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This paper proposes an analytical method for calculating rocking responses of unanchored tanks during seismic ground motion. Some researchers have proposed the analytical methods to calculate seismic responses of unanchored tanks without considering the rotational inertia of content liquid. In other words, most of method for a time-history analysis of tank rocking responses are assumed that an equilibrium equation in direction of rotation can be formulated as a static equilibrium equation in which the overturning moment and the restoring moment are equal. Even a model that considers rotational inertia of content liquid was proposed in the past, the definition of moment of inertia is ambiguous. On the other hand, there a study that derives moment of inertia from a physical background and alleges the importance of the moment of inertia in the tank rocking response. In this study, an analytical method of a time history analysis of tank rocking motion considering the rotational inertia of content liquid is proposed. Furthermore, results of the proposed method are compared with results of the FEM dynamic analysis to validate the accuracy of the proposed method. Finally, comparisons with results of the conventional calculation method are also conducted.

BackgroundMalarial parasites are susceptible to oxidative stress. The effects of α-tocopheryloxy acetic acid (α-TEA), a vitamin E analog, on infection by Plasmodium berghei ANKA and P. falciparum in mice and human red blood cells (RBCs), respectively, were examined in this study. MethodsFor in vivo studies in mice, RBCs infected with P. berghei ANKA were inoculated via intraperitoneal injection and α-TEA was administered to C57BL/6J male mice after infection. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability was examined by Evans blue staining in experimental cerebral malaria at 7 days after infection. The in vitro inhibitory effect of α-TEA on P. falciparum 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive strain) and K1 (multidrug-resistant strain) was tested using a SYBR Green I-based assay.ResultsWhen 1.5 % α-TEA was administered for 14 days after infection, 88 % of P. berghei ANKA-infected mice survived during the experimental period. Nevertheless, all the control mice died within 12 days of infection. Furthermore, the Evans blue intensity in α-TEA-treated mice brains was less than that in untreated mice, indicating that α-TEA might inhibit the destruction of the BBB and progression of cerebral malaria. The in vitro experiment revealed that α-TEA inhibited the proliferation of both the 3D7 and K1 strains.ConclusionsThis study showed that α-TEA is effective against murine and human malaria in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Although α-TEA alone has a sufficient antimalarial effect, future research could focus on the combined effect of α-TEA and already existing drugs. The prophylactic antimalarial activity of premedication with α-TEA may also be an interesting perspective in the future.

Bone is consisted of osteoblast-linage cells, bone-forming cells in various differentiation stages. However, it is not fully understood how communicate and interact these cells immigrated from bone marrow. In this study, we showed that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) had a role in autonomous modification of matrix mineralization in osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1, and interactions across the cells in different differentiation stages. Analysis using LC-MS/MS and inhibitors showed the autonomous secretion of PGE2 among the prostanoids in differentiation stages and that depend on COX-2, a key enzyme for production of PGE2. Treatment with inhibitors of PGE2 receptors and COX-2 indicated that secreted PGE2 regulates matrix mineralization in an autocrine/paracrine manner. In addition, we showed that the expression profile of PGE2 receptors (EP1-EP4) and PGE2 effects on matrix mineralization derived from it changed during cell differentiation. Treatment with inhibitors of PGE2 signaling in the early differentiation stage of MC3T3-E1 cells induced significant changes in matrix mineralization several days after. Stimulation with the extracts from culture medium of the matured cells including PGE2 and co-culture with the matured cells secreting PGE2 significantly promoted matrix mineralization of the early stage cells, in contrast, treatment with inhibitor of COX-2 and PGE2 receptors failed to do so. These results support that PGE2 plays important roles in the interaction system of osteoblast-linage cells in bone tissue to regulate matrix mineralization reflecting condition of bone-forming cells, that is, population and maturation.

H2020 Research Infrastructures, Grant/Award Number: 730900, This paper reports on a series of shaking table tests on a full-scale flat-bottom steel silo filled with soft wheat, characterized by aspect ratio of around 0.9. The specimen was a 3.64-m diameter and 5.50-m high corrugated-wall cylindrical silo. Multiple sensors were used to monitor the static and dynamic response of the filled silo system, including accelerometers and pressure cells. Numerous unidirectional dynamic tests were performed consisting of random signals, sinusoidal inputs, and both artificial and real earthquake records. The objectives of this paper are (i) to provide a general overview of the whole experimental campaign and (ii) to present selected results obtained for the fixed-base configuration. The measured data were processed to assess the static pressures, the dynamic overpressures (related to the effective mass) and the accelerations of monitored points on the silo wall, and to identify the basic dynamic properties (fundamental frequency of vibration, damping ratio, dynamic amplification factors) of the filled silo. Themain findings are discussed and compared with the predictions given by available theoreticalmodels and code provisions. It is found that the fundamental frequency slightly decreases with increasing acceleration, while it slightly increases with increasing compaction of the granular material. For close-to-resonance input, the dynamic amplification (in terms of peak values of accelerations) increases along the height of the silo wall up to values of around 1.4 at the top surface of the solid content. The dynamic overpressures appear to increase with depth (differently from the EN1998-4 expectations), and to be proportional to the acceleration., H2020 Research Infrastructures 730900

This paper presents the preliminary results of a series of shaking-table tests on a full-scale flat-bottom manufactured steel silo filled with a granular material. A 3.64 m-diameter 5.5 m-height cylindrical silo has been tested in fixed-base and isolated-base configurations. The isolators put between the table and the r.c. plate are Curved Surface Sliders friction pendulum devices. Mono-axial shaking-table tests have been performed using random signals, low-frequency sinusoidal inputs and earthquake records (both artificial and real). The results are relevant to: the identification of the basic dynamic properties (frequency, damping ratio, amplification) of the grain-silo system, the experimental assessment of the static pressure (during filling phase) and seismic dynamic over-pressures and the effectiveness of the isolation system at the base of the silo.

A purposes of this study are to confirm usefulness of the beam model (Malhotra and Veletsos, 1994) and to check if resistant moment generated by the base uplifting can be a function as a restoring mechanism against the overturning moment. First, this study shows an example of a result of force-displacement relationship calculated by the beam model (Malhotra and Veletsos, 1994), an estimation method of resistant moment and results of the FEM analysis. Next, this study tries to verify the beam model. The relationship between uplift width and uplift displacement calculated by the beam model is compared with the results of FEM analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between uplift force and uplift displacement calculated by the beam model is also compared with the results of the FEM analysis. These comparisons verify the accuracy of the beam model. After that, this study tries to verify resistant moment generated by the base uplifting by comparing with the overturning moment. These verifications imply usefulness of the beam model and existence of a restoration mechanism related to the movement of the content liquid.

Recent studies show that some human malaria parasite species Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax parasitize erythroblasts; however, the biological and clinical significance of this is unclear. To investigate further, we generated a rodent malaria parasite (P. yoelii 17XNL) expressing GFP-ovalbumin (OVA). Its infectivity to erythroblasts was confirmed, and parasitized erythroblasts were capable of initiating malaria infections. Experiments showed that MHC class I molecules were highly expressed on parasitized erythroblasts. As CD8(+) T cells recognize MHC class I and peptide complexes on target cells, and are involved in protection or pathology against malaria, we examined whether erythroblasts are targeted by CD8(+) T cells. Purified non-parasitized erythroblasts pulsed with OVA peptides were recognized by OVA-specific CD8(+) T cells. Crucially, parasitized erythroblasts isolated from GFP-OVA-, but not GFP- infected-mice, activated OT-I CD8(+) T cells, indicating that CD8(+) T cells recognize parasitized erythroblasts in an antigen-specific manner.

The uplift phenomenon of a flat-bottom cylindrical shell tank is a long-term unsolved problem. In this study, uplift deformation of a tank bottom plate calculated by an explicit finite element analysis (refer to PVP2016-63916) is observed, and a hand calculating model based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory is examined by comparing with the results of the numerical analysis. First, this study analyzes the results of uplift displacement and uplift width calculated by the FE analysis. Then, the results of the relationship between the uplift displacement and the uplift width are observed. Moreover, comparing the results of the maximum uplift width of a thick bottom plate case and a thin bottom plate case, trends of the maximum uplift width that depends on the thickness of the tank bottom plate are obtained. Seconds, this study tries to verify the hand calculating model based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. Compering the results of the deformation of the tank bottom plate calculated by the hand calculation and the FE analysis, accuracy of the hand calculating model is examined. The comparison implies that the hand calculating model may be able to estimate uplift deformation of the tank bottom plate until the uplift displacement of the juncture reaches some height even though the geometrical nonlinearity is not considered.

Bone is consisted of osteoblast-linage cells, bone-forming cells in various differentiation stages. However, it is not fully understood how communicate and interact these cells immigrated from bone marrow. In this study, we showed that prostaglandin E2 (PGE

Our previous studies of protective immunity and pathology against blood stage malaria parasites have shown that not only CD4+ T cells, but also CD8+ T cells and macrophages, are important for host defense against blood stage malaria infection. Furthermore, we found that Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL (PyNL) parasitizes erythroblasts, the red blood cell (RBC) precursor cells, which then express MHC class I molecules. In the present study, we analyzed spleen cytokine production. In CD8+ T cell-depleted mice, IL-10 production in early stage infection was increased over two-fold relative to infected control animals and IL-10+ CD3− cells were increased, whereas IFN-γ production in the late stage of infection was decreased. At day 16 after PyNL infection, CD8+ T cells produced more IFN-γ than CD4+ T cells. We evaluated the involvement of the immunoproteasome in induction of immune CD8+ T cells, and the role of Fas in protection against PyNL both of which are downstream of IFN-γ. In cell transfer experiments, at least the single molecules LMP7, LMP2, and PA28 are not essential for CD8+ T cell induction. The Fas mutant LPR mouse was weaker in resistance to PyNL infection than WT mice, and 20% of the animals died. LPR-derived parasitized erythroid cells exhibited less externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), and phagocytosis by macrophages was impaired. Furthermore, we tried to identify the cause of death in malaria infection. Blood lactate concentration was increased in the CD8+ T cell-depleted PyNL-infected group at day 19 (around peak parasitemia) to similar levels as day 7 after infection with a lethal strain of Py. When we injected mice with lactate at day 4 and 6 of PyNL infection, all mice died at day 8 despite demonstrating low parasitemia, suggesting that hyperlactatemia is one of the causes of death in CD8+ T cell-depleted PyNL-infected mice. We conclude that CD8+ T cells might control cytokine production to some extent and regulate hyperparasitemia and hyperlactatemia in protection against blood stage malaria parasites.

Two unanchored vinyl chloride scale tank models, whose diameter, height and thickness of their shell and base were 860 mm, 400 mm and 0.5 mm respectively, were set on a shaking table for experiencing the horizontal motion. These scale tank models satisfy law of similarity to have an equivalent strain under the action of loads. The first scale tank model has no stiffeners on its cylindrical shell that allows out-of-round deformation of the cylindrical shell during the shaking table test. To understand effects of the out-of-round deformation of the cylindrical shell on the tank uplift, the sweeping test is carried out. The Operational Modal Analysis clarifies that the out-of-round deformation of the cylindrical shell enhances the uplift displacement by denting a part of cylindrical shell. The second scale tank model has the multi-stage stiffeners on its cylindrical shell to prevent its out-of-round deformation during the shaking table test. The primary purpose of the second test is to verify applicability of the explicit finite element analysis for analyzing the tank rocking motion. The time history of the uplift displacement of the tank base during a seismic excitation is measured and compared with that computed by the explicit finite element analysis. The comparison shows that the explicit finite element analysis adequately reproduces the tank rocking behavior.

The reconnaissance just after the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku reported the pulling out of anchor bolts of an upright cylindrical tank. Regarding the tank as an unanchored tank and employing the accelerogram recorded at 2 km off the tank, uplift of the unanchored tank during the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku was forensically examined. The time history of the uplift displacement of the tank computed by the explicit finite element analysis reveals that the unanchored tank uplifts during the earthquake and its uplift displacement is more than the length of the pulling out of the anchor bolts found by the reconnaissance. This implicitly corroborates applicability of the explicit finite element analysis to analyzing the tank rocking behavior. In addition to that, the uplift displacement of the unanchored tank was estimated by some calculation methods available to date and compared with that computed by the explicit finite element analysis. Comparison reveals that the calculation methods used herein may likely overestimate the uplift displacement of the unanchored tank and need to improve their calculation accuracy.

Taniguchi, et al. [1] developed an analytical method for evaluating the absolute maximum elasto-plastic displacements of multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) oscillators under the action of base excitation based on a modal combination. Its essence is that 1) modal frequencies, shapes and damping during yielding of any member of the MDOF oscillators are readily specified by the modal analysis with the secondary stiffness of the members being yielded, 2) assuming that a bilinear hysteresis may describe the force-displacement relationship of each mode, an equivalently linearized system consisting of a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) oscillator is introduced to approximate the absolute maximum elasto-plastic displacement of each mode, 3) the absolute maximum elasto-plastic displacement of the MDOF oscillator is evaluated by the Square Root of Sum of Squares rule (SRSS-rule) by combining the maximum elasto-plastic displacement of each mode approximated by the proposed equivalently linearized system. This study first provides small modification in the equivalently linearized system. Then, employing a couple of MDOF oscillators whose spring at arbitrary storey may yield and an accelerogram, the maximum elasto-plastic displacement of the MDOF oscillator is calculated by the proposed method and is compared with that computed by the time history analysis. Their comparison suggests that the proposed method can reasonably evaluate the absolute maximum elasto-plastic displacement of the MDOF oscillator subjected to earthquake excitation as the conventional SRSS-rule does that for the linear MDOF oscillators.

Evaluation of the rocking motion of unanchored cylindrical tanks subjected to the ground acceleration is a main topic in the framework of the seismic vulnerability assessment of this particular kind of structures. However, despite the anchored or unanchored tanks, any calculation that attempts fully evaluate tank uplift has not been presented, while many of the analyses of the tank rocking motion and the deformation of the tank bottom plate have been respectively presented. This paper carries out a thought experiment of applicability of these analyses to evaluating uplift of the unanchored tanks. First, this paper focuses on an anchored tank at a chemical plant whose anchor bolts were pulled-out during the 2011 off the pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake. Second, combine a few analyses of uplift of the unanchored tanks being available to date; then, calculate the uplift displacement of an anchored tank of interest as if it were an unanchored tank. Next, infer the pulling-out length of anchor bolt of the anchored tank of interest from a photo in a reconnaissance report; then, compare it with the uplift displacement calculated. Since the uplift displacement calculated is larger than that inferred. Since a discrepancy between them would be responsible for the constraint effects of anchors that have not been clearly quantified, the present analyses of the tank rocking motion and the deformation of the tank bottom plate may have a potential to give an appropriate uplift of unanchored tanks.

Humans and dogs are the two major hosts of Strongyloides stercoralis, an intestinal parasitic nematode. To better understand the phylogenetic relationships among S. stercoralis isolates infecting humans and dogs and to assess the zoonotic potential of this parasite, we analyzed mitochondrial Cox1, nuclear 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and a major sperm protein domain-containing protein genes. Overall, our analyses indicated the presence of two distinct lineages of S. stercoralis (referred to as type A and type B). While type A parasites were isolated both from humans and dogs in different countries, type B parasites were found exclusively in dogs, indicating that the type B has not adapted to infect humans. These epidemiological data, together with the close phylogenetic relationship of S. stercoralis with S. procyonis, a Strongyloides parasite of raccoons, possibly indicates that S. stercoralis originally evolved as a canid parasite, and later spread into humans. The inability to infect humans might be an ancestral character of this species and the type B might be surmised to be an origin population from which human-infecting strains are derived.

Evaluation of rocking motion of unanchored cylindrical tanks subjected to the ground acceleration is a main topic in the framework of the seismic vulnerability assessment of this particular kind of structures. Previous researchers basing on a mechanical model including rocking and bulging effects carried out non-linear seismic analyses of the tank-fluid system. However, in order to provide simple tools for the evaluation of the tank response, they neglected the influence of rocking on the tank bulging motion. In this paper, an interesting investigation on the role of inertial and centrifugal forces in the context of the interaction between rocking and translational motions has been conducted by solving the simultaneous dynamic equations of a 2DOF model through a numerical software and comparing results with those of experimental tests. Moreover, employing the dynamic properties governing the tank rocking-bulging motion into the simultaneous equations, a simplified method to determine the tank bulging response and the measure in which it is reduced by the rocking appearance is provided. Validation of the proposed analysis is conducted comparing its results with those computed through an Explicit Finite Element Analysis on a sample tank.

Cerebral malaria is a fatal complication of malaria. Conventional methods for evaluating experimental cerebral malaria have several drawbacks. Therefore, we aimed to develop an easy-to-use method for evaluating experimental cerebral malaria using OKD48 (Keap1-dependent Oxidative stress Detector, No-48-luciferase) mice to evaluate oxidative stress. OKD48 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain (PbA) suffered from experimental cerebral malaria and oxidative stress was successfully detected in the brains of living OKD48 mice developing experimental cerebral malaria. Oxidative stress in the brain was dependent on the development of experimental cerebral malaria, as prevention of experimental cerebral malaria did not elicit oxidative stress. We provide a novel evaluation method for experimental cerebral malaria using oxidative stress indicator OKD48 mice.

Although IL-12 is believed to contribute to protective immune responses, the role played by IL-23 (a member of the IL-12 family) in malaria is elusive. Here, we show that IL-23 is produced during infection with Plasmodium berghei NK65. Mice deficient in IL-23 (p19KO) had higher parasitemia and died earlier than wild-type (WT) controls. Interestingly, p19KO mice had lower numbers of IL-17-producing splenic cells than their WT counterparts. Furthermore, mice deficient in IL-17 (17KO) suffered higher parasitemia than the WT controls, indicating that IL-23-mediated protection is dependent on induction of IL-17 during infection. We found that macrophages were responsible for IL-17 production in response to IL-23. We observed a striking reduction in splenic macrophages in the p19KO and 17KO mice, both of which became highly susceptible to infection. Thus, IL-17 appears to be crucial for maintenance of splenic macrophages. Adoptive transfer of macrophages into macrophage-depleted mice confirmed that macrophage-derived IL-17 is required for macrophage accumulation and parasite eradication in the recipient mice. We also found that IL-17 induces CCL2/7, which recruit macrophages. Our findings reveal a novel protective mechanism whereby IL-23, IL-17, and macrophages reduce the severity of infection with blood-stage malaria parasites.

Although it has been hypothesized that autoimmune-like phenomena may play a critical role in the protective immune responses to both human and animal malaria, there are still no evidence-based data to support this view. In this study we demonstrate that the majority of anti-single stranded (ss) DNA autoantibody secreting B cells were confined to B220 + CD21 + CD23 − cells and that these cells expanded significantly in the spleen of C57BL/6 mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii 17X non-lethal ( Py NL). To determine the role of ssDNA-binding autoantibody secreting B cell responses in murine malaria, we conjugated generation 6 (poly) amidoamine dendrimer nanoparticles with ssDNA to deplete ssDNA-binding autoreactive B cells in vivo . Our data revealed that 55.5% of mice died after DNA-coated nanoparticle-mediated in vivo depletion of ssDNA-specific autoreactive B cells and subsequent challenge using Py NL. Adoptive transfer of B cells with ssDNA specificity to mice, followed by Py NL infection, caused a later appearance and inhibition of parasitemia. The possible mechanism by which the ssDNA-binding autoantibody secreting B cells is involved in the protection against murine malaria has also been demonstrated.

The M 7.0 Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010 caused catastrophic da- mage and loss of life in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The extent of the damage was primarily due to poor construction and high population density. The earthquake was recorded by only a single seismic instrument within Haiti, an educational seis- mometer that was neither bolted to the ground nor able to record strong motion on scale. The severity of near-field mainshock ground motions, in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, has thus remained unclear. We present a detailed, quantitative analysis of the marks left on a tile floor by an industrial battery rack that was displaced by the earthquake in the Canape Vert neighborhood in the southern Port-au-Prince metropolitan region. Results of this analysis, based on a recently developed formula- tion for predicted rigid body displacement caused by sinusoidal ground acceleration, indicate that mainshock shaking at Canape Vert was approximately 0:5g, correspond- ing to a modified Mercalli intensity of VIII. Combining this result with the weak- motion amplification factor estimated from aftershock recordings at the site as well as a general assessment of macroseismic effects, we estimate the peak acceleration to be ≈0:2g for sites in central Port-au-Prince that experienced relatively moderate damage and where estimated weak-motion site amplification is lower than that at the Canape Vert site. We also analyze a second case of documented rigid body dis- placement, at a location less than 2 km from the Canape Vert site, and estimate the peak acceleration to be approximately 0:4g at this location. Our results illustrate how observations of rigid body horizontal displacement during earthquakes can be used to estimate peak ground acceleration in the absence of instrumental data.

Background Asymptomatic malaria can be observed in both stable endemic areas and unstable transmission areas. However, although much attention has been given to acute malaria infections, relatively little attention has been paid to asymptomatic malaria. Nonetheless, because the asymptomatic host serves as a reservoir for the malaria parasite, asymptomatic malaria is now recognized as an important obstacle to malaria elimination. Asymptomatic malaria is also associated with anaemia, a global public health problem with serious consequences on human health as well as social and economic development. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), malaria, anaemia, and malnutrition are serious public health concerns. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between these variables. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between asymptomatic malaria, growth status, and the prevalence of anaemia among children aged 120 months old or younger in rural villages in Lao PDR. Methods In December 2010 and March 2011, data were collected from five villages in Savannakhet province. Anthropometric measurements, blood samples, and malaria rapid diagnostic tests were conducted. The presence of malaria was confirmed with polymerase chain reaction assays for Plasmodium falciparum. Underweight status, stunting, and anaemia were defined according to World Health Organization standards. Results The mean age of participants (n = 319) was 88.3 months old (Standard Deviation: 20.6, ranged from 30–119 months old), and 20 participants (6.3 %) had an asymptomatic malaria infection, 92 (28.8 %) were anaemic, 123 (38.6 %) were underweight, and 137 (42.9 %) were stunted. Stunted children were more likely to be infected with asymptomatic malaria [odds ratio (OR) 3.34, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.25–8.93], and asymptomatic malaria was associated with anaemia [OR 5.17, 95 % CI 1.99–13.43]. Conclusions These results suggest a significant association between asymptomatic malaria and anaemia in children. Furthermore, stunted children were more likely to have lower Hb levels and to be infected with asymptomatic malaria than children without stunting. However, further studies examining the impact of asymptomatic malaria infection on children’s nutritional and development status are necessary.

This study develops a new analytical method for evaluating maximum elasto-plastic displacement of multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) oscillators under the action of base excitation based on a modal combination. The essence is that modal frequencies, shapes and damping during yielding of any member of the MDOF oscillators are readily specified by the modal analysis with the secondary stiffness of the members being yielded. In addition, assuming that a bilinear hysteresis may describe the force-displacement relationship of each mode, an equivalently linearized system consisting of a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) oscillator is introduced to approximate maximum elsato-plastic displacement of each mode. Employing the SRSS-rule, the maximum elasto-plastic displacement of the MDOF oscillator subjected to Kobe-NS accelerogram is calculated and compared with that computed by the commercial software. Applicability of the proposed method to evaluating maximum elasto-plastic displacement of the MDOF oscillator is thoroughly discussed.

For analyzing the uplift displacement of the tank bottom plate statically and precisely, this paper develops a shell element, ring element and spring element partially attached to the ring element. These elements are defined as a semi-analytical finite element. Moreover in analyzing uplift of the tank bottom plate precisely, the ring element can deal with effects of the large deformation, while the spring element enables to express the partial contact between the tank bottom plate and foundation. Dead load, hydro-pressure and inertia force due to earthquakes acceleration as well as dynamic pressure of fluid induced by bulging and rocking motions of the tank are applied statically. Comparison of results by the proposed method and that computed by the explicit FE Analysis reveals that the accurate uplift displacement is not obtained until all physical conditions involved in the tank rocking motion and the inward deformation of the tank shell is properly considered.

Effects of bending stiffness of the tank bottom plate and out-of-round deformation of cylindrical shell on uplift of the un-anchored flat-bottom cylindrical shell tanks are investigated. Numerical tank models whose bottom plate has different bending stiffness reveal that changes in bending stiffness of the tank bottom plate may have little influence on uplift of the tanks. Contrary, numerical tank models whose cylindrical shell is stiffed differently reveal that out-of-round deformation of the cylindrical shell may have significant influence on uplift of the tanks. In addition, uplift of the tanks may have little influence on development of waves on the fluid surface like sloshing.Copyright © 2016 by ASME

As well as the uplift displacement of the tanks, the fluid pressure accompanying the uplift motion of the unanchored tanks has been considered to contribute toward their various damages. Its accurate estimate is indispensable to secure the safety of the tanks at an earthquake event. Assuming the ideal fluid and velocity potential, a mathematical solution for evaluating the fluid pressure on a rigid flat-bottom cylindrical tank accompanying the angular acceleration that acts on a pivoting bottom edge is derived. In actual case scenarios, practitioners should calculate the fluid pressure accompanying the rocking motion of the tank which possesses a crescent-like uplift region in a plan view of the bottom plate. To satisfy this demand, this paper also proposes an approximation method featuring a rectangular tank with a unit depth off and parallel with the center line of the rigid flat-bottom cylindrical tank, denoted a slice model. The mathematical solution is given by the explicit function of aspect of the tank but is a Fourier series. It well converges with a few first terms of the Fourier series. A comparison with the FE analysis with a three-dimensional half tank model reveals the analytical accuracy for evaluating values of the fluid pressure on the rigid flat-bottom cylindrical tank. In addition, the slice model reasonably approximates the values of the fluid pressure on the shell off and parallel with the center line of the rigid flat-bottom cylindrical tank. For designer’s convenience, diagrams that depict the normalized fluid pressure are also presented. The curved component of the fluid pressure distribution increases as the tank becomes taller or the azimuth angle approaches to 0 or 180 degrees.

The third author of this paper has previously proposed the installation of a tuned-mass damper (TMD) to reduce the displacement demand on a base isolated structure. The TMD consists of a mass-dashpot-spring subsystem that is attached to the isolated superstructure, analogous to a pendulum. The present paper examines the effectiveness of this scheme and determines optimal parameters for the design of the TMD. Both the base-isolated structure and the TMD are modeled as single-degree-of-freedom, linear oscillators. The optimal TMD parameters are determined by considering the response of the base-isolated structure, with and without the TMD, to a white-noise base acceleration. Such an excitation is representative of broadband ground motions having a nearly constant intensity over a duration several times longer than the period of the base-isolated structure. It is found that, under such an excitation, a reduction of the order of 15%–25% in the displacement demand of the base-isolated structure can be achieved by adding the TMD. Next, the responses of an example base-isolated structure with and without an optimally designed TMD to selected suites of far- and near-field recorded accelerograms are determined. The study shows that for far-field ground motions the effectiveness of the TMD is more or less similar to that predicted by the white noise model, whereas for near-field ground motions the effectiveness of the TMD is less, i.e. of the order of 10% or less. Reasons for this result are described.

It is still controversial whether malaria protection is mediated by conventional immunity associated with T and B cells or by innate immunity associated with extrathymic T cells and autoantibody-producing B cells. Given this situation, it is important to examine the mechanism of malaria protection in beta(2)-microglobulin-deficient (beta(2)m(-/-)) mice. These mice lack major histocompatibility complex class I and CD1d antigens, which results in the absence of CD8(+) T cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells. When C57BL/6 and beta(2)m(-/-) mice were injected with parasitized (Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL) erythrocytes, both survived from the infection and showed a similar level of parasitaemia. The major expanding T cells were NK1.1(-) alphabeta T-cell receptor(int) cells in both mice. The difference was a compensatory expansion of NK and gammadelta T cells in beta(2)m(-/-) mice, and an elimination experiment showed that these lymphocytes were critical for protection in these mice. These results suggest that malaria protection might be events of the innate immunity associated with multiple subsets with autoreactivity. CD8(+) T and NKT cells may be partially related to this protection.

Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, are frequently observed in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, the correlation between malaria intestinal pathology and intestinal microbiota has not been investigated. In the present study, infection of C57BL/6 mice with P. berghei ANKA (PbA) caused intestinal pathological changes, such as detachment of epithelia in the small intestines and increased intestinal permeability, which correlated with development with experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). Notably, an apparent dysbiosis occurred, characterized by a reduction of Firmicutes and an increase in Proteobacteria. Furthermore, some genera of microbiota correlated with parasite growth and/or ECM development. By contrast, BALB/c mice are resistant to ECM and exhibit milder intestinal pathology and dysbiosis. These results indicate that the severity of cerebral and intestinal pathology coincides with the degree of alteration in microbiota. This is the first report demonstrating that malaria affects intestinal microbiota and causes dysbiosis.

This study presents a simplified estimation method on the rocking behavior of the unanchored cylindrical liquid storage tank of which baseplate uplifts partially from its soil foundation and of which shell plate distorts its circular cross-section due to the horizontal seismic loads. Since the vertical reaction force distribution along the bottom end of shell plate, which yields resistant moment against the overturning moment due to the horizontal seismic load, deflects from sinusoidal when its baseplate uplifts partially. The out-of-plane deformation is induced in the shell plate of tank due to the axial force in the shell plate of higher harmonic number than the sinusoidal mode because of the partially uplifting of the base plate. This feature brings the vertical displacement along the bottom of shell plate redistribution, and it affects the buckling strength at the compression side of the shell plate and the bending strength at the uplifting side of the joint between the cylindrical shell plate and the baseplate. To take such a rocking behavior into account, the vertical reaction force distribution acting on the bottom of the shell plate is expanded with Fourier series and the out-of-plane deformation of shell plate is derived by the membrane theory of shell for each coefficient of Fourier series. Numerical results of tank deformations calculated by the present method are compared with those obtained by a commercial FEM code.Copyright © 2015 by ASME

For the unanchored flat-bottom cylindrical tanks located in the seismic prone area, uplift of the tank bottom plate is inevitable. Besides the work of Nakashima, effects of out-of-plane deformation of the cylindrical shell on uplift of the tank bottom plate have been paid little attention. In analyzing uplift of the tank bottom plate, for design purpose in particular, its effects should be included. First, employing a cylindrical shell tanks with multistage rigid or elastic stiffeners, their uplift responses to the horizontal sinusoidal base acceleration are compared to highlight effects of out-of-plane deformation on uplift of the tank bottom plate. Next, employing the numerical results of the cylindrical shell tank with multistage rigid stiffeners, analytical accuracy of the simplified calculation for evaluating the angular acceleration accompanying the tank rock motion is examined.Copyright © 2015 by ASME

IFN-γ plays both pathological and protective roles during blood-stage malaria. One of its pathological roles is its contribution to anemia by suppressing erythropoiesis. Here, to evaluate the effects of IFN-γ-mediated alterations in erythropoiesis on the course of malaria infection, mice deficient in IFN-γ (GKO) were infected with two strains of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii, 17XL (PyL) and 17XNL (PyNL), whose host cell ranges differ. Regardless of genotype, all mice infected with PyL, which can invade any erythrocyte, developed high parasitemia and died quickly. Although PyNL caused a transient non-lethal infection in wild-type (WT) mice, some GKO mice were unable to control the infection and died. However, GKO mice were resistant to the early phase of infection, showing an impaired increase in parasitemia compared with WT mice. This resistance in the GKO mice was associated with having significantly fewer reticulocytes, which are the preferred host cells for PyNL parasites, than the WT mice. Compared with the amount of reticulocytes in GKO mice during the early stages of infection, there was a significant increase in the amount of these cells at later stages, which coincided with the inability of these mice to control the infection. We found that the growth of PyNL parasites correlated with the amount of reticulocytes. Thus, the reduced number of reticulocytes in mice lacking IFN-γ appears to be responsible for the limited parasite growth. Notably, these differences in GKO mice were at least partially reversed when the mice were injected with exogenous IFN-γ. Additionally, an artificial induction of hemolytic anemia and an increase in reticulocytes by phenylhydrazine treatment in GKO mice completely abolished the lower parasitemia and resistance during early phase infection. These results suggest that IFN-γ may contribute to the early growth of PyNL parasites by increasing the amount of reticulocytes, presumably by enhancing erythropoiesis.

The protective immunity afforded by CD8+ T cells against blood-stage malaria remains controversial because no MHC class I molecules are displayed on parasite-infected human erythrocytes. We recently reported that rodent malaria parasites infect erythroblasts that express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens, which are recognized by CD8+ T cells. In this study, we demonstrate that the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells contributes to the protection of mice against blood-stage malaria in a Fas ligand (FasL)-dependent manner. Erythroblasts infected with malarial parasites express the death receptor Fas. CD8+ T cells induce the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the infected erythroblasts in a cell-to-cell contact-dependent manner. PS enhances the engulfment of the infected erythroid cells by phagocytes. As a PS receptor, T-cell immunoglobulin-domain and mucin-domain-containing molecule 4 (Tim-4) contributes to the phagocytosis of malaria-parasite-infected cells. Our findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective immunity exerted by CD8+ T cells in collaboration with phagocytes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04232.001, eLife digest The immune system consists of several different types of cell that work together to prevent infection and disease. For example, immune cells called cytotoxic CD8+ T cells kill tumor cells or other cells that are infected. To do so, the CD8+ T cells must recognize certain molecules on the surface of the tumor or infected cells and bind to them. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transferred between individuals by mosquitoes. The parasite is able to evade the immune system—so much so that it is not well understood how the immune system tries to respond to stop the infection. This has made it difficult to develop a vaccine that protects against malaria. During the latter stages of a malaria infection, the parasite infects the host's red blood cells. It was long believed that CD8+ T cells did not help to eliminate the red blood cells that had been infected by Plasmodium. However, recent work in mice suggested that CD8+ T cells do respond to infected erythroblasts—precursor cells that develop into red blood cells—and that CD8+ T cells help protect mice against blood-stage malaria. Now, Imai et al. describe how the CD8+ T cells in mice help to kill erythroblasts infected with Plasmodium yoelli, a species of the parasite used to study malaria in mice. The infected cells display a protein called Fas on their surface. Imai et al. found that, during a malaria infection, the CD8+ T cells produce a protein that can interact with Fas. This interaction causes the infected cell to move a signaling molecule to its outside surface, which encourages another type of immune cell to engulf and destroy the infected cell. This knowledge of how CD8+ T cells fight Plasmodium parasites in the bloodstream could now help to develop new types of blood-stage vaccine for malaria. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04232.002

A simple calculation procedure for estimating absolute maximum slip displacement of a freestanding rigid body placed on the ground or floor of linear/nonlinear multi‐storey building during an earthquake is developed. The proposed procedure uses the displacement induced by the horizontal sinusoidal acceleration to approximate the absolute maximum slip displacement, i.e. the basic slip displacement. The amplitude of this horizontal sinusoidal acceleration is identical to either the peak horizontal ground acceleration or peak horizontal floor response acceleration. Its period meets the predominant period of the horizontal acceleration employed. The effects of vertical acceleration are considered to reduce the friction force monotonously. The root mean square value of the vertical acceleration at the peak horizontal acceleration is used. A mathematical solution of the basic slip displacement is presented. Employing over one hundred accelerograms, the absolute maximum slip displacements are computed and compared with the corresponding basic slip displacements. Their discrepancies are modelled by the logarithmic normal distribution regardless of the analytical conditions. The modification factor to the basic slip displacement is quantified based on the probability of the non‐exceedence of a certain threshold. Therefore, the product of the modification factor and the basic slip displacement gives the design slip displacement of the body as the maximum expected value. Since the place of the body and linear/nonlinear state of building make the modification factor slightly vary, ensuring it to suit the problem is essential to secure prediction accuracy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Among digestive organs, the liver and the large intestine are abundant in T cells expressing NK1.1. NK1.1 + T cells in the liver are mostly CD1d-dependent whereas those in the large intestine are CD1d-independent. In this study, we investigated the effects of Lactobacilli on NK1.1 + T cells in the digestive organs of mice. C57BL/6 mice were orally given a dietary supplement prepared from mixed cultures of eight strains of Lactobacilli. Oral administration of Lactobacilli to mice resulted in the selective expansion of NK1.1 + T cells in the large intestine. These colon NK1.1 + T cells activated by Lactobacilli were found to express IFN-γ mRNA. The level of IFN-γ in the serum was also elevated by the administration of Lactobacilli. Our results suggest that Lactobacilli selectively activate CD1d-independent NK1.1 + T cells in the large intestine to produce IFN-γ and therefore modulate Th1 immune responses.

This study proposes the use of a slice model consisting of a set of thin rectangular tanks for evaluating the masses of fluid contributing to the rocking motion of cylindrical tanks; the effective mass of fluid for rocking motion, that for rocking–bulging interaction, effective moment inertia of fluid for rocking motion and its centroid. They are mathematically or numerically quantified, normalized, tabulated, and depicted as functions of the aspect of tanks for different values of the ratio of the uplift width of the tank bottom plate to the diameter of tank for the designer's convenience.