially different between parents. There is some under-reporting of children not living with their fathers. This is due to under-reporting by those included in the studies and to under-representation in them of absent fathers and lone parents.     

The feasibility of making short-term migration estimates

Short-term migration, that is stays of less than 12 months, has received particular attention recently from both national and local level users of population statistics. This interest is part of the wider interest shown in increasing levels of long-term migration statistics in recent years. This article is an initial assessment by ONS of the potential to produce short-term migration estimates for England and Wales, and the challenges faced in doing so. Central to these challenges is the question of how short-term migration should be defined. In addition, illustrative estimates of short-term migration based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS) are provided. These illustrative estimates, along with associated standard errors, are provided at both national and regional levels using a number of definitional bases.     

A relevant in vitro rat model for the evaluation of blood-brain barrier translocation of nanoparticles

Poly(MePEG₂₀₀₀cyanoacrylate-co-hexadecylcyanoacrylate) (PEG-PHDCA) nanoparticles have demonstrated their capacity to reach the rat central nervous system after intravenous injection. For insight into the transport of colloidal systems across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we developed a relevant in vitro rat BBB model consisting of a coculture of rat brain endothelial cells (RBECs) and rat astrocytes. The RBECs used in our model displayed and retained structural characteristics of brain endothelial cells, such as expression of P-glycoprotein, occludin and ZO-1, and immunofluorescence studies showed the specific localization of occludin and ZO1. The high values of transendothelial electrical resistance and low permeability coefficients of marker molecules demonstrated the functionality of this model. The comparative passage of polyhexadecylcyanoacrylate and PEG-PHDCA nanoparticles through this model was investigated, showing a higher passage of PEGylated nanoparticles, presumably by endocytosis. This result was confirmed by confocal microscopy. Thanks to a good in vitro/in vivo correlation, this rat BBB model will help in understanding the mechanisms of nanoparticle translocation and in designing new types of colloidal carriers as brain delivery systems.Received 4 March 2005; accepted 14 April 2005     

Human peripheral blood monuclear cells transfected with messenger RNA stimulate antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in vitro

The efficiency of test vaccines needs to be evaluated by quantification of the triggered cellular immune response. Usually, for these assays, autologous target cells expressing the vaccine antigen are required. In the context of messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccinations, the target cells used for the read-out are mRNA-transfected monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs). Their production typically requires samples of 100 ml blood from the patients, and limits the number of assays that can be performed. We show here that fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can be transfected with mRNA by electroporation. Such cells are as efficient as mRNA-transfected Mo-DCs for their ability to activate memory T cells in vitro. Thus, mRNA-transfected PBMCs are a convenient replacement of mRNA-transfected Mo-DCs for the in vitro monitoring of natural or vaccine-induced immune responses.Received 17 February 2005; received after revision 1 May 2005; accepted 7 Juni 2005     

Copper and zinc dismetabolism in the mouse brain upon chronic cuprizone treatment

Recent reports describe successful treatment using copper chelation therapy in neurodegenerative animal models. However, the success claimed for chelation therapy in neurodegenerative diseases is still rather controversial. To acquire new information on copper metabolism/homeostasis, we utilized cuprizone, a very sensitive and selective copper-chelating agent with well-known neurotoxic properties, as a relevant chemical model in mice. Upon cuprizone treatment, mice developed a pronounced astrocytosis, with brain oedema and spongiosis characterised by vacuolisations of the neuropil predominantly in the white matter. In addition, cuprizone treatment severely altered copper and zinc homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS) as well as in all other tissues examined, with increasing metal ion concentrations particularly in the CNS. Concomitant with this increase in the Cu and Zn concentration in the brain, metallothionein-I and -II were also highly immunoreactive in astrocyte, consistent with the astrocytosis and demyelination observed in our and other laboratories.Received 23 February 2005; received after revision 3 May 2005; accepted 13 May 2005     

Structural and dynamical features contributing to thermostability in α-amylases

In recent years an increasing number of studies on thermophilic and hyperthermophilic proteins aiming to elucidate determinants of protein thermostability have yielded valuable insights about the relevant mechanisms. In particular, comparison of homologous enzymes with different thermostabilities (isolated from psychrophilic, mesophilic, thermophilic and hyperthermophilic organsims) offers a unique opportunity to determine the strategies of thermal adaptation. In this respect, the medium-sized amylolytic enzyme α-amylase is a well-established representative. Various studies on α-amylases with very different thermostabilities (melting temperature T_m = 40–110°C) report structural and dynamical features as well as thermodynamical properties which are supposed to play key roles in thermal adaptation. Here, results from selected homologous α-amylases are presented and discussed with respect to some new and recently proposed strategies to achieve thermostability.Received 28 February 2005; received after revision 29 April 2005; accepted 19 May 2005