Sample records for computer engineering ce

  1. Why so few women enroll in computing? Gender and ethnic differences in students' perception

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Varma, Roli

    2010-12-01

    Women are seriously under-represented in computer science and computer engineering (CS/CE) education and, thus, in the information technology (IT) workforce in the USA. This is a grim situation for both the women whose potential remains unutilized and the US society which is dependent on IT. This article examines the reasons behind low enrollment of women in CS/CE education at institutions of higher education. It is based on 150 in-depth interviews of female and male undergraduate students majoring in CS/CE, members of five major ethnic groups (White, Afro-American, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American) from seven Minority-Serving Institutions in the USA. The article finds bias in early socialization and anxiety toward technology as two main factors responsible for the under-representation of women in CS/CE education. It further shows significant gender and ethnic differences in students' responses on why so few women enroll in CS/CE.

  2. RFID-Based Multidisciplinary Educational Platform to Improve the Engineering and Technology Curriculums

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yelamarthi, Kumar

    2012-01-01

    Multidisciplinary projects involving electrical engineering (EE), mechanical engineering (ME), and computer engineering (CE) students are both exciting and difficult to conceptualize. Answering this challenge, this paper presents a multidisciplinary educational platform on radio frequency identification-based assistive devices. The combination of…

  3. Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element Method Being Developed

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chang, Sin-Chung; Himansu, Ananda; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.; Loh, Ching-Yuen; Wang, Xiao-Yen; Yu, Sheng-Tao

    1999-01-01

    The engineering research and design requirements of today pose great computer-simulation challenges to engineers and scientists who are called on to analyze phenomena in continuum mechanics. The future will bring even more daunting challenges, when increasingly complex phenomena must be analyzed with increased accuracy. Traditionally used numerical simulation methods have evolved to their present state by repeated incremental extensions to broaden their scope. They are reaching the limits of their applicability and will need to be radically revised, at the very least, to meet future simulation challenges. At the NASA Lewis Research Center, researchers have been developing a new numerical framework for solving conservation laws in continuum mechanics, namely, the Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element Method, or the CE/SE method. This method has been built from fundamentals and is not a modification of any previously existing method. It has been designed with generality, simplicity, robustness, and accuracy as cornerstones. The CE/SE method has thus far been applied in the fields of computational fluid dynamics, computational aeroacoustics, and computational electromagnetics. Computer programs based on the CE/SE method have been developed for calculating flows in one, two, and three spatial dimensions. Results have been obtained for numerous problems and phenomena, including various shock-tube problems, ZND detonation waves, an implosion and explosion problem, shocks over a forward-facing step, a blast wave discharging from a nozzle, various acoustic waves, and shock/acoustic-wave interactions. The method can clearly resolve shock/acoustic-wave interactions, wherein the difference of the magnitude between the acoustic wave and shock could be up to six orders. In two-dimensional flows, the reflected shock is as crisp as the leading shock. CE/SE schemes are currently being used for advanced applications to jet and fan noise prediction and to chemically reacting flows.

  4. Application of a Novel Collaboration Engineering Method for Learning Design: A Case Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cheng, Xusen; Li, Yuanyuan; Sun, Jianshan; Huang, Jianqing

    2016-01-01

    Collaborative case studies and computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) play an important role in the modern education environment. A number of researchers have given significant attention to learning design in order to improve the satisfaction of collaborative learning. Although collaboration engineering (CE) is a mature method widely…

  5. Why so Few Women Enroll in Computing? Gender and Ethnic Differences in Students' Perception

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Varma, Roli

    2010-01-01

    Women are seriously under-represented in computer science and computer engineering (CS/CE) education and, thus, in the information technology (IT) workforce in the USA. This is a grim situation for both the women whose potential remains unutilized and the US society which is dependent on IT. This article examines the reasons behind low enrollment…

  6. Review of Collaborative Tools for Planning and Engineering

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-10-01

    including PDAs) and Operating Systems 1 In general, should support laptops, desktops, Windows OS, Mac OS, Palm OS, Windows CE, Blackberry , Sun...better), voting (to establish operating parameters), reactor design, wind tunnel simulation Display same material on every computer, synchronisation

  7. Leveraging Leadership for Better Business: A Look at Civil Engineering in the Air Force

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1999-12-05

    What does it all mean ?" CE Quarterly Magazine article dated Winter 98 - "The Air Force Civil Engineer...Future" CE Quarterly Magazine article dated Winter 98 - "Civil Engineering Outsourcing: What does it all mean ?" CE Quarterly Magazine article dated...Engineering Outsourcing: What does it all mean ?" CE Quarterly Magazine article dated Winter 98 - "The Air Force Civil Engineer

  8. Intelligence Decision Support System for the Republic of Korea Army Engineer Operation.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-06-01

    34.:L;’:Ce mnechanism and prUnin2 -must be collected in a computer program for it to -’’, nroerlx escribed as possessing Artificial Intelligence (AI). [Ref...At84 128 INTELLIGENCE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE REPUBLIC I/i OF KOREA ARMY ENGINEER OPERATION(U) NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA C K...POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL q~J.00 ’Monterey, California THESIS INTELLIGENCE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ARMY ENGINEER OPERATION by Jang

  9. Digitalizing the Circular Economy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reuter, Markus A.

    2016-12-01

    Metallurgy is a key enabler of a circular economy (CE), its digitalization is the metallurgical Internet of Things (m-IoT). In short: Metallurgy is at the heart of a CE, as metals all have strong intrinsic recycling potentials. Process metallurgy, as a key enabler for a CE, will help much to deliver its goals. The first-principles models of process engineering help quantify the resource efficiency (RE) of the CE system, connecting all stakeholders via digitalization. This provides well-argued and first-principles environmental information to empower a tax paying consumer society, policy, legislators, and environmentalists. It provides the details of capital expenditure and operational expenditure estimates. Through this path, the opportunities and limits of a CE, recycling, and its technology can be estimated. The true boundaries of sustainability can be determined in addition to the techno-economic evaluation of RE. The integration of metallurgical reactor technology and systems digitally, not only on one site but linking different sites globally via hardware, is the basis for describing CE systems as dynamic feedback control loops, i.e., the m-IoT. It is the linkage of the global carrier metallurgical processing system infrastructure that maximizes the recovery of all minor and technology elements in its associated refining metallurgical infrastructure. This will be illustrated through the following: (1) System optimization models for multimetal metallurgical processing. These map large-scale m-IoT systems linked to computer-aided design tools of the original equipment manufacturers and then establish a recycling index through the quantification of RE. (2) Reactor optimization and industrial system solutions to realize the "CE (within a) Corporation—CEC," realizing the CE of society. (3) Real-time measurement of ore and scrap properties in intelligent plant structures, linked to the modeling, simulation, and optimization of industrial extractive process metallurgical reactors and plants for both primary and secondary materials processing. (4) Big-data analysis and process control of industrial metallurgical systems, processes, and reactors by the application of, among others, artificial intelligence techniques and computer-aided engineering. (5) Minerals processing and process metallurgical theory, technology, simulation, and analytical tools, which are all key enablers of the CE. (6) Visualizing the results of all the tools used for estimating the RE of the CE system in a form that the consumer and general public can understand. (7) The smart integration of tools and methods that quantify RE and deliver sustainable solutions, named in this article as circular economy engineering. In view of space limitations, this message will be colored in by various publications also with students and colleagues, referring to (often commercial) software that acts as a conduit to capture and formalize the research of the large body of work in the literature by distinguished metallurgical engineers and researchers and realized in innovative industrial solutions. The author stands humbly on the shoulders of these developments and their distinguished developers. This award lecture article implicitly also refers to work done while working for Ausmelt (Australia), Outotec (Finland and Australia), Mintek (South Africa), and Anglo American Corporation (South Africa), honoring the many colleagues the author has worked with over the years.

  10. Toward ethical norms and institutions for climate engineering research

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morrow, David R.; Kopp, Robert E.; Oppenheimer, Michael

    2009-10-01

    Climate engineering (CE), the intentional modification of the climate in order to reduce the effects of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, is sometimes touted as a potential response to climate change. Increasing interest in the topic has led to proposals for empirical tests of hypothesized CE techniques, which raise serious ethical concerns. We propose three ethical guidelines for CE researchers, derived from the ethics literature on research with human and animal subjects, applicable in the event that CE research progresses beyond computer modeling. The Principle of Respect requires that the scientific community secure the global public's consent, voiced through their governmental representatives, before beginning any empirical research. The Principle of Beneficence and Justice requires that researchers strive for a favorable risk-benefit ratio and a fair distribution of risks and anticipated benefits, all while protecting the basic rights of affected individuals. Finally, the Minimization Principle requires that researchers minimize the extent and intensity of each experiment by ensuring that no experiments last longer, cover a greater geographical extent, or have a greater impact on the climate, ecosystem, or human welfare than is necessary to test the specific hypotheses in question. Field experiments that might affect humans or ecosystems in significant ways should not proceed until a full discussion of the ethics of CE research occurs and appropriate institutions for regulating such experiments are established.

  11. Quality in physical therapist clinical education: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    McCallum, Christine A; Mosher, Peter D; Jacobson, Peri J; Gallivan, Sean P; Giuffre, Suzanne M

    2013-10-01

    Many factors affect student learning throughout the clinical education (CE) component of professional (entry-level) physical therapist education curricula. Physical therapist education programs (PTEPs) manage CE, yet the material and human resources required to provide CE are generally overseen by community-based physical therapist practices. The purposes of this systematic review were: (1) to examine how the construct of quality is defined in CE literature and (2) to determine the methodological rigor of the available evidence on quality in physical therapist CE. This study was a systematic review of English-language journals using the American Physical Therapy Association's Open Door Portal to Evidence-Based Practice as the computer search engine. The search was categorized using terms for physical therapy and quality and for CE pedagogy and models or roles. Summary findings were characterized by 5 primary themes and 14 subthemes using a qualitative-directed content analysis. Fifty-four articles were included in the study. The primary quality themes were: CE framework, CE sites, structure of CE, assessment in CE, and CE faculty. The methodological rigor of the studies was critically appraised using a binary system based on the McMaster appraisal tools. Scores ranged from 3 to 14. Publication bias and outcome reporting bias may be inherent limitations to the results. The review found inconclusive evidence about what constitutes quality or best practice for physical therapist CE. Five key constructs of CE were identified that, when aggregated, could construe quality.

  12. Thermal Analysis on Plume Heating of the Main Engine on the Crew Exploration Vehicle Service Module

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wang, Xiao-Yen J.; Yuko, James R.

    2007-01-01

    The crew exploration vehicle (CEV) service module (SM) main engine plume heating is analyzed using multiple numerical tools. The chemical equilibrium compositions and applications (CEA) code is used to compute the flow field inside the engine nozzle. The plume expansion into ambient atmosphere is simulated using an axisymmetric space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) Euler code, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. The thermal analysis including both convection and radiation heat transfers from the hot gas inside the engine nozzle and gas radiation from the plume is performed using Thermal Desktop. Three SM configurations, Lockheed Martin (LM) designed 604, 605, and 606 configurations, are considered. Design of multilayer insulation (MLI) for the stowed solar arrays, which is subject to plume heating from the main engine, among the passive thermal control system (PTCS), are proposed and validated.

  13. A new version of Scilab software package for the study of dynamical systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bordeianu, C. C.; Felea, D.; Beşliu, C.; Jipa, Al.; Grossu, I. V.

    2009-11-01

    This work presents a new version of a software package for the study of chaotic flows, maps and fractals [1]. The codes were written using Scilab, a software package for numerical computations providing a powerful open computing environment for engineering and scientific applications. It was found that Scilab provides various functions for ordinary differential equation solving, Fast Fourier Transform, autocorrelation, and excellent 2D and 3D graphical capabilities. The chaotic behaviors of the nonlinear dynamics systems were analyzed using phase-space maps, autocorrelation functions, power spectra, Lyapunov exponents and Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy. Various well-known examples are implemented, with the capability of the users inserting their own ODE or iterative equations. New version program summaryProgram title: Chaos v2.0 Catalogue identifier: AEAP_v2_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEAP_v2_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1275 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 7135 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Scilab 5.1.1. Scilab 5.1.1 should be installed before running the program. Information about the installation can be found at http://wiki.scilab.org/howto/install/windows. Computer: PC-compatible running Scilab on MS Windows or Linux Operating system: Windows XP, Linux RAM: below 150 Megabytes Classification: 6.2 Catalogue identifier of previous version: AEAP_v1_0 Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Comm. 178 (2008) 788 Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes Nature of problem: Any physical model containing linear or nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODE). Solution method: Numerical solving of ordinary differential equations for the study of chaotic flows. The chaotic behavior of the nonlinear dynamical system is analyzed using Poincare sections, phase-space maps, autocorrelation functions, power spectra, Lyapunov exponents and Kolmogorov-Sinai entropies. Numerical solving of iterative equations for the study of maps and fractals. Reasons for new version: The program has been updated to use the new version 5.1.1 of Scilab with new graphical capabilities [2]. Moreover, new use cases have been added which make the handling of the program easier and more efficient. Summary of revisions: A new use case concerning coupled predator-prey models has been added [3]. Three new use cases concerning fractals (Sierpinsky gasket, Barnsley's Fern and Tree) have been added [3]. The graphical user interface (GUI) of the program has been reconstructed to include the new use cases. The program has been updated to use Scilab 5.1.1 with the new graphical capabilities. Additional comments: The program package contains 12 subprograms. interface.sce - the graphical user interface (GUI) that permits the choice of a routine as follows 1.sci - Lorenz dynamical system 2.sci - Chua dynamical system 3.sci - Rosler dynamical system 4.sci - Henon map 5.sci - Lyapunov exponents for Lorenz dynamical system 6.sci - Lyapunov exponent for the logistic map 7.sci - Shannon entropy for the logistic map 8.sci - Coupled predator-prey model 1f.sci - Sierpinsky gasket 2f.sci - Barnsley's Fern 3f.sci - Barnsley's Tree Running time: 10 to 20 seconds for problems that do not involve Lyapunov exponents calculation; 60 to 1000 seconds for problems that involve high orders ODE, Lyapunov exponents calculation and fractals. References: C.C. Bordeianu, C. Besliu, Al. Jipa, D. Felea, I. V. Grossu, Comput. Phys. Comm. 178 (2008) 788. S. Campbell, J.P. Chancelier, R. Nikoukhah, Modeling and Simulation in Scilab/Scicos, Springer, 2006. R.H. Landau, M.J. Paez, C.C. Bordeianu, A Survey of Computational Physics, Introductory Computational Science, Princeton University Press, 2008.

  14. Student Activity and Profile Datasets from an Online Video-Based Collaborative Learning Experience

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Martín, Estefanía; Gértrudix, Manuel; Urquiza-Fuentes, Jaime; Haya, Pablo A.

    2015-01-01

    This paper describes two datasets extracted from a video-based educational experience using a social and collaborative platform. The length of the trial was 3 months. It involved 111 students from two different courses. Twenty-nine came from Computer Engineering (CE) course and 82 from Media and Communication (M&C) course. They were organised…

  15. Communication tips for clinical engineering.

    PubMed

    2013-06-01

    Regular communication between the clinical engineering department and the wider hospital community not only keeps other departments informed about CE activities, but also conveys the value that CE brings to the institution. We provide a list of topics and information that CE should consider conveying to various groups within the hospital.

  16. An Evaluation of the Potential Phototoxicity of CeO2 Nanoparticles in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells in-vitro

    EPA Science Inventory

    Cerium dioxide (CeO2) engineered nanoparticles (NP) are used as fuel-borne catalysts in off-road diesel engines, which can lead to exhaust emissions of respirable CeO2 NP. Other metal oxides may act as photo-catalysts which induce the generation of free radicals upon exposure to ...

  17. Computational methods for identifying miRNA sponge interactions.

    PubMed

    Le, Thuc Duy; Zhang, Junpeng; Liu, Lin; Li, Jiuyong

    2017-07-01

    Recent findings show that coding genes are not the only targets that miRNAs interact with. In fact, there is a pool of different RNAs competing with each other to attract miRNAs for interactions, thus acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). The ceRNAs indirectly regulate each other via the titration mechanism, i.e. the increasing concentration of a ceRNA will decrease the number of miRNAs that are available for interacting with other targets. The cross-talks between ceRNAs, i.e. their interactions mediated by miRNAs, have been identified as the drivers in many disease conditions, including cancers. In recent years, some computational methods have emerged for identifying ceRNA-ceRNA interactions. However, there remain great challenges and opportunities for developing computational methods to provide new insights into ceRNA regulatory mechanisms.In this paper, we review the publically available databases of ceRNA-ceRNA interactions and the computational methods for identifying ceRNA-ceRNA interactions (also known as miRNA sponge interactions). We also conduct a comparison study of the methods with a breast cancer dataset. Our aim is to provide a current snapshot of the advances of the computational methods in identifying miRNA sponge interactions and to discuss the remaining challenges. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  18. Continuing Education for Scientists and Engineers: Delivery Systems in North Carolina.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Harrell, Daniel E.; Gibbs, Rebecca F.

    Focusing on the continuing education (CE) of scientists/engineers in North Carolina working in small (1-500 employees), geographically dispersed companies, this study: 1) identified and described CE resources currently being used by scientists/engineers to maintain and extend their professional competence and capabilities; 2) determined the extent…

  19. Systematic review of computational methods for identifying miRNA-mediated RNA-RNA crosstalk.

    PubMed

    Li, Yongsheng; Jin, Xiyun; Wang, Zishan; Li, Lili; Chen, Hong; Lin, Xiaoyu; Yi, Song; Zhang, Yunpeng; Xu, Juan

    2017-10-25

    Posttranscriptional crosstalk and communication between RNAs yield large regulatory competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks via shared microRNAs (miRNAs), as well as miRNA synergistic networks. The ceRNA crosstalk represents a novel layer of gene regulation that controls both physiological and pathological processes such as development and complex diseases. The rapidly expanding catalogue of ceRNA regulation has provided evidence for exploitation as a general model to predict the ceRNAs in silico. In this article, we first reviewed the current progress of RNA-RNA crosstalk in human complex diseases. Then, the widely used computational methods for modeling ceRNA-ceRNA interaction networks are further summarized into five types: two types of global ceRNA regulation prediction methods and three types of context-specific prediction methods, which are based on miRNA-messenger RNA regulation alone, or by integrating heterogeneous data, respectively. To provide guidance in the computational prediction of ceRNA-ceRNA interactions, we finally performed a comparative study of different combinations of miRNA-target methods as well as five types of ceRNA identification methods by using literature-curated ceRNA regulation and gene perturbation. The results revealed that integration of different miRNA-target prediction methods and context-specific miRNA/gene expression profiles increased the performance for identifying ceRNA regulation. Moreover, different computational methods were complementary in identifying ceRNA regulation and captured different functional parts of similar pathways. We believe that the application of these computational techniques provides valuable functional insights into ceRNA regulation and is a crucial step for informing subsequent functional validation studies. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  20. Architecture Adaptive Computing Environment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dorband, John E.

    2006-01-01

    Architecture Adaptive Computing Environment (aCe) is a software system that includes a language, compiler, and run-time library for parallel computing. aCe was developed to enable programmers to write programs, more easily than was previously possible, for a variety of parallel computing architectures. Heretofore, it has been perceived to be difficult to write parallel programs for parallel computers and more difficult to port the programs to different parallel computing architectures. In contrast, aCe is supportable on all high-performance computing architectures. Currently, it is supported on LINUX clusters. aCe uses parallel programming constructs that facilitate writing of parallel programs. Such constructs were used in single-instruction/multiple-data (SIMD) programming languages of the 1980s, including Parallel Pascal, Parallel Forth, C*, *LISP, and MasPar MPL. In aCe, these constructs are extended and implemented for both SIMD and multiple- instruction/multiple-data (MIMD) architectures. Two new constructs incorporated in aCe are those of (1) scalar and virtual variables and (2) pre-computed paths. The scalar-and-virtual-variables construct increases flexibility in optimizing memory utilization in various architectures. The pre-computed-paths construct enables the compiler to pre-compute part of a communication operation once, rather than computing it every time the communication operation is performed.

  1. CE-ACCE: The Cloud Enabled Advanced sCience Compute Environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cinquini, L.; Freeborn, D. J.; Hardman, S. H.; Wong, C.

    2017-12-01

    Traditionally, Earth Science data from NASA remote sensing instruments has been processed by building custom data processing pipelines (often based on a common workflow engine or framework) which are typically deployed and run on an internal cluster of computing resources. This approach has some intrinsic limitations: it requires each mission to develop and deploy a custom software package on top of the adopted framework; it makes use of dedicated hardware, network and storage resources, which must be specifically purchased, maintained and re-purposed at mission completion; and computing services cannot be scaled on demand beyond the capability of the available servers.More recently, the rise of Cloud computing, coupled with other advances in containerization technology (most prominently, Docker) and micro-services architecture, has enabled a new paradigm, whereby space mission data can be processed through standard system architectures, which can be seamlessly deployed and scaled on demand on either on-premise clusters, or commercial Cloud providers. In this talk, we will present one such architecture named CE-ACCE ("Cloud Enabled Advanced sCience Compute Environment"), which we have been developing at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory over the past year. CE-ACCE is based on the Apache OODT ("Object Oriented Data Technology") suite of services for full data lifecycle management, which are turned into a composable array of Docker images, and complemented by a plug-in model for mission-specific customization. We have applied this infrastructure to both flying and upcoming NASA missions, such as ECOSTRESS and SMAP, and demonstrated deployment on the Amazon Cloud, either using simple EC2 instances, or advanced AWS services such as Amazon Lambda and ECS (EC2 Container Services).

  2. Educational initiative for EE/RE engineering skills: Solar Two student interns. Final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Norbeck, J.M.

    1997-07-01

    The US Department of Energy sponsored five student interns from the University of California, Riverside, College of Engineering to work during the summer of 1996 at the Solar Two Energy facility in the Mojave Desert. Through the DOE intern program, engineering students supported the Solar Two Project under the supervision of engineers from Southern California Edison. The prime purpose was to provide outreach and educational support for expanding interactions with university students to increase awareness of careers in renewable energy and energy efficiency fields. The College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) coordinated this project. CE-CERT is primarilymore » a research facility focusing on air pollution and energy efficiency. CE-CERT serves undergraduate and graduate students by employing them on research projects, supporting them in the research and experimentation required for Senior Design Projects, and sponsoring them in student engineering competitions.« less

  3. A minimum cost tolerance allocation method for rocket engines and robust rocket engine design

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gerth, Richard J.

    1993-01-01

    Rocket engine design follows three phases: systems design, parameter design, and tolerance design. Systems design and parameter design are most effectively conducted in a concurrent engineering (CE) environment that utilize methods such as Quality Function Deployment and Taguchi methods. However, tolerance allocation remains an art driven by experience, handbooks, and rules of thumb. It was desirable to develop and optimization approach to tolerancing. The case study engine was the STME gas generator cycle. The design of the major components had been completed and the functional relationship between the component tolerances and system performance had been computed using the Generic Power Balance model. The system performance nominals (thrust, MR, and Isp) and tolerances were already specified, as were an initial set of component tolerances. However, the question was whether there existed an optimal combination of tolerances that would result in the minimum cost without any degradation in system performance.

  4. Model-Driven Development for scientific computing. An upgrade of the RHEEDGr program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daniluk, Andrzej

    2009-11-01

    Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is the software engineering discipline, which considers models as the most important element for software development, and for the maintenance and evolution of software, through model transformation. Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) is the approach for software development under the Model-Driven Engineering framework. This paper surveys the core MDA technology that was used to upgrade of the RHEEDGR program to C++0x language standards. New version program summaryProgram title: RHEEDGR-09 Catalogue identifier: ADUY_v3_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADUY_v3_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 21 263 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 266 982 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Code Gear C++ Builder Computer: Intel Core Duo-based PC Operating system: Windows XP, Vista, 7 RAM: more than 1 MB Classification: 4.3, 7.2, 6.2, 8, 14 Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes Nature of problem: Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) is a very useful technique for studying growth and surface analysis of thin epitaxial structures prepared by the Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE). The RHEED technique can reveal, almost instantaneously, changes either in the coverage of the sample surface by adsorbates or in the surface structure of a thin film. Solution method: The calculations are based on the use of a dynamical diffraction theory in which the electrons are taken to be diffracted by a potential, which is periodic in the dimension perpendicular to the surface. Reasons for new version: Responding to the user feedback the graphical version of the RHEED program has been upgraded to C++0x language standards. Also, functionality and documentation of the program have been improved. Summary of revisions: Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) is the approach defined by the Object Management Group (OMG) for software development under the Model-Driven Engineering framework [1]. The MDA approach shifts the focus of software development from writing code to building models. By adapting a model-centric approach, the MDA approach hopes to automate the generation of system implementation artifacts directly from the model. The following three models are the core of the MDA: (i) the Computation Independent Model (CIM), which is focused on basic requirements of the system, (ii) the Platform Independent Model (PIM), which is used by software architects and designers, and is focused on the operational capabilities of a system outside the context of a specific platform, and (iii) the Platform Specific Model (PSM), which is used by software developers and programmers, and includes details relating to the system for a specific platform. Basic requirements for the calculation of the RHEED intensity rocking curves in the one-beam condition have been described in Ref. [2]. Fig. 1 shows the PIM for the present version of the program. Fig. 2 presents the PSM for the program. The TGraph2D.bpk package has been recompiled to Graph2D0x.bpl and upgraded according to C++0x language standards. Fig. 3 shows the PSM of the Graph2D component, which is manifested by the Graph2D0x.bpl package presently. This diagram is a graphic presentation of the static view, which shows a collection of declarative model elements and their relationships. Installation instructions of the Graph2D0x package can be found in the new distribution. The program requires the user to provide the appropriate parameters for the crystal structure under investigation. These parameters are loaded from the parameters.ini file at run-time. Instructions for the preparation of the .ini files can be found in the new distribution. The program enables carrying out one-dimensional dynamical calculations for the fcc lattice, with a two-atoms basis and fcc lattice, with one atom basis but yet the zeroth Fourier component of the scattering potential in the TRHEED1D::crystPotUg() function can be modified according to users' specific application requirements. A graphical user interface (GUI) for the program has been reconstructed. The program has been compiled with English/USA regional and language options. Unusual features: The program is distributed in the form of main projects RHEEDGr_09.cbproj and Graph2D0x.cbproj with associated files, and should be compiled using Code Gear C++ Builder 2009 compilers. Running time: The typical running time is machine and user-parameters dependent. References: OMG, Model Driven Architecture Guide Version 1.0.1, 2003, http://www.omg.org/cgi-bin/doc?omg/03-06-01. A. Daniluk, Comput. Phys. Comm. 166 (2005) 123.

  5. Architectural Guidelines for Multimedia and Hypermedia Data Interchange: Computer Aided Acquisition and Logistics Support/Concurrent Engineering (CALS/ CE) and Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data Interchange (EC/EDI)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-09-01

    other networks . 69 For example, E-mail can be sent to an SNA network through a Softswitch gateway, but at a very slow rate. As discussed in Chapter III...10 6. Communication Protocols ..................... 10 D. NEW INFRASTRUCTURES ....................... 11 1. CALS Test Network (CTN...11 2. Industrial Networks ......................... 12 3. FTS-2000 and ISDN ........................ 12 4. CALS Operational Resource

  6. Concurrent and Collaborative Engineering Implementation in an R and D Organization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    DelRosario, Ruben; Davis, Jose M.; Keys, L. Ken

    2003-01-01

    Concurrent Engineering (CE), and Collaborative Engineering (or Collaborative Product Development - CPD) have emerged as new paradigms with significant impact in the development of new products and processes. With documented and substantiated success in the automotive and technology industries CE and, most recently, CPD are being touted as innovative management philosophies for many other business sectors including Research and De- velopment. This paper introduces two independent research initiatives conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio investigating the application of CE and CPD in an RdiD environment. Since little research has been conducted in the use of CE and CPD in sectors other than the high mass production manufacturing, the objective of these independent studies is to provide a systematic evaluation of the applicability of these paradigms (concur- rent and collaborative) in a low/no production, service environment, in particular R&D.

  7. A parallel metaheuristic for large mixed-integer dynamic optimization problems, with applications in computational biology

    PubMed Central

    Henriques, David; González, Patricia; Doallo, Ramón; Saez-Rodriguez, Julio; Banga, Julio R.

    2017-01-01

    Background We consider a general class of global optimization problems dealing with nonlinear dynamic models. Although this class is relevant to many areas of science and engineering, here we are interested in applying this framework to the reverse engineering problem in computational systems biology, which yields very large mixed-integer dynamic optimization (MIDO) problems. In particular, we consider the framework of logic-based ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Methods We present saCeSS2, a parallel method for the solution of this class of problems. This method is based on an parallel cooperative scatter search metaheuristic, with new mechanisms of self-adaptation and specific extensions to handle large mixed-integer problems. We have paid special attention to the avoidance of convergence stagnation using adaptive cooperation strategies tailored to this class of problems. Results We illustrate its performance with a set of three very challenging case studies from the domain of dynamic modelling of cell signaling. The simpler case study considers a synthetic signaling pathway and has 84 continuous and 34 binary decision variables. A second case study considers the dynamic modeling of signaling in liver cancer using high-throughput data, and has 135 continuous and 109 binaries decision variables. The third case study is an extremely difficult problem related with breast cancer, involving 690 continuous and 138 binary decision variables. We report computational results obtained in different infrastructures, including a local cluster, a large supercomputer and a public cloud platform. Interestingly, the results show how the cooperation of individual parallel searches modifies the systemic properties of the sequential algorithm, achieving superlinear speedups compared to an individual search (e.g. speedups of 15 with 10 cores), and significantly improving (above a 60%) the performance with respect to a non-cooperative parallel scheme. The scalability of the method is also good (tests were performed using up to 300 cores). Conclusions These results demonstrate that saCeSS2 can be used to successfully reverse engineer large dynamic models of complex biological pathways. Further, these results open up new possibilities for other MIDO-based large-scale applications in the life sciences such as metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, drug scheduling. PMID:28813442

  8. A parallel metaheuristic for large mixed-integer dynamic optimization problems, with applications in computational biology.

    PubMed

    Penas, David R; Henriques, David; González, Patricia; Doallo, Ramón; Saez-Rodriguez, Julio; Banga, Julio R

    2017-01-01

    We consider a general class of global optimization problems dealing with nonlinear dynamic models. Although this class is relevant to many areas of science and engineering, here we are interested in applying this framework to the reverse engineering problem in computational systems biology, which yields very large mixed-integer dynamic optimization (MIDO) problems. In particular, we consider the framework of logic-based ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We present saCeSS2, a parallel method for the solution of this class of problems. This method is based on an parallel cooperative scatter search metaheuristic, with new mechanisms of self-adaptation and specific extensions to handle large mixed-integer problems. We have paid special attention to the avoidance of convergence stagnation using adaptive cooperation strategies tailored to this class of problems. We illustrate its performance with a set of three very challenging case studies from the domain of dynamic modelling of cell signaling. The simpler case study considers a synthetic signaling pathway and has 84 continuous and 34 binary decision variables. A second case study considers the dynamic modeling of signaling in liver cancer using high-throughput data, and has 135 continuous and 109 binaries decision variables. The third case study is an extremely difficult problem related with breast cancer, involving 690 continuous and 138 binary decision variables. We report computational results obtained in different infrastructures, including a local cluster, a large supercomputer and a public cloud platform. Interestingly, the results show how the cooperation of individual parallel searches modifies the systemic properties of the sequential algorithm, achieving superlinear speedups compared to an individual search (e.g. speedups of 15 with 10 cores), and significantly improving (above a 60%) the performance with respect to a non-cooperative parallel scheme. The scalability of the method is also good (tests were performed using up to 300 cores). These results demonstrate that saCeSS2 can be used to successfully reverse engineer large dynamic models of complex biological pathways. Further, these results open up new possibilities for other MIDO-based large-scale applications in the life sciences such as metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, drug scheduling.

  9. Resistive oxygen sensor using ceria-zirconia sensor material and ceria-yttria temperature compensating material for lean-burn engine.

    PubMed

    Izu, Noriya; Nishizaki, Sayaka; Shin, Woosuck; Itoh, Toshio; Nishibori, Maiko; Matsubara, Ichiro

    2009-01-01

    Temperature compensating materials were investigated for a resistive oxygen sensor using Ce(0.9)Zr(0.1)O(2) as a sensor material for lean-burn engines. The temperature dependence of a temperature compensating material should be the same as the sensor material; therefore, the Y concentration in CeO(2)-Y(2)O(3) was optimized. The resistance of Ce(0.5)Y(0.5)O(2-δ) was independent of the air-to-fuel ratio (oxygen partial pressure), so that it was confirmed to function as a temperature compensating material. Sensor elements comprised of Ce(0.9)Zr(0.1)O(2) and Ce(0.5)Y(0.5)O(2-δ) were fabricated and the output was determined to be approximately independent of the temperature in the wide range from 773 to 1,073 K.

  10. Impact of workstations on criticality analyses at ABB combustion engineering

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tarko, L.B.; Freeman, R.S.; O'Donnell, P.F.

    1993-01-01

    During 1991, ABB Combustion Engineering (ABB C-E) made the transition from a CDC Cyber 990 mainframe for nuclear criticality safety analyses to Hewlett Packard (HP)/Apollo workstations. The primary motivation for this change was improved economics of the workstation and maintaining state-of-the-art technology. The Cyber 990 utilized the NOS operating system with a 60-bit word size. The CPU memory size was limited to 131 100 words of directly addressable memory with an extended 250000 words available. The Apollo workstation environment at ABB consists of HP/Apollo-9000/400 series desktop units used by most application engineers, networked with HP/Apollo DN10000 platforms that use 32-bitmore » word size and function as the computer servers and network administrative CPUS, providing a virtual memory system.« less

  11. GLAD: a system for developing and deploying large-scale bioinformatics grid.

    PubMed

    Teo, Yong-Meng; Wang, Xianbing; Ng, Yew-Kwong

    2005-03-01

    Grid computing is used to solve large-scale bioinformatics problems with gigabytes database by distributing the computation across multiple platforms. Until now in developing bioinformatics grid applications, it is extremely tedious to design and implement the component algorithms and parallelization techniques for different classes of problems, and to access remotely located sequence database files of varying formats across the grid. In this study, we propose a grid programming toolkit, GLAD (Grid Life sciences Applications Developer), which facilitates the development and deployment of bioinformatics applications on a grid. GLAD has been developed using ALiCE (Adaptive scaLable Internet-based Computing Engine), a Java-based grid middleware, which exploits the task-based parallelism. Two bioinformatics benchmark applications, such as distributed sequence comparison and distributed progressive multiple sequence alignment, have been developed using GLAD.

  12. Engineering from the Sea: Establishing How Australian Army Engineers Fit into Australia’s Amphibious Concept

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-03-16

    as a Geospatial Technician ( Geotech ). Specialist ( 4) TpHQ (1:4) Manning: 1 Offr : 45 Enlisted EODDet (2) Lane metres: 127.0 2xEDDteams Plus: I I...CAPT and Geotech with CT HQ I I I I L CE Sect- Mech (0:10) CE Sect- Mech (0:10) CE Sect - Light (0:8) Support Sect (0:9) M113AS4 Armoured...such as asbestos. An RAE Captain is included in the JTF Headquarters, as well as a Geotech . It is also more than likely that a technically qualified

  13. A comparison of three Ni-Ti rotary instruments in apical transportation.

    PubMed

    Javaheri, Homan Hossein; Javaheri, Ghasem Hossein

    2007-03-01

    The purpose of this study was to compare apical transportation and changes in canal curvature of three nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary instruments: Hero 642, RaCe, and ProTaper. Mesiobuccal canals of 60 maxillary first molars (with angles of curvature between 25 degrees and 35 degrees) were prepared with a torque-control, low-speed engine. Canals were prepared using the crown-down technique to the size of #30. Using a radiographic platform, reproducible preinstrumentation and postinstrumentation radiographs were taken. A computer analysis allowed magnification and superimposition of the images. The central axes of initial and final instruments were radiographically superimposed to measure transportation at 1 mm from WL. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. A statistically significant difference in apical transportation was found in ProTaper group. The results suggest that ProTaper file system be implemented in combination with other less tapered more flexible systems, like RaCe, in preparing curved canals.

  14. Exposure of agricultural crops to nanoparticle CeO2 in biochar-amended soil.

    PubMed

    Servin, Alia D; De la Torre-Roche, Roberto; Castillo-Michel, Hiram; Pagano, Luca; Hawthorne, Joseph; Musante, Craig; Pignatello, Joseph; Uchimiya, Minori; White, Jason C

    2017-01-01

    Biochar is seeing increased usage as an amendment in agricultural soils but the significance of nanoscale interactions between this additive and engineered nanoparticles (ENP) remains unknown. Corn, lettuce, soybean and zucchini were grown for 28 d in two different soils (agricultural, residential) amended with 0-2000 mg engineered nanoparticle (ENP) CeO 2  kg -1 and biochar (350 °C or 600 °C) at application rates of 0-5% (w/w). At harvest, plants were analyzed for biomass, Ce content, chlorophyll and lipid peroxidation. Biomass from the four species grown in residential soil varied with species and biochar type. However, biomass in the agricultural soil amended with biochar 600 °C was largely unaffected. Biochar co-exposure had minimal impact on Ce accumulation, with reduced or increased Ce content occurring at the highest (5%) biochar level. Soil-specific and biochar-specific effects on Ce accumulation were observed in the four species. For example, zucchini grown in agricultural soil with 2000 mg CeO 2  kg -1 and 350 °C biochar (0.5-5%) accumulated greater Ce than the control. However, for the 600 °C biochar, the opposite effect was evident, with decreased Ce content as biochar increased. A principal component analysis showed that biochar type accounted for 56-99% of the variance in chlorophyll and lipid peroxidation across the plants. SEM and μ-XRF showed Ce association with specific biochar and soil components, while μ-XANES analysis confirmed that after 28 d in soil, the Ce remained largely as CeO 2 . The current study demonstrates that biochar synthesis conditions significantly impact interactions with ENP, with subsequent effects on particle fate and effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  15. Engineering the defect state and reducibility of ceria based nanoparticles for improved anti-oxidation performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Yan-Jie; Dong, Hao; Lyu, Guang-Ming; Zhang, Huai-Yuan; Ke, Jun; Kang, Li-Qun; Teng, Jia-Li; Sun, Ling-Dong; Si, Rui; Zhang, Jing; Liu, Yan-Jun; Zhang, Ya-Wen; Huang, Yun-Hui; Yan, Chun-Hua

    2015-08-01

    Due to their excellent anti-oxidation performance, CeO2 nanoparticles receive wide attention in pharmacological application. Deep understanding of the anti-oxidation mechanism of CeO2 nanoparticles is extremely important to develop potent CeO2 nanomaterials for anti-oxidation application. Here, we report a detailed study on the anti-oxidation process of CeO2 nanoparticles. The valence state and coordination structure of Ce are characterized before and after the addition of H2O2 to understand the anti-oxidation mechanism of CeO2 nanoparticles. Adsorbed peroxide species are detected during the anti-oxidation process, which are responsible for the red-shifted UV-vis absorption spectra of CeO2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, the coordination number of Ce in the first coordination shell slightly increased after the addition of H2O2. On the basis of these experimental results, the reactivity of coordination sites for peroxide species is considered to play a key role in the anti-oxidation performance of CeO2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, we present a robust method to engineer the anti-oxidation performance of CeO2 nanoparticles through the modification of the defect state and reducibility by doping with Gd3+. Improved anti-oxidation performance is also observed in cell culture, where the biocompatible CeO2-based nanoparticles can protect INS-1 cells from oxidative stress induced by H2O2, suggesting the potential application of CeO2 nanoparticles in the treatment of diabetes.Due to their excellent anti-oxidation performance, CeO2 nanoparticles receive wide attention in pharmacological application. Deep understanding of the anti-oxidation mechanism of CeO2 nanoparticles is extremely important to develop potent CeO2 nanomaterials for anti-oxidation application. Here, we report a detailed study on the anti-oxidation process of CeO2 nanoparticles. The valence state and coordination structure of Ce are characterized before and after the addition of H2O2 to understand the anti-oxidation mechanism of CeO2 nanoparticles. Adsorbed peroxide species are detected during the anti-oxidation process, which are responsible for the red-shifted UV-vis absorption spectra of CeO2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, the coordination number of Ce in the first coordination shell slightly increased after the addition of H2O2. On the basis of these experimental results, the reactivity of coordination sites for peroxide species is considered to play a key role in the anti-oxidation performance of CeO2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, we present a robust method to engineer the anti-oxidation performance of CeO2 nanoparticles through the modification of the defect state and reducibility by doping with Gd3+. Improved anti-oxidation performance is also observed in cell culture, where the biocompatible CeO2-based nanoparticles can protect INS-1 cells from oxidative stress induced by H2O2, suggesting the potential application of CeO2 nanoparticles in the treatment of diabetes. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Size distribution of prepared CeO2-based NPs, HRTEM of prepared CeO2-based NPs, XPS analysis of prepared CeO2-based NPs, EELS analysis of prepared CeO2-based NPs, TG curves and FT-IR spectra of CeO2-based NPs, XANES spectra of CeO2 NPs during the reaction with H2O2, Raman spectrum of CeO2 NPs during the reaction with H2O2 for the second and third cycle, ESR analysis during the reaction, the red shift of UV-vis spectra of CeO2-based NPs after the addition of H2O2, H2-TPR test of CeO2 and CeO2:20%Gd NPs, In vitro cytotoxicity of CeO2-based NPs in INS-1 cells. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr02588e

  16. GAP Noise Computation By The CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loh, Ching Y.; Chang, Sin-Chung; Wang, Xiao Y.; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.

    2001-01-01

    A typical gap noise problem is considered in this paper using the new space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method. Implementation of the computation is straightforward. No turbulence model, LES (large eddy simulation) or a preset boundary layer profile is used, yet the computed frequency agrees well with the experimental one.

  17. Using OSG Computing Resources with (iLC)Dirac

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sailer, A.; Petric, M.; CLICdp Collaboration

    2017-10-01

    CPU cycles for small experiments and projects can be scarce, thus making use of all available resources, whether dedicated or opportunistic, is mandatory. While enabling uniform access to the LCG computing elements (ARC, CREAM), the DIRAC grid interware was not able to use OSG computing elements (GlobusCE, HTCondor-CE) without dedicated support at the grid site through so called ‘SiteDirectors’, which directly submit to the local batch system. This in turn requires additional dedicated effort for small experiments on the grid site. Adding interfaces to the OSG CEs through the respective grid middleware is therefore allowing accessing them within the DIRAC software without additional site-specific infrastructure. This enables greater use of opportunistic resources for experiments and projects without dedicated clusters or an established computing infrastructure with the DIRAC software. To allow sending jobs to HTCondor-CE and legacy Globus computing elements inside DIRAC the required wrapper classes were developed. Not only is the usage of these types of computing elements now completely transparent for all DIRAC instances, which makes DIRAC a flexible solution for OSG based virtual organisations, but it also allows LCG Grid Sites to move to the HTCondor-CE software, without shutting DIRAC based VOs out of their site. In these proceedings we detail how we interfaced the DIRAC system to the HTCondor-CE and Globus computing elements and explain the encountered obstacles and solutions developed, and how the linear collider community uses resources in the OSG.

  18. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wade C. Adams

    From the mid-1950s until mid-2000, the Combustion Engineering, Inc. (CE) site in Windsor, Connecticut (Figure A-1) was involved in the research, development, engineering, production, and servicing of nuclear fuels, systems, and services. The site is currently undergoing decommissioning that will lead to license termination and unrestricted release in accordance with the requirements of the License Termination Rule in 10 CFR Part 20, Subpart E. Asea Brown Boveri Incorporated (ABB) has been decommissioning the CE site since 2001.

  19. Origin of improved scintillation efficiency in (Lu,Gd)3(Ga,Al)5O12:Ce multicomponent garnets: An X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Yuntao; Luo, Jialiang; Nikl, Martin; Ren, Guohao

    2014-01-01

    In the recent successful improvement of scintillation efficiency in Lu3Al5O12:Ce driven by Ga3+ and Gd3+ admixture, the "band-gap engineering" and energy level positioning have been considered the valid strategies so far. This study revealed that this improvement was also associated with the cerium valence instability along with the changes of chemical composition. By utilizing X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy technique, tuning the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio by Ga3+ admixture was evidenced, while it was kept nearly stable with the Gd3+ admixture. Ce valence instability and Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio in multicomponent garnets can be driven by the energy separation between 4f ground state of Ce3+ and Fermi level.

  20. Quantifying and Comparing Effects of Climate Engineering Methods on the Earth System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sonntag, Sebastian; Ferrer González, Miriam; Ilyina, Tatiana; Kracher, Daniela; Nabel, Julia E. M. S.; Niemeier, Ulrike; Pongratz, Julia; Reick, Christian H.; Schmidt, Hauke

    2018-02-01

    To contribute to a quantitative comparison of climate engineering (CE) methods, we assess atmosphere-, ocean-, and land-based CE measures with respect to Earth system effects consistently within one comprehensive model. We use the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM) with prognostic carbon cycle to compare solar radiation management (SRM) by stratospheric sulfur injection and two carbon dioxide removal methods: afforestation and ocean alkalinization. The CE model experiments are designed to offset the effect of fossil-fuel burning on global mean surface air temperature under the RCP8.5 scenario to follow or get closer to the RCP4.5 scenario. Our results show the importance of feedbacks in the CE effects. For example, as a response to SRM the land carbon uptake is enhanced by 92 Gt by the year 2100 compared to the reference RCP8.5 scenario due to reduced soil respiration thus reducing atmospheric CO2. Furthermore, we show that normalizations allow for a better comparability of different CE methods. For example, we find that due to compensating processes such as biogeophysical effects of afforestation more carbon needs to be removed from the atmosphere by afforestation than by alkalinization to reach the same global warming reduction. Overall, we illustrate how different CE methods affect the components of the Earth system; we identify challenges arising in a CE comparison, and thereby contribute to developing a framework for a comparative assessment of CE.

  1. The Use of a Binary Composite Endpoint and Sample Size Requirement: Influence of Endpoints Overlap.

    PubMed

    Marsal, Josep-Ramon; Ferreira-González, Ignacio; Bertran, Sandra; Ribera, Aida; Permanyer-Miralda, Gaietà; García-Dorado, David; Gómez, Guadalupe

    2017-05-01

    Although composite endpoints (CE) are common in clinical trials, the impact of the relationship between the components of a binary CE on the sample size requirement (SSR) has not been addressed. We performed a computational study considering 2 treatments and a CE with 2 components: the relevant endpoint (RE) and the additional endpoint (AE). We assessed the strength of the components' interrelation by the degree of relative overlap between them, which was stratified into 5 groups. Within each stratum, SSR was computed for multiple scenarios by varying the events proportion and the effect of the therapy. A lower SSR using CE was defined as the best scenario for using the CE. In 25 of 66 scenarios the degree of relative overlap determined the benefit of using CE instead of the RE. Adding an AE with greater effect than the RE leads to lower SSR using the CE regardless of the AE proportion and the relative overlap. The influence of overlapping decreases when the effect on RE increases. Adding an AE with lower effect than the RE constitutes the most uncertain situation. In summary, the interrelationship between CE components, assessed by the relative overlap, can help to define the SSR in specific situations and it should be considered for SSR computation. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  2. Concurrent Engineering for the Management of Research and Development

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    DelRosario, Ruben; Petersen, Paul F.; Keys, L. Ken; Chen, Injazz J.

    2004-01-01

    The Management of Research and Development (R&D) is facing the challenges of reducing time from R&D to customer, reducing the cost of R&D, having higher accountability for results (improved quality), and increasing focus on customers. Concurrent engineering (CE) has shown great success in the automotive and technology industries resulting in significant decreases in cycle time, reduction of total cost, and increases in quality and reliability. This philosophy of concurrency can have similar implications or benefits for the management of R&D organizations. Since most studies on the application of CE have been performed in manufacturing environments, research into the benefits of CE into other environments is needed. This paper presents research conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) investigating the application of CE in the management of an R&D organization. In particular the paper emphasizes possible barriers and enhancers that this environment presents to the successful implementation of CE. Preliminary results and recommendations are based on a series of interviews and subsequent surveys, from which data has been gathered and analyzed as part of the GRC's Continuous Improvement Process.

  3. Architecture-Adaptive Computing Environment: A Tool for Teaching Parallel Programming

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dorband, John E.; Aburdene, Maurice F.

    2002-01-01

    Recently, networked and cluster computation have become very popular. This paper is an introduction to a new C based parallel language for architecture-adaptive programming, aCe C. The primary purpose of aCe (Architecture-adaptive Computing Environment) is to encourage programmers to implement applications on parallel architectures by providing them the assurance that future architectures will be able to run their applications with a minimum of modification. A secondary purpose is to encourage computer architects to develop new types of architectures by providing an easily implemented software development environment and a library of test applications. This new language should be an ideal tool to teach parallel programming. In this paper, we will focus on some fundamental features of aCe C.

  4. A Virtual Mission Operations Center: Collaborative Environment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Medina, Barbara; Bussman, Marie; Obenschain, Arthur F. (Technical Monitor)

    2002-01-01

    The Virtual Mission Operations Center - Collaborative Environment (VMOC-CE) intent is to have a central access point for all the resources used in a collaborative mission operations environment to assist mission operators in communicating on-site and off-site in the investigation and resolution of anomalies. It is a framework that as a minimum incorporates online chat, realtime file sharing and remote application sharing components in one central location. The use of a collaborative environment in mission operations opens up the possibilities for a central framework for other project members to access and interact with mission operations staff remotely. The goal of the Virtual Mission Operations Center (VMOC) Project is to identify, develop, and infuse technology to enable mission control by on-call personnel in geographically dispersed locations. In order to achieve this goal, the following capabilities are needed: Autonomous mission control systems Automated systems to contact on-call personnel Synthesis and presentation of mission control status and history information Desktop tools for data and situation analysis Secure mechanism for remote collaboration commanding Collaborative environment for remote cooperative work The VMOC-CE is a collaborative environment that facilitates remote cooperative work. It is an application instance of the Virtual System Design Environment (VSDE), developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Systems Engineering Services & Advanced Concepts (SESAC) Branch. The VSDE is a web-based portal that includes a knowledge repository and collaborative environment to serve science and engineering teams in product development. It is a "one stop shop" for product design, providing users real-time access to product development data, engineering and management tools, and relevant design specifications and resources through the Internet. The initial focus of the VSDE has been to serve teams working in the early portion of the system/product lifecycle - concept development, proposal preparation, and formulation. The VMOC-CE expands the application of the VSDE into the operations portion of the system lifecycle. It will enable meaningful and real-time collaboration regardless of the geographical distribution of project team members. Team members will be able to interact in satellite operations, specifically for resolving anomalies, through access to a desktop computer and the Internet. Mission Operations Management will be able to participate and monitor up to the minute status of anomalies or other mission operations issues. In this paper we present the VMOC-CE project, system capabilities, and technologies.

  5. An SNMP-based solution to enable remote ISO/IEEE 11073 technical management.

    PubMed

    Lasierra, Nelia; Alesanco, Alvaro; García, José

    2012-07-01

    This paper presents the design and implementation of an architecture based on the integration of simple network management protocol version 3 (SNMPv3) and the standard ISO/IEEE 11073 (X73) to manage technical information in home-based telemonitoring scenarios. This architecture includes the development of an SNMPv3-proxyX73 agent which comprises a management information base (MIB) module adapted to X73. In the proposed scenario, medical devices (MDs) send information to a concentrator device [designated as compute engine (CE)] using the X73 standard. This information together with extra information collected in the CE is stored in the developed MIB. Finally, the information collected is available for remote access via SNMP connection. Moreover, alarms and events can be configured by an external manager in order to provide warnings of irregularities in the MDs' technical performance evaluation. This proposed SNMPv3 agent provides a solution to integrate and unify technical device management in home-based telemonitoring scenarios fully adapted to X73.

  6. Direct Air Capture of CO2 - an Overview of Carbon Engineering's Technology and Pilot Plant Development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holmes, G.; Corless, A.

    2014-12-01

    At Carbon Engineering, we are developing and commercializing technology to scrub CO2 directly from atmospheric air at industrial scale. By providing atmospheric CO2 for use in fuel production, we can enable production of transportation fuels with ultra-low carbon intensities, which command price premiums in the growing set of constrained fuels markets such as California's LCFS. We are a Calgary based startup founded in 2009 with 10 employees, and we are considered a global leader in the direct air capture (DAC) field. We will review CE's DAC technology, based on a wet-scrubbing "air contactor" which absorbs CO2 into aqueous solution, and a chemical looping "regeneration" component, which liberates pure CO2 from this aqueous solution while re-making the original absorption chemical. CE's DAC tecnology exports purified atmospheric CO2, combined with the combustion CO2 from plant energy usage, as the end product. We will also discuss CE's 2014-2015 end-to-end Pilot Demonstration Unit. This is a $7M technology demonstration plant that CE is building with the help of key industrial partners and equipment vendors. Vendor design and engineering requirements have been used to specify the pilot air contactor, pellet reactor, calciner, and slaker modules, as well as auxiliary systems. These modules will be run for several months to obtain the engineering and performance data needed for subsequent commercial plant design, as well as to test the residual integration risks associated with CE's process. By the time of the AGU conference, the pilot is expected to be in late stages of fabrication or early stages of site installation.

  7. Knowledge Management tools integration within DLR's concurrent engineering facility

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lopez, R. P.; Soragavi, G.; Deshmukh, M.; Ludtke, D.

    The complexity of space endeavors has increased the need for Knowledge Management (KM) tools. The concept of KM involves not only the electronic storage of knowledge, but also the process of making this knowledge available, reusable and traceable. Establishing a KM concept within the Concurrent Engineering Facility (CEF) has been a research topic of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). This paper presents the current KM tools of the CEF: the Software Platform for Organizing and Capturing Knowledge (S.P.O.C.K.), the data model Virtual Satellite (VirSat), and the Simulation Model Library (SimMoLib), and how their usage improved the Concurrent Engineering (CE) process. This paper also exposes the lessons learned from the introduction of KM practices into the CEF and elaborates a roadmap for the further development of KM in CE activities at DLR. The results of the application of the Knowledge Management tools have shown the potential of merging the three software platforms with their functionalities, as the next step towards the fully integration of KM practices into the CE process. VirSat will stay as the main software platform used within a CE study, and S.P.O.C.K. and SimMoLib will be integrated into VirSat. These tools will support the data model as a reference and documentation source, and as an access to simulation and calculation models. The use of KM tools in the CEF aims to become a basic practice during the CE process. The settlement of this practice will result in a much more extended knowledge and experience exchange within the Concurrent Engineering environment and, consequently, the outcome of the studies will comprise higher quality in the design of space systems.

  8. Becoming an effective clinical engineering or biomedical technology manager.

    PubMed

    Brush, L C

    1992-01-01

    The BMET or CE Supervisor is a technical manager who is close to the actual work of a biomedical or clinical engineering department. The MPTI is a management training tool that has identified differences between the effective and less-effective technical managers. These behaviors or styles can be considered and applied to the clinical engineering and BMET work environments. Effective BMET or CE Supervisors have a management identity. They are both people-oriented and task-oriented. They are good problem-solvers, and will plan and structure the work tasks and environment. When the situation requires a change in plans, however, they can adapt to the new situation easily. If a decision needs to be made that affects the organization, they will check with higher management or peer managers. Less-effective BMET or CE Supervisors will make important decisions alone, without checking with others. They plan and structure tasks and the work environment, but they are less willing to change when faced with a new situation. They are not people-oriented, and their ability to assess social situations is low. Their need for achievement recognition is often too high. The work environment has an effect on how the competence of a manager is perceived. A "one-desk manager" in a small, one-person biomedical engineering department has more autonomy than a CE Supervisor in a large department. Working for a medical device manufacturing firm often requires a greater management identity. An engineering consultant is often a managing specialist, rather than a traditional manager.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  9. Preparation and evaluation of cerium oxide-bovine hydroxyapatite composites for biomedical engineering applications.

    PubMed

    Gunduz, O; Gode, C; Ahmad, Z; Gökçe, H; Yetmez, M; Kalkandelen, C; Sahin, Y M; Oktar, F N

    2014-07-01

    The fabrication and characterization of bovine hydroxyapatite (BHA) and cerium oxide (CeO2) composites are presented. CeO2 (at varying concentrations 1, 5 and 10wt%) were added to calcinated BHA powder. The resulting mixtures were shaped into green cylindrical samples by powder pressing (350MPa) followed by sintering in air (1000-1300°C for 4h). Density, Vickers microhardness (HV), compression strength, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were performed on the products. The sintering behavior, microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties were evaluated. Differences in the sintering temperature (for 1wt% CeO2 composites) between 1200 and 1300°C, show a 3.3% increase in the microhardness (564 and 582.75HV, respectively). Composites prepared at 1300°C demonstrate the greatest compression strength with comparable results for 5 and 10wt% CeO2 content (106 and 107MPa) which are significantly better than those for 1wt% and those that do not include any CeO2 (90 and below 60MPa, respectively). The results obtained suggest optimal parameters to be used in preparation of BHA and CeO2 composites, while also highlighting the potential of such materials in several biomedical engineering applications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Splitting a C-O bond in dialkylethers with bis(1,2,4-tri-t-butylcyclopentadienyl) cerium-hydride does not occur by a sigma-bond metathesis pathway: a combined experimental and DFT computational study

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Werkema, Evan; Yahia, Ahmed; Maron, Laurent

    2010-04-06

    Addition of diethylether to [1,2,4(Me3C)3C5H2]2CeH, abbreviated Cp'2CeH, gives Cp'2CeOEt and ethane. Similarly, di-n-propyl- or di-n-butylether gives Cp'2Ce(O-n-Pr) and propane or Cp'2Ce(O-n-Bu) and butane, respectively. Using Cp'2CeD, the propane and butane contain deuterium predominantly in their methyl groups. Mechanisms, formulated on the basis of DFT computational studies, show that the reactions begin by an alpha or beta-CH activation with comparable activation barriers but only the beta-CH activation intermediate evolves into the alkoxide product and an olefin. The olefin then inserts into the Ce-H bond forming the alkyl derivative, Cp'2CeR, that eliminates alkane. The alpha-CH activation intermediate is in equilibrium with themore » starting reagents, Cp'2CeH and the ether, which accounts for the deuterium label in the methyl groups of the alkane. The one-step sigma-bond metathesis mechanism has a much higher activation barrier than either of the two-step mechanisms.« less

  11. Contributing opportunistic resources to the grid with HTCondor-CE-Bosco

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weitzel, Derek; Bockelman, Brian

    2017-10-01

    The HTCondor-CE [1] is the primary Compute Element (CE) software for the Open Science Grid. While it offers many advantages for large sites, for smaller, WLCG Tier-3 sites or opportunistic clusters, it can be a difficult task to install, configure, and maintain the HTCondor-CE. Installing a CE typically involves understanding several pieces of software, installing hundreds of packages on a dedicated node, updating several configuration files, and implementing grid authentication mechanisms. On the other hand, accessing remote clusters from personal computers has been dramatically improved with Bosco: site admins only need to setup SSH public key authentication and appropriate accounts on a login host. In this paper, we take a new approach with the HTCondor-CE-Bosco, a CE which combines the flexibility and reliability of the HTCondor-CE with the easy-to-install Bosco. The administrators of the opportunistic resource are not required to install any software: only SSH access and a user account are required from the host site. The OSG can then run the grid-specific portions from a central location. This provides a new, more centralized, model for running grid services, which complements the traditional distributed model. We will show the architecture of a HTCondor-CE-Bosco enabled site, as well as feedback from multiple sites that have deployed it.

  12. Comparison of 3D computer-aided with manual cerebral aneurysm measurements in different imaging modalities.

    PubMed

    Groth, M; Forkert, N D; Buhk, J H; Schoenfeld, M; Goebell, E; Fiehler, J

    2013-02-01

    To compare intra- and inter-observer reliability of aneurysm measurements obtained by a 3D computer-aided technique with standard manual aneurysm measurements in different imaging modalities. A total of 21 patients with 29 cerebral aneurysms were studied. All patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA), contrast-enhanced (CE-MRA) and time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA). Aneurysm neck and depth diameters were manually measured by two observers in each modality. Additionally, semi-automatic computer-aided diameter measurements were performed using 3D vessel surface models derived from CE- (CE-com) and TOF-MRA (TOF-com) datasets. Bland-Altman analysis (BA) and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to evaluate intra- and inter-observer agreement. BA revealed the narrowest relative limits of intra- and inter-observer agreement for aneurysm neck and depth diameters obtained by TOF-com (ranging between ±5.3 % and ±28.3 %) and CE-com (ranging between ±23.3 % and ±38.1 %). Direct measurements in DSA, TOF-MRA and CE-MRA showed considerably wider limits of agreement. The highest ICCs were observed for TOF-com and CE-com (ICC values, 0.92 or higher for intra- as well as inter-observer reliability). Computer-aided aneurysm measurement in 3D offers improved intra- and inter-observer reliability and a reproducible parameter extraction, which may be used in clinical routine and as objective surrogate end-points in clinical trials.

  13. Computation of Pressurized Gas Bearings Using CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cioc, Sorin; Dimofte, Florin; Keith, Theo G., Jr.; Fleming, David P.

    2003-01-01

    The space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method is extended to compute compressible viscous flows in pressurized thin fluid films. This numerical scheme has previously been used successfully to solve a wide variety of compressible flow problems, including flows with large and small discontinuities. In this paper, the method is applied to calculate the pressure distribution in a hybrid gas journal bearing. The formulation of the problem is presented, including the modeling of the feeding system. the numerical results obtained are compared with experimental data. Good agreement between the computed results and the test data were obtained, and thus validate the CE/SE method to solve such problems.

  14. Controlled English for Effective Communication during Coalition Operations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-06-01

    Linguistic variations and cultural differences often create unexpected challenges for effective communication and thus for Command and Control (C2...CE), and CE-based tools to improve cross- linguistic /cross-cultural communication. We will discuss various types of linguistic variations and cultural...human-computer interaction, reasoning, and explanation CE and CE-based tools can play an important role in facilitating cross- linguistic and cross

  15. Pulmonary and Hematological Effects in Rats Following a Single Inhalation Exposure to Ce02 Nanoparticles

    EPA Science Inventory

    Engineered nanomaterials have unknown environmental and health implications due to their novel properties and/or by-products associated with their applications. Combustion studies have shown nanoCe-enabled fuel additives alter the physicochemical properties of diesel emissions (D...

  16. The design and characterization of protein based block polymers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Haghpanah, Jennifer Shorah

    Over the past decades, protein engineering has provided noteworthy advances in basic science as well as in medicine and industry. Protein engineers are currently focusing their efforts on developing elementary rules to design proteins with a specific structure and function. Proteins derived from natural sources have been used generate a plethora of materials with remarkable structural and functional properties. In the first chapter, we show how we can fabricate protein polymers comprised of two different self-assembling domains (SADs). From our studies, we discover that SADs in different orientations have a large impact on their overall microscopic and macroscopic features. In the second chapter, we explore the impact of cellulose (Tc) on the diblocks EC and CE. We discover that Tc is able to selectively impact the mechanical propertied of CE because CE has smaller particle sizes and more E domain exposed on its surface at RT. In the third chapter, we appended an extra C domain to CE to generate CEC with improved mechanical properties, structure and small molecule recognition.

  17. Factors controlling the redox potential of ZnCe6 in an engineered bacterioferritin photochemical 'reaction centre'.

    PubMed

    Mahboob, Abdullah; Vassiliev, Serguei; Poddutoori, Prashanth K; van der Est, Art; Bruce, Doug

    2013-01-01

    Photosystem II (PSII) of photosynthesis has the unique ability to photochemically oxidize water. Recently an engineered bacterioferritin photochemical 'reaction centre' (BFR-RC) using a zinc chlorin pigment (ZnCe6) in place of its native heme has been shown to photo-oxidize bound manganese ions through a tyrosine residue, thus mimicking two of the key reactions on the electron donor side of PSII. To understand the mechanism of tyrosine oxidation in BFR-RCs, and explore the possibility of water oxidation in such a system we have built an atomic-level model of the BFR-RC using ONIOM methodology. We studied the influence of axial ligands and carboxyl groups on the oxidation potential of ZnCe6 using DFT theory, and finally calculated the shift of the redox potential of ZnCe6 in the BFR-RC protein using the multi-conformational molecular mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann approach. According to our calculations, the redox potential for the first oxidation of ZnCe6 in the BRF-RC protein is only 0.57 V, too low to oxidize tyrosine. We suggest that the observed tyrosine oxidation in BRF-RC could be driven by the ZnCe6 di-cation. In order to increase the efficiency of tyrosine oxidation, and ultimately oxidize water, the first potential of ZnCe6 would have to attain a value in excess of 0.8 V. We discuss the possibilities for modifying the BFR-RC to achieve this goal.

  18. Mixed cerium-platinum oxides: Electronic structure of [CeO]Pt{sub n} (n = 1, 2) and [CeO{sub 2}]Pt complex anions and neutrals

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ray, Manisha; Kafader, Jared O.; Topolski, Josey E.

    The electronic structures of several small Ce–Pt oxide complexes were explored using a combination of anion photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. Pt and Pt{sub 2} both accept electron density from CeO diatomic molecules, in which the cerium atom is in a lower-than-bulk oxidation state (+2 versus bulk +4). Neutral [CeO]Pt and [CeO]Pt{sub 2} complexes are therefore ionic, with electronic structures described qualitatively as [CeO{sup +2}]Pt{sup −2} and [CeO{sup +}]Pt{sub 2}{sup −}, respectively. The associated anions are described qualitatively as [CeO{sup +}]Pt{sup −2} and [CeO{sup +}]Pt{sub 2}{sup −2}, respectively. In both neutrals and anions, the most stable molecularmore » structures determined by calculations feature a distinct CeO moiety, with the positively charged Ce center pointing toward the electron rich Pt or Pt{sub 2} moiety. Spectral simulations based on calculated spectroscopic parameters are in fair agreement with the spectra, validating the computationally determined structures. In contrast, when Pt is coupled with CeO{sub 2}, which has no Ce-localized electrons that can readily be donated to Pt, the anion is described as [CeO{sub 2}]Pt{sup −}. The molecular structure predicted computationally suggests that it is governed by charge-dipole interactions. The neutral [CeO{sub 2}]Pt complex lacks charge-dipole stabilizing interactions, and is predicted to be structurally very different from the anion, featuring a single Pt–O–Ce bridge bond. The PE spectra of several of the complexes exhibit evidence of photodissociation with Pt{sup −} daughter ion formation. The electronic structures of these complexes are related to local interactions in Pt-ceria catalyst-support systems.« less

  19. Intergenerational responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The intergenerational impact of engineered nanomaterials in plants is a key knowledge gap in the literature. A soil microcosm study was performed to assess the effects of multi-generational exposure of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs). Seeds from plants that were exposed to 0, 125, and 500 mg CeO2-NPs/kg soil (Ce-0, Ce-125 or Ce-500, respectively) in first generation (S1) were cultivated in factorial combinations of Ce-0, Ce-125 or Ce-500 to produce second generation (S2) plants. The factorial combinations for first/second generation treatments in Ce-125 were S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0, S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-125, S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-0 and S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-125, and in Ce-500 were S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0, S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-500, S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-0 and S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-500. Agronomic, elemental, and isotopic data were collected in second generation plants. Results showed that plants treated during the first generation only with either Ce-125 or Ce-500 (e.g. S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-0 or S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-0) had reduced accumulation of Ce (61 or 50%), Fe (49 or 58%) and Mn (34 or 41%) in roots, and δ15N (11 or 8%) in grains compared to the plants not treated in both generations (i.e. S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0). In addition, plants treated in both generations with Ce-125 (i.e. S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-125) produced grains that had lower Mn, Ca, K, Mg and P relative to plants treated in the second generation only (i.e. S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-125). The findings demonstrated that first generation exposure of

  20. 23 CFR 661.3 - Who must comply with this regulation?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... authorities must comply to participate in the IRRBP by applying for preliminary engineering (PE), construction, and construction engineering (CE) activities for the replacement or rehabilitation of structurally....3 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC...

  1. 23 CFR 661.3 - Who must comply with this regulation?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... authorities must comply to participate in the IRRBP by applying for preliminary engineering (PE), construction, and construction engineering (CE) activities for the replacement or rehabilitation of structurally....3 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC...

  2. 23 CFR 661.3 - Who must comply with this regulation?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... authorities must comply to participate in the IRRBP by applying for preliminary engineering (PE), construction, and construction engineering (CE) activities for the replacement or rehabilitation of structurally....3 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC...

  3. 23 CFR 661.3 - Who must comply with this regulation?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... authorities must comply to participate in the IRRBP by applying for preliminary engineering (PE), construction, and construction engineering (CE) activities for the replacement or rehabilitation of structurally....3 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC...

  4. 23 CFR 661.3 - Who must comply with this regulation?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... authorities must comply to participate in the IRRBP by applying for preliminary engineering (PE), construction, and construction engineering (CE) activities for the replacement or rehabilitation of structurally....3 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC...

  5. Gust Acoustics Computation with a Space-Time CE/SE Parallel 3D Solver

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wang, X. Y.; Himansu, A.; Chang, S. C.; Jorgenson, P. C. E.; Reddy, D. R. (Technical Monitor)

    2002-01-01

    The benchmark Problem 2 in Category 3 of the Third Computational Aero-Acoustics (CAA) Workshop is solved using the space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method. This problem concerns the unsteady response of an isolated finite-span swept flat-plate airfoil bounded by two parallel walls to an incident gust. The acoustic field generated by the interaction of the gust with the flat-plate airfoil is computed by solving the 3D (three-dimensional) Euler equations in the time domain using a parallel version of a 3D CE/SE solver. The effect of the gust orientation on the far-field directivity is studied. Numerical solutions are presented and compared with analytical solutions, showing a reasonable agreement.

  6. 12. Historic plot plan and drawings index for rocket engine ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    12. Historic plot plan and drawings index for rocket engine test facility, June 28, 1956. NASA GRC drawing number CE-101810. On file at NASA Glenn Research Center. - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  7. Noise Computation of a Shock-Containing Supersonic Axisymmetric Jet by the CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loh, Ching Y.; Hultgren, Lennart S.; Chang, Sin-Chung; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.

    1999-01-01

    The space-time conservation element solution element (CE/SE) method is employed to numerically study the near-field of a typical under-expanded jet. For the computed case-a circular jet with Mach number M(j) = 1.19-the shock-cell structure is in good agreement with experimental results. The computed noise field is in general agreement with the experiment, although further work is needed to properly close the screech feedback loop.

  8. Nonlinear Aeroacoustics Computations by the Space-Time CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loh, Ching Y.

    2003-01-01

    The Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element Method, or CE/SE Method for short, is a recently developed numerical method for conservation laws. Despite its second order accuracy in space and time, it possesses low dispersion errors and low dissipation. The method is robust enough to cover a wide range of compressible flows: from weak linear acoustic waves to strong discontinuous waves (shocks). An outstanding feature of the CE/SE scheme is its truly multi-dimensional, simple but effective non-reflecting boundary condition (NRBC), which is particularly valuable for computational aeroacoustics (CAA). In nature, the method may be categorized as a finite volume method, where the conservation element (CE) is equivalent to a finite control volume (or cell) and the solution element (SE) can be understood as the cell interface. However, due to its careful treatment of the surface fluxes and geometry, it is different from the existing schemes. Currently, the CE/SE scheme has been developed to a matured stage that a 3-D unstructured CE/SE Navier-Stokes solver is already available. However, in the present review paper, as a general introduction to the CE/SE method, only the 2-D unstructured Euler CE/SE solver is chosen and sketched in section 2. Then applications of the 2-D and 3-D CE/SE schemes to linear, and in particular, nonlinear aeroacoustics are depicted in sections 3, 4, and 5 to demonstrate its robustness and capability.

  9. 3D ECG- and respiratory-gated non-contrast-enhanced (CE) perfusion MRI for postoperative lung function prediction in non-small-cell lung cancer patients: A comparison with thin-section quantitative computed tomography, dynamic CE-perfusion MRI, and perfusion scan.

    PubMed

    Ohno, Yoshiharu; Seki, Shinichiro; Koyama, Hisanobu; Yoshikawa, Takeshi; Matsumoto, Sumiaki; Takenaka, Daisuke; Kassai, Yoshimori; Yui, Masao; Sugimura, Kazuro

    2015-08-01

    To compare predictive capabilities of non-contrast-enhanced (CE)- and dynamic CE-perfusion MRIs, thin-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) (MDCT), and perfusion scan for postoperative lung function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Sixty consecutive pathologically diagnosed NSCLC patients were included and prospectively underwent thin-section MDCT, non-CE-, and dynamic CE-perfusion MRIs and perfusion scan, and had their pre- and postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 ) measured. Postoperative percent FEV1 (po%FEV1 ) was then predicted from the fractional lung volume determined on semiquantitatively assessed non-CE- and dynamic CE-perfusion MRIs, from the functional lung volumes determined on quantitative CT, from the number of segments observed on qualitative CT, and from uptakes detected on perfusion scans within total and resected lungs. Predicted po%FEV1 s were then correlated with actual po%FEV1 s, which were %FEV1 s measured postoperatively. The limits of agreement were also determined. All predicted po%FEV1 s showed significant correlation (0.73 ≤ r ≤ 0.93, P < 0.0001) and limits of agreement with actual po%FEV1 (non-CE-perfusion MRI: 0.3 ± 10.0%, dynamic CE-perfusion MRI: 1.0 ± 10.8%, perfusion scan: 2.2 ± 14.1%, quantitative CT: 1.2 ± 9.0%, qualitative CT: 1.5 ± 10.2%). Non-CE-perfusion MRI may be able to predict postoperative lung function more accurately than qualitatively assessed MDCT and perfusion scan. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  10. Redesigning the Student Learning Approach through Personality Types and Pedagogies, A Case Study in an Undergraduate Engineering Course

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fleischmann, Corinna; Nakagawa, Elizabeth; Kelley, Tyler

    2016-01-01

    As the National Science Foundation and engineers throughout the world seek to strengthen the future of the engineering profession, the Civil Engineering (CE) program at the United States Coast Guard Academy embodies this initiative with a student focused approach. One course in particular, Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers (CE…

  11. First-principles characterization of formate and carboxyl adsorption on the stoichiometric CeO2(111) and CeO2(110) surfaces

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mei, Donghai

    2013-05-20

    Molecular adsorption of formate and carboxyl on the stoichiometric CeO2(111) and CeO2(110) surfaces was studied using periodic density functional theory (DFT+U) calculations. Two distinguishable adsorption modes (strong and weak) of formate are identified. The bidentate configuration is more stable than the monodentate adsorption configuration. Both formate and carboxyl bind at the more open CeO2(110) surface are stronger. The calculated vibrational frequencies of two adsorbed species are consistent with experimental measurements. Finally, the effects of U parameters on the adsorption of formate and carboxyl over both CeO2 surfaces were investigated. We found that the geometrical configurations of two adsorbed species aremore » not affected by using different U parameters (U=0, 5, and 7). However, the calculated adsorption energy of carboxyl pronouncedly increases with the U value while the adsorption energy of formate only slightly changes (<0.2 eV). The Bader charge analysis shows the opposite charge transfer occurs for formate and carboxyl adsorption where the adsorbed formate is negatively charge whiled the adsorbed carboxyl is positively charged. Interestingly, with the increasing U parameter, the amount of charge is also increased. This work was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and by a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with General Motors. The computations were performed using the Molecular Science Computing Facility in the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), which is a U.S. Department of Energy national scientific user facility located at PNNL in Richland, Washington. Part of the computing time was also granted by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC)« less

  12. Synthesis and characterization of cerium- and gallium-containing borate bioactive glass scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Deliormanlı, Aylin M

    2015-02-01

    Bioactive glasses are widely used in biomedical applications due to their ability to bond to bone and even to soft tissues. In this study, borate based (13-93B3) bioactive glass powders containing up to 5 wt% Ce2O3 and Ga2O3 were prepared by the melt quench technique. Cerium (Ce+3) and gallium (Ga+3) were chosen because of their low toxicity associated with bacteriostatic properties. Bioactive glass scaffolds were fabricated using the polymer foam replication method. In vitro degradation and bioactivity of the scaffolds were evaluated in SBF under static conditions. Results revealed that the cerium- and gallium-containing borate glasses have much lower degradation rates compared to the bare borate glass 13-93B3. In spite of the increased chemical durability, substituted glasses exhibited a good in vitro bioactive response except when the Ce2O3 content was 5 wt%. Taking into account the high in vitro hydroxyapatite forming ability, borate glass scaffolds containing Ce+3 and Ga+3 therapeutic ions are promising candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.

  13. Innovating on Japanese Cooperative Education in Miyagi National College of Technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ikeda, Senri; Itoh, Masahiko; Nakamura, Tomio; Suzuki, Katsuhiko; Utsumi, Yasuo

    The work integrated learning (WIL) is quite essential for students of engineer education to solve the various problems in manufacturing products. The term of the Japanese internship for students is too short to bridge the gap of “School to Work” . As the cooperative education (CE) systems, like the German “Dual-systems” , in western countries are very different from the internship in Japan, there are many kinds of difficulties to be overcome before adopting them. Miyagi National College of Technology (MNCT) has innovated in a new program to establish CE systems regularly in Japan. This time, two teams, made up from not only the institution but also administrations and companies, were delegated for benchmarking after European WACE (World Association for CE) countries, i.e. UK, Sweden, Finland, and Germany. The concept of the Engineer Training Center (ETC, or “TORESEN” ) , that will be offered thorough CE in order to bring up students to “expert engineers” , was proposed. This has another major scheme that is a grassroots program to produce “good teachers” as a faculty development (FD) program.

  14. Health technopole: innovation applied to clinical engineering & health technology management education.

    PubMed

    Vilcahuaman, L; Rivas, R

    2010-01-01

    In the Peruvian Health System, Clinical Engineering does not exist as a topic of intervention. 59% of biomedical equipment is officially classified as operational, however next to apply the correct classification methodology and include security issues, only 10% of the equipment are suitable for use in patients. The serious consequences for patients, is opposite to the increased public investment in the health sector. Reversing this context leads to structural changes at all levels of the organization and they will be achievable only through an appropriate educational program. A strategy focused on joint of capacities called Health Technopole has managed to implement an innovative Model of Education in Healthcare Technology Management HTM and Clinical Engineering CE aimed at solving this problem. The proposal focused on strategies to strengthen the educational goals such as creating HTM & CE Units in hospitals, the implementation of the methodology: Problem Based Learning and Project Management in HTM & CE in classroom and on line courses. The process includes an effective interaction with global organizations through teleconferences, Internships, Workshops and Seminars. A key component was the sustained multidisciplinary approach. Health Technopole CENGETS is an expert adviser for the Ministry of Health and is called for trainings, design training programs for regional governments and also supports global organizations such as PAHO / WHO and ORAS / CONHU. The proposal of innovation applied to HTM & CE Education is effective and is a benchmark for similar countries.

  15. Rationalization of Hubbard U in CeOx from first principles: Unveiling the role of local structure in screening

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Deyu; Liu, Ping

    2014-03-01

    DFT+U method has been widely employed in theoretical studies on various ceria systems to correct the delocalization bias in local and semi-local DFT functionals with moderate computational cost. To rationalize the Hubbard U of Ce 4f, we employed the first principles linear response method to compute Hubbard U for Ce in ceria clusters, bulks, and surfaces. We found that in contrast to the commonly used approach treating U as a constant, the Hubbard U varies in a wide range from 4.1 eV to 6.7 eV, and exhibits a strong correlation with the Ce coordination numbers and Ce-O bond lengths, rather than the Ce 4f valence state. The variation of the Hubbard U can be explained by the changes in the strength of local screening due to O --> Ce intersite transition. Our study represents a systematic, quantitative investigation of the relationship between the Hubbard U and the local atomic arrangement, enabling a DFT+environment-dependent U scheme that can have potential impact on catalysis research of strongly correlated systems. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. DE-AC02-98CH10886.

  16. Parallel CE/SE Computations via Domain Decomposition

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Himansu, Ananda; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.; Wang, Xiao-Yen; Chang, Sin-Chung

    2000-01-01

    This paper describes the parallelization strategy and achieved parallel efficiency of an explicit time-marching algorithm for solving conservation laws. The Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element (CE/SE) algorithm for solving the 2D and 3D Euler equations is parallelized with the aid of domain decomposition. The parallel efficiency of the resultant algorithm on a Silicon Graphics Origin 2000 parallel computer is checked.

  17. CE-BLAST makes it possible to compute antigenic similarity for newly emerging pathogens.

    PubMed

    Qiu, Tianyi; Yang, Yiyan; Qiu, Jingxuan; Huang, Yang; Xu, Tianlei; Xiao, Han; Wu, Dingfeng; Zhang, Qingchen; Zhou, Chen; Zhang, Xiaoyan; Tang, Kailin; Xu, Jianqing; Cao, Zhiwei

    2018-05-02

    Major challenges in vaccine development include rapidly selecting or designing immunogens for raising cross-protective immunity against different intra- or inter-subtypic pathogens, especially for the newly emerging varieties. Here we propose a computational method, Conformational Epitope (CE)-BLAST, for calculating the antigenic similarity among different pathogens with stable and high performance, which is independent of the prior binding-assay information, unlike the currently available models that heavily rely on the historical experimental data. Tool validation incorporates influenza-related experimental data sufficient for stability and reliability determination. Application to dengue-related data demonstrates high harmonization between the computed clusters and the experimental serological data, undetectable by classical grouping. CE-BLAST identifies the potential cross-reactive epitope between the recent zika pathogen and the dengue virus, precisely corroborated by experimental data. The high performance of the pathogens without the experimental binding data suggests the potential utility of CE-BLAST to rapidly design cross-protective vaccines or promptly determine the efficacy of the currently marketed vaccine against emerging pathogens, which are the critical factors for containing emerging disease outbreaks.

  18. Transformation of pristine and citrate-functionalized CeO2 nanoparticles in a laboratory-scale activated sludge reactor.

    PubMed

    Barton, Lauren E; Auffan, Melanie; Bertrand, Marie; Barakat, Mohamed; Santaella, Catherine; Masion, Armand; Borschneck, Daniel; Olivi, Luca; Roche, Nicolas; Wiesner, Mark R; Bottero, Jean-Yves

    2014-07-01

    Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are used to enhance the properties of many manufactured products and technologies. Increased use of ENMs will inevitably lead to their release into the environment. An important route of exposure is through the waste stream, where ENMs will enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), undergo transformations, and be discharged with treated effluent or biosolids. To better understand the fate of a common ENM in WWTPs, experiments with laboratory-scale activated sludge reactors and pristine and citrate-functionalized CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were conducted. Greater than 90% of the CeO2 introduced was observed to associate with biosolids. This association was accompanied by reduction of the Ce(IV) NPs to Ce(III). After 5 weeks in the reactor, 44 ± 4% reduction was observed for the pristine NPs and 31 ± 3% for the citrate-functionalized NPs, illustrating surface functionality dependence. Thermodynamic arguments suggest that the likely Ce(III) phase generated would be Ce2S3. This study indicates that the majority of CeO2 NPs (>90% by mass) entering WWTPs will be associated with the solid phase, and a significant portion will be present as Ce(III). At maximum, 10% of the CeO2 will remain in the effluent and be discharged as a Ce(IV) phase, governed by cerianite (CeO2).

  19. Enhanced Colloidal Stability of CeO2 Nanoparticles by Ferrous Ions: Adsorption, Redox Reaction, and Surface Precipitation.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xuyang; Ray, Jessica R; Neil, Chelsea W; Li, Qingyun; Jun, Young-Shin

    2015-05-05

    Due to the toxicity of cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (NPs), a better understanding of the redox reaction-induced surface property changes of CeO2 NPs and their transport in natural and engineered aqueous systems is needed. This study investigates the impact of redox reactions with ferrous ions (Fe2+) on the colloidal stability of CeO2 NPs. We demonstrated that under anaerobic conditions, suspended CeO2 NPs in a 3 mM FeCl2 solution at pH 4.8 were much more stable against sedimentation than those in the absence of Fe2+. Redox reactions between CeO2 NPs and Fe2+ lead to the formation of 6-line ferrihydrite on the CeO2 surfaces, which enhanced the colloidal stability by increasing the zeta potential and hydrophilicity of CeO2 NPs. These redox reactions can affect the toxicity of CeO2 NPs by increasing cerium dissolution, and by creating new Fe(III) (hydr)oxide reactive surface layers. Thus, these findings have significant implications for elucidating the phase transformation and transport of redox reactive NPs in the environment.

  20. Spectral engineering of LaF3:Ce3+ nanoparticles: The role of Ce3+ in surface sites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jacobsohn, L. G.; Toncelli, A.; Sprinkle, K. B.; Kucera, C. J.; Ballato, J.

    2012-04-01

    Due to the high surface-to-volume ratio, luminescence centers on the surface have relative dominance in the overall spectral response of nanoparticles. The luminescence of LaF3:Ce3+ nanoparticles was investigated in the spectral and temporal domains with a particular focus on the role of Ce3+ on the surface. These nanoparticles present two luminescence bands at 4.10 eV and 4.37 eV attributed to Ce3+ transitions from the 5d level to the spin-orbit split 4f ground levels 2F5/2 and 2F7/2, in addition to a low-energy band at 3.62 eV that has been attributed to Ce3+ ions residing in perturbed sites. The growth of up to three undoped shells, ca. 0.9 nm thick each, around the core promoted a progressive enhancement of luminescence output, concomitant with an increase in the fluorescence lifetime due to the weakening of energy transfer through multipolar interaction between Ce3+ in the core and quenching defects on the surface. Also, the growth of the first shell led to a decrease in the relative intensity of the low-energy band and a 0.23 eV shift to higher energies. These results were interpreted as being due to the existence of two types of perturbed sites, one on the surface that is eliminated by the growth of the first shell, and another within the volume of the nanoparticle, similar to observations in bulk single crystals. This work demonstrates how surface engineering can affect and control the luminescence behavior of this nanomaterial.

  1. Computational Aeroacoustics by the Space-time CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loh, Ching Y.

    2001-01-01

    In recent years, a new numerical methodology for conservation laws-the Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element Method (CE/SE), was developed by Dr. Chang of NASA Glenn Research Center and collaborators. In nature, the new method may be categorized as a finite volume method, where the conservation element (CE) is equivalent to a finite control volume (or cell) and the solution element (SE) can be understood as the cell interface. However, due to its rigorous treatment of the fluxes and geometry, it is different from the existing schemes. The CE/SE scheme features: (1) space and time treated on the same footing, the integral equations of conservation laws are solve( for with second order accuracy, (2) high resolution, low dispersion and low dissipation, (3) novel, truly multi-dimensional, simple but effective non-reflecting boundary condition, (4) effortless implementation of computation, no numerical fix or parameter choice is needed, an( (5) robust enough to cover a wide spectrum of compressible flow: from weak linear acoustic waves to strong, discontinuous waves (shocks) appropriate for linear and nonlinear aeroacoustics. Currently, the CE/SE scheme has been developed to such a stage that a 3-13 unstructured CE/SE Navier-Stokes solver is already available. However, in the present paper, as a general introduction to the CE/SE method, only the 2-D unstructured Euler CE/SE solver is chosen as a prototype and is sketched in Section 2. Then applications of the CE/SE scheme to linear, nonlinear aeroacoustics and airframe noise are depicted in Sections 3, 4, and 5 respectively to demonstrate its robustness and capability.

  2. High-Performance Ru1 /CeO2 Single-Atom Catalyst for CO Oxidation: A Computational Exploration.

    PubMed

    Li, Fengyu; Li, Lei; Liu, Xinying; Zeng, Xiao Cheng; Chen, Zhongfang

    2016-10-18

    By means of density functional theory computations, we examine the stability and CO oxidation activity of single Ru on CeO 2 (111), TiO 2 (110) and Al 2 O 3 (001) surfaces. The heterogeneous system Ru 1 /CeO 2 has very high stability, as indicated by the strong binding energies and high diffusion barriers of a single Ru atom on the ceria support, while the Ru atom is rather mobile on TiO 2 (110) and Al 2 O 3 (001) surfaces and tends to form clusters, excluding these systems from having a high efficiency per Ru atom. The Ru 1 /CeO 2 exhibits good catalytic activity for CO oxidation via the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, thus is a promising single-atom catalyst. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  3. Aeroacoustics Computation for Nearly Fully Expanded Supersonic Jets Using the CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loh, Ching Y.; Hultgren, Lennart S.; Wang, Xiao Y.; Chang, Sin-Chung; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.

    2000-01-01

    In this paper, the space-time conservation element solution element (CE/SE) method is tested in the classical axisymmetric jet instability problem, rendering good agreement with the linear theory. The CE/SE method is then applied to numerical simulations of several nearly fully expanded axisymmetric jet flows and their noise fields and qualitative agreement with available experimental and theoretical results is demonstrated.

  4. Indicators and metrics for the assessment of climate engineering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oschlies, A.; Held, H.; Keller, D.; Keller, K.; Mengis, N.; Quaas, M.; Rickels, W.; Schmidt, H.

    2017-01-01

    Selecting appropriate indicators is essential to aggregate the information provided by climate model outputs into a manageable set of relevant metrics on which assessments of climate engineering (CE) can be based. From all the variables potentially available from climate models, indicators need to be selected that are able to inform scientists and society on the development of the Earth system under CE, as well as on possible impacts and side effects of various ways of deploying CE or not. However, the indicators used so far have been largely identical to those used in climate change assessments and do not visibly reflect the fact that indicators for assessing CE (and thus the metrics composed of these indicators) may be different from those used to assess global warming. Until now, there has been little dedicated effort to identifying specific indicators and metrics for assessing CE. We here propose that such an effort should be facilitated by a more decision-oriented approach and an iterative procedure in close interaction between academia, decision makers, and stakeholders. Specifically, synergies and trade-offs between social objectives reflected by individual indicators, as well as decision-relevant uncertainties should be considered in the development of metrics, so that society can take informed decisions about climate policy measures under the impression of the options available, their likely effects and side effects, and the quality of the underlying knowledge base.

  5. Computational discovery of lanthanide doped and Co-doped Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12} for optoelectronic applications

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Choudhary, Kamal; Chernatynskiy, Aleksandr; Phillpot, Simon R.

    2015-09-14

    We systematically elucidate the optoelectronic properties of rare-earth doped and Ce co-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) using hybrid exchange-correlation functional based density functional theory. The predicted optical transitions agree with the experimental observations for single doped Ce:YAG, Pr:YAG, and co-doped Er,Ce:YAG. We find that co-doping of Ce-doped YAG with any lanthanide except Eu and Lu lowers the transition energies; we attribute this behavior to the lanthanide-induced change in bonding environment of the dopant atoms. Furthermore, we find infrared transitions only in case of the Er, Tb, and Tm co-doped Ce:YAG and suggest Tm,Ce:YAG and Tb,Ce:YAG as possible functional materials formore » efficient spectral up-conversion devices.« less

  6. The CREAM-CE: First experiences, results and requirements of the four LHC experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mendez Lorenzo, Patricia; Santinelli, Roberto; Sciaba, Andrea; Thackray, Nick; Shiers, Jamie; Renshall, Harry; Sgaravatto, Massimo; Padhi, Sanjay

    2010-04-01

    In terms of the gLite middleware, the current LCG-CE used by the four LHC experiments is about to be deprecated. The new CREAM-CE service (Computing Resource Execution And Management) has been approved to replace the previous service. CREAM-CE is a lightweight service created to handle job management operations at the CE level. It is able to accept requests both via the gLite WMS service and also via direct submission for transmission to the local batch system. This flexible duality provides the experiments with a large level of freedom to adapt the service to their own computing models, but at the same time it requires a careful follow up of the requirements and tests of the experiments to ensure that their needs are fulfilled before real data taking. In this paper we present the current testing results of the four LHC experiments concerning this new service. The operations procedures, which have been elaborated together with the experiment support teams will be discussed. Finally, the experiments requirements and the expectations for both the sites and the service itself are exposed in detail.

  7. Direct Single-Enzyme Biomineralization of Catalytically Active Ceria and Ceria–Zirconia Nanocrystals

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Curran, Christopher D.; Lu, Li; Jia, Yue

    Biomineralization is an intriguing approach to the synthesis of functional inorganic materials for energy applications whereby biological systems are engineered to mineralize inorganic materials and control their structure over multiple length scales under mild reaction conditions. Herein we demonstrate a single-enzyme-mediated biomineralization route to synthesize crystalline, catalytically active, quantum-confined ceria (CeO2–x) and ceria–zirconia (Ce1–yZryO2–x) nanocrystals for application as environmental catalysts. In contrast to typical anthropogenic synthesis routes, the crystalline oxide nanoparticles are formed at room temperature from an otherwise inert aqueous solution without the addition of a precipitant or additional reactant. An engineered form of silicatein, rCeSi, as a singlemore » enzyme not only catalyzes the direct biomineralization of the nanocrystalline oxides but also serves as a templating agent to control their morphological structure. The biomineralized nanocrystals of less than 3 nm in diameter are catalytically active toward carbon monoxide oxidation following an oxidative annealing step to remove carbonaceous residue. The introduction of zirconia into the nanocrystals leads to an increase in Ce(III) concentration, associated catalytic activity, and the thermal stability of the nanocrystals.« less

  8. Intergenerational responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles exposure

    DOE PAGES

    Rico, Cyren M.; Johnson, Mark G.; Marcus, Matthew A.; ...

    2017-02-06

    The intergenerational impact of engineered nanomaterials in plants is a major knowledge gap in the literature. A soil microcosm study was performed to assess the effects of multi-generational exposure of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 -NPs). Seeds from plants that were exposed to 0, 125, and 500 mg CeO 2-NPs kg -1 soil (Ce-0, Ce-125 or Ce-500, respectively) in first generation (S1) were cultivated in factorial combinations of Ce-0, Ce-125 or Ce-500 to produce second generation (S2) plants. The factorial combinations for first/second generation treatments in Ce-125 were S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0, S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-125, S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-0 and S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-125, and inmore » Ce-500 were S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0, S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-500, S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-0 and S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-500. Agronomic, elemental, isotopic, and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) data were collected on second generation plants. Results showed that plants treated during the first generation only with either Ce-125 or Ce-500 (e.g. S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-0 or S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-0) had reduced accumulation of Ce (61 or 50%), Fe (49 or 58%) and Mn (34 or 41%) in roots, and δ 15 N (11 or 8%) in grains compared to the plants not treated in both generations (i.e. S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0). Plants treated in both generations with Ce-125 (i.e. S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-125) produced grains that had lower Mn, Ca, K, Mg and P relative to plants treated in the second generation only (i.e. S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-125). In addition, synchrotron XRF elemental chemistry maps of soil/plant thin-sections revealed limited transformation of CeO 2-NPs with no evidence of plant uptake or accumulation. The findings demonstrated that first generation exposure of wheat to CeO 2-NPs affects the physiology and nutrient profile of the second generation plants. However, the lack of concentration-dependent responses indicate that complex physiological processes are involved which alter uptake and metabolism of CeO 2-NPs in wheat.« less

  9. Intergenerational responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles exposure

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rico, Cyren M.; Johnson, Mark G.; Marcus, Matthew A.

    The intergenerational impact of engineered nanomaterials in plants is a major knowledge gap in the literature. A soil microcosm study was performed to assess the effects of multi-generational exposure of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 -NPs). Seeds from plants that were exposed to 0, 125, and 500 mg CeO 2-NPs kg -1 soil (Ce-0, Ce-125 or Ce-500, respectively) in first generation (S1) were cultivated in factorial combinations of Ce-0, Ce-125 or Ce-500 to produce second generation (S2) plants. The factorial combinations for first/second generation treatments in Ce-125 were S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0, S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-125, S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-0 and S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-125, and inmore » Ce-500 were S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0, S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-500, S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-0 and S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-500. Agronomic, elemental, isotopic, and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) data were collected on second generation plants. Results showed that plants treated during the first generation only with either Ce-125 or Ce-500 (e.g. S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-0 or S1-Ce-500/S2-Ce-0) had reduced accumulation of Ce (61 or 50%), Fe (49 or 58%) and Mn (34 or 41%) in roots, and δ 15 N (11 or 8%) in grains compared to the plants not treated in both generations (i.e. S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-0). Plants treated in both generations with Ce-125 (i.e. S1-Ce-125/S2-Ce-125) produced grains that had lower Mn, Ca, K, Mg and P relative to plants treated in the second generation only (i.e. S1-Ce-0/S2-Ce-125). In addition, synchrotron XRF elemental chemistry maps of soil/plant thin-sections revealed limited transformation of CeO 2-NPs with no evidence of plant uptake or accumulation. The findings demonstrated that first generation exposure of wheat to CeO 2-NPs affects the physiology and nutrient profile of the second generation plants. However, the lack of concentration-dependent responses indicate that complex physiological processes are involved which alter uptake and metabolism of CeO 2-NPs in wheat.« less

  10. An Economic Model and Experiments to Understand Aluminum-Cerium Alloy Recycling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Iyer, Ananth V.; Lim, Heejong; Rios, Orlando; Sims, Zachary; Weiss, David

    2018-04-01

    We provide an economic model to understand the impact of adoption, sorting and pricing of scrap on the recycling of a new aluminum-cerium (AlCe) alloy for use in engine blocks in the automobile industry. The goal of the laboratory portion of this study is to investigate possible effects of cerium contamination on well-established aluminum recycling streams. Our methodology includes three components: (1) focused data gathering from industry supply chain participants, (2) experimental data through laboratory experiments to understand the impact of cerium on existing alloys and (3) an economic model to understand pricing incentives on a recycler's separation of AlCe engine blocks.

  11. A 3-D CE/SE Navier-Stokes Solver With Unstructured Hexahedral Grid for Computation of Near Field Jet Screech Noise

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loh, Ching Y.; Himansu, Ananda; Hultgren, Lennart S.

    2003-01-01

    A 3-D space-time CE/SE Navier-Stokes solver using an unstructured hexahedral grid is described and applied to a circular jet screech noise computation. The present numerical results for an underexpanded jet, corresponding to a fully expanded Mach number of 1.42, capture the dominant and nonaxisymmetric 'B' screech mode and are generally in good agreement with existing experiments.

  12. Comparison and evaluation of the Chang'E microwave radiometer data based on theoretical computation of brightness temperatures at the Apollo 15 and 17 sites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Guo-Ping; Chan, Kwing L.; Zheng, Yong-Chun; Tsang, Kang T.; Xu, Ao-Ao

    2017-09-01

    There are significant differences (in the order of 3 to 20 K) between the lunar brightness temperatures (TBs) as measured by the microwave radiometers (MRM) onboard Chang'E (CE)-1 and -2. To determine which set is more accurate, we have carried out a dataset comparison using theoretical calculations of the TBs (four frequency channels) versus local time at the Apollo 15 and 17 landing sites, where the thermal parameters are well-constrained by the in-situ measurements. Based on these parameters, we sought to constrain fits between theory and observation, as uncertainties still exist in parameters involved in the microwave transfer computation. We found that: (i) CE-1/2 TBs have almost constant biases (negative, different for different channels) from the theoretical TBs. The averaged biases for each channel are smaller for CE-1; (ii) TBs of the high frequency channels (19.35/37 GHz) show a better fit with theory than the low frequency channels. The channel 4 (37 GHz) TBs from CE-1 are consistently shifted by about 1 K from the theoretical values. Adjustments in the order of 20 K are instead needed for the two CE-2 low frequency channels (3/7.8 GHz). Based on this comparison, we conclude that the CE-1 dataset to be more accurate than CE-2 one in terms of temperature accuracy (not spatial resolution). We also offer a possible explanation for the significant TB differences between CE-1 and CE-2, and propose a possible recalibration method as a starting point towards the realignment of the two datasets.

  13. Nematic phase in the CE-regime of colossal magnetoresistive manganites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ochoa, Emily; Sen, Cengiz; Dagotto, Elbio; Lamar/UTK Collaboration

    We report nematic phase tendencies around the first order CE transition in the two-orbital double exchange model with Jahn-Teller phonons at electronic density n = 0 . 5 . Starting with a random state at high temperatures, we employ a careful cool-down method using a Monte Carlo algorithm. We then monitor the spin structure factor S (q) of the CE phase as a function of temperature. Near the critical temperature, S (q) grows with decreasing temperature for both right- and left-ordered CE ladders, followed by a spontaneous symmetry breaking into one or the other as the critical temperature is achieved. Below the critical temperature a pure CE state with a staggered charge order is obtained. Our results are similar to those observed in pnictides in earlier studies. Lamar University Office of Undergraduate Research, and U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division.

  14. Careers "Fact Sheets" for clinical engineering & biomedical technology.

    PubMed

    Pacela, A F

    1991-01-01

    Three Careers "Fact Sheets" include information on CE and BMET job titles, job descriptions, and certification. These materials are intended to aid in furthering professional recognition for Clinical Engineers and BMETs, and may be useful in communicating with Administration or Human Resources departments.

  15. Reduction in secondary dendrite arm spacing in cast eutectic Al-Si piston alloys by cerium addition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahmad, R.; Asmael, M. B. A.; Shahizan, N. R.; Gandouz, S.

    2017-01-01

    The effects of Ce on the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) and mechanical behavior of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys were investigated. The reduction of SDAS at different Ce concentrations was evaluated in a directional solidification experiment via computer-aided cooling curve thermal analysis (CA‒CCTA). The results showed that 0.1wt%-1.0wt% Ce addition resulted in a rapid solidification time, Δ t s, and low solidification temperature, Δ T S, whereas 0.1wt% Ce resulted in a fast solidification time, Δ t a-Al, of the α-Al phase. Furthermore, Ce addition refined the SDAS, which was reduced to approximately 36%. The mechanical properties of the alloys with and without Ce were investigated using tensile and hardness tests. The quality index ( Q) and ultimate tensile strength of (UTS) Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys significantly improved with the addition of 0.1wt% Ce. Moreover, the base alloy hardness was improved with increasing Ce concentration.

  16. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography plus gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for gross classification of hepatocellular carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Chen, Chuang; Zhao, Hui; Fu, Xu; Huang, LuoShun; Tang, Min; Yan, XiaoPeng; Sun, ShiQuan; Jia, WenJun; Mao, Liang; Shi, Jiong; Chen, Jun; He, Jian; Zhu, Jin; Qiu, YuDong

    2017-05-02

    Accurate gross classification through imaging is critical for determination of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient prognoses and treatment strategies. The present retrospective study evaluated the utility of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) combined with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) for diagnosis and classification of HCCs prior to surgery. Ninety-four surgically resected HCC nodules were classified as simple nodular (SN), SN with extranodular growth (SN-EG), confluent multinodular (CMN), or infiltrative (IF) types. SN-EG, CMN and IF samples were grouped as non-SN. The abilities of the two imaging modalities to differentiate non-SN from SN HCCs were assessed using the EOB-MRI hepatobiliary phase and CE-CT arterial, portal, and equilibrium phases. Areas under the ROC curves for non-SN diagnoses were 0.765 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.666-0.846) for CE-CT, 0.877 (95% CI: 0.793-0.936) for EOB-MRI, and 0.908 (95% CI: 0.830-0.958) for CE-CT plus EOB-MRI. Sensitivities, specificities, and accuracies with respect to identification of non-SN tumors of all sizes were 71.4%, 81.6%, and 75.5% for CE-CT; 96.4%, 78.9%, and 89.3% for EOB-MRI; and 98.2%, 84.2%, and 92.5% for CE-CT plus EOB-MRI. These results show that CE-CT combined with EOB-MRI offers a more accurate imaging evaluation for HCC gross classification than either modality alone.

  17. Physicochemical and biological technologies for future exploration missions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Belz, S.; Buchert, M.; Bretschneider, J.; Nathanson, E.; Fasoulas, S.

    2014-08-01

    Life Support Systems (LSS) are essential for human spaceflight. They are the key element for humans to survive, to live and to work in space. Ambitious goals of human space exploration in the next 40 years like a permanently crewed surface habitat on Moon or a manned mission to Mars require technologies which allow for a reduction of system and resupply mass. Enhancements of existing technologies, new technological developments and synergetic components integration help to close the oxygen, water and carbon loops. In order to design the most efficient LSS architecture for a given mission scenario, it is important to follow a dedicated design process: definition of requirements, selection of candidate technologies, development of possible LSS architectures and characterisation of LSS architectures by system drivers and evaluation of the LSS architectures. This paper focuses on the approach of a synergetic integration of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEFC) and microalgae cultivated in photobioreactors (PBR). LSS architectures and their benefits for selected mission scenarios are demonstrated. Experiments on critical processes and interfaces were conducted and result in engineering models for a PEFC and PBR system which fulfil the requirements of a synergetic integrative environment. The PEFC system (about 1 kW) can be operated with cabin air enriched by stored or biologically generated oxygen instead of pure oxygen. This offers further advantages with regard to thermal control as high oxygen concentrations effect a dense heat production. The PBR system consists of an illuminated cultivation chamber (about 5 l), a nutrients supply and harvesting and analytics units. Especially the chamber enables a microgravity adapted cultivation of microalgae. However, the peripheral units still have to be adapted in order to allow for a continuous and automated cultivation and harvesting. These automation processes will be tested and evaluated by means of a parabolic flight experiment. Both engineering models are being specified in dimensions, components, mass and energy flows. They will serve as a platform for getting operational experience, reliability data and identifying technical problems before the next step is to be realized: in-orbit verification in a spaceflight experiment.

  18. Performance evaluation of a biodiesel fuelled transportation engine retrofitted with a non-noble metal catalysed diesel oxidation catalyst for controlling unregulated emissions.

    PubMed

    Shukla, Pravesh Chandra; Gupta, Tarun; Agarwal, Avinash Kumar

    2018-02-15

    In present study, engine exhaust was sampled for measurement and analysis of unregulated emissions from a four cylinder transportation diesel engine using a state-of-the-art FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) emission analyzer. Test fuels used were Karanja biodiesel blend (B20) and baseline mineral diesel. Real-time emission measurements were performed for raw exhaust as well as exhaust sampled downstream of the two in-house prepared non-noble metal based diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and a baseline commercial DOC based on noble metals. Two prepared non-noble metal based DOCs were based on Co-Ce mixed oxide and Lanthanum based perovskite catalysts. Perovskite based DOC performed superior compared to Co-Ce mixed oxide catalyst based DOC. Commercial noble metal based DOC was found to be the most effective in reducing unregulated hydrocarbon emissions in the engine exhaust, followed by the two in-house prepared non-noble metal based DOCs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Density functional analysis of fluorite-structured (Ce, Zr)O 2/CeO 2 interfaces [Density functional analysis of fluorite-structured (Ce, Zr)O 2/CeO 2 interfaces: Implications for catalysis and energy applications

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Weck, Philippe F.; Juan, Pierre -Alexandre; Dingreville, Remi

    The structures and properties of Ce 1–xZr xO 2 (x = 0–1) solid solutions, selected Ce 1–xZr xO 2 surfaces, and Ce 1–xZr xO 2/CeO 2 interfaces were computed within the framework of density functional theory corrected for strong electron correlation (DFT+ U). The calculated Debye temperature increases steadily with Zr content in (Ce, Zr)O 2 phases, indicating a significant rise in microhardness from CeO 2 to ZrO 2, without appreciable loss in ductility as the interfacial stoichiometry changes. Surface energy calculations for the low-index CeO 2(111) and (110) surfaces show limited sensitivity to strong 4f-electron correlation. The fracture energymore » of Ce 1–xZr xO 2(111)/CeO 2(111) increases markedly with Zr content, with a significant decrease in energy for thicker Ce 1–xZr xO 2 films. These findings suggest the crucial role of Zr acting as a binder at the Ce 1–xZr xO 2/CeO 2 interfaces, due to the more covalent character of Zr–O bonds compared to Ce–O. Finally, the impact of surface relaxation upon interface cracking was assessed and found to reach a maximum for Ce 0.25Zr 0.75O 2/CeO 2 interfaces.« less

  20. Density functional analysis of fluorite-structured (Ce, Zr)O 2/CeO 2 interfaces [Density functional analysis of fluorite-structured (Ce, Zr)O 2/CeO 2 interfaces: Implications for catalysis and energy applications

    DOE PAGES

    Weck, Philippe F.; Juan, Pierre -Alexandre; Dingreville, Remi; ...

    2017-06-21

    The structures and properties of Ce 1–xZr xO 2 (x = 0–1) solid solutions, selected Ce 1–xZr xO 2 surfaces, and Ce 1–xZr xO 2/CeO 2 interfaces were computed within the framework of density functional theory corrected for strong electron correlation (DFT+ U). The calculated Debye temperature increases steadily with Zr content in (Ce, Zr)O 2 phases, indicating a significant rise in microhardness from CeO 2 to ZrO 2, without appreciable loss in ductility as the interfacial stoichiometry changes. Surface energy calculations for the low-index CeO 2(111) and (110) surfaces show limited sensitivity to strong 4f-electron correlation. The fracture energymore » of Ce 1–xZr xO 2(111)/CeO 2(111) increases markedly with Zr content, with a significant decrease in energy for thicker Ce 1–xZr xO 2 films. These findings suggest the crucial role of Zr acting as a binder at the Ce 1–xZr xO 2/CeO 2 interfaces, due to the more covalent character of Zr–O bonds compared to Ce–O. Finally, the impact of surface relaxation upon interface cracking was assessed and found to reach a maximum for Ce 0.25Zr 0.75O 2/CeO 2 interfaces.« less

  1. Integration of the Chinese HPC Grid in ATLAS Distributed Computing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Filipčič, A.; ATLAS Collaboration

    2017-10-01

    Fifteen Chinese High-Performance Computing sites, many of them on the TOP500 list of most powerful supercomputers, are integrated into a common infrastructure providing coherent access to a user through an interface based on a RESTful interface called SCEAPI. These resources have been integrated into the ATLAS Grid production system using a bridge between ATLAS and SCEAPI which translates the authorization and job submission protocols between the two environments. The ARC Computing Element (ARC-CE) forms the bridge using an extended batch system interface to allow job submission to SCEAPI. The ARC-CE was setup at the Institute for High Energy Physics, Beijing, in order to be as close as possible to the SCEAPI front-end interface at the Computing Network Information Center, also in Beijing. This paper describes the technical details of the integration between ARC-CE and SCEAPI and presents results so far with two supercomputer centers, Tianhe-IA and ERA. These two centers have been the pilots for ATLAS Monte Carlo Simulation in SCEAPI and have been providing CPU power since fall 2015.

  2. Biocompatible coupling of therapeutic fusion proteins to human erythrocytes

    PubMed Central

    Villa, Carlos H.; Pan, Daniel C.; Johnston, Ian H.; Greineder, Colin F.; Walsh, Landis R.; Hood, Elizabeth D.; Cines, Douglas B.; Poncz, Mortimer; Siegel, Don L.

    2018-01-01

    Carriage of drugs by red blood cells (RBCs) modulates pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity. However, optimal targets for attaching therapeutics to human RBCs and adverse effects have not been studied. We engineered nonhuman-primate single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) directed to human RBCs and fused scFvs with human thrombomodulin (hTM) as a representative biotherapeutic cargo (hTM-scFv). Binding fusions to RBCs on band 3/glycophorin A (GPA; Wright b [Wrb] epitope) and RhCE (Rh17/Hr0 epitope) similarly endowed RBCs with hTM activity, but differed in their effects on RBC physiology. scFv and hTM-scFv targeted to band 3/GPA increased membrane rigidity and sensitized RBCs to hemolysis induced by mechanical stress, while reducing sensitivity to hypo-osmotic hemolysis. Similar properties were seen for other ligands bound to GPA and band 3 on human and murine RBCs. In contrast, binding of scFv or hTM-scFv to RhCE did not alter deformability or sensitivity to mechanical and osmotic stress at similar copy numbers bound per RBCs. Contrasting responses were also seen for immunoglobulin G antibodies against band 3, GPA, and RhCE. RBC-bound hTM-scFv generated activated protein C (APC) in the presence of thrombin, but RhCE-targeted hTM-scFv demonstrated greater APC generation per bound copy. Both Wrb- and RhCE-targeted fusion proteins inhibited fibrin deposition induced by tumor necrosis factor-α in an endothelialized microfluidic model using human whole blood. RhCE-bound hTM-scFv more effectively reduced platelet and leukocyte adhesion, whereas anti-Wrb scFv appeared to promote platelet adhesion. These data provide a translational framework for the development of engineered affinity ligands to safely couple therapeutics to human RBCs. PMID:29365311

  3. Emission and Performance Analysis of ZrO2 And CeO2 Coated Piston Using Refined Vegetable Oils

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hemanandh, J.; Narayanan, K. V.; Manoj, Vemuri

    2017-05-01

    Increase in global warming and pollution leads to look for an alternative fuel. The aim of this paper to improve the performance and to reduce the emissions in DI diesel engine. The 80% of ZrO2 and 20% of CeO2 were mixed and coated on the piston head using plasma spray method. The B10 fuel of various refined vegetable oil methyl esters were used as fuel. The test was conducted in the 4-stroke DI diesel engine at a constant speed of 1500 rpm. The results show that the brake thermal efficiency, NOx and BSFC was increased. The CO and HC were decreased.

  4. When Will It Be …?: U.S. Naval Observatory Calendar Computers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bartlett, Jennifer L.; Chizek Frouard, Malynda; Lesniak, Michael V.

    2016-06-01

    Sensitivity to religious calendars is increasingly expected when planning activities. Consequently, the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) has redesigned its on-line calendar resources to allow the computation of select religious dates for specific years via an application programming interface (API). This flexible interface returns dates in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) that can be incorporated into third-party websites or applications. Currently, the services compute Christian, Islamic, and Jewish events.The “Dates of Ash Wednesday and Easter” service (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/easter.php) returns the dates of these two events for years after 1582 C.E. (1582 A.D.) The method of the western Christian churches is used to determined when Easter, a moveable feast, occurs.The “Dates of Islamic New Year and Ramadan” service (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/islamic.php) returns the approximate Gregorian dates of these two events for years after 1582 C.E. (990 A.H.) and Julian dates are computed for the years 622-1582 C.E. (1-990 A.H.). The appropriate year in the Islamic calendar (anno Hegira) is also provided. Each event begins at 6 P.M. or sunset on the preceding day. These events are computed using a tabular calendar for planning purposes; in practice, the actual event is determined by observation of the appropriate new Moon.The “First Day of Passover” service (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/passover.php) returns the Gregorian date corresponding to Nisan 15 for years after 1582 C.E. (5342 A.M.) and Julian dates are computed for the years 360-1582 C.E. (4120-5342 A.M.). The appropriate year in the Jewish calendar (anno Mundi) is also provided. Passover begins at 6 P.M. or sunset on the preceding day.On-line documentation for using the API-enabled calendar computers, including sample calls, is available (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/api.php). The same web page also describes how to reach the Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day, Phases of the Moon, Solar Eclipse Computer, Day and Night Across the Earth, and Apparent Disk of a Solar System Object services using API calls.An “Introduction to Calendars” (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/calendars.php) provides an overview of the topic and links to additional resources.

  5. NDE Conference on Civil Engineering : a joint conference of the 7th Structural Materials Technology Conference (SMT) and the 6th International Symposium on Nondestructive Testing in Civil Engineering (NDT-CE)

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2007-01-01

    The 2006 NDE conference on Civil Engineering was held in St. Louis, MO on August 14 18, 2006. The conference combined the 7th Structural Materials Technology Conference (SMT) along with the 6th International Symposium on Nondestructive Testing in...

  6. Photovoltaic performance and stability of fullerene/cerium oxide double electron transport layer superior to single one in p-i-n perovskite solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xing, Zhou; Li, Shu-Hui; Wu, Bao-Shan; Wang, Xin; Wang, Lu-Yao; Wang, Tan; Liu, Hao-Ran; Zhang, Mei-Lin; Yun, Da-Qin; Deng, Lin-Long; Xie, Su-Yuan; Huang, Rong-Bin; Zheng, Lan-Sun

    2018-06-01

    Interface engineering that involves in the metal cathodes and the electron transport layers (ETLs) facilitates the simultaneous improvement of device performances and stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, low-temperature solution-processed cerium oxide (CeOx) films are prepared by a facile sol-gel method and employed as the interface layers between [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) and an Ag back contact to form PC61BM/CeOx double ETLs. The introduction of CeOx enables electron extraction to the Ag electrode and protects the underlying perovskite layer and thus improves the device performance and stability of the p-i-n PSCs. The p-i-n PSCs with double PC61BM/CeOx ETLs demonstrate a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.35%, which is superior to those of the devices with either PC61BM or CeOx single ETLs. Moreover, PC61BM/CeOx devices exhibit excellent stability in light soaking, which is mainly due to the chemically stable CeOx interlayer. The results indicate that CeOx is a promising interface modification layer for stable high-efficiency PSCs.

  7. Diagnostic importance of contrast enhanced 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography in patients with tumor induced osteomalacia: Our experience

    PubMed Central

    Jain, Avani S.; Shelley, Simon; Muthukrishnan, Indirani; Kalal, Shilpa; Amalachandran, Jaykanth; Chandran, Sureshkumar

    2016-01-01

    Aims and Objectives: To assess the diagnostic utility of contrast-enhanced 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-ceCT) in localization of tumors in patients with clinical diagnosis of tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), in correlation with histopathological results. Materials and Methods: Eight patients (five male and three female) aged 24–60 (mean 42) years with a clinical diagnosis of TIO were included in this prospective study. They underwent whole body (head to toe) FDG PET-ceCT following a standard protocol on Philips GEMINI TF PET-CT scanner. The FDG PET-ceCT results were correlated with postoperative histology findings and clinical follow-up. Results: All the patients had an abnormal PET-ceCT study. The sensitivity of PET-ceCT was 87.5%, and positive predictive value was 100%. The tumor was located in the craniofacial region in 6/8 patients and in bone in 2/8 patients. Hemangiopericytoma was the most common reported histology. All patients underwent surgery, following which they demonstrated clinical improvement. However, one patient with atypical findings on histology did not show any clinical improvement, hence, underwent 68Gallium-DOTANOC PET-ceCT scan for relocalization of the site of the tumor. Conclusion: The tumors causing TIO are small in size and usually located in obscure sites in the body. Hence, head to toe protocol should be followed for FDG PET-ceCT scans with the inclusion of upper limbs. Once the tumor is localized, regional magnetic resonance imaging can be performed for better characterization of soft tissue lesion. Imaging with FDG PET-ceCT plays an important role in detecting the site of the tumor and thereby facilitating timely management. PMID:26917888

  8. Diagnostic importance of contrast enhanced (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography in patients with tumor induced osteomalacia: Our experience.

    PubMed

    Jain, Avani S; Shelley, Simon; Muthukrishnan, Indirani; Kalal, Shilpa; Amalachandran, Jaykanth; Chandran, Sureshkumar

    2016-01-01

    To assess the diagnostic utility of contrast-enhanced (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-ceCT) in localization of tumors in patients with clinical diagnosis of tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), in correlation with histopathological results. Eight patients (five male and three female) aged 24-60 (mean 42) years with a clinical diagnosis of TIO were included in this prospective study. They underwent whole body (head to toe) FDG PET-ceCT following a standard protocol on Philips GEMINI TF PET-CT scanner. The FDG PET-ceCT results were correlated with postoperative histology findings and clinical follow-up. All the patients had an abnormal PET-ceCT study. The sensitivity of PET-ceCT was 87.5%, and positive predictive value was 100%. The tumor was located in the craniofacial region in 6/8 patients and in bone in 2/8 patients. Hemangiopericytoma was the most common reported histology. All patients underwent surgery, following which they demonstrated clinical improvement. However, one patient with atypical findings on histology did not show any clinical improvement, hence, underwent (68)Gallium-DOTANOC PET-ceCT scan for relocalization of the site of the tumor. The tumors causing TIO are small in size and usually located in obscure sites in the body. Hence, head to toe protocol should be followed for FDG PET-ceCT scans with the inclusion of upper limbs. Once the tumor is localized, regional magnetic resonance imaging can be performed for better characterization of soft tissue lesion. Imaging with FDG PET-ceCT plays an important role in detecting the site of the tumor and thereby facilitating timely management.

  9. Formation of TbCu7-type CeFe10Zr0.8 by rapid solidification

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhou, C; Pinkerton, FE; Herbst, JF

    2013-08-25

    We report the discovery of a new ternary compound prepared by melt spinning induction melted ingot of nominal composition CeFe11Zr. The sample melt spun at v(s) = 25 m/s exhibits the hexagonal TbCu7-type structure of space group P6/mmm. Through fitting the experimental X-ray diffraction pattern by Rietveld method, we have successfully derived the crystal structure of the new compound melt spun at v(s) = 25 m/s to be CeFe10Zr0.8. Subsequent density function theory calculation fully supports the chemical stability of the new ternary compound. Annealing test showed that the melt spun CeFe10Zr0.8 is stable up to 700 degrees C andmore » annealing at higher temperature would cause it to decompose into hexagonal Ce2Fe17-type structure and ZrFe2. The Curie temperature measurement found that CeFe10Zr0.8 boasts a T-c = 181 degrees C, which is higher than the Tc values of all known Ce-Fe binary compounds, and 30 degrees C higher than that of Ce2Fe14B. These interesting properties stimulate continued search for new Ce-based permanent magnets that could be a cost effective solution to engineering needs in the future. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.« less

  10. Experimental Investigation of Performance and emission characteristics of Various Nano Particles with Bio-Diesel blend on Di Diesel Engine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karthik, N.; Goldwin Xavier, X.; Rajasekar, R.; Ganesh Bairavan, P.; Dhanseelan, S.

    2017-05-01

    Present study provides the effect of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Cerium Oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles additives on the Performance and emission uniqueness of Jatropha. Jatropha blended fuel is prepared by the emulsification technique with assist of mechanical agitator. Nano particles (Zinc Oxide (ZnO)) and Cerium Oxide (CeO2)) mixed with Jatropha blended fuel in mass fraction (100 ppm) with assist of an ultrasonicator. Experiments were conducted in single cylinder constant speed direct injection diesel engine for various test fuels. Performance results revealed that Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of Jatropha blended Cerium Oxide (B20CE) is 3% and 11% higher than Jatropha blended zinc oxide (B20ZO) and Jatropha blended fuel (B20) and 4% lower than diesel fuel (D100) at full load conditions. Emission result shows that HC and CO emissions of Jatropha blended Cerium Oxide (B20CE) are (6%, 22%, 11% and 6%, 15%, 12%) less compared with Jatropha blended Zinc Oxide (B20ZO), diesel (D100) and Jatropha blended fuel (B20) at full load conditions. NOx emissions of Jatropha blended Cerium Oxide is 1 % higher than diesel fuel (D100) and 2% and 5% lower than Jatropha blended Zinc Oxide, and jatropha blended fuel.

  11. Current nanoscience and nanoengineering at the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hermann, A. M.; Singh, R. S.; Singh, V. P.

    2006-07-01

    The Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the University of Kentucky is a multidisciplinary group of faculty, students, and staff, with a shared vision and cutting-edge research facilities to study and develop materials and devices at the nanoscale. Current research projects at CeNSE span a number of diverse nanoscience thrusts in bio- engineering and medicine (nanosensors and nanoelectrodes, nanoparticle-based drug delivery), electronics (nanolithography, molecular electronics, nanotube FETs), nanotemplates for electronics and gas sensors (functionalization of carbon nanotubes, aligned carbon nanotube structures for gate-keeping, e-beam lithography with nanoscale precision), and nano--optoelectronics (nanoscale photonics for laser communications, quantum confinement in photovoltaic devices, and nanostructured displays). This paper provides glimpses of this research and future directions.

  12. [Diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-fluorodexyglucose positron emission tomography combined with contrast enhanced computed tomography in colorectal cancer liver metastasis].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Zhanwen; Lyu, Qinghu; Chen, Feini; Liao, Siqin; Zhang, Jie; Hu, Rui; Hu, Ping

    2015-03-01

    To explore the preoperative diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-fluorodexyglucose positron emission tomography combined with contrast enhanced computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET-ceCT) in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis. Clinical and imaging data of 58 patients with suspicious colorectal cancer liver metastasis between April 2010 and March 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. All the patients underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET-ceCT. On the basis of definitive diagnosis, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and consistency of routine PET-CT, ceCT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET-ceCT were calculated. A total of 147 suspicious lesions of colorectal cancer liver metastasis were found in 58 patients. Finally, 125 lesions were confinmed as malignant, of which 58 (46.4%) lesions were less than 1.0 cm. The other 22 lesions were confinmed as benign, of which 17 (77.3%) lesions were less than 1.0 cm. The diagnostic accuracy of routine PET-CT, ceCT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET-ceCT in colorectal cancer liver metastasis for the lesions more than 1.0 cm was 100%, 93.1%, 100% respectively, and the consistency with final diagnosis was perfect, moderate, and perfect respectively (Kappa value 01.00, 0.408, 1.00). For the lesions less than 1.0 cm, the accuracy was 42.7%, 78.7%, 94.7% respectively, and the consistency with definitive diagnosis was insignificance, fair, and almost perfect respectively (Kappa value -0.005, 0.305, 0.848). The area under curve(AUC) was 0.525 (95% CI: 0.407-0.462) for routine PET-CT, 0.651(95% CI:0.532-0.757) for ceCT, and 0.924 (95% CI:0.839-0.972) for ¹⁸F-FDG PET-ceCT respectively. The AUC of ¹⁸F-FDG PET-ceCT was significantly larger than that of routine PET-CT (Z=5.559, P<0.05) or ceCT (Z=4.183, P<0.05). (18)F-FDG PET-ceCT can improve the diagnostic accuracy for smaller lesions of colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

  13. Computation of an Underexpanded 3-D Rectangular Jet by the CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loh, Ching Y.; Himansu, Ananda; Wang, Xiao Y.; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.

    2000-01-01

    Recently, an unstructured three-dimensional space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) Euler solver was developed. Now it is also developed for parallel computation using METIS for domain decomposition and MPI (message passing interface). The method is employed here to numerically study the near-field of a typical 3-D rectangular under-expanded jet. For the computed case-a jet with Mach number Mj = 1.6. with a very modest grid of 1.7 million tetrahedrons, the flow features such as the shock-cell structures and the axis switching, are in good qualitative agreement with experimental results.

  14. Temperature Modeling of Lost Creek Lake Using CE-QUAL-W2: A Report on the Development, Calibration, Verification, and Application of the Model

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-05-01

    Calendar year (January 1 through December 31) DO Dissolved Oxygen ELWS Water surface elevation ERDC US Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research ...ERDC/EL TR-17-4. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1990. Water Control Manual for...Dorothy H. Tillman, and David L. Smith May 2017 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and

  15. Health technology management: a database analysis as support of technology managers in hospitals.

    PubMed

    Miniati, Roberto; Dori, Fabrizio; Iadanza, Ernesto; Fregonara, Mario M; Gentili, Guido Biffi

    2011-01-01

    Technology management in healthcare must continually respond and adapt itself to new improvements in medical equipment. Multidisciplinary approaches which consider the interaction of different technologies, their use and user skills, are necessary in order to improve safety and quality. An easy and sustainable methodology is vital to Clinical Engineering (CE) services in healthcare organizations in order to define criteria regarding technology acquisition and replacement. This article underlines the critical aspects of technology management in hospitals by providing appropriate indicators for benchmarking CE services exclusively referring to the maintenance database from the CE department at the Careggi Hospital in Florence, Italy.

  16. Towards atomic scale engineering of rare-earth-doped SiAlON ceramics through aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yurdakul, Hilmi; Idrobo Tapia, Juan C; Pennycook, Stephen J

    2011-01-01

    Direct visualization of rare earths in {alpha}- and {beta}-SiAlON unit-cells is performed through Z-contrast imaging technique in an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope. The preferential occupation of Yb and Ce atoms in different interstitial locations of {beta}-SiAlON lattice is demonstrated, yielding higher solubility for Yb than Ce. The triangular-like host sites in {alpha}-SiAlON unit cell accommodate more Ce atoms than hexagonal sites in {beta}-SiAlON. We think that our results will be applicable as guidelines for many kinds of rare-earth-doped materials.

  17. Gasoline Engine Mechanics. Performance Objectives. Intermediate Course.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jones, Marion

    Several intermediate performance objectives and corresponding criterion measures are listed for each of six terminal objectives presented in this curriculum guide for an intermediate gasoline engine mechanics course at the secondary level. (For the beginning course guide see CE 010 947.) The materials were developed for a two-semester (2 hour…

  18. Center for Advanced Sensors Year Two Funding (FY2006)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-02-26

    Cheong, and F. Zhao (2005) "Semantics-Based Optimization Across Uncoordinated Tasks in Networked Embedded Systems," Proceedings of the 5th ACM Conference...analysis," Optical Engineering, vol. 46, 116401, 2007. R.L. Espinola, E.L. Jacobs, C.E. Halford, D.H. Tofsted and R. Vollmerhausen, "Modeling...the target acquisition performance of active imaging systems," Optics Express, vol. 15, March, 2007. C.E. Halford, A.L. Robinson, E.L. Jacobs and

  19. The Design of a Primary Flight Trainer using Concurrent Engineering Concepts

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ladesic, James G.; Eastlake, Charles N.; Kietzmann, Nicholas H.

    1993-01-01

    Concurrent Engineering (CE) concepts seek to coordinate the expertise of various disciplines from initial design configuration selection through product disposal so that cost efficient design solutions may be achieve. Integrating this methodology into an undergraduate design course sequence may provide a needed enhancement to engineering education. The Advanced Design Program (ADP) project at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (EMU) is focused on developing recommendations for the general aviation Primary Flight Trainer (PFT) of the twenty first century using methods of CE. This project, over the next two years, will continue synthesizing the collective knowledge of teams composed of engineering students along with students from other degree programs, their faculty, and key industry representatives. During the past year (Phase I). conventional trainer configurations that comply with current regulations and existing technologies have been evaluated. Phase I efforts have resulted in two baseline concepts, a high-wing, conventional design named Triton and a low-wing, mid-engine configuration called Viper. In the second and third years (Phases II and III). applications of advanced propulsion, advanced materials, and unconventional airplane configurations along with military and commercial technologies which are anticipated to be within the economic range of general aviation by the year 2000, will be considered.

  20. Ce and La single- and double-substitutional defects in yttrium aluminum garnet: first-principles study.

    PubMed

    Muñoz-García, Ana Belén; Seijo, Luis

    2011-02-10

    The atomistic structure, energetics, and electronic structure of single-substitutional Ce and La defects and double-substitutional Ce-La defects in Ce,La-codoped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) Y(3)Al(5)O(12) have been studied by means of first-principles periodic boundary conditions density functional theory calculations. Single substitution of Y by Ce or by La produces atomistic expansions around the impurities, which are significantly smaller than the ionic radii mismatches and the overall lattice distortions are found to be confined within their second coordination spheres. In double-substitutional defects, the impurities tend to be as close as possible. La-codoping Ce:YAG provokes an anisotropic expansion around Ce defects. The Ce impurity introduces 4f occupied states in the 5.0 eV computed gap of YAG, peaking 0.25 eV above the top of the valence band, and empty 4f, 5d, and 6s states starting at 3.8 eV in the gap and spreading over the conduction band. La-codoping produces very small effects on the electronic structure of Ce:YAG, the most visible one being the decrease in covalent bonding with one of the oxygen atoms, which shifts 0.05 Å away from Ce and gets 0.04 Å closer to La in the most stable Ce-La double-substitutional defect.

  1. Relevant incidental findings at abdominal multi-detector contrast-enhanced computed tomography: A collateral screening?

    PubMed Central

    Sconfienza, Luca Maria; Mauri, Giovanni; Muzzupappa, Claudia; Poloni, Alessandro; Bandirali, Michele; Esseridou, Anastassia; Tritella, Stefania; Secchi, Francesco; Di Leo, Giovanni; Sardanelli, Francesco

    2015-01-01

    AIM: To investigate the prevalence of relevant incidental findings (RIFs) detected during routine abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CeCT). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the reports of a consecutive series of abdominal CeCT studies performed between January and May 2013. For each report, patients’ age and sex, admission as inpatient or outpatient, clinical suspicion as indicated by the requesting physician, availability of a previous abdominal examination, and name of the reporting radiologist were recorded. Based on the clinical suspicion, the presence and features of any RIFs (if needing additional workup) was noted. RESULTS: One thousand forty abdominal CeCT were performed in 949 patients (528 males, mean age 66 ± 14 years). No significant difference was found between inpatients and outpatients age and sex distribution (P > 0.472). RIFs were found in 195/1040 (18.8%) CeCT [inpatients = 108/470 (23.0%); outpatients = 87/570 (15.2%); P = 0.002]. RIFs were found in 30/440 (6.8%) CeCT with a previous exam and in 165/600 (27.5%) without a previous exam (P < 0.001). Radiologists’ distribution between inpatients or outpatients was significantly different (P < 0.001). RIFs prevalence increased with aging, except for a peak in 40-49 year group. Most involved organs were kidneys, gallbladder, and lungs. CONCLUSION: A RIF is detected in 1/5 patients undergoing abdominal CeCT. Risk of overdiagnosis should be taken into account. PMID:26516432

  2. Gasoline Engine Mechanics. Performance Objectives. Basic Course.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jones, Marion

    Several intermediate performance objectives and corresponding criterion measures are listed for each of five terminal objectives presented in this curriculum guide for a basic gasoline engine mechanics course at the secondary level. (For the intermediate course guide see CE 010 946.) The materials were developed for a two semester (2 hours daily)…

  3. Natural Gas Engine-Driven Heat Pump Demonstration at DoD Installations: Performance and Reliability Summary

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-06-09

    ER D C/ CE R L TR -0 9 -1 0 Natural Gas Engine-Driven Heat Pump Demonstration at DoD Installations Performance and Reliability Summary...L ab or at or y Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. ERDC/CERL TR-09-10 June 2009 Natural Gas Engine-Driven Heat Pump ...CERL TR-09-10 ii Abstract: Results of field testing natural gas engine-driven heat pumps (GHP) at six southwestern U.S. Department of Defense (DoD

  4. Formation of hierarchical macro porous YAlO:Ce multifunctional nanophosphors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jayanthi Rajan, K., E-mail: k.jayanthirajan@gmail.com, E-mail: manorama@iict.res.in; Manorama, Sunkara V., E-mail: k.jayanthirajan@gmail.com, E-mail: manorama@iict.res.in

    2016-03-21

    Hierarchically macro-porous lumino-magnetic yttrium aluminium oxide (YAlO:- YAT: tetragonal; YAG: garnet; YAM: monoclinic) ceramic nanophosphors doped with trivalent cerium (Ce) ions have been synthesized by a novel and versatile self assembly route without the need of any external templates. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirm the presence of dopant and its valence state. Room temperature ferromagnetism in undoped and YAlO:Ce suggest an intrinsic nature of ferromagnetism dependent on host lattice imperfection along with yellow photoluminescence emission explicitly arising due to Ce doping established the non-interfering character of the two phenomena. Such a porous morphology has the potential ofmore » the biocarriers and could be engineered to make it suitable for spintronic applications by incorporation of dielectric into the pores and in conjunction with blue light emitting devices which could be used to obtain white light.« less

  5. Assurance of Complex Electronics. What Path Do We Take?

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Plastow, Richard A.

    2007-01-01

    Many of the methods used to develop software bare a close resemblance to Complex Electronics (CE) development. CE are now programmed to perform tasks that were previously handled in software, such as communication protocols. For instance, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) can have over a million logic gates while system-on-chip (SOC) devices can combine a microprocessor, input and output channels, and sometimes an FPGA for programmability. With this increased intricacy, the possibility of "software-like" bugs such as incorrect design, logic, and unexpected interactions within the logic is great. Since CE devices are obscuring the hardware/software boundary, we propose that mature software methodologies may be utilized with slight modifications to develop these devices. By using standardized S/W Engineering methods such as checklists, missing requirements and "bugs" can be detected earlier in the development cycle, thus creating a development process for CE that will be easily maintained and configurable based on the device used.

  6. Plant photomorphogenesis and canopy growth

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ballare, Carlos L.; Scopel, Ana L.

    1994-01-01

    An important motivation for studying photomorphogenesis is to understand the relationships among plant photophysiology in canopies, canopy productivity, and agronomic yield. This understanding is essential to optimize lighting systems used for plant farming in controlled environments (CE) and for the design of genetically engineered crop strains with altered photoresponses. This article provides an overview of some basic principles of plant photomorphogenesis in canopies and discusses their implications for (1) scaling up information on plant photophysiology from individual plants in CE to whole canopies in the field, and (2) designing lighting conditions to increase plant productivity in CE used for agronomic purposes (e.g. space farming in CE Life Support Systems). We concentrate on the visible (lambda between 400 and 700 nm) and far-infrared (FR; lambda greater than 700 nm) spectral regions, since the ultraviolet (UV; 280 to 400 nm) is covered by other authors in this volume.

  7. Plant photomorphogenesis and canopy growth

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ballare, C.L.; Scopel, A.L.

    1994-12-31

    An important motivation for studying photomorphogenesis is to understand the relationships among plant photophysiology in canopies, canopy productivity, and agronomic yield. This understanding is essential to optimize lighting systems used for plant farming in controlled environments (CE) and for the design of genetically engineered crop strains with altered photoresponses. This article provides an overview of some basic principles of plant photomorphogenesis in canopies and discusses their implications for (1) scaling up information on plant photophysiology from individual plants in CE to whole canopies in the field, and (2), designing lighting conditions to increase plant productivity in CE used for agronomicmore » purposes [e.g. space farming in CE Life-Support-Systems]. We concentrate on the visible ({lambda} between 400 and 700 nm) and far red (FR; {lambda} > 700 nm) spectral regions, since the ultraviolet (UV; 280 to 400 nm) is covered by other authors in this volume.« less

  8. Integrative metabolomics for characterizing unknown low-abundance metabolites by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry with computer simulations.

    PubMed

    Lee, Richard; Ptolemy, Adam S; Niewczas, Liliana; Britz-McKibbin, Philip

    2007-01-15

    Characterization of unknown low-abundance metabolites in biological samples is one the most significant challenges in metabolomic research. In this report, an integrative strategy based on capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-ITMS) with computer simulations is examined as a multiplexed approach for studying the selective nutrient uptake behavior of E. coli within a complex broth medium. On-line sample preconcentration with desalting by CE-ESI-ITMS was performed directly without off-line sample pretreatment in order to improve detector sensitivity over 50-fold for cationic metabolites with nanomolar detection limits. The migration behavior of charged metabolites were also modeled in CE as a qualitative tool to support MS characterization based on two fundamental analyte physicochemical properties, namely, absolute mobility (muo) and acid dissociation constant (pKa). Computer simulations using Simul 5.0 were used to better understand the dynamics of analyte electromigration, as well as aiding de novo identification of unknown nutrients. There was excellent agreement between computer-simulated and experimental electropherograms for several classes of cationic metabolites as reflected by their relative migration times with an average error of <2.0%. Our studies revealed differential uptake of specific amino acids and nucleoside nutrients associated with distinct stages of bacterial growth. Herein, we demonstrate that CE can serve as an effective preconcentrator, desalter, and separator prior to ESI-MS, while providing additional qualitative information for unambiguous identification among isobaric and isomeric metabolites. The proposed strategy is particularly relevant for characterizing unknown yet biologically relevant metabolites that are not readily synthesized or commercially available.

  9. Study of the counting efficiency of a WBC setup by using a computational 3D human body library in sitting position based on polygonal mesh surfaces.

    PubMed

    Fonseca, T C Ferreira; Bogaerts, R; Lebacq, A L; Mihailescu, C L; Vanhavere, F

    2014-04-01

    A realistic computational 3D human body library, called MaMP and FeMP (Male and Female Mesh Phantoms), based on polygonal mesh surface geometry, has been created to be used for numerical calibration of the whole body counter (WBC) system of the nuclear power plant (NPP) in Doel, Belgium. The main objective was to create flexible computational models varying in gender, body height, and mass for studying the morphology-induced variation of the detector counting efficiency (CE) and reducing the measurement uncertainties. First, the counting room and an HPGe detector were modeled using MCNPX (Monte Carlo radiation transport code). The validation of the model was carried out for different sample-detector geometries with point sources and a physical phantom. Second, CE values were calculated for a total of 36 different mesh phantoms in a seated position using the validated Monte Carlo model. This paper reports on the validation process of the in vivo whole body system and the CE calculated for different body heights and weights. The results reveal that the CE is strongly dependent on the individual body shape, size, and gender and may vary by a factor of 1.5 to 3 depending on the morphology aspects of the individual to be measured.

  10. Formal and Informal Continuing Education Activities and Athletic Training Professional Practice

    PubMed Central

    Armstrong, Kirk J.; Weidner, Thomas G.

    2010-01-01

    Abstract Context: Continuing education (CE) is intended to promote professional growth and, ultimately, to enhance professional practice. Objective: To determine certified athletic trainers' participation in formal (ie, approved for CE credit) and informal (ie, not approved for CE credit) CE activities and the perceived effect these activities have on professional practice with regard to improving knowledge, clinical skills and abilities, attitudes toward patient care, and patient care itself. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Athletic training practice settings. Patients or Other Participants: Of a geographic, stratified random sample of 1000 athletic trainers, 427 (42.7%) completed the survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): The Survey of Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities was developed and administered electronically. The survey consisted of demographic characteristics and Likert-scale items regarding CE participation and perceived effect of CE on professional practice. Internal consistency of survey items was determined using the Cronbach α (α  =  0.945). Descriptive statistics were computed for all items. An analysis of variance and dependent t tests were calculated to determine differences among respondents' demographic characteristics and their participation in, and perceived effect of, CE activities. The α level was set at .05. Results: Respondents completed more informal CE activities than formal CE activities. Participation in informal CE activities included reading athletic training journals (75.4%), whereas formal CE activities included attending a Board of Certification–approved workshop, seminar, or professional conference not conducted by the National Athletic Trainers' Association or affiliates or committees (75.6%). Informal CE activities were perceived to improve clinical skills or abilities and attitudes toward patient care. Formal CE activities were perceived to enhance knowledge. Conclusions: More respondents completed informal CE activities than formal CE activities. Both formal and informal CE activities were perceived to enhance athletic training professional practice. Informal CE activities should be explored and considered for CE credit. PMID:20446842

  11. Mims electron-nuclear double resonance in LiYF4:Ce3+ crystal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gafurov, M.; Mamin, G.; Kurkin, I.; Orlinskii, S.

    2018-05-01

    We report the observation of the pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectra from 19F and 7Li nuclei on impurity Ce3+ ions in LiYF4 crystal. The resolved structure from the nearby and remote nuclei in spectra is observed. The outcome shows that LiYF4:Ce3+ system can be exploited as a convenient matrix for performing spin manipulations and adjusting quantum computation protocols while ENDOR technique is usable for the investigation of electron-nuclear interaction with all the nuclei of the system.

  12. Comparison of epicardial adipose tissue radiodensity threshold between contrast and non-contrast enhanced computed tomography scans: A cohort study of derivation and validation.

    PubMed

    Xu, Lingyu; Xu, Yuancheng; Coulden, Richard; Sonnex, Emer; Hrybouski, Stanislau; Paterson, Ian; Butler, Craig

    2018-05-11

    Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume derived from contrast enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT) scans is not well validated. We aim to establish a reliable threshold to accurately quantify EAT volume from CE datasets. We analyzed EAT volume on paired non-contrast (NC) and CE datasets from 25 patients to derive appropriate Hounsfield (HU) cutpoints to equalize two EAT volume estimates. The gold standard threshold (-190HU, -30HU) was used to assess EAT volume on NC datasets. For CE datasets, EAT volumes were estimated using three previously reported thresholds: (-190HU, -30HU), (-190HU, -15HU), (-175HU, -15HU) and were analyzed by a semi-automated 3D Fat analysis software. Subsequently, we applied a threshold correction to (-190HU, -30HU) based on mean differences in radiodensity between NC and CE images (ΔEATrd = CE radiodensity - NC radiodensity). We then validated our findings on EAT threshold in 21 additional patients with paired CT datasets. EAT volume from CE datasets using previously published thresholds consistently underestimated EAT volume from NC dataset standard by a magnitude of 8.2%-19.1%. Using our corrected threshold (-190HU, -3HU) in CE datasets yielded statistically identical EAT volume to NC EAT volume in the validation cohort (186.1 ± 80.3 vs. 185.5 ± 80.1 cm 3 , Δ = 0.6 cm 3 , 0.3%, p = 0.374). Estimating EAT volume from contrast enhanced CT scans using a corrected threshold of -190HU, -3HU provided excellent agreement with EAT volume from non-contrast CT scans using a standard threshold of -190HU, -30HU. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  13. Cystic echinococcosis in Southern Israel.

    PubMed

    Ben-Shimol, Shalom; Sagi, Orli; Houri, Ohad; Bazarsky, Elina; Berkowitz, Anat; Bulkowstein, Shlomi; Barrett, Chiya; Greenberg, David

    2016-01-01

    The aim of this retrospective, population-based study was to characterize demographically and clinically cystic-echinococcosis (CE) in southern Israel, between 2005 and 2012. Newly-diagnosed (nd-CE) and past-diagnosed (pd-CE, diagnosed before the study) cases were defined. Two populations live in southern-Israel, receiving medical treatment at a single hospital: the Jewish and the Bedouin populations (resembling resource-rich and resource-poor populations, respectively). 126 CE cases were identified; 55 nd-CE and 71 pd-CE. Mean annual nd-CE incidence per 100,000 in the Bedouin and Jewish populations were 2.7 ± 1.2 and 0.4 ± 0.3, respectively (P<0.001). None of the Bedouin and 86.5% of the Jewish patients were born outside Israel. Liver and lung involvement were recorded in 85.7% and 15.1% of overall-CE, respectively. Abdominal pain, cough, fever, eosinophilia and asymptomatic disease were documented in 63.6%, 32.7%, 27.3%, 41.5% and 12.7% of nd-CE, respectively. Serology sensitivity for first test and any positive test were 67.3% and 83.3%, respectively. Computed tomography, ultrasonography and X-ray diagnosis were documented in 79.2%, 58.4% and 17.0% of overall-CE, respectively, with ultrasonography mainly used in liver-CE and X-ray in lung-CE. Treatment included surgery and albendazole in 50.0% and 55.3% of CE, respectively. We conclude that CE is endemic in southern-Israel among the Bedouin population, while disease is probably mainly imported in the Jewish population. Liver involvement and eosinophilia rates were high compared with those of other endemic regions, possibly due to differences in the timing of diagnosis. These findings may help developing treatment and prevention strategies.

  14. Effect of Ce/Zr molar ratio on the performance of Cu–Ce{sub x}–Zr{sub 1−x}/TiO{sub 2} catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NO{sub x} with NH{sub 3} in diesel exhaust

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sun, Xiaoliang; Gong, Cairong, E-mail: gcr@tju.edu.cn; Lv, Gang

    2014-12-15

    Graphical abstract: The Cu–Ce{sub 0.25}–Zr{sub 0.75}/TiO{sub 2} catalyst exhibited excellent SCR activity at 165–450 °C within the range of exhaust temperatures of diesel engines. - Highlights: • Cu–Ce{sub x}–Zr{sub 1−x}/TiO{sub 2} catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method. • The property for NH{sub 3}-selective catalytic reduction of NO{sub x} were investigated. • The Ce/Zr molar ratio had effects on the performance of Cu–Ce–Zr/TiO{sub 2} catalysts. • The Cu–Ce{sub 0.25}–Zr{sub 0.75}/TiO{sub 2} sample exhibited 100% NO{sub x} conversion between 165 °C and 450 °C. • The factors that govern the activity enhancement were extensively investigated. - Abstract: Copper–cerium–zirconium catalysts loadedmore » on TiO{sub 2} prepared by a wet impregnation method were investigated for NH{sub 3}-selective catalytic reduction of NO{sub x}, aiming to study the effects of the Ce/Zr molar ratio on the performance of Cu–Ce–Zr/TiO{sub 2} catalysts. The Cu–Ce{sub 0.25}–Zr{sub 0.75}/TiO{sub 2} sample exhibited nearly 100% NO{sub x} conversion over a wide temperature range (165–450 °C), which is strikingly superior to that of Cu/TiO{sub 2} (210–389 °C) within the range of exhaust temperatures of diesel engines. The factors that govern the activity enhancement were extensively investigated by using a series of characterization techniques, namely X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction by hydrogen (H{sub 2}-TPR). The results showed that the addition of zirconium and/or cerium refined the copper dispersion, prevented copper crystallization and partially incorporated the copper ions into the zirconia (ceira) lattice, which led to enhance the redox abilities of Cu–Ce–Zr/TiO{sub 2} catalysts.« less

  15. Preliminary Study for the Modeling of an Artificial Icing Cloud.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-08-01

    C.E. and Schulz, R.J., "Analytical Study of Icing Simulation for Turbine Engines in Altitude Test Cells". Arnold Engineering Devel- opment Center...Dept. SAMSO-TR-79-31, May 1979. 7. Keenan, J.H. and Keyes, F.G., "Thermodynamic Properties of Steam", John Wiley and Sons, Inc., N.Y., i961. 8. Pelton

  16. Turnover Intentions: A Qualitative Analysis of Comments from Air Force Civil Engineering Company Grade Officers

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-22

    this job exist outside the AF and there are benefits and drawbacks to military and civilian careers in the engineering field. What incentive do CE...like the AF at large doesnt appreciate my work anywhere. It’s personally disappointing, and somewhat depressing. It’s quite a pendulum swing from

  17. Engine Tune-up Service. Unit 6: Emission Control Systems. Posttests. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morse, David T.; May, Theodore R.

    This book of posttests is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 6, Emission Control Systems, available separately as CE 031 220. Focus of the posttests is inspecting, testing, and servicing emission control systems. One multiple choice posttest is provided that covers the seven performance objectives contained in…

  18. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 4: Secondary Circuit. Posttests. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morse, David T.

    This book of posttests is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 4, Secondary Circuit, available separately as CE 031 214. Focus of the posttests is testing and servicing the secondary ignition circuit. One multiple choice posttest is provided that covers the seven performance objectives contained in the unit. (No…

  19. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 3: Primary Circuit. Posttests. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morse, David T.

    This book of posttests is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 3, Primary Circuit, available separately as CE 031 211. Focus of the posttests is setting the primary ignition circuit. One multiple choice posttest is provided, covering the eight performance objectives contained in the unit. (No answer key is…

  20. Pulmonary Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles Exposure Differentially Impairs Coronary and Mesenteric Arteriolar Reactivity

    PubMed Central

    Minarchick, Valerie C; Stapleton, Phoebe A; Porter, Dale W; Wolfarth, Michael G; Çiftyürek, Engin; Barger, Mark; Sabolsky, Edward M.; Nurkiewicz, Timothy R

    2013-01-01

    Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) are an engineered nanomaterial that possesses unique catalytic, oxidative and reductive properties. Currently, CeO2 NPs are being used as a fuel catalyst but these properties are also utilized in the development of potential drug treatments for radiation and stroke protection. These uses of CeO2 NPs present a risk for human exposure; however, to date no studies have investigated the effects of CeO2 NPs on the microcirculation following pulmonary exposure. Previous studies in our laboratory with other nanomaterials have shown impairments in normal microvascular function after pulmonary exposures. Therefore, we predicted that CeO2 NP exposure would cause microvascular dysfunction that is dependent on the tissue bed and dose. Twenty-four hour post exposure to CeO2 NPs (0–400 μg), mesenteric and coronary arterioles were isolated and microvascular function was assessed. Our results provided evidence that pulmonary CeO2 NP exposure impairs endothelium-dependent and -independent arteriolar dilation in a dose-dependent manner. The CeO2 NP exposure dose which causes a 50% impairment in arteriolar function (EC50) was calculated and ranged from 15 – 100 μg depending on the chemical agonist and microvascular bed. Microvascular assessments with acetylcholine revealed a 33–75% reduction in function following exposure. Additionally, there was a greater sensitivity to CeO2 NP exposure in the mesenteric microvasculature due to the 40% decrease in the calculated EC50 compared to the coronary microvasculature EC50. CeO2 NP exposure increased mean arterial pressure in some groups. Taken together these observed microvascular changes may likely have detrimental effects on local blood flow regulation and contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction associated with particle exposure. PMID:23645470

  1. Assessment of the toxic potential of engineered metal oxide nanomaterials using an acellular model: citrated rat blood plasma.

    PubMed

    Gormley, Patrick Thomas; Callaghan, Neal Ingraham; MacCormack, Tyson James; Dieni, Christopher Anthony

    2016-10-01

    Citrated Sprague-Dawley rat blood plasma was used as a biologically relevant exposure medium to assess the acellular toxic potential of two metal oxide engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), zinc oxide (nZnO), and cerium oxide (nCeO 2 ). Plasma was incubated at 37 °C for up to 48 h with ENM concentrations ranging between 0 and 200 mg/L. The degree of ENM-induced oxidation was assessed by assaying for reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels using dichlorofluorescein (DCF), pH, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), lipase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyls (PC). Whereas previous in vitro studies showed linear-positive correlations between ENM concentration and oxidative damage, our results suggested that low concentrations were generally pro-oxidant and higher concentrations appeared antioxidant or protective, as indicated by DCF fluorescence trends. nZnO and nCeO 2 also affected pH in a manner dependent on concentration and elemental composition; higher nZnO concentrations maintained a more alkaline pH, while nCeO 2 tended to decrease pH. No other biomarkers of oxidative damage (FRAP, MDA, PC, lipase activity) showed changes at any ENM concentration or time-point tested. Differential dissolution of the two ENMs was also observed, where as much as ∼31.3% of nZnO was instantaneously dissolved to Zn 2+  and only negligible nCeO 2 was degraded. The results suggest that the direct oxidative potential of nZnO and nCeO 2 in citrated rat blood plasma is low, and that a physiological or immune response is needed to generate appreciable damage biomarkers. The data also highlight the need for careful consideration when selecting a model for assessing ENM toxicity.

  2. Proceedings of a Seminar on Water Quality R&D: Successful Bridging between Theory and Applications Held in New Orleans, Louisiana on 25-27 February 1986.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-06-01

    three pcols; the abbreviated version of CE-QUAL-RI, CE-THERM-RI, was used for this exercise. The model accurately simulated the slight, intermittent ...circulation that caused excessive vertical transport of temperature. Additionally, care must be excercised in setting the dispersion coefficients for...Missi3sippi," Miscellaneous Paper H-78-1, US Arry Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss. Fast , A. W., and Hulquist, R. G. 1982

  3. Compute Element and Interface Box for the Hazard Detection System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Villalpando, Carlos Y.; Khanoyan, Garen; Stern, Ryan A.; Some, Raphael R.; Bailey, Erik S.; Carson, John M.; Vaughan, Geoffrey M.; Werner, Robert A.; Salomon, Phil M.; Martin, Keith E.; hide

    2013-01-01

    The Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) program is building a sensor that enables a spacecraft to evaluate autonomously a potential landing area to generate a list of hazardous and safe landing sites. It will also provide navigation inputs relative to those safe sites. The Hazard Detection System Compute Element (HDS-CE) box combines a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) board for sensor integration and timing, with a multicore computer board for processing. The FPGA does system-level timing and data aggregation, and acts as a go-between, removing the real-time requirements from the processor and labeling events with a high resolution time. The processor manages the behavior of the system, controls the instruments connected to the HDS-CE, and services the "heavy lifting" computational requirements for analyzing the potential landing spots.

  4. Promotional effect of Al2O3 on WO3/CeO2-ZrO2 monolithic catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia after hydrothermal aging treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Haidi; Liu, Shuang; Wang, Yun; Lin, Qingjin; Lin, Chenlu; Lan, Li; Wang, Qin; Chen, Yaoqiang

    2018-01-01

    Hydrothermal stability of catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR) has always been recognized as a challenge in development of candidate catalysts for applications in diesel engine emissions. In this study, Al2O3 was introduced into CeO2-ZrO2 to improve the NH3-SCR activity of WO3/CeO2-ZrO2 after hydrothermal aging (HA) treatment at 800 °C for 12 h. The activity results indicated that the NH3-SCR activity of WO3/CeO2-ZrO2-HA was obviously improved in the whole reaction temperature range after doping Al2O3 into CeO2-ZrO2, for example, the average and maximum NOx conversion were separately increased by ca. 20% and 25% after HA treatment. XRD, Raman, TEM and EDX results revealed that the introduction of Al2O3 inhibited the sintering and agglomeration of CeO2-ZrO2 and WO3 and the formation of Ce2(WO4)3 after HA treatment. Accordingly, WO3/CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3-HA showed remarkably improved structural stability and reducibility, increased surface acidity, and facilitated the reactivity between adsorbed NH3 and nitrate species, which together contributed to its better catalytic performance after hydrothermal aging treatment.

  5. Prediction of Sound Waves Propagating Through a Nozzle Without/With a Shock Wave Using the Space-Time CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wang, Xiao-Yen; Chang, Sin-Chung; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.

    2000-01-01

    The benchmark problems in Category 1 (Internal Propagation) of the third Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Work-shop sponsored by NASA Glenn Research Center are solved using the space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method. The first problem addresses the propagation of sound waves through a nearly choked transonic nozzle. The second one concerns shock-sound interaction in a supersonic nozzle. A quasi one-dimension CE/SE Euler solver for a nonuniform mesh is developed and employed to solve both problems. Numerical solutions are compared with the analytical solution for both problems. It is demonstrated that the CE/SE method is capable of solving aeroacoustic problems with/without shock waves in a simple way. Furthermore, the simple nonreflecting boundary condition used in the CE/SE method which is not based on the characteristic theory works very well.

  6. Implementing ISO/IEEE 11073: proposal of two different strategic approaches.

    PubMed

    Martínez-Espronceda, M; Serrano, L; Martínez, I; Escayola, J; Led, S; Trigo, J; García, J

    2008-01-01

    This paper explains the challenges encountered during the ISO/IEEE 11073 standard implementation process. The complexity of the standard and the consequent heavy requirements, which have not encouraged software engineers to adopt the standard. The developing complexity evaluation drives us to propose two possible implementation strategies that cover almost all possible use cases and eases handling the standard by non-expert users. The first one is focused on medical devices (MD) and proposes a low-memory and low-processor usage technique. It is based on message patterns that allow simple functions to generate ISO/IEEE 11073 messages and to process them easily. In this way a framework for MDs can be obtained. Second one is focused on more powerful machines such as data loggers or gateways (aka. computer engines (CE)), which do not have the MDs' memory and processor usage constraints. For CEs a more intelligent and adaptative Plug&Play (P&P) solution is provided. It consists on a general platform that can access to any device supported by the standard. Combining both strategies will cut developing time for applications based on ISO/EEE 11073.

  7. Temperature Modeling of Lost Creek Lake Using CE-QUAL-W2:A Report on the Development, Calibration, Verification, and Application of the Model

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-04-01

    Calendar year (January 1 through December 31) DO Dissolved oxygen ELWS Water surface elevation ERDC Engineer Research and Development Center ISS...Dorothy H. Tillman, and David L. Smith April 2017 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The U.S. Army Engineer Research ...military engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, and environmental sciences for the Army, the Department of Defense, civilian agencies

  8. Final Environmental Assessment: Base-Wide Building Demolition Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-02-01

    Building • Engine Test Facility ( ETF )-B Exhauster • ETF -A Airside • ETF -A Exhauster • ETF -A Reefer • CE Facility • Rocket Storage • Von Karman Gas...Executive Order ESA Endangered Species Act ETF Engine Test Facility FamCamp Family Camping Area P:\\ARNOLDAFB\\333402DO42COMPLIANCE\\DEMOLITION...Fabrication Shop • Natural Resources Building • Salt Storage Building • Administration Building • Engine Test Facility ( ETF )-B Exhauster • ETF -A

  9. Engine Tune-up Service. Unit 2: Charging System. Review Exercise Book. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Richardson, Roger L.; Bacon, E. Miles

    This book of pretests and review exercises is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 2, Charging System, available separately as CE 031 208. Focus of the exercises and pretests is testing the charging system. Pretests and performance checklists are provided for each of the three performance objectives contained in…

  10. Engine Tune-up Service. Unit 4: Secondary Circuit. Review Exercise Book. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bacon, E. Miles

    This book of pretests and review exercises is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 4, Secondary Circuit, available separately as CE 031 214. Focus of the exercises and pretests is testing and servicing the secondary ignition circuit. Pretests and performance checklists are provided for each of the seven…

  11. Engine Tune-up Service. Unit 2: Charging System. Posttests. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Richardson, Roger L.; Bacon, E. Miles

    This book of posttests is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 2, Charging System, available separately as CE 031 208. Focus of the posttest is on the testing of the charging system. One multiple choice posttest is provided, that covers the three performance objectives contained in the unit. (No answer key is…

  12. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 3: Primary Circuit. Review Exercise Book. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bacon, E. Miles

    This book of pretests and review exercises is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 3, Primary Circuit, available separately as CE 031 211. Focus of the exercises and pretests is testing the primary ignition circuit. Pretests and performance checklists are provided for each of the eight performance objectives…

  13. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 5: Fuel and Carburetion Systems. Student Guide. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Goodson, Ludy

    This student guide is for Unit 5, Fuel and Carburetion Systems, in the Engine Tune-Up Service portion of the Automotive Mechanics Curriculum. It deals with inspecting and servicing the fuel and carburetion systems. A companion review exercise book and posttests are available separately as CE 031 218-219. An introduction tells how this unit fits…

  14. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 5: Fuel and Carburetion Systems. Posttests. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morse, David T.

    This book of posttests is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 5, Fuel and Carburetion Systems; available separately as CE 031 217. Focus of the posttests is the inspecting and servicing of the fuel and carburetion systems. One multiple choice posttest is provided that covers the 10 performance objectives…

  15. Engine Tune-up Service. Unit 6: Emission Control Systems. Review Exercise Book. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bacon, E. Miles

    This book of pretests and review exercises is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 6, Emission Control Systems, available separately as CE 031 220. Focus of the exercises and pretests is inspecting, testing, and servicing emission control systems. Pretests and performance checklists are provided for each of the…

  16. Systematic Curriculum Integration of Sustainable Development Using Life Cycle Approaches: The Case of the Civil Engineering Department at the Université de Sherbrooke

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Roure, Bastien; Anand, Chirjiv; Bisaillon, Véronique; Amor, Ben

    2018-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a consistent and systematic integration framework of sustainable development (SD) in a civil engineering (CE) curriculum, given the connection between the two. Curriculum integration is a challenging project and requires the development of certain protocols to ensure success.…

  17. Engine Tune-up Service. Unit 6: Emission Control Systems. Student Guide. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bacon, E. Miles

    This student guide is for Unit 6, Emission Control Systems, in the Engine Tune-Up Service portion of the Automotive Mechanics Curriculum. It deals with inspecting, testing, and servicing an emission control system. A companion review exercise book and posttests are available separately as CE 031 221-222. An introduction tells how this unit fits…

  18. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 4: Secondary Circuit. Student Guide. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bacon, E. Miles

    This student guide is for Unit 4, Secondary Circuit, in the Engine Tune-Up Service portion of the Automotive Mechanics Curriculum. It deals with how to test and service the secondary ignition circuit. A companion review exercise book and posttests are available separately as CE 031 215-216. An introduction tells how this unit fits into the total…

  19. A theoretical insight into the catalytic effect of a mixed-metal oxide at the nanometer level: The case of the highly active metal/CeOx/TiO2(110) catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Graciani, Jesús; Plata, José J.; Sanz, Javier Fdez.; Liu, Ping; Rodriguez, José A.

    2010-03-01

    The structural and electronic properties of CeOx species supported on the rutile TiO2(110) surface have been examined by means of periodic density-functional calculations that use a generalized gradient approximation functional including a Hubbard-like type correction. Deposition of Ce atoms leads in a first step to Ce3+ ions bound to the surface through bridge and in-plane oxygen atoms, the released electrons occupying the Ti 3d empty orbitals. Further addition of Ce and molecular oxygen gives place to Ce2O3 dimers diagonally arranged on the surface, in agreement with the spots observed in the scanning tunnel microscope images. The formation process of CeOx nanoparticles (NPs) on the TiO2 surface is highly exothermic and our calculations show that the redox properties of the Ce(III)-Ce(IV) couple are significantly altered when it is supported on TiO2. In particular the reactivity against CO/O2 indicates that on the surface the presence of Ce(III) is favored over Ce(IV) species. Our results also indicate that the CeOx/TiO2 interface should be seen like a real mixed-metal oxide rather than a supported NP of ceria. Finally, in the context of the high catalytic activity of the M /CeOx/TiO2 (M =Au,Cu,Pt) systems in the water-gas shift reaction, we have examined the dissociation of water on the CeOx/TiO2 surface and estimated a barrier as small as 0.04 eV, i.e. ˜8 times smaller than that computed for a TiO2 oxygen vacancy. This result agrees with the experimental superior catalytic activity of the M /CeOx/TiO2 systems over M /TiO2.

  20. Preferences for and Barriers to Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities

    PubMed Central

    Armstrong, Kirk J.; Weidner, Thomas G.

    2011-01-01

    Context: Our previous research determined the frequency of participation and perceived effect of formal and informal continuing education (CE) activities. However, actual preferences for and barriers to CE must be characterized. Objective: To determine the types of formal and informal CE activities preferred by athletic trainers (ATs) and barriers to their participation in these activities. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Athletic training practice settings. Patients or Other Participants: Of a geographically stratified random sample of 1000 ATs, 427 ATs (42.7%) completed the survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): As part of a larger study, the Survey of Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities (FIATCEA) was developed and administered electronically. The FIATCEA consists of demographic characteristics and Likert scale items (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) about preferred CE activities and barriers to these activities. Internal consistency of survey items, as determined by Cronbach α, was 0.638 for preferred CE activities and 0.860 for barriers to these activities. Descriptive statistics were computed for all items. Differences between respondent demographic characteristics and preferred CE activities and barriers to these activities were determined via analysis of variance and dependent t tests. The α level was set at .05. Results: Hands-on clinical workshops and professional networking were the preferred formal and informal CE activities, respectively. The most frequently reported barriers to formal CE were the cost of attending and travel distance, whereas the most frequently reported barriers to informal CE were personal and job-specific factors. Differences were noted between both the cost of CE and travel distance to CE and all other barriers to CE participation (F1,411 = 233.54, P < .001). Conclusions: Overall, ATs preferred formal CE activities. The same barriers (eg, cost, travel distance) to formal CE appeared to be universal to all ATs. Informal CE was highly valued by ATs because it could be individualized. PMID:22488195

  1. Preparation and Oxidation Performance of Y and Ce-Modified Cr Coating on open-cell Ni-Cr-Fe Alloy Foam by the Pack Cementation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pang, Q.; Hu, Z. L.; Wu, G. H.

    2016-12-01

    Metallic foams with a high fraction of porosity, low density and high-energy absorption capacity are a rapidly emerging class of novel ultralight weight materials for various engineering applications. In this study, Y-Cr and Ce-Cr-coated Ni-Cr-Fe alloy foams were prepared via the pack cementation method, and the effects of Y and Ce addition on the coating microstructure and oxidation performance were analyzed in order to improve the oxidation resistance of open-cell nickel-based alloy foams. The results show that the Ce-Cr coating is relatively more uniform and has a denser distribution on the surface of the nickel-based alloy foam. The surface grains of the Ce-Cr-coated alloy foam are finer compared to those of the Y-Cr-coated alloy foam. An obvious Ce peak appears on the interface between the coating and the alloy foam strut, which gives rise to a "site-blocking" effect for the short-circuit transport of the cation in the substrate. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the Y-Cr-coated alloy foam mainly consists of Cr, (Fe, Ni) and (Ni, Cr) phases in the surface layer. The Ce-Cr-coated alloy foam is mainly composed of Cr and (Ni, Cr) phases. Furthermore, the addition of Y and Ce clearly lead to an improvement in the oxidation resistance of the coated alloy foams in the temperature range of 900-1000 °C. The addition of Ce is especially effective in enhancing the diffusion of chromium to the oxidation front, thus, accelerating the formation of a Cr2O3 layer.

  2. Evaluation of the role of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the pulmonary and the hepatic toxicity induced by cerium oxide nanoparticles following intratracheal instillation in male Sprague-Dawley rats

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nalabotu, Siva Krishna

    The field of nanotechnology is rapidly progressing with potential applications in the automobile, healthcare, electronics, cosmetics, textiles, information technology, and environmental sectors. Nanomaterials are engineered structures with at least one dimension of 100 nanometers or less. With increased applications of nanotechnology, there are increased chances of exposure to manufactured nanomaterials. Recent reports on the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials have given scientific and regulatory agencies concerns over the safety of nanomaterials. Specifically, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has identified fourteen high priority nanomaterials for study. Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles are one among the high priority group. Recent data suggest that CeO2 nanoparticles may be toxic to lung cell lines in vitro and lung tissues in vivo. Other work has proposed that oxidative stress may play an important role in the toxicity; however, the exact mechanism of the toxicity, has to our knowledge, not been investigated. Similarly, it is not clear whether CeO2 nanoparticles exhibit systemic toxicity. Here, we investigate whether pulmonary exposure to CeO2 nanoparticles is associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the lungs and liver of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Our data suggest that the intratracheal instillation of CeO2 nanoparticles can cause an increased lung weight to body weight ratio. Changes in lung weights were associated with the accumulation of cerium in the lungs, elevations in serum inflammatory markers, an increased Bax to Bcl-2 ratio, elevated caspase-3 protein levels, increased phosphorylation of p38-MAPK and diminished phosphorylation of ERK1/2-MAPK. Our findings from the study evaluating the possible translocation of CeO2 nanoparticles from the lungs to the liver suggest that CeO 2 nanoparticle exposure was associated with increased liver ceria levels, elevations in serum alanine transaminase levels, reduced albumin levels, a diminished sodium-potassium ratio and decreased serum triglyceride levels. Consistent with these data, rats exposed to CeO2 nanoparticles also exhibited reductions in liver weight and dose dependent hydropic degeneration, hepatocyte enlargement, sinusoidal dilatation and the accumulation of granular material in the hepatocytes. In a follow-up study, we next examined if CeO2 deposition in the liver is characterized by increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that increased cerium in the liver is associated with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis as assessed from hydroethidium staining, the analysis of lipid peroxidation, and TUNEL staining. In addition, increased cerium concentration in the liver was associated with an increased Bax to Bcl-2 ratio, elevated caspase-9 and elevated caspase-3 protein levels. Taken together, these data suggest that exposure to CeO 2 nanoparticles is associated with increased oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis in the lungs. It is also evident that CeO2 nanoparticles can translocate to liver and induce hepatic damage. The hepatic damage induced by CeO2 nanoparticles is associated with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in the liver.

  3. PaLaCe: A Coarse-Grain Protein Model for Studying Mechanical Properties.

    PubMed

    Pasi, Marco; Lavery, Richard; Ceres, Nicoletta

    2013-01-08

    We present a coarse-grain protein model PaLaCe (Pasi-Lavery-Ceres) that has been developed principally to allow fast computational studies of protein mechanics and to clarify the links between mechanics and function. PaLaCe uses a two-tier protein representation with one to three pseudoatoms representing each amino acid for the main nonbonded interactions, combined with atomic-scale peptide groups and some side chain atoms to allow the explicit representation of backbone hydrogen bonds and to simplify the treatment of bonded interactions. The PaLaCe force field is composed of physics-based terms, parametrized using Boltzmann inversion of conformational probability distributions derived from a protein structure data set, and iteratively refined to reproduce the experimental distributions. PaLaCe has been implemented in the MMTK simulation package and can be used for energy minimization, normal mode calculations, and molecular or stochastic dynamics. We present simulations with PaLaCe that test its ability to maintain stable structures for folded proteins, reproduce their dynamic fluctuations, and correctly model large-scale, force-induced conformational changes.

  4. Monitoring the environmental effects of CeO2 and ZnO nanoparticles through the life cycle of corn (Zea mays) plants and in situ μ-XRF mapping of nutrients in kernels.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Lijuan; Sun, Youping; Hernandez-Viezcas, Jose A; Hong, Jie; Majumdar, Sanghamitra; Niu, Genhua; Duarte-Gardea, Maria; Peralta-Videa, Jose R; Gardea-Torresdey, Jorge L

    2015-03-03

    Information about changes in physiological and agronomic parameters through the life cycle of plants exposed to engineered nanoparticles (NPs) is scarce. In this study, corn (Zea mays) plants were cultivated to full maturity in soil amended with either nCeO2 or nZnO at 0, 400, and 800 mg/kg. Gas exchange was monitored every 10 days, and at harvest, bioaccumulation of Ce and Zn in tissues was determined by ICP-OES/MS. The effects of NPs exposure on nutrient concentration and distribution in ears were also evaluated by ICP-OES and μ-XRF. Results showed that nCeO2 at both concentrations did not impact gas exchange in leaves at any growth stage, while nZnO at 800 mg/kg reduced net photosynthesis by 12%, stomatal conductance by 15%, and relative chlorophyll content by 10% at day 20. Yield was reduced by 38% with nCeO2 and by 49% with nZnO. Importantly, μ-XRF mapping showed that nCeO2 changed the allocation of calcium in kernels, compared to controls. In nCeO2 treated plants, Cu, K, Mn, and Zn were mainly localized at the insertion of kernels into cobs, but Ca and Fe were distributed in other parts of the kernels. Results showed that nCeO2 and nZnO reduced corn yield and altered quality of corn.

  5. Filling the Assurance Gap on Complex Electronics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Plastow, Richard A.

    2007-01-01

    Many of the methods used to develop software bare a close resemblance to Complex Electronics (CE) development. CE are now programmed to perform tasks that were previously handled by software, such as communication protocols. For example, the James Webb Space Telescope will use Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which can have over a million logic gates, to send telemetry. System-on-chip (SoC) devices, another type of complex electronics, can combine a microprocessor, input and output channels, and sometimes an FPGA for programmability. With this increased intricacy, the possibility of software-like bugs such as incorrect design, logic, and unexpected interactions within the logic is great. Since CE devices are obscuring the hardware/software boundary, mature software methodologies have been proposed, with slight modifications, to develop these devices. By using standardized S/W Engineering methods such as checklists, missing requirements and bugs can be detected earlier in the development cycle, thus creating a development process for CE that can be easily maintained and configurable based on the device used.

  6. Software Process Assurance for Complex Electronics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Plastow, Richard A.

    2007-01-01

    Complex Electronics (CE) now perform tasks that were previously handled in software, such as communication protocols. Many methods used to develop software bare a close resemblance to CE development. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) can have over a million logic gates while system-on-chip (SOC) devices can combine a microprocessor, input and output channels, and sometimes an FPGA for programmability. With this increased intricacy, the possibility of software-like bugs such as incorrect design, logic, and unexpected interactions within the logic is great. With CE devices obscuring the hardware/software boundary, we propose that mature software methodologies may be utilized with slight modifications in the development of these devices. Software Process Assurance for Complex Electronics (SPACE) is a research project that used standardized S/W Assurance/Engineering practices to provide an assurance framework for development activities. Tools such as checklists, best practices and techniques were used to detect missing requirements and bugs earlier in the development cycle creating a development process for CE that was more easily maintained, consistent and configurable based on the device used.

  7. Rapid Assessment of the Ce-Co-Fe-Cu System for Permanent Magnetic Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meng, F.; Chaudhary, R. P.; Gandha, K.; Nlebedim, I. C.; Palasyuk, A.; Simsek, E.; Kramer, M. J.; Ott, R. T.

    2018-06-01

    This work focuses on the rapid synthesis and characterization of quaternary Ce(CoFeCu)5 alloy libraries to assess their potential viability as permanent magnets. Arrays of bulk specimens with controlled compositions were synthesized via laser engineered net shaping (LENS) by feeding different ratios of alloy powders into a melt pool created by a laser. Based on the assessment of the magnetic properties of the LENS printed samples, arc-melted and cast ingots were prepared with varying Fe (5-20 at.%) and Co (60-45 at.%) compositions while maintaining constant Ce (16 at.%) and Cu (19 at.%) content. The evolution of the microstructure and phases with varying chemical compositions and their dependence on magnetic properties are analyzed in as-cast and heat-treated samples. In both the LENS printed and cast samples, we find the best magnetic properties correspond to a predominantly single-phase Ce(CoFeCu)5 microstructure in which high coercivity ( H c > 10 kOe) can be achieved without any microstructural refinement.

  8. Down-conversion phosphors as noble-metal-free co-catalyst in ZnO for efficient visible light photocatalysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chu, Haipeng; Liu, Xinjuan; Liu, Jiaqing; Lei, Wenyan; Li, Jinliang; Wu, Tianyang; Li, Ping; Li, Huili; Pan, Likun

    2017-01-01

    Exploring novel visible light responsive photocatalysts is one of greatly significant issues from the viewpoint of using solar energy. Here we report the yellow-orange emitting α-Si3N4-doped Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+ (Lu3Al5-xSixO12-xNx:Ce3+) phosphors as a noble-metal-free co-catalyst for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of ZnO. The results show that ZnO-Lu3Al5-xSixO12-xNx:Ce3+ hybrid photocatalysts using a fast microwave-assisted approach exhibits a 91% methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible light irradiation at 240 min, which evidence the synergistic effect of ZnO and Lu3Al5-xSixO12-xNx:Ce3+ that suppress the rate of charge recombination and increase the self-sensitized degradation of MB. ZnO-down conversion phosphors can be envisaged as potential candidate in environmental engineering and solar energy applications.

  9. Rapid Assessment of the Ce-Co-Fe-Cu System for Permanent Magnetic Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meng, F.; Chaudhary, R. P.; Gandha, K.; Nlebedim, I. C.; Palasyuk, A.; Simsek, E.; Kramer, M. J.; Ott, R. T.

    2018-04-01

    This work focuses on the rapid synthesis and characterization of quaternary Ce(CoFeCu)5 alloy libraries to assess their potential viability as permanent magnets. Arrays of bulk specimens with controlled compositions were synthesized via laser engineered net shaping (LENS) by feeding different ratios of alloy powders into a melt pool created by a laser. Based on the assessment of the magnetic properties of the LENS printed samples, arc-melted and cast ingots were prepared with varying Fe (5-20 at.%) and Co (60-45 at.%) compositions while maintaining constant Ce (16 at.%) and Cu (19 at.%) content. The evolution of the microstructure and phases with varying chemical compositions and their dependence on magnetic properties are analyzed in as-cast and heat-treated samples. In both the LENS printed and cast samples, we find the best magnetic properties correspond to a predominantly single-phase Ce(CoFeCu)5 microstructure in which high coercivity (H c > 10 kOe) can be achieved without any microstructural refinement.

  10. Role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibroblast function in cerium oxide nanoparticles-induced lung fibrosis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ma, Jane

    The emission of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO{sub 2}) from diesel engines, using cerium compounds as a catalyst to lower the diesel exhaust particles, is a health concern. We have previously shown that CeO{sub 2} induced pulmonary inflammation and lung fibrosis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the modification of fibroblast function and the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CeO{sub 2}-induced fibrosis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to CeO{sub 2} (0.15 to 7 mg/kg) by a single intratracheal instillation and sacrificed at various times post-exposure. The results show that at 28 days after CeO{sub 2} (3.5 mg/kg)more » exposure, lung fibrosis was evidenced by increased soluble collagen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, elevated hydroxyproline content in lung tissues, and enhanced sirius red staining for collagen in the lung tissue. Lung fibroblasts and alveolar type II (ATII) cells isolated from CeO{sub 2}-exposed rats at 28 days post-exposure demonstrated decreasing proliferation rate when compare to the controls. CeO{sub 2} exposure was cytotoxic and altered cell function as demonstrated by fibroblast apoptosis and aggregation, and ATII cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia with increased surfactant. The presence of stress fibers, expressed as α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), in CeO{sub 2}-exposed fibroblasts and ATII cells was significantly increased compared to the control. Immunohistofluorescence analysis demonstrated co-localization of TGF-β or α-SMA with prosurfactant protein C (SPC)-stained ATII cells. These results demonstrate that CeO{sub 2} exposure affects fibroblast function and induces EMT in ATII cells that play a role in lung fibrosis. These findings suggest potential adverse health effects in response to CeO{sub 2} nanoparticle exposure. - Highlights: • CeO{sub 2} exposure induced lung fibrosis. • CeO{sub 2} were detected in lung tissue, alveolar type II (ATII) cells and fibroblasts. • CeO{sub 2} caused ATII cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia and altered fibroblast function. • Increased α-SMA in CeO{sub 2}-exposed lung fibroblasts indicating myofibroblast formation. • CeO{sub 2} induced EMT in ATII cells demonstrated as increased α-SMA expression.« less

  11. Contrast-Enhanced [{sup 18}F]fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Staging and Radiotherapy Planning in Patients With Anal Cancer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bannas, Peter, E-mail: p.bannas@uke.de; Weber, Christoph; Adam, Gerhard

    2011-10-01

    Purpose: The practice of surgical staging and treatment of anal cancer has been replaced by noninvasive staging and combined modality therapy. For appropriate patient management, accurate lymph node staging is crucial. The present study evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced [{sup 18}F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([{sup 18}F]FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for staging and radiotherapy planning of anal cancer. Methods and Materials: A total of 22 consecutive patients (median age, 61 years old) with anal cancer underwent complete staging evaluation including physical examination, biopsy of the primary tumor, and contrast-enhanced (ce)-PET/CT. Patients were positioned as they would be for their subsequentmore » radiotherapy. PET and CT images were evaluated independently for detectability and localization of the primary tumor, pelvic and inguinal lymph nodes, and distant metastasis. The stage, determined by CT or PET alone, and the proposed therapy planning were compared with the stage and management determined by ce-PET/CT. Data from ce-PET/CT were used for radiotherapy planning. Results: ce-PET/CT revealed locoregional lymph node metastasis in 11 of 22 patients (50%). After simultaneous reading of PET and CT data sets by experienced observers, 3 patients (14%) were found to have sites of disease not seen on CT that were identified on PET. Two patients had sites of disease not seen on PET that were identified on CT. In summary, 2 patients were upstaged, and 4 patients were downstaged due to ce-PET/CT. However, radiotherapy fields were changed due to the results from ce-PET/CT in 23% of cases compared to CT or PET results alone. Conclusions: ce-PET/CT is superior to PET or CT alone for staging of anal cancer, with significant impact on therapy planning.« less

  12. Developing an interdisciplinary certificate program in transportation planning.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-09-01

    This project develops and implements a graduate certificate in transportation planning. Texas A&M : University (A&M) currently offers instruction in transportation through its Master of Urban Planning (MUP) : and Civil Engineering (CE) programs; howe...

  13. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    The Department of Energy (DOE) has contracted with Asea Brown Boveri-Combustion Engineering (ABB-CE) to provide information on the capability of ABB-CE`s System 80 + Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) to transform, through reactor burnup, 100 metric tonnes (MT) of weapons grade plutonium (Pu) into a form which is not readily useable in weapons. This information is being developed as part of DOE`s Plutonium Disposition Study, initiated by DOE in response to Congressional action. This document Volume 2, provides a discussion of: Plutonium Fuel Cycle; Technology Needs; Regulatory Considerations; Cost and Schedule Estimates; and Deployment Strategy.

  14. The utility of breast cone-beam computed tomography, ultrasound, and digital mammography for detecting malignant breast tumors: A prospective study with 212 patients.

    PubMed

    He, Ni; Wu, Yao-Pan; Kong, Yanan; Lv, Ning; Huang, Zhi-Mei; Li, Sheng; Wang, Yue; Geng, Zhi-Jun; Wu, Pei-Hong; Wei, Wei-Dong

    2016-02-01

    Breast cone-beam computed tomography (BCBCT) is a flat-panel detector (FPD)-based X-ray imaging system that provides high-quality images of the breast. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability to detect breast abnormalities using non-contrast BCBCT and contrast-enhanced BCBCT (BCBCT and CE-BCBCT) compared to ultrasound (US) and digital mammography (MG). A prospective study was performed from May 2012 to August 2014. Ninety-two patients (172 lesions) underwent BCBCT alone, and 120 patients (270 lesions) underwent BCBCT and CE-BCBCT, all the patients underwent US and MG. Cancer diagnosis was confirmed pathologically in 102 patients (110 lesions). BCBCT identified 97 of 110 malignant lesions, whereas 93 malignant lesions were identified using MG and US. The areas under the receiver operating curves (AUCs) for breast cancer diagnosis were 0.861 (BCBCT), 0.856 (US), and 0.829 (MG). CE-BCBCT improved cancer diagnostic sensitivity by 20.3% (78.4-98.7%). The AUC values were 0.869 (CE-BCBCT), 0.846 (BCBCT), 0.834 (US), and 0.782 (MG). In this preliminary study, BCBCT was found to accurately identify malignant breast lesions in a diagnostic setting. CE-BCBCT provided additional information and improved cancer diagnosis in style c or d breasts compared to the use of BCBCT, US, or MG alone. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  15. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 3: Primary Circuit. Student Guide. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bacon, E. Miles

    This student guide is for Unit 3, Primary Circuit, in the Engine Tune-Up Service portion of the Automotive Mechanics Curriculum. It deals with how to test the primary ignition circuit. A companion review exercise book and posttests are available separately as CE 031 212-213. An introduction tells how this unit fits into the total tune-up service,…

  16. Engine Tune-up Service. Unit 2: Charging System. Student Guide. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Richardson, Roger L.; Bacon, E. Miles

    This student guide is for Unit 2, Charging System, in the Engine Tune-Up Service portion of the Automotive Mechanics Curriculum. It deals with how to test the charging system. A companion review exercise book and posttests are available separately as CE 031 209-210. An introduction tells how this unit fits into the total tune-up service, defines…

  17. Engine Tune-Up Service. Unit 5: Fuel and Carburetion Systems. Review Exercise Book. Automotive Mechanics Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Goodson, Ludy

    This book of pretests and review exercises is designed to accompany the Engine Tune-Up Service Student Guide for Unit 5, Fuel and Carburetion Systems, available separately as CE 031 217. Focus of the exercises and pretests is inspecting and servicing the fuel and carburetion systems. Pretests and performance checklists are provided for each of the…

  18. Development of Alternative Continuing Educational Systems for Preventing the Technological Obsolescence of Air Force Scientists and Engineers. Volume 1. Basic Study.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Slebodnick, Edward B.; And Others

    Volume 1 of the study reports a work effort to define and give guidelines for the acquisition of cost-effective alternative continuing education (CE) systems to prevent the technological obsolescence of Air Force military scientific and engineering officer personnel. A detailed background survey of the problem was conducted using questionnaires,…

  19. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography for preoperative imaging of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps: advantages and disadvantages compared with computed tomography angiography: a United Kingdom perspective.

    PubMed

    Schaverien, Mark V; Ludman, Catherine N; Neil-Dwyer, Jason; McCulley, Stephen J

    2011-12-01

    The anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall is highly variable and leads to uncertainty when harvesting a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap. Presurgical imaging has been shown to reduce the operating time, as well as reduce the rates of flap and donor site complications. The importance of imaging of the venous system has also been recognized for reducing the risk of venous congestion. The modalities currently available for presurgical imaging include handheld Doppler ultrasound, duplex ultrasound, computed tomographic angiography (CTA), and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA). Of these, the most promising are CTA and CE-MRA, and advantages and disadvantages exist for both modalities. In this article, we review the use of CE-MRA for preoperative flap imaging and report our experience with its use in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap harvest, as well as compare it with CTA. We also explore the future directions for presurgical flap imaging.

  20. Individually optimized contrast-enhanced 4D-CT for radiotherapy simulation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Xue, Ming; Lane, Barton F.; Kang, Min Kyu; Patel, Kruti; Regine, William F.; Klahr, Paul; Wang, Jiahui; Chen, Shifeng; D’Souza, Warren; Lu, Wei

    2016-01-01

    Purpose: To develop an individually optimized contrast-enhanced (CE) 4D-computed tomography (CT) for radiotherapy simulation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDA). Methods: Ten PDA patients were enrolled. Each underwent three CT scans: a 4D-CT immediately following a CE 3D-CT and an individually optimized CE 4D-CT using test injection. Three physicians contoured the tumor and pancreatic tissues. Image quality scores, tumor volume, motion, tumor-to-pancreas contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were compared in the three CTs. Interobserver variations were also evaluated in contouring the tumor using simultaneous truth and performance level estimation. Results: Average image quality scores for CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT were comparable (4.0 and 3.8, respectively; P = 0.082), and both were significantly better than that for 4D-CT (2.6, P < 0.001). Tumor-to-pancreas contrast results were comparable in CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT (15.5 and 16.7 Hounsfield units (HU), respectively; P = 0.21), and the latter was significantly higher than in 4D-CT (9.2 HU, P = 0.001). Image noise in CE 3D-CT (12.5 HU) was significantly lower than in CE 4D-CT (22.1 HU, P = 0.013) and 4D-CT (19.4 HU, P = 0.009). CNRs were comparable in CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT (1.4 and 0.8, respectively; P = 0.42), and both were significantly better in 4D-CT (0.6, P = 0.008 and 0.014). Mean tumor volumes were significantly smaller in CE 3D-CT (29.8 cm3, P = 0.03) and CE 4D-CT (22.8 cm3, P = 0.01) than in 4D-CT (42.0 cm3). Mean tumor motion was comparable in 4D-CT and CE 4D-CT (7.2 and 6.2 mm, P = 0.17). Interobserver variations were comparable in CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT (Jaccard index 66.0% and 61.9%, respectively) and were worse for 4D-CT (55.6%) than CE 3D-CT. Conclusions: CE 4D-CT demonstrated characteristics comparable to CE 3D-CT, with high potential for simultaneously delineating the tumor and quantifying tumor motion with a single scan. PMID:27782710

  1. Common Envelope Evolution: Implications for Post-AGB Stars and Planetary Nebulae

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nordhaus, J.

    2017-10-01

    Common envelopes (CE) are of broad interest as they represent one method by which binaries with initially long-period orbits of a few years can be converted into short-period orbits of a few hours. Despite their importance, the brief lifetimes of CE phases make them difficult to directly observe. Nevertheless, CE interactions are potentially common, can produce a diverse array of nebular shapes, and can accommodate current post-AGB and planetary nebula outflow constraints. Here, I discuss ongoing theoretical and computational work on CEs and speculate on what lies ahead for determining accurate outcomes of this elusive phase of evolution.

  2. Reduced combustion mechanism for C1-C4 hydrocarbons and its application in computational fluid dynamics flare modeling.

    PubMed

    Damodara, Vijaya; Chen, Daniel H; Lou, Helen H; Rasel, Kader M A; Richmond, Peyton; Wang, Anan; Li, Xianchang

    2017-05-01

    Emissions from flares constitute unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (CO), soot, and other partially burned and altered hydrocarbons along with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water. Soot or visible smoke is of particular concern for flare operators/regulatory agencies. The goal of the study is to develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model capable of predicting flare combustion efficiency (CE) and soot emission. Since detailed combustion mechanisms are too complicated for (CFD) application, a 50-species reduced mechanism, LU 3.0.1, was developed. LU 3.0.1 is capable of handling C 4 hydrocarbons and soot precursor species (C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 , C 6 H 6 ). The new reduced mechanism LU 3.0.1 was first validated against experimental performance indicators: laminar flame speed, adiabatic flame temperature, and ignition delay. Further, CFD simulations using LU 3.0.1 were run to predict soot emission and CE of air-assisted flare tests conducted in 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, using ANSYS Fluent software. Results of non-premixed probability density function (PDF) model and eddy dissipation concept (EDC) model are discussed. It is also noteworthy that when used in conjunction with the EDC turbulence-chemistry model, LU 3.0.1 can reasonably predict volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions as well. A reduced combustion mechanism containing 50 C 1 -C 4 species and soot precursors has been developed and validated against experimental data. The combustion mechanism is then employed in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of modeling of soot emission and combustion efficiency (CE) of controlled flares for which experimental soot and CE data are available. The validated CFD modeling tools are useful for oil, gas, and chemical industries to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) mandate to achieve smokeless flaring with a high CE.

  3. Root Canal Transportation and Centering Ability of Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments in Mandibular Premolars Assessed Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

    PubMed

    Mamede-Neto, Iussif; Borges, Alvaro Henrique; Guedes, Orlando Aguirre; de Oliveira, Durvalino; Pedro, Fábio Luis Miranda; Estrela, Carlos

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), transportation and centralization of different nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments. One hundred and twenty eight mandibular premolars were selected and instrumented using the following brands of NiTi files: WaveOne, WaveOne Gold, Reciproc, ProTaper Next, ProTaper Gold, Mtwo, BioRaCe and RaCe. CBCT imaging was performed before and after root canal preparation to obtain measurements of mesial and distal dentin walls and calculations of root canal transportation and centralization. A normal distribution of data was confirmed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene tests, and results were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Statistical significance was set at 5%. ProTaper Gold produced the lowest canal transportation values, and RaCe, the highest. ProTaper Gold files also showed the highest values for centering ability, whereas BioRaCe showed the lowest. No significant differences were found across the different instruments in terms of canal transportation and centering ability (P > 0.05). Based on the methodology employed, all instruments used for root canal preparation of mandibular premolars performed similarly with regard to canal transportation and centering ability.

  4. Impact of intravenous contrast used in computed tomography on radiation dose to carotid arteries and thyroid in intensity-modulated radiation therapy planning for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lee, Victor Ho Fun, E-mail: vhflee@hku.hk; Ng, Sherry Chor Yi; Kwong, Dora Lai Wan

    The aim of this study was to investigate if intravenous contrast injection affected the radiation doses to carotid arteries and thyroid during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Thirty consecutive patients with NPC underwent plain computed tomography (CT) followed by repeated scanning after contrast injection. Carotid arteries (common, external, internal), thyroid, target volumes, and other organs-at-risk (OARs), as well as IMRT planning, were based on contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) images. All these structures and the IMRT plans were then copied and transferred to the non–contrast-enhanced CT (NCE-CT) images, and dose calculation without optimization was performed again. The radiationmore » doses to the carotid arteries and the thyroid based on CE-CT and NCE-CT were then compared. Based on CE-CT, no statistical differences, despite minute numeric decreases, were noted in all dosimetric parameters (minimum, maximum, mean, median, D05, and D01) of the target volumes, the OARs, the carotid arteries, and the thyroid compared with NCE-CT. Our results suggested that compared with NCE-CT planning, CE-CT scanning should be performed during IMRT for better target and OAR delineation, without discernible change in radiation doses.« less

  5. An Update on Improvements to NiCE Support for RELAP-7

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    McCaskey, Alex; Wojtowicz, Anna; Deyton, Jordan H.

    The Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) is a framework that facilitates the development of applications that rely on finite-element analysis to solve a coupled, nonlinear system of partial differential equations. RELAP-7 represents an update to the venerable RELAP-5 simulator that is built upon this framework and attempts to model the balance-of-plant concerns in a full nuclear plant. This report details the continued support and integration of RELAP-7 and the NEAMS Integrated Computational Environment (NiCE). RELAP-7 is fully supported by the NiCE due to on-going work to tightly integrate NiCE with the MOOSE framework, and subsequently the applications built upon it.more » NiCE development throughout the first quarter of FY15 has focused on improvements, bug fixes, and feature additions to existing MOOSE-based application support. Specifically, this report will focus on improvements to the NiCE MOOSE Model Builder, the MOOSE application job launcher, and the 3D Nuclear Plant Viewer. This report also includes a comprehensive tutorial that guides RELAP-7 users through the basic NiCE workflow: from input generation and 3D Plant modeling, to massively parallel job launch and post-simulation data visualization.« less

  6. Direct stimulation of human fibroblasts by nCeO2 in vitro is attenuated with an amorphous silica coating.

    PubMed

    Davidson, Donna C; Derk, Raymond; He, Xiaoqing; Stueckle, Todd A; Cohen, Joel; Pirela, Sandra V; Demokritou, Philip; Rojanasakul, Yon; Wang, Liying

    2016-05-04

    Nano-scaled cerium oxide (nCeO2) is used in a variety of applications, including use as a fuel additive, catalyst, and polishing agent, yet potential adverse health effects associated with nCeO2 exposure remain incompletely understood. Given the increasing utility and demand for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) such as nCeO2, "safety-by-design" approaches are currently being sought, meaning that the physicochemical properties (e.g., size and surface chemistry) of the ENMs are altered in an effort to maximize functionality while minimizing potential toxicity. In vivo studies have shown in a rat model that inhaled nCeO2 deposited deep in the lung and induced fibrosis. However, little is known about how the physicochemical properties of nCeO2, or the coating of the particles with a material such as amorphous silica (aSiO2), may affect the bio-activity of these particles. Thus, we hypothesized that the physicochemical properties of nCeO2 may explain its potential to induce fibrogenesis, and that a nano-thin aSiO2 coating on nCeO2 may counteract that effect. Primary normal human lung fibroblasts were treated at occupationally relevant doses with nCeO2 that was either left uncoated or was coated with aSiO2 (amsCeO2). Subsequently, fibroblasts were analyzed for known hallmarks of fibrogenesis, including cell proliferation and collagen production, as well as the formation of fibroblastic nodules. The results of this study are consistent with this hypothesis, as we found that nCeO2 directly induced significant production of collagen I and increased cell proliferation in vitro, while amsCeO2 did not. Furthermore, treatment of fibroblasts with nCeO2, but not amsCeO2, significantly induced the formation of fibroblastic nodules, a clear indicator of fibrogenicity. Such in vitro data is consistent with recent in vivo observations using the same nCeO2 nanoparticles and relevant doses. This effect appeared to be mediated through TGFβ signaling since chemical inhibition of the TGFβ receptor abolished these responses. These results indicate that differences in the physicochemical properties of nCeO2 may alter the fibrogenicity of this material, thus highlighting the potential benefits of "safety-by-design" strategies. In addition, this study provides an efficient in vitro method for testing the fibrogenicity of ENMs that strongly correlates with in vivo findings.

  7. Relative hypotension increases the probability of the need for angioembolisation in pelvic fracture patients without contrast extravasation on computed tomography scan.

    PubMed

    Kuo, Ling-Wei; Yang, Shang-Ju; Fu, Chih-Yuan; Liao, Chien-Hung; Wang, Shang-Yu; Wu, Shih-Chi

    2016-01-01

    In the evaluation of haemorrhage in trauma patients with pelvic fractures, contrast extravasation (CE) on computed tomography (CT) scan often implies active arterial bleeding. However, the absence of CE on CT scan does not always exclude the need for transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) to achieve haemostasis. In the current study, we evaluated the factors associated with the need for TAE in patients without CE on CT scan. These factors may be evaluated as adjuncts to CT scanning in the management of patients with pelvic fractures. We retrospectively reviewed our trauma registry and medical records of patients with pelvic fractures. When CE was observed, indicating active haemorrhage, the patients underwent TAE to achieve haemostasis. In contrast, patients without CE were held for observation and treatment of their injuries, and if their condition deteriorated after a delayed interval, they were then also referred for TAE if no other focus of haemorrhage was found. Patients without CE on CT scan but with retroperitoneal haemorrhage requiring TAE were investigated. Their demographic characteristics, associated injuries, fracture patterns, and changes in systolic blood pressure were described and analysed. In total, 201 patients with pelvic fracture underwent CT scan examination; 47 (23.4%) had CE by CT scan, whereas the other 154 (76.6%) did not. Of the 154 patients who did not show CE by CT scan, 124 (80.5%) patients never underwent TAE; however, 30 (19.5%) of these patients did eventually undergo TAE. In comparing the patients who underwent TAE to those who did not undergo TAE among patients without CE on CT scan, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) on arrival (median: 100.0 mmHg vs 136.0 mmHg, p<0.01) and the lowest SBP recorded in the ED (median: 68.0 mmHg vs 129.0 mmHg, p<0.01) were significantly lower in the patients who underwent TAE. The ROC curve analysis revealed that the most appropriate cutoff value of decrement of SBP (SBP on arrival minus the lowest SBP in the ED) was 30 mmHg (AUC=0.89). In the management of pelvic fracture patients, greater attention should be directed toward patients with relative hypotension. The higher likelihood of haemodynamic deterioration and the need for TAE for haemorrhage control should remain under consideration in such cases, despite the absence of CE by CT scan. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    This final safety evaluation report (FSER) documents the technical review of the System 80+ standard design by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff. The application for the System 80+ design was submitted by Combustion Engineering, Inc., now Asea Brown Boveri-Combustion Engineering (ABB-CE) as an application for design approval and subsequent design certification pursuant to 10 CFR {section} 52.45. System 80+ is a pressurized water reactor with a rated power of 3914 megawatts thermal (MWt) and a design power of 3992 MWt at which accidents are analyzed. Many features of the System 80+ are similar to those of Abb-CE`s Systemmore » 80 design from which it evolved. Unique features of the System 80+ design included: a large spherical, steel containment; an in-containment refueling water storage tank; a reactor cavity flooding system, hydrogen ignitors, and a safety depressurization system for severe accident mitigation; a combustion gas turbine for an alternate ac source; and an advanced digitally based control room. On the basis of its evaluation and independent analyses, the NRC staff concludes that ABB-CE`s application for design certification meets the requirements of Subpart B of 10 CFR Part 52 that are applicable and technically relevant to the System 80+ standard design. This document, Volume 1, contains Chapters 1 through 14 of this report.« less

  9. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    This final safety evaluation report (FSER) documents the technical review of the System 80+ standard design by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff. The application for the system 80+ design was submitted by Combustion Engineering, Inc., now Asea Brown Boveri-Combustion Engineering (ABB-CE) as an application for design approval and subsequent design certification pursuant to 10 CFR {section} 52.45. System 80+ is a pressurized water reactor with a rated power of 3914 megawatts thermal (MWt) and a design power of 3992 MWt at which accidents are analyzed. Many features of the System 80+ are similar to those of ABB-CE`s Systemmore » 80 design from which it evolved. Unique features of the System 80+ design include: a large spherical, steel containment; an in-containment refueling water storage tank; a reactor cavity flooding system, hydrogen ignitors and a safety depressurization system for severe accident mitigation; a combustion gas turbine for an alternate ac source; and an advanced digitally based control room. On the basis of its evaluation and independent analyses, the NRC staff concludes that ABB-CE`s application for design certification meets the requirements of Subpart B of 10 CFR Part 52 that are applicable and technically relevant to the System 80+ standard design. This document, Volume 2, contains Chapters 15 through 22 and Appendices A through E.« less

  10. Dispersion Forces of Solids under Stress. Chemisorption under Stress.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-08-01

    The objective of the research summerized here was to determine the stress ce dependence of the chemical potential of atoms chemisorbed to metal...received by the scientific- engineering community. In- terest was shown to carry out the experiments suggested in our paper and we hope that this phase...out several benchmark theoretical investi- gations on our chemostress effect. These papers were well received by both .* scientific and engineering

  11. Solid frustrated-Lewis-pair catalysts constructed by regulations on surface defects of porous nanorods of CeO2

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Sai; Huang, Zheng-Qing; Ma, Yuanyuan; Gao, Wei; Li, Jing; Cao, Fangxian; Li, Lin; Chang, Chun-Ran; Qu, Yongquan

    2017-01-01

    Identification on catalytic sites of heterogeneous catalysts at atomic level is important to understand catalytic mechanism. Surface engineering on defects of metal oxides can construct new active sites and regulate catalytic activity and selectivity. Here we outline the strategy by controlling surface defects of nanoceria to create the solid frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) metal oxide for efficient hydrogenation of alkenes and alkynes. Porous nanorods of ceria (PN-CeO2) with a high concentration of surface defects construct new Lewis acidic sites by two adjacent surface Ce3+. The neighbouring surface lattice oxygen as Lewis base and constructed Lewis acid create solid FLP site due to the rigid lattice of ceria, which can easily dissociate H–H bond with low activation energy of 0.17 eV. PMID:28516952

  12. Exploiting opportunistic resources for ATLAS with ARC CE and the Event Service

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cameron, D.; Filipčič, A.; Guan, W.; Tsulaia, V.; Walker, R.; Wenaus, T.; ATLAS Collaboration

    2017-10-01

    With ever-greater computing needs and fixed budgets, big scientific experiments are turning to opportunistic resources as a means to add much-needed extra computing power. These resources can be very different in design from those that comprise the Grid computing of most experiments, therefore exploiting them requires a change in strategy for the experiment. They may be highly restrictive in what can be run or in connections to the outside world, or tolerate opportunistic usage only on condition that tasks may be terminated without warning. The Advanced Resource Connector Computing Element (ARC CE) with its nonintrusive architecture is designed to integrate resources such as High Performance Computing (HPC) systems into a computing Grid. The ATLAS experiment developed the ATLAS Event Service (AES) primarily to address the issue of jobs that can be terminated at any point when opportunistic computing capacity is needed by someone else. This paper describes the integration of these two systems in order to exploit opportunistic resources for ATLAS in a restrictive environment. In addition to the technical details, results from deployment of this solution in the SuperMUC HPC centre in Munich are shown.

  13. Cell uptake, intracellular distribution, fate and reactive oxygen species generation of polymer brush engineered CeO2-x NPs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qiu, Yuan; Rojas, Elena; Murray, Richard A.; Irigoyen, Joseba; Gregurec, Danijela; Castro-Hartmann, Pablo; Fledderman, Jana; Estrela-Lopis, Irina; Donath, Edwin; Moya, Sergio E.

    2015-04-01

    Cerium Oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-x NPs) are modified with polymer brushes of negatively charged poly (3-sulfopropylmethacrylate) (PSPM) and positively charged poly (2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC) by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP). CeO2-x NPs are fluorescently labelled by covalently attaching Alexa Fluor® 488/Fluorescein isothiocyanate to the NP surface prior to polymerisation. Cell uptake, intracellular distribution and the impact on the generation of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) with respect to CeO2-x NPs are studied by means of Raman Confocal Microscopy (CRM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). PSPM and PMETAC coated CeO2-x NPs show slower and less uptake compared to uncoated Brush modified NPs display a higher degree of co-localisation with cell endosomes and lysosomes after 24 h of incubation. They also show higher co-localisation with lipid bodies when compared to unmodified CeO2-x NPs. The brush coating does not prevent CeO2-x NPs from displaying antioxidant properties.Cerium Oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-x NPs) are modified with polymer brushes of negatively charged poly (3-sulfopropylmethacrylate) (PSPM) and positively charged poly (2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC) by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP). CeO2-x NPs are fluorescently labelled by covalently attaching Alexa Fluor® 488/Fluorescein isothiocyanate to the NP surface prior to polymerisation. Cell uptake, intracellular distribution and the impact on the generation of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) with respect to CeO2-x NPs are studied by means of Raman Confocal Microscopy (CRM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). PSPM and PMETAC coated CeO2-x NPs show slower and less uptake compared to uncoated Brush modified NPs display a higher degree of co-localisation with cell endosomes and lysosomes after 24 h of incubation. They also show higher co-localisation with lipid bodies when compared to unmodified CeO2-x NPs. The brush coating does not prevent CeO2-x NPs from displaying antioxidant properties. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00884k

  14. The CE3R Network: current status and future perspectives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lenhardt, Wolfgang; Pesaresi, Damiano; Živčić, Mladen; Costa, Giovanni; Kuk, Kresimir; Bondár, István; Duni, Llambro; Spacek, Petr

    2016-04-01

    In order to improve the monitoring of seismic activities in the border regions and to enhance the collaboration between countries and seismological institutions in Central Europe, the Environment Agency of the Slovenian Republic (ARSO), the Italian National Institute for Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), the University of Trieste (UniTS) and the Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) established in 2001 the "South Eastern Alps Transfrontier Seismological Network". In May 2014 ARSO, OGS, UniTS and ZAMG agreed to formalize the transfrontier network, to name it "Central and East European Earthquake Research Network", (CE3RN or CE3R Network) in order to locate it geographically since cross-border networks can be established in other areas of the world and to expand their cooperation, including institutions in other countries. The University of Zagreb (UniZG) joined CE3RN in October 2014. The Kövesligethy Radó Seismological Observatory (KRSZO) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences joined CE3RN in October 2015. The Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment (IGEWE) of the Polytechnic University of Tirana joined CE3RN in November 2015. The Institute of Physics of the Earth (IPE) of the Masaryk University in Brno joined CE3RN in November 2015. CE3RN Parties intend to formalize and possibly extend their ongoing cooperation in the field of seismological data acquisition, exchange and use for seismological and earthquake engineering and civil protection purposes. The purpose of this cooperation is to retain and expand the existing cross-border network, specify the rules of conduct in the network management, improvements, extensions and enlargements, enhance seismological research in the region, and support civil protection activities. Since the formal establishment of CE3RN, several common projects have been completed, like the SeismoSAT project for the seismic data center connection over satellite funded by the Interreg IV-A Italy-Austria program, and the Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS) PRESTo@CE3RN. We will here briefly introduce original and new CE3RN Parties, with a synthesis of the common results achieved so far and an indication of possible future developments.

  15. Interactive chemistry management system (ICMS); Field demonstration results at United Illuminating

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Noto, F.A.; Farrell, D.M.; Lombard, E.V.

    1988-01-01

    The authors report on a field demonstration of the interactive chemistry management system (ICMS) performed in the late summer of 1987 at the New Haven Harbor Station of United Illuminating Co. This demonstration was the first installation of the ICMS at an actual plant site. The ICMS is a computer-based system designed to monitor, diagnose, and provide optional automatic control of water and steam chemistry throughout the steam generator cycle. It is one of the diagnostic modules that comprises CE-TOPS (combustion engineering total on-line performance system), which continuously monitors operating conditions and suggests priority actions to increase operation efficiency, extendmore » the performance life of boiler components and reduce maintenance costs. By reducing the number of forced outages through early identification of potentially detrimental conditions, diagnosis of possible causes, and execution of corrective actions, improvements in unit availability and reliability will result.« less

  16. Target controlled infusion for kids: trials and simulations.

    PubMed

    Mehta, Disha; McCormack, Jon; Fung, Parry; Dumont, Guy; Ansermino, J

    2008-01-01

    Target controlled infusion (TCI) for Kids is a computer controlled system designed to administer propofol for general anesthesia. A controller establishes infusion rates required to achieve a specified concentration at the drug's effect site (C(e)) by implementing a continuously updated pharmacokinetic-pharmacodymanic model. This manuscript provides an overview of the system's design, preclinical tests, and a clinical pilot study. In pre-clinical tests, predicted infusion rates for 20 simulated procedures displayed complete convergent validity between two software implementations, Labview and Matlab, at computational intervals of 5, 10, and 15s, but diverged with 20s intervals due to system rounding errors. The volume of drug delivered by the TCI system also displayed convergent validity with Tivatrainer, a widely used TCI simulation software. Further tests, were conducted for 50 random procedures to evaluate discrepancies between volumes reported and those actually delivered by the system. Accuracies were within clinically acceptable ranges and normally distributed with a mean of 0.08 +/- 0.01 ml. In the clinical study, propofol pharmacokinetics were simulated for 30 surgical procedures involving children aged 3 months to 9 years. Predicted C(e) values during standard clinical practice, the accuracy of wake-up times predicted by the system, and potential correlations between patient wake-up times, C(e), and state entropy (SE) were assessed. Neither Ce nor SE was a reliable predictor of wake-up time in children, but the small sample size of this study does not fully accommodate the noted variation in children's response to propofol. A C(e) value of 1.9 mug/ml was found to best predict emergence from anesthesia in children.

  17. Mcps-range photon-counting X-ray computed tomography system utilizing an oscillating linear-YAP(Ce) photon detector

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oda, Yasuyuki; Sato, Eiichi; Abudurexiti, Abulajiang; Hagiwara, Osahiko; Osawa, Akihiro; Matsukiyo, Hiroshi; Enomoto, Toshiyuki; Watanabe, Manabu; Kusachi, Shinya; Sugimura, Shigeaki; Endo, Haruyuki; Sato, Shigehiro; Ogawa, Akira; Onagawa, Jun

    2011-07-01

    High-speed X-ray photon counting is useful for discriminating photon energy, and the counting can be used for constructing an X-ray computed tomography (CT) system. A photon-counting X-ray CT system consists of an X-ray generator, a turntable, an oscillation linear detector, a two-stage controller, a multipixel photon counter (MPPC) module, a 1.0 mm-thick crystal (scintillator) of YAP(Ce) (cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite), a counter card (CC), and a personal computer (PC). Tomography is accomplished by repeating the linear scanning and the rotation of an object, and projection curves of the object are obtained by the linear scanning using the detector consisting of an MPPC module, the YAP(Ce), and a scan stage. The pulses of the event signal from the module are counted by the CC in conjunction with the PC. Because the lower level of the photon energy was roughly determined by a comparator in the module, the average photon energy of the X-ray spectra increased with increase in the lower-level voltage of the comparator at a constant tube voltage. The maximum count rate was approximately 3 Mcps (mega counts per second), and photon-counting CT was carried out.

  18. Lab4CE: A Remote Laboratory for Computer Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Broisin, Julien; Venant, Rémi; Vidal, Philippe

    2017-01-01

    Remote practical activities have been demonstrated to be efficient when learners come to acquire inquiry skills. In computer science education, virtualization technologies are gaining popularity as this technological advance enables instructors to implement realistic practical learning activities, and learners to engage in authentic and…

  19. Military Presence: U.S. Personnel in NATO Europe.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-10-06

    Transportation 42nd Military 18th Engineer 26th Support Command Police Brigade Group Page.s GAO (.)SIA)-94)4 Militao I’ri-eeii in NATO Eurobpe Chapter 2...575 4th Transportation Command 3 585 0 3,585 7th Army Training Command 1 942 4 772 6,714 Other 0 9 551 9,551 Total 199,398 88,408 287,806 %ote Totals...p)ersolinel in Eiurope to siiI)l)01t Air Logistica SupportFor-ce op~erat ions. ’Ihel thr-ee largest commnands-the Air For-ce Commow- nications

  20. Structure and Bonding in CE5- (E=Al-Tl) Clusters: Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon versus Pentacoordinate Carbon.

    PubMed

    Ravell, Estefanía; Jalife, Said; Barroso, Jorge; Orozco-Ic, Mesías; Hernández-Juárez, Gerardo; Ortiz-Chi, Filiberto; Pan, Sudip; Cabellos, José Luis; Merino, Gabriel

    2018-03-24

    The structure, bonding, and stability of clusters with the empirical formula CE 5 - (E=Al-Tl) have been analyzed by means of high-level computations. The results indicate that, whereas aluminum and gallium clusters have C 2v structures with a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC), their heavier homologues prefer three-dimensional C 4v forms with a pentacoordinate carbon center over the ptC one. The reason for such a preference is a delicate balance between the interaction energy of the fifth E atom with CE 4 and the distortion energy. Moreover, bonding analysis shows that the ptC systems can be better described as CE 4 - , with 17-valence electrons interacting with E. The ptC core in these systems exhibits double aromatic (both σ and π) behavior, but the σ contribution is dominating. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  1. Software Process Assurance for Complex Electronics (SPACE)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Plastow, Richard A.

    2007-01-01

    Complex Electronics (CE) are now programmed to perform tasks that were previously handled in software, such as communication protocols. Many of the methods used to develop software bare a close resemblance to CE development. For instance, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) can have over a million logic gates while system-on-chip (SOC) devices can combine a microprocessor, input and output channels, and sometimes an FPGA for programmability. With this increased intricacy, the possibility of software-like bugs such as incorrect design, logic, and unexpected interactions within the logic is great. Since CE devices are obscuring the hardware/software boundary, we propose that mature software methodologies may be utilized with slight modifications in the development of these devices. Software Process Assurance for Complex Electronics (SPACE) is a research project that looks at using standardized S/W Assurance/Engineering practices to provide an assurance framework for development activities. Tools such as checklists, best practices and techniques can be used to detect missing requirements and bugs earlier in the development cycle creating a development process for CE that will be more easily maintained, consistent and configurable based on the device used.

  2. Rapid Assessment of the Ce-Co-Fe-Cu System for Permanent Magnetic Applications

    DOE PAGES

    Meng, F.; Chaudhary, R. P.; Gandha, K.; ...

    2018-04-23

    Here, this work focuses on the rapid synthesis and characterization of quaternary Ce(CoFeCu) 5 alloy libraries to assess their potential viability as permanent magnets. Arrays of bulk specimens with controlled compositions were synthesized via laser engineered net shaping (LENS) by feeding different ratios of alloy powders into a melt pool created by a laser. Based on the assessment of the magnetic properties of the LENS printed samples, arc-melted and cast ingots were prepared with varying Fe (5–20 at.%) and Co (60–45 at.%) compositions while maintaining constant Ce (16 at.%) and Cu (19 at.%) content. The evolution of the microstructure andmore » phases with varying chemical compositions and their dependence on magnetic properties are analyzed in as-cast and heat-treated samples. In both the LENS printed and cast samples, we find the best magnetic properties correspond to a predominantly single-phase Ce(CoFeCu) 5 microstructure in which high coercivity ( H c > 10 kOe) can be achieved without any microstructural refinement.« less

  3. Rapid Assessment of the Ce-Co-Fe-Cu System for Permanent Magnetic Applications

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Meng, F.; Chaudhary, R. P.; Gandha, K.

    Here, this work focuses on the rapid synthesis and characterization of quaternary Ce(CoFeCu) 5 alloy libraries to assess their potential viability as permanent magnets. Arrays of bulk specimens with controlled compositions were synthesized via laser engineered net shaping (LENS) by feeding different ratios of alloy powders into a melt pool created by a laser. Based on the assessment of the magnetic properties of the LENS printed samples, arc-melted and cast ingots were prepared with varying Fe (5–20 at.%) and Co (60–45 at.%) compositions while maintaining constant Ce (16 at.%) and Cu (19 at.%) content. The evolution of the microstructure andmore » phases with varying chemical compositions and their dependence on magnetic properties are analyzed in as-cast and heat-treated samples. In both the LENS printed and cast samples, we find the best magnetic properties correspond to a predominantly single-phase Ce(CoFeCu) 5 microstructure in which high coercivity ( H c > 10 kOe) can be achieved without any microstructural refinement.« less

  4. SU-E-J-187: Individually Optimized Contrast-Enhancement 4D-CT for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in Radiotherapy Simulation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Xue, M; Patel, K; Regine, W

    2014-06-01

    Purpose: To study the feasibility of individually optimized contrastenhancement (CE) 4D-CT for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) in radiotherapy simulation. To evaluate the image quality and contrast enhancement of tumor in the CE 4D-CT, compared to the clinical standard of CE 3D-CT and 4D-CT. Methods: In this IRB-approved study, each of the 7 PDA patients enrolled underwent 3 CT scans: a free-breathing 3D-CT with contrast (CE 3D-CT) followed by a 4D-CT without contrast (4D-CT) in the first study session, and a 4D-CT with individually synchronized contrast injection (CE 4D-CT) in the second study session. In CE 4D-CT, the time of full contrastmore » injection was determined based on the time of peak enhancement for the test injection, injection rate, table speed, and longitudinal location and span of the pancreatic region. Physicians contoured both the tumor (T) and the normal pancreatic parenchyma (P) on the three CTs (end-of-exhalation for 4D-CT). The contrast between the tumor and normal pancreatic tissue was computed as the difference of the mean enhancement level of three 1 cm3 regions of interests in T and P, respectively. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to statistically compare the scores and contrasts. Results: In qualitative evaluations, both CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT scored significantly better than 4D-CT (4.0 and 3.6 vs. 2.6). There was no significant difference between CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT. In quantitative evaluations, the contrasts between the tumor and the normal pancreatic parenchyma were 0.6±23.4, −2.1±8.0, and −19.6±28.8 HU, in CE 3D-CT, 4D-CT, and CE 4D-CT, respectively. Although not statistically significant, CE 4D-CT achieved better contrast enhancement between the tumor and the normal pancreatic parenchyma than both CE 3D-CT and 4DCT. Conclusion: CE 4D-CT achieved equivalent image quality and better contrast enhancement between tumor and normal pancreatic parenchyma than the clinical standard of CE 3D-CT and 4D-CT. This study was supported in part by Philips Healthcare.« less

  5. Role of the long non-coding RNA PVT1 in the dysregulation of the ceRNA-ceRNA network in human breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Conte, Federica; Fiscon, Giulia; Chiara, Matteo; Colombo, Teresa; Farina, Lorenzo

    2017-01-01

    Recent findings have identified competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) as the drivers in many disease conditions, including cancers. The ceRNAs indirectly regulate each other by reducing the amount of microRNAs (miRNAs) available to target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The ceRNA interactions mediated by miRNAs are modulated by a titration mechanism, i.e. large changes in the ceRNA expression levels either overcome, or relieve, the miRNA repression on competing RNAs; similarly, a very large miRNA overexpression may abolish competition. The ceRNAs are also called miRNA “decoys” or miRNA “sponges” and encompass different RNAs competing with each other to attract miRNAs for interactions: mRNA, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), pseudogenes, or circular RNAs. Recently, we developed a computational method for identifying ceRNA-ceRNA interactions in breast invasive carcinoma. We were interested in unveiling which lncRNAs could exert the ceRNA activity. We found a drastic rewiring in the cross-talks between ceRNAs from the physiological to the pathological condition. The main actor of this dysregulated lncRNA-associated ceRNA network was the lncRNA PVT1, which revealed a net biding preference towards the miR-200 family members in normal breast tissues. Despite its up-regulation in breast cancer tissues, mimicked by the miR-200 family members, PVT1 stops working as ceRNA in the cancerous state. The specific conditions required for a ceRNA landscape to occur are still far from being determined. Here, we emphasized the importance of the relative concentration of the ceRNAs, and their related miRNAs. In particular, we focused on the withdrawal in breast cancer tissues of the PVT1 ceRNA activity and performed a gene expression and sequence analysis of its multiple isoforms. We found that the PVT1 isoform harbouring the binding site for a representative miRNA of the miR-200 family shows a drastic decrease in its relative concentration with respect to the miRNA abundance in breast cancer tissues, providing a plausibility argument to the breakdown of the sponge program orchestrated by the oncogene PVT1. PMID:28187158

  6. 17. Historic plan of Building 100. June 29, 1955. NASA ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    17. Historic plan of Building 100. June 29, 1955. NASA GRC drawing number CE-101441. (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 100, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  7. 21. Historic section drawing of Building 100. June 29, 1955. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    21. Historic section drawing of Building 100. June 29, 1955. NASA GRC drawing number CE-101444. (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 100, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  8. Heteroaggregation of cerium oxide nanoparticles and nanoparticles of pyrolyzed biomass

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Heteroaggregation with indigenous particles is an important process controlling the mobility of engineered nanomaterials in the environment. We studied heteroaggregation of cerium oxide nanoparticles (n-CeO2), which are widely used commercially, with nanoparticles of pyrogenic carbonaceous material ...

  9. Uptake and accumulation of bulk and nanosized cerium oxide particles and ionic cerium by radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

    PubMed

    Zhang, Weilan; Ebbs, Stephen D; Musante, Craig; White, Jason C; Gao, Cunmei; Ma, Xingmao

    2015-01-21

    The potential toxicity and accumulation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in agricultural crops has become an area of great concern and intense investigation. Interestingly, although below-ground vegetables are most likely to accumulate the highest concentrations of ENMs, little work has been done investigating the potential uptake and accumulation of ENMs for this plant group. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate how different forms of cerium (bulk cerium oxide, cerium oxide nanoparticles, and the cerium ion) affected the growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and accumulation of cerium in radish tissues. Ionic cerium (Ce(3+)) had a negative effect on radish growth at 10 mg CeCl3/L, whereas bulk cerium oxide (CeO2) enhanced plant biomass at the same concentration. Treatment with 10 mg/L cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) had no significant effect on radish growth. Exposure to all forms of cerium resulted in the accumulation of this element in radish tissues, including the edible storage root. However, the accumulation patterns and their effect on plant growth and physiological processes varied with the characteristics of cerium. This study provides a critical frame of reference on the effects of CeO2 NPs versus their bulk and ionic counterparts on radish growth.

  10. Single particle ICP-MS method development for the determination of plant uptake and accumulation of CeO2 nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Dan, Yongbo; Ma, Xingmao; Zhang, Weilan; Liu, Kun; Stephan, Chady; Shi, Honglan

    2016-07-01

    Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) are among the most broadly used engineered nanoparticles that will be increasingly released into the environment. Thus, understanding their uptake, transportation, and transformation in plants, especially food crops, is critical because it represents a potential pathway for human consumption. One of the primary challenges for the endeavor is the inadequacy of current analytical methodologies to characterize and quantify the nanomaterial in complex biological samples at environmentally relevant concentrations. Herein, a method was developed using single particle-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) technology to simultaneously detect the size and size distribution of particulate Ce, particle concentration, and dissolved cerium in the shoots of four plant species including cucumber, tomato, soybean, and pumpkin. An enzymatic digestion method with Macerozyme R-10 enzyme previously used for gold nanoparticle extraction from the tomato plant was adapted successfully for CeO2NP extraction from all four plant species. This study is the first to report and demonstrate the presence of dissolved cerium in plant seedling shoots exposed to CeO2NPs hydroponically. The extent of plant uptake and accumulation appears to be dependent on the plant species, requiring further systematic investigation of the mechanisms.

  11. Full-Scale Testing of Thermoplastic Composite I-Beams for Bridges

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-06-01

    ER D C/ CE RL T R- 17 -1 8 ACSIM Technology Standards Group Full-Scale Testing of Thermoplastic Composite I-Beams for Bridges Co ns tr...default. ACSIM Technology Standards Group ERDC/CERL TR-17-18 June 2017 Full-Scale Testing of Thermoplastic Composite I-Beams for Bridges Ghassan... tests were con- ducted on commercially available, thermoplastic polymer composite I- beams at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and

  12. Natural Resources Research Program. An Assessment of the National Economic Effects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Program

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-06-01

    Propst Michigan State University Qý-94-25006IH~IIUAlAE ’TIC Z-"’,". JAUG 7 IE 94 Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited ’MC QtYU"y fI’jc...Vicksburg, MS. V 1 Introduction The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CE) manages over 460 water resomrce development projects throughout the United

  13. Photo-oxidation of tyrosine in a bio-engineered bacterioferritin 'reaction centre'-a protein model for artificial photosynthesis.

    PubMed

    Hingorani, Kastoori; Pace, Ron; Whitney, Spencer; Murray, James W; Smith, Paul; Cheah, Mun Hon; Wydrzynski, Tom; Hillier, Warwick

    2014-10-01

    The photosynthetic reaction centre (RC) is central to the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy and is a model for bio-mimetic engineering approaches to this end. We describe bio-engineering of a Photosystem II (PSII) RC inspired peptide model, building on our earlier studies. A non-photosynthetic haem containing bacterioferritin (BFR) from Escherichia coli that expresses as a homodimer was used as a protein scaffold, incorporating redox-active cofactors mimicking those of PSII. Desirable properties include: a di-nuclear metal binding site which provides ligands for bivalent metals, a hydrophobic pocket at the dimer interface which can bind a photosensitive porphyrin and presence of tyrosine residues proximal to the bound cofactors, which can be utilised as efficient electron-tunnelling intermediates. Light-induced electron transfer from proximal tyrosine residues to the photo-oxidised ZnCe6(•+), in the modified BFR reconstituted with both ZnCe6 and Mn(II), is presented. Three site-specific tyrosine variants (Y25F, Y58F and Y45F) were made to localise the redox-active tyrosine in the engineered system. The results indicate that: presence of bound Mn(II) is necessary to observe tyrosine oxidation in all BFR variants; Y45 the most important tyrosine as an immediate electron donor to the oxidised ZnCe6(•+) and that Y25 and Y58 are both redox-active in this system, but appear to function interchangebaly. High-resolution (2.1Å) crystal structures of the tyrosine variants show that there are no mutation-induced effects on the overall 3-D structure of the protein. Small effects are observed in the Y45F variant. Here, the BFR-RC represents a protein model for artificial photosynthesis. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. When Will It Be …?: U.S. Naval Observatory Religious Calendar Computers Expanded

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bartlett, Jennifer L.; Chizek Frouard, Malynda; Ziegler, Cross; Lesniak, Michael V.

    2017-01-01

    Reflecting increasing sensitivity to differing religious practices, the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) has expanded its on-line calendar resources to compute additional religious dates for specific years via an Application Programming Interface (API). This flexible method now identifies Christian, Islamic, and Jewish events in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) that anyone can use.Selected Christian Observances (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/easter.php) returns dates of eight events for years after 1582 C.E. (A.D. 1582): Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, Whit Sunday, Trinity Sunday, and the first Sunday of Advent. The determination of Easter, a moveable feast, uses the method of western Christian churches.Selected Islamic Observances (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/islamic.php) returns approximate Gregorian dates of three events for years after 1582 C.E. (A.H. 990) and Julian dates for 622-1582 C.E. (A.H. 1-990) along with the corresponding Islamic year (anno Hegirae). Ramadân, Shawwál, and the Islamic year begin at sunset on the preceding Gregorian or Julian date. For planning purposes, the determination of these dates uses a tabular calendar; in practice, observation of the appropriate waxing crescent Moon determines the actual date, which may vary.Selected Jewish Observances (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/passover.php) returns Gregorian dates of six events for years after 1582 C.E. (A.M. 5342) and Julian dates for the years 360-1582 C.E. (A.M. 4120-5342) along with the corresponding Jewish year (anno Mundi). Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah begin at sunset on the preceding Gregorian or Julian date.On-line documentation for using the API-enabled calendar computers, including sample calls, is available (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/api.php). The webpage also describes how to use the API with the Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day, Phases of the Moon, Solar Eclipse Computer, Day and Night Across the Earth, Apparent Disk of a Solar System Object, Julian Date Conversion, and Sidereal Time services.Introduction to Calendars (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/calendars.php) provides an overview of the topic and links to additional resources.

  15. Frequency domain finite-element and spectral-element acoustic wave modeling using absorbing boundaries and perfectly matched layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rahimi Dalkhani, Amin; Javaherian, Abdolrahim; Mahdavi Basir, Hadi

    2018-04-01

    Wave propagation modeling as a vital tool in seismology can be done via several different numerical methods among them are finite-difference, finite-element, and spectral-element methods (FDM, FEM and SEM). Some advanced applications in seismic exploration benefit the frequency domain modeling. Regarding flexibility in complex geological models and dealing with the free surface boundary condition, we studied the frequency domain acoustic wave equation using FEM and SEM. The results demonstrated that the frequency domain FEM and SEM have a good accuracy and numerical efficiency with the second order interpolation polynomials. Furthermore, we developed the second order Clayton and Engquist absorbing boundary condition (CE-ABC2) and compared it with the perfectly matched layer (PML) for the frequency domain FEM and SEM. In spite of PML method, CE-ABC2 does not add any additional computational cost to the modeling except assembling boundary matrices. As a result, considering CE-ABC2 is more efficient than PML for the frequency domain acoustic wave propagation modeling especially when computational cost is high and high-level absorbing performance is unnecessary.

  16. Robust and Simple Non-Reflecting Boundary Conditions for the Euler Equations: A New Approach Based on the Space-Time CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chang, Sin-Chung; Himansu, Ananda; Loh, Ching-Yuen; Wang, Xiao-Yen; Yu, Shang-Tao

    2003-01-01

    This paper reports on a significant advance in the area of non-reflecting boundary conditions (NRBCs) for unsteady flow computations. As a part of the development of the space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method, sets of NRBCs for 1D Euler problems are developed without using any characteristics-based techniques. These conditions are much simpler than those commonly reported in the literature, yet so robust that they are applicable to subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows even in the presence of discontinuities. In addition, the straightforward multidimensional extensions of the present 1D NRBCs have been shown numerically to be equally simple and robust. The paper details the theoretical underpinning of these NRBCs, and explains their unique robustness and accuracy in terms of the conservation of space-time fluxes. Some numerical results for an extended Sod's shock-tube problem, illustrating the effectiveness of the present NRBCs are included, together with an associated simple Fortran computer program. As a preliminary to the present development, a review of the basic CE/SE schemes is also included.

  17. Chemical substitution study on magnetism and superconductivity in Ce1-xSmxCoIn5

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jang, Sooyoung; White, B. D.; Yazici, D.; Wong, A. S.; Maple, M. B.

    2015-03-01

    We have investigated the system Ce1-xSmxCoIn5 (0 < x < 1) by means of x-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, specific heat, and magnetization measurements. We observe a crossover from a coherent Kondo lattice exhibiting superconductivity to a single-ion impurity Kondo effect coexisting with magnetic order on the Sm-rich side of the phase diagram. The superconducting transition temperature, Tc, and Kondo lattice coherence temperature, Tcoh, are suppressed near x ~ 0.2 and x ~ 0.5, respectively, which is consistent with the effect of substitution with other rare-earth (RE) ions on CeCoIn5. After Tcoh is suppressed to 0 K, a single-ion impurity Kondo effect is observed for 0.5 < x <= 0.85. The compound SmCoIn5 exhibits three distinct magnetic phase transitions at roughly 8, 10, and 12 K, which are presumably associated with magnetic order; similar features are observed in the related compound SmIn3. These transition temperatures are gradually suppressed by Ce substitution and completely vanish near x ~ 0.2. We establish the phase diagram of the system Ce1-xSmxCoIn5 and compare our results with those obtained from chemical substitution studies of CeCoIn5 involving other RE ions. Research at UCSD was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Science, Division of Material Science and Engineering under Grant No. DE-FG02-04-ER46105.

  18. The effects of physicochemical properties of CeO2 nanoparticles on toxicity to soil denitrification processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dahle, Jessica Teague

    The studies presented in this thesis identify the impact of NP CeO 2 on soil denitrifying microbial communities and reveal that physical and chemical characteristics including particle size, speciation, concentration, pH, and presence of ligands are key to predicting environmental fate and reactivity of NP CeO2 in the soil. A review of the literature in Chapter 1 revealed a widespread lack of toxicological information for soil exposures to NP CeO2. Soil denitrifying bacteria are a keystone species because they serve an important role in the global nitrogen cycle controlling the atmospheric nitrogen input. Soil denitrifiers are important to this study because the reducing conditions during denitrification could induce phase transformation of Ce(IV) to Ce(III), potentially influencing the toxicity of Ce. Cerium is well known for being the only lanthanide that is thermodynamically stable in both the trivalent and tetravalent state in low temperature geochemical environments. Using well characterized NP Ce(IV)O 2 as well as bulk soluble Ce(III), batch denitrification experiments were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of Ce species to the denitrifying community in a Toccoa sandy loam soil. The statistical analysis on the antimicrobial effect on soil denitrifiers was conducted using both steady-state evaluation and zero-order kinetic models in order to compare the toxicity of the Ce(III) species to the NPs. These studies, presented in Chapter 3, show that soluble Ce(III) is far more toxic than Ce(IV)O2 NPs when an equal total concentration of Ce is used, though both species exhibit toxicity to the denitrifiers via statistically significant inhibition of soil denitrification processes. Particle-size dependent toxicity, species-dependent toxicity, and concentration-dependent toxicity were all observed in this study for both the steady-state and the kinetic evaluations. The possibility of toxicity enhancement and diminishment via dissolution and ligand complexation pathways was investigated thoroughly in Chapter 2. In addition to the equilibrium and kinetic-based toxicological assessments presented in Chapter 1, dissolution and sorption experiments were performed to gain an overall understanding of Ce biogeochemistry in the terrestrial environment post-release and reveal possible geochemical controls on toxicity. It was shown that dissolution of bioavailable Ce is pH-dependent; dissolution is only detectable at acidic pH values (< pH 5) and increases with increasing acidity. Dissolution of Ce from NP CeO2 was identified to be almost 100% Ce(III). It was also demonstrated that this dissolution is suppressed by the addition of phosphate ligand, which is largely bioavailable in soils, especially in agricultural lands. This suppression was explained by the strong sorption of phosphate ligand to NP CeO2. The elimination of bioavailable Ce(III) release from NP CeO2 by phosphate ligand is likely one of the most important controls on toxicity effects and should be a large consideration in determining the fate and transport of NP CeO2 in the aquatic and terrestrial environment. It was also demonstrated that both Ce(III) and NP CeO2 have extremely strong affinity for sorption to soil matter, which could serve as another controlling pathway. Experiments indicated that factors such as reductive transformation of NP CeO2 in soils and exchangeable Ce(III) impurity in the NPs could contribute to controls on toxicity as well. In conclusion, the studies presented in this thesis indicate that the toxicity effects of the studied Ce species to soil denitrifiers are strongly affected by physical and chemical characteristics such as speciation, pH, and bioavailable ligands. As the global market for nanomaterials rapidly expands, so does the need of the scientific community for an understanding of how these influences in environmental fate and reactivity may be key in assessing toxicological risks associated with environmental exposures to NP CeO2 as well as other engineered metal oxide nanoparticles. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

  19. 18. Historic plan of Building 100 control room. March 21, ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    18. Historic plan of Building 100 control room. March 21, 1956. NASA GRC drawing number CE-101736. (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 100, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  20. 8. Historic plan, section, and detail drawing of observation blockhouse. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    8. Historic plan, section, and detail drawing of observation blockhouse. NASA GRC drawing no. CE-101540, June29, 1955 (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, Observation Blockhouse, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  1. 9th Annual Systems Engineering Conference: Volume 2 Tuesday

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-10-26

    Laboratory, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Jacob Herscovitz Space systems Directorate RAFAEL jacobh@rafael.co.il A Pragmatic Focus in Managing...Maintainability Tests •Environmental Qualification Tests – Humidity, Salt Fog, Shock, Vibration, Rain UE, Rain CE, Solar Radiation , Icing, Fluid

  2. Computational Systems Toxicology: recapitulating the logistical dynamics of cellular response networks in virtual tissue models (Eurotox_2017)

    EPA Science Inventory

    Translating in vitro data and biological information into a predictive model for human toxicity poses a significant challenge. This is especially true for complex adaptive systems such as the embryo where cellular dynamics are precisely orchestrated in space and time. Computer ce...

  3. Enhancing the Chemical and Mechanical Durability of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baker, Andrew M.

    Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are energy conversion devices which generate electricity from the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. Currently, widespread adoption of PEM fuel cell technology is hindered by low component durability and high costs. In this work, strategies were investigated to improve the mechanical and chemical durability of the ion conducting polymer, or ionomer, which comprises the PEM, in order to directly address these limitations. Owing to their exceptional mechanical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated for mechanical reinforcement of the PEM. Because of their electronic conductivity, which diminishes cell performance, two strategies were developed to enable the use of CNTs as PEM reinforcement. These systems result in enhanced mechanical properties without sacrificing performance of the PEM during operation. Further, when coated with ceria (CeO2), which scavenges radicals that are generated during operation and cause PEM chemical degradation by attacking vulnerable chemical groups in the ionomer, MWCNTs further improved PEM chemical durability. During cell fabrication, conditioning, and discharge, Ce rapidly migrates between the PEM and catalyst layers (CLs), which reduces catalyst efficiency and leaves areas of the cell defenseless against radical attacks. Therefore, in order to stabilize Ce and localize it to areas of highest radical generation, it is critical to understand and identify the relative influences of different migration mechanisms. Using a novel elemental analysis technique, Ce migration was characterized due to potential and concentration gradients, water flux, and degradation of Ce-exchanged sulfonic acid groups within the PEM. Additionally, Zr-doped ceria was employed to resist migration due to ionomer degradation which improved cell durability, without reducing performance, resulting in PEM Ce stabilization near its initial concentrations after > 1,400 hours of testing. Ce was not observed to leave the cell during stress testing, however, it does irreversibly accumulate in the CLs, which reduces its scavenging efficacy in the system. In order to model Ce migration during fuel cell operation, the relevant Ce transport coefficients were determined under a range of conditions. This knowledge enables the development of additional system control and material engineering strategies to mitigate Ce migration in order to reduce performance losses and improve cell durability.

  4. Adsorption behavior of lead on aquatic sediments contaminated with cerium dioxide nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chao; Fan, Xiulei; Wang, Peifang; Hou, Jun; Ao, Yanhui; Miao, Lingzhan

    2016-12-01

    Aquatic sediments serve as an important sink for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), such as metal oxide nanoparticles (MeO NPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Owing to their remarkable properties, ENMs demonstrate significant potential to disturb the adsorption behavior of other contaminants in aquatic sediments, thereby altering the bioavailability and toxicity of these contaminants. Thus far, most studies have investigated the effect of CNTs on the adsorption of other contaminants on sediments. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NPs), as one of the important MeO NPs, are also inevitably discharged into aquatic sediments because of their widespread use. In this study, we investigated the adsorption behavior of Pb 2+ on sediments spiked with CeO 2 NPs at a weight ratio of 5.0%. The results showed that the adsorption rates at three stages occurring during adsorption clearly increase for sediments contaminated with CeO 2 NPs. Moreover, the results obtained from the adsorption isotherms indicated that the Langmuir isotherm model best fits the isotherm data for both sediments and those contaminated with CeO 2 NPs. After spiking the sediments with CeO 2 NPs, the theoretical maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (Q max ) for Pb 2+ increased from 4.433 to 4.995 mg/g and the Langmuir isotherm coefficient (K L ) decreased from 8.813 to 7.730 L/g. The effects of CeO 2 NPs on the surface charge and pore surface properties of sediments were also studied as these properties affect the adsorption of several chemicals in sediments. The results showed that pH zpc , S BET , S ext , and average pore size of sediments clearly decrease for sediments contaminated with CeO 2 NPs. Hence, the strong adsorption capacity of CeO 2 NPs and the changes of sediment surface charge and pore surface properties caused by CeO 2 NPs are important factors affecting the adsorption behavior of Pb 2+ . The potential risk of Pb 2+ in aquatic environment may increase with CeO 2 NPs buried in sediments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Use of SCALE Continuous-Energy Monte Carlo Tools for Eigenvalue Sensitivity Coefficient Calculations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Perfetti, Christopher M; Rearden, Bradley T

    2013-01-01

    The TSUNAMI code within the SCALE code system makes use of eigenvalue sensitivity coefficients for an extensive number of criticality safety applications, such as quantifying the data-induced uncertainty in the eigenvalue of critical systems, assessing the neutronic similarity between different critical systems, and guiding nuclear data adjustment studies. The need to model geometrically complex systems with improved fidelity and the desire to extend TSUNAMI analysis to advanced applications has motivated the development of a methodology for calculating sensitivity coefficients in continuous-energy (CE) Monte Carlo applications. The CLUTCH and Iterated Fission Probability (IFP) eigenvalue sensitivity methods were recently implemented in themore » CE KENO framework to generate the capability for TSUNAMI-3D to perform eigenvalue sensitivity calculations in continuous-energy applications. This work explores the improvements in accuracy that can be gained in eigenvalue and eigenvalue sensitivity calculations through the use of the SCALE CE KENO and CE TSUNAMI continuous-energy Monte Carlo tools as compared to multigroup tools. The CE KENO and CE TSUNAMI tools were used to analyze two difficult models of critical benchmarks, and produced eigenvalue and eigenvalue sensitivity coefficient results that showed a marked improvement in accuracy. The CLUTCH sensitivity method in particular excelled in terms of efficiency and computational memory requirements.« less

  6. Bioavailability of cerium oxide nanoparticles to Raphanus sativus L. in two soils.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Weilan; Musante, Craig; White, Jason C; Schwab, Paul; Wang, Qiang; Ebbs, Stephen D; Ma, Xingmao

    2017-01-01

    Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NP) are a common component of many commercial products. Due to the general concerns over the potential toxicity of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), the phytotoxicity and in planta accumulation of CeO 2 NPs have been broadly investigated. However, most previous studies were conducted in hydroponic systems and with grain crops. For a few studies performed with soil grown plants, the impact of soil properties on the fate and transport of CeO 2 NPs was generally ignored even though numerous previous studies indicate that soil properties play a critical role in the fate and transport of environmental pollutants. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the soil fractionation and bioavailability of CeO 2 NPs to Raphanus sativus L (radish) in two soil types. Our results showed that the silty loam contained slightly higher exchangeable fraction (F1) of cerium element than did loamy sand soil, but significantly lower reducible (F2) and oxidizable (F3) fractions as CeO 2 NPs concentration increased. CeO 2 NPs associated with silicate minerals or the residue fraction (F4) dominated in both soils. The cerium concentration in radish storage root showed linear correlation with the sum of the first three fractions (r 2  = 0.98 and 0.78 for loamy sand and silty loam respectively). However, the cerium content in radish shoots only exhibited strong correlations with F1 (r 2  = 0.97 and 0.89 for loamy sand and silty loam respectively). Overall, the results demonstrated that soil properties are important factors governing the distribution of CeO 2 NPs in soil and subsequent bioavailability to plants. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  7. DOSIMETRIC CONSEQUENCES OF USING CONTRAST-ENHANCED COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGES FOR INTENSITY-MODULATED STEREOTACTIC BODY RADIOTHERAPY PLANNING.

    PubMed

    Yoshikawa, Hiroto; Roback, Donald M; Larue, Susan M; Nolan, Michael W

    2015-01-01

    Potential benefits of planning radiation therapy on a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan (ceCT) should be weighed against the possibility that this practice may be associated with an inadvertent risk of overdosing nearby normal tissues. This study investigated the influence of ceCT on intensity-modulated stereotactic body radiotherapy (IM-SBRT) planning. Dogs with head and neck, pelvic, or appendicular tumors were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. All IM-SBRT plans were constructed on a pre- or ceCT. Contours for tumor and organs at risk (OAR) were manually constructed and copied onto both CT's; IM-SBRT plans were calculated on each CT in a manner that resulted in equal radiation fluence. The maximum and mean doses for OAR, and minimum, maximum, and mean doses for targets were compared. Data were collected from 40 dogs per anatomic site (head and neck, pelvis, and limbs). The average dose difference between minimum, maximum, and mean doses as calculated on pre- and ceCT plans for the gross tumor volume was less than 1% for all anatomic sites. Similarly, the differences between mean and maximum doses for OAR were less than 1%. The difference in dose distribution between plans made on CTs with and without contrast enhancement was tolerable at all treatment sites. Therefore, although caution would be recommended when planning IM-SBRT for tumors near "reservoirs" for contrast media (such as the heart and urinary bladder), findings supported the use of ceCT with this dose calculation algorithm for both target delineation and IM-SBRT treatment planning. © 2015 American College of Veterinary Radiology.

  8. Experimental Comparison of Two Quantum Computing Architectures

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-03-28

    IN A U G U RA L A RT IC LE CO M PU TE R SC IE N CE S Experimental comparison of two quantum computing architectures Norbert M. Linkea,b,1, Dmitri...the vast computing power a universal quantumcomputer could offer, several candidate systems are being explored. They have allowed experimental ...existing systems and the role of architecture in quantum computer design . These will be crucial for the realization of more advanced future incarna

  9. Ancient Maya astronomical tables from Xultun, Guatemala.

    PubMed

    Saturno, William A; Stuart, David; Aveni, Anthony F; Rossi, Franco

    2012-05-11

    Maya astronomical tables are recognized in bark-paper books from the Late Postclassic period (1300 to 1521 C.E.), but Classic period (200 to 900 C.E.) precursors have not been found. In 2011, a small painted room was excavated at the extensive ancient Maya ruins of Xultun, Guatemala, dating to the early 9th century C.E. The walls and ceiling of the room are painted with several human figures. Two walls also display a large number of delicate black, red, and incised hieroglyphs. Many of these hieroglyphs are calendrical in nature and relate astronomical computations, including at least two tables concerning the movement of the Moon, and perhaps Mars and Venus. These apparently represent early astronomical tables and may shed light on the later books.

  10. Research for assessment, not deployment, of Climate Engineering: The German Research Foundation's Priority Program SPP 1689

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oschlies, Andreas; Klepper, Gernot

    2017-01-01

    The historical developments are reviewed that have led from a bottom-up responsibility initiative of concerned scientists to the emergence of a nationwide interdisciplinary Priority Program on the assessment of Climate Engineering (CE) funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Given the perceived lack of comprehensive and comparative appraisals of different CE methods, the Priority Program was designed to encompass both solar radiation management (SRM) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) ideas and to cover the atmospheric, terrestrial, and oceanic realm. First, key findings obtained by the ongoing Priority Program are summarized and reveal that, compared to earlier assessments such as the 2009 Royal Society report, more detailed investigations tend to indicate less efficiency, lower effectiveness, and often lower safety. Emerging research trends are discussed in the context of the recent Paris agreement to limit global warming to less than two degrees and the associated increasing reliance on negative emission technologies. Our results show then when deployed at scales large enough to have a significant impact on atmospheric CO2, even CDR methods such as afforestation—often perceived as "benign"—can have substantial side effects and may raise severe ethical, legal, and governance issues. We suppose that before being deployed at climatically relevant scales, any negative emission or CE method will require careful analysis of efficiency, effectiveness, and undesired side effects.

  11. Laser Absorption Measurements of Equivalence Ratios Studied Along With Their Coupling to Pressure Fluctuations in Lean Premixed Prevaporized (LPP) Combustion

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nguyen, Quang-Viet

    2001-01-01

    Concerns about damaging the Earth's ozone layer as a result of high levels of nitrogen oxides (known collectively as NOx) from high-altitude, high-speed aircraft have prompted the study of lean premixed prevaporized (LPP) combustion in aircraft engines. LPP combustion reduces NOx emissions principally by reducing the peak flame temperatures inside an engine. Recent advances in LPP technologies have realized exceptional reductions in pollutant emissions (single-digit ppm NOx for example). However, LPP combustion also presents major challenges: combustion instability and dynamic coupling effects between fluctuations in heat-release rate, dynamic pressure, and fuel pressure. These challenges are formidable and can literally shake an engine apart if uncontrolled. To better understand this phenomenon so that it can be controlled, we obtained real-time laser absorption measurements of the fuel vapor concentration (and equivalence ratio) simultaneously with the dynamic pressure, flame luminosity, and time-averaged gaseous emissions measurements in a research-type jet-A-fueled LPP combustor. The measurements were obtained in NASA Glenn Research Center's CE-5B optically accessible flame tube facility. The CE-5B facility provides inlet air temperatures and pressures similar to the actual operating conditions of real aircraft engines. The laser absorption measurements were performed using an infrared 3.39 micron HeNe laser in conjunction with a visible HeNe laser for liquid droplet scattering compensation.

  12. Interaction of Nanoparticles with Biofilms

    EPA Science Inventory

    In this work we have studied the interaction and adsorption of engineered nanoparticles such as TiO2, ZnO, CeO2 , and carbon nanotubes with biofilms. Biofilm is an extracellular polymeric substance coating comprised of living material and it is an aggregation of bacteria, algae, ...

  13. 8. Historic plan, section, elevation, and detail drawing of Building ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    8. Historic plan, section, elevation, and detail drawing of Building 206, August 26, 1968. NASA GRC drawing number CE-101188 (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 206, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  14. 20. Historic south and west elevation drawing of Building 100. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    20. Historic south and west elevation drawing of Building 100. June 29, 1955. NASA GRC drawing number CE-101443. (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 100, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  15. 19. Historic north and east elevation drawing of Building 100. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    19. Historic north and east elevation drawing of Building 100. June 29, 1955. NASA GRC drawing number CE-101442. (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 100, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  16. 59. Historic elevation and detail drawing of Building 202 test ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    59. Historic elevation and detail drawing of Building 202 test cell, June 29, 1955. NASA GRC drawing no. CE-101341 (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 202, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  17. Engineering Ceramic Nanophosphors for Optical Applications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-06-11

    spacing) AMPR : multiphonon relaxation losses (surface defects, traps) AOH : losses from –OH quenching OHMPRETradnon rad lum radnonirad irad AAAA AA A...methacrylate ( PMMA ) and Polystyrene (PS) • Obtained transparent composites of rare-earth doped CeF3 nanoparticles with high solid loading MC Tan, SD Patil

  18. Managing the replacement cycle of laser inventory.

    PubMed

    Davis, C E

    1992-01-01

    Medical lasers are quickly moving into the replacement phase of technology management. Barnes Hospital (St. Louis, MO) is using its laser team to define a process of planned laser replacement using the experience gained from traditional medical equipment replacement cycles, quality improvement principles and tools, and other formalized interdisciplinary teams. The process described in this paper has six basic steps: (1) A decision is made to request a replacement laser. (2) An appropriation request form is completed and submitted with the clinical and/or technical justifications. (3) Those requests initiated outside of the Clinical Engineering Department are reviewed by the Clinical Engineer/Medical Laser Safety Officer (CE/MLSO). (4) The CE/MLSO presents the requests to the hospital Laser Committee, and (5) then to the Laser Users' Group. (6) Finally, an Expenditure Authorization Committee reviews all capital expense requests, including those for replacement lasers, and allocates funds for the next fiscal year. This paper illustrates and evaluates the process, using an example from the review process for 1993 equipment purchases at Barnes Hospital.

  19. Addressing the Health Concerns of VA Women with Sexual Trauma

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-10-01

    high school boys Role Co-I NIDA R34DA038770-01A1 (Zlotnick) 4/01/2015-3/31/2018 2.04 calendar Computer-Based Intervention for Battered...School Boys 1U01CE002531-01 (Orchowski: PI) 9/1/14 – 8/31/18 4.56 CM National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Preventing sexual...aggression among high school boys Role: PI Community-Level Primary Prevention of Dating and Sexual Violence in Middle Schools 1U01CE002651-01

  20. SU-E-J-154: Image Quality Assessment of Contrast-Enhanced 4D-CT for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in Radiotherapy Simulation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Choi, W; Xue, M; Patel, K

    2015-06-15

    Purpose: This study presents quantitative and qualitative assessment of the image qualities in contrast-enhanced (CE) 3D-CT, 4D-CT and CE 4D-CT to identify feasibility for replacing the clinical standard simulation with a single CE 4D-CT for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) in radiotherapy simulation. Methods: Ten PDA patients were enrolled and underwent three CT scans: a clinical standard pair of CE 3D-CT immediately followed by a 4D-CT, and a CE 4D-CT one week later. Physicians qualitatively evaluated the general image quality and regional vessel definitions and gave a score from 1 to 5. Next, physicians delineated the contours of the tumor (T) andmore » the normal pancreatic parenchyma (P) on the three CTs (CE 3D-CT, 50% phase for 4D-CT and CE 4D-CT), then high density areas were automatically removed by thresholding at 500 HU and morphological operations. The pancreatic tumor contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), signal-tonoise ratio (SNR) and conspicuity (C, absolute difference of mean enhancement levels in P and T) were computed to quantitatively assess image quality. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare these quantities. Results: In qualitative evaluations, CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT scored equivalently (4.4±0.4 and 4.3±0.4) and both were significantly better than 4D-CT (3.1±0.6). In quantitative evaluations, the C values were higher in CE 4D-CT (28±19 HU, p=0.19 and 0.17) than the clinical standard pair of CE 3D-CT and 4D-CT (17±12 and 16±17 HU, p=0.65). In CE 3D-CT and CE 4D-CT, mean CNR (1.8±1.4 and 1.8±1.7, p=0.94) and mean SNR (5.8±2.6 and 5.5±3.2, p=0.71) both were higher than 4D-CT (CNR: 1.1±1.3, p<0.3; SNR: 3.3±2.1, p<0.1). The absolute enhancement levels for T and P were higher in CE 4D-CT (87, 82 HU) than in CE 3D-CT (60, 56) and 4DCT (53, 70). Conclusions: The individually optimized CE 4D-CT is feasible and achieved comparable image qualities to the clinical standard simulation. This study was supported in part by Philips Healthcare.« less

  1. Size determination and quantification of engineered cerium oxide nanoparticles by flow field-flow fractionation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Sánchez-García, L; Bolea, E; Laborda, F; Cubel, C; Ferrer, P; Gianolio, D; da Silva, I; Castillo, J R

    2016-03-18

    Facing the lack of studies on characterization and quantification of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs), whose consumption and release is greatly increasing, this work proposes a method for their sizing and quantification by Flow Field-flow Fractionation (FFFF) coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Two modalities of FFFF (Asymmetric Flow- and Hollow Fiber-Flow Field Flow Fractionation, AF4 and HF5, respectively) are compared, and their advantages and limitations discussed. Experimental conditions (carrier composition, pH, ionic strength, crossflow and carrier flow rates) are studied in detail in terms of NP separation, recovery, and repeatability. Size characterization of CeO2 NPs was addressed by different approaches. In the absence of feasible size standards of CeO2 NPs, suspensions of Ag, Au, and SiO2 NPs of known size were investigated. Ag and Au NPs failed to show a comparable behavior to that of the CeO2 NPs, whereas the use of SiO2 NPs provided size estimations in agreement to those predicted by the theory. The latter approach was thus used for characterizing the size of CeO2 NPs in a commercial suspension. Results were in adequate concordance with those achieved by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering. The quantification of CeO2 NPs in the commercial suspension by AF4-ICP-MS required the use of a CeO2 NPs standards, since the use of ionic cerium resulted in low recoveries (99 ± 9% vs. 73 ± 7%, respectively). A limit of detection of 0.9 μg L(-1) CeO2 corresponding to a number concentration of 1.8 × 1012 L(-1) for NPs of 5 nm was achieved for an injection volume of 100 μL. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Crystal Structures of Human Carboxylesterase 1 in Covalent Complexes with the Chemical Warfare Agents Soman and Tabun†,‡

    PubMed Central

    Fleming, Christopher D.; Edwards, Carol C.; Kirby, Stephen D.; Maxwell, Donald M.; Potter, Philip M.; Cerasoli, Douglas M.; Redinbo, Matthew R.

    2008-01-01

    The organophosphorus nerve agents sarin, soman, tabun, and VX exert their toxic effects by inhibiting the action of human acetylcholinesterase, a member of the serine hydrolase superfamily of enzymes. The current treatments for nerve agent exposure must be administered quickly to be effective and they often do not eliminate long-term toxic side effects associated with organophosphate poisoning. Thus, there is significant need for effective prophylactic methods to protect at-risk personnel from nerve agent exposure, and protein-based approaches have emerged as promising candidates. We present the 2.7 Å resolution crystal structures of the serine hydrolase human carboxylesterase 1 (hCE1), a broad-spectrum drug metabolism enzyme, in covalent acyl-enzyme intermediate complexes with the chemical weapons soman and tabun. The structures reveal that hCE1 binds stereoselectively to these nerve agents; for example, hCE1 appears to react preferentially with the 104-fold more lethal PS stereoisomer of soman relative to the PR form. In addition, structural features of the hCE1 active site indicate that the enzyme may be resistant to dead-end organophosphate aging reactions that permanently inactivate other serine hydrolases. Taken together, these data provide important structural details toward the goal of engineering hCE1 into an organophosphate hydrolase and protein-based therapeutic for nerve agent exposure. PMID:17407327

  3. Intergenerational studies on the effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles in wheat

    EPA Science Inventory

    The intergenerational impacts of engineered nanomaterials in plants are not yet well understood. A soil microcosm study was performed to assess the physiology, phenology, yield and nutrient uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum) exposed to nanoceria (nCeO2). Seeds from parental plan...

  4. 58. Historic plan, section, and detail drawing of Building 202 ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    58. Historic plan, section, and detail drawing of Building 202 test cell, June 29, 1955. NASA GRC drawing no. CE-101340 (On file at NASA Glenn Research Center). - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 202, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  5. Exposure of agricultural crops to nanoparticle CeO2 in biochar-amended soil

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Biochar is seeing increased usage as an amendment in agricultural soils but the significance of nanoscale interactions between this additive and engineered nanoparticles (ENP) remains largely unknown. In the present study, corn (Zea mays), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), soybean (Glycine max) and zucchini...

  6. Hybrid Density Functional Study of the Local Structures and Energy Levels of CaAl2O4:Ce3.

    PubMed

    Lou, Bibo; Jing, Weiguo; Lou, Liren; Zhang, Yongfan; Yin, Min; Duan, Chang-Kui

    2018-05-03

    First-principles calculations were carried out for the electronic structures of Ce 3+ in calcium aluminate phosphors, CaAl 2 O 4 , and their effects on luminescence properties. Hybrid density functional approaches were used to overcome the well-known underestimation of band gaps of conventional density functional approaches and to calculate the energy levels of Ce 3+ ions more accurately. The obtained 4f-5d excitation and emission energies show good consistency with measured values. A detailed energy diagram of all three sites is obtained, which explains qualitatively all of the luminescent phenomena. With the results of energy levels calculated by combining the hybrid functional of Heyd, Scuseria, and Ernzerhof (HSE06) and the constraint occupancy approach, we are able to construct a configurational coordinate diagram to analyze the processes of capture of a hole or an electron and luminescence. This approach can be applied for systematic high-throughput calculations in predicting Ce 3+ activated luminescent materials with a moderate computing requirement.

  7. Accuracy Study of the Space-Time CE/SE Method for Computational Aeroacoustics Problems Involving Shock Waves

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wang, Xiao Yen; Chang, Sin-Chung; Jorgenson, Philip C. E.

    1999-01-01

    The space-time conservation element and solution element(CE/SE) method is used to study the sound-shock interaction problem. The order of accuracy of numerical schemes is investigated. The linear model problem.govemed by the 1-D scalar convection equation, sound-shock interaction problem governed by the 1-D Euler equations, and the 1-D shock-tube problem which involves moving shock waves and contact surfaces are solved to investigate the order of accuracy of numerical schemes. It is concluded that the accuracy of the CE/SE numerical scheme with designed 2nd-order accuracy becomes 1st order when a moving shock wave exists. However, the absolute error in the CE/SE solution downstream of the shock wave is on the same order as that obtained using a fourth-order accurate essentially nonoscillatory (ENO) scheme. No special techniques are used for either high-frequency low-amplitude waves or shock waves.

  8. Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) of Freshwater Biofilms Stabilize and Modify CeO2 and Ag Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Kroll, Alexandra; Behra, Renata; Kaegi, Ralf; Sigg, Laura

    2014-01-01

    Streams are potential receiving compartments for engineered nanoparticles (NP). In streams, NP may remain dispersed or settle to the benthic compartment. Both dispersed and settling NP can accumulate in benthic biofilms called periphyton that are essential to stream ecosystems. Periphytic organisms excrete extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that interact with any material reaching the biofilms. To understand the interaction of NP with periphyton it is therefore crucial to study the interaction of NP with EPS. We investigated the influence of EPS on the physicochemical properties of selected NP (CeO2, Ag) under controlled conditions at pH 6, 7.6, 8.6 and light or dark exposure. We extracted EPS from five different periphyton communities, characterized the extracts, and exposed CeO2 and carbonate-stabilized Ag NP (0.5 and 5 mg/L, both 25 nm primary particle size) and AgNO3 to EPS (10 mg/L) over two weeks. We measured NP size distribution, shape, primary particle size, surface plasmon resonance, and dissolution. All EPS extracts were composed of biopolymers, building blocks of humic substances, low molecular weight (Mr) acids, and small amphiphilic or neutral compounds in varying concentrations. CeO2 NP were stabilized by EPS independent of pH and light/dark while dissolution increased over time in the dark at pH 6. EPS induced a size increase in Ag NP in the light with decreasing pH and the formation of metallic Ag NP from AgNO3 at the same conditions via EPS-enhanced photoreduction. NP transformation and formation were slower in the extract with the lowest biopolymer and low Mr acid concentrations. Periphytic EPS in combination with naturally varying pH and light/dark conditions influence the properties of the Ag and CeO2 NP tested and thus the exposure conditions within biofilms. Our results indicate that periphytic organisms may be exposed to a constantly changing mixture of engineered and naturally formed Ag NP and Ag+. PMID:25333364

  9. Advances in Retinal Prosthetic Research: A Systematic Review of Engineering and Clinical Characteristics of Current Prosthetic Initiatives.

    PubMed

    Cheng, Derrick L; Greenberg, Paul B; Borton, David A

    2017-03-01

    To date, reviews of retinal prostheses have focused primarily on devices undergoing human trials in the Western Hemisphere and fail to capture significant advances in materials and engineering research in countries such as Japan and Korea, as well as projects in early stages of development. To address these gaps, this systematic review examines worldwide advances in retinal prosthetic research, evaluates engineering characteristics and clinical progress of contemporary device initiatives, and identifies potential directions for future research in the field of retinal prosthetics. A literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, and IEEExplore was conducted following the PRISMA Guidelines for Systematic Review. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed papers demonstrating progress in human or animal trials and papers discussing the prosthetic engineering design. For each initiative, a description of the device, its engineering considerations, and recent clinical results were provided. Ten prosthetic initiatives met our inclusion criteria and were organized by stimulation location. Of these initiatives, four have recently completed human trials, three are undergoing multi- or single-center human trials, and three are undergoing preclinical animal testing. Only the Argus II (FDA 2013, CE 2011) has obtained FDA approval for use in the United States; the Alpha-IMS (CE 2013) has achieved the highest visual acuity using a Landolt-C test to date and is the only device presently undergoing a multicenter clinical trial. Several distinct approaches to retinal stimulation have been successful in eliciting visual precepts in animals and/or humans. However, many clinical needs are still not met and engineering challenges must be addressed before a retinal prosthesis with the capability to fully and safely restore functional vision can be realized.

  10. Advanced Aircrew Display Symposium (3rd), 19-20 May.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1976-01-01

    piozea. This was in 1968. ’hS ese3e -2 -12 CE LS 1s desijn a si’mc;,41ed coiimator (movic diamond . fixed line) ot zo jza cy, .mhch v.as mounted on a...typical of electromechanical sights. The tracer sight displays electronic bullets with stadiametric range marks and a diamond at target range when...hackles on the necks of some engineers and pilots, we have become sensitive to the super-engineer/ super- pilot syndrome . It is very desirable to

  11. Colloidal stability of CeO2 nanoparticles coated with either natural organic matter or organic polymers under various hydrochemical conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dippon, Urs; Pabst, Silke; Klitzke, Sondra

    2016-04-01

    The worldwide marked for engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is growing and concerns on the environmental fate- and toxicity of ENPs are rising. Understanding the transport of ENPs within and between environmental compartments such as surface water and groundwater is crucial for exposition modeling, risk assessment and ultimately the protection of drinking water resources. The transport of ENPs is strongly influenced by the surface properties and aggregation behavior of the particles, which is strongly controlled by synthetic and natural organic coatings. Both, surface properties and aggregation characteristics are also key properties for the industrial application of ENPs, which leads to the development and commercialization of an increasing number of surface-functionalized ENPs. These include metals and oxides such as Cerium dioxide (CeO2) with various organic coatings. Therefore, we investigate CeO2 ENPs with different surface coatings such as weakly anionic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or strongly anionic poly acrylic acid (PAA) with respect to their colloidal stability in aqueous matrix under various hydrochemical conditions (pH, ionic strength) and their transport behavior in sand filter columns. Furthermore, we investigate the interaction of naturally occurring organic matter (NOM) with CeO2 ENPs and its effect on surface charge (zeta potential), colloidal stability and transport. While uncoated CeO2 ENPs aggregate at pH > 4 in aqueous matrix, our results show that PAA and PVA surface coatings as well as NOM sorbed to CeO2-NP surfaces can stabilize CeO2 ENPs under neutral and alkaline pH conditions in 1 mM KCl solution. Under slightly acidic conditions, differences between the three particle types were observed. PVA can stabilize particle suspensions in presence of 1 mM KCl at pH > 4.3, PAA at pH >4.0 and NOM at >3.2. While the presence of KCl did not influence particle size of NOM-CeO2 ENPs, CaCl2 at >2 mM lead to aggregation. Further results on the influence of KCl and CaCl2 on aggregation of coated CeO2 ENPs and transport in sand filter columns will be presented.

  12. Pd/CeO2/SiC Chemical Sensors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lu, Weijie; Collins, W. Eugene

    2005-01-01

    The incorporation of nanostructured interfacial layers of CeO2 has been proposed to enhance the performances of Pd/SiC Schottky diodes used to sense hydrogen and hydrocarbons at high temperatures. If successful, this development could prove beneficial in numerous applications in which there are requirements to sense hydrogen and hydrocarbons at high temperatures: examples include monitoring of exhaust gases from engines and detecting fires. Sensitivity and thermal stability are major considerations affecting the development of high-temperature chemical sensors. In the case of a metal/SiC Schottky diode for a number of metals, the SiC becomes more chemically active in the presence of the thin metal film on the SiC surface at high temperature. This increase in chemical reactivity causes changes in chemical composition and structure of the metal/SiC interface. The practical effect of the changes is to alter the electronic and other properties of the device in such a manner as to degrade its performance as a chemical sensor. To delay or prevent these changes, it is necessary to limit operation to a temperature <450 C for these sensor structures. The present proposal to incorporate interfacial CeO2 films is based partly on the observation that nanostructured materials in general have potentially useful electrical properties, including an ability to enhance the transfer of electrons. In particular, nanostructured CeO2, that is CeO2 with nanosized grains, has shown promise for incorporation into hightemperature electronic devices. Nanostructured CeO2 films can be formed on SiC and have been shown to exhibit high thermal stability on SiC, characterized by the ability to withstand temperatures somewhat greater than 700 C for limited times. The exchanges of oxygen between CeO2 and SiC prevent the formation of carbon and other chemical species that are unfavorable for operation of a SiC-based Schottky diode as a chemical sensor. Consequently, it is anticipated that in a Pd/CeO2/SiC Schottky diode, the nanostructured interfacial CeO2 layer would contribute to thermal stability and, by contributing to transfer of electrons, would also contribute to sensitivity.

  13. Robust and Simple Non-Reflecting Boundary Conditions for the Euler Equations - A New Approach based on the Space-Time CE/SE Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chang, S.-C.; Himansu, A.; Loh, C.-Y.; Wang, X.-Y.; Yu, S.-T.J.

    2005-01-01

    This paper reports on a significant advance in the area of nonreflecting boundary conditions (NRBCs) for unsteady flow computations. As a part of t he development of t he space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method, sets of NRBCs for 1D Euler problems are developed without using any characteristics- based techniques. These conditions are much simpler than those commonly reported in the literature, yet so robust that they are applicable to subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows even in the presence of discontinuities. In addition, the straightforward multidimensional extensions of the present 1D NRBCs have been shown numerically to be equally simple and robust. The paper details the theoretical underpinning of these NRBCs, and explains t heir unique robustness and accuracy in terms of t he conservation of space-time fluxes. Some numerical results for an extended Sod's shock-tube problem, illustrating the effectiveness of the present NRBCs are included, together with an associated simple Fortran computer program. As a preliminary to the present development, a review of the basic CE/SE schemes is also included.

  14. Photometric investigation of a very short period W UMa-type binary - Does CE Leonis have a large superluminous area?

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Samec, Ronald G.; Su, Wen; Terrell, Dirk; Hube, Douglas P.

    1993-01-01

    A complete photometric analysis of BVRI Johnson-Cousins photometry of the high northern latitude galactic variable, CE Leo is presented. These observations were taken at Kitt Peak National Observatory on May 31, 1989-June 7, 1989. Three new precise epochs of minimum light were determined and a linear and a quadratic ephemeris were computed from these and previous data covering 28 years of observation. The light curves reveal that the system undergoes a brief 20 min totality in the primary eclipse, indicating that CE Leo is a W UMa W-type binary. A systemic velocity of about -40 km/s was determined. Standard magnitudes were found and a simultaneous solution of the B, V, R, I light curves was computed using the new Wilson-Devinney synthetic light curve code which has the capability of automatically adjusting star spots. The solution indicates that the system consists of two early K-type dwarfs in marginal contact with a fill-out factor less than 3 percent. Evidence for the presence of a large (45 deg radius) superluminous area on the cooler component is given.

  15. The disease burden of human cystic echinococcosis based on HDRs from 2001 to 2014 in Italy

    PubMed Central

    Brundu, Diego; Stegel, Giovanni; Loi, Federica; Rolesu, Sandro; Masu, Gabriella; Ledda, Salvatore; Masala, Giovanna

    2017-01-01

    Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important neglected zoonotic parasitic infection belonging to the subgroup of seven Neglected Zoonotic Disease (NZDs) included in the World Health Organization’s official list of 18 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). CE causes serious global human health concerns and leads to significant economic losses arising from the costs of medical treatment, morbidity, life impairments and fatality rates in human cases. Moreover, CE is endemic in several Italian Regions. The aim of this study is to perform a detailed analysis of the economic burden of hospitalization and treatment costs and to estimate the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) of CE in Italy. Methods and findings In the period from 2001 to 2014, the direct costs of 21,050 Hospital Discharge Records (HDRs) belonging to 12,619 patients with at least one CE-related diagnosis codes were analyzed in order to quantify the economic burden of CE. CE cases average per annum are 901 (min—max = 480–1,583). Direct costs include expenses for hospitalizations, medical and surgical treatment incurred by public and private hospitals and were computed on an individual basis according to Italian Health Ministry legislation. Moreover, we estimated the DALYs for each patient. The Italian financial burden of CE is around € 53 million; the national average economic burden per annum is around € 4 million; the DALYs of the population from 2001 to 2014 are 223.35 annually and 5.26 DALYs per 105 inhabitants. Conclusion In Italy, human CE is responsible for significant economic losses in the public health sector. In humans, costs associated with CE have been shown to have a great impact on affected individuals, their families and the community as a whole. This study could be used as a tool to prioritize and make decisions with regard to a surveillance system for this largely preventable yet neglected disease. It demonstrates the need of implementing a CE control program aimed at preventing the considerable economic and social losses it causes in high incidence areas. PMID:28746395

  16. Integrated design and manufacturing for the high speed civil transport

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1993-01-01

    In June 1992, Georgia Tech's School of Aerospace Engineering was awarded a NASA University Space Research Association (USRA) Advanced Design Program (ADP) to address 'Integrated Design and Manufacturing for the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT)' in its graduate aerospace systems design courses. This report summarizes the results of the five courses incorporated into the Georgia Tech's USRA ADP program. It covers AE8113: Introduction to Concurrent Engineering, AE4360: Introduction to CAE/CAD, AE4353: Design for Life Cycle Cost, AE6351: Aerospace Systems Design One, and AE6352: Aerospace Systems Design Two. AE8113: Introduction to Concurrent Engineering was an introductory course addressing the basic principles of concurrent engineering (CE) or integrated product development (IPD). The design of a total system was not the objective of this course. The goal was to understand and define the 'up-front' customer requirements, their decomposition, and determine the value objectives for a complex product, such as the high speed civil transport (HSCT). A generic CE methodology developed at Georgia Tech was used for this purpose. AE4353: Design for Life Cycle Cost addressed the basic economic issues for an HSCT using a robust design technique, Taguchi's parameter design optimization method (PDOM). An HSCT economic sensitivity assessment was conducted using a Taguchi PDOM approach to address the robustness of the basic HSCT design. AE4360: Introduction to CAE/CAD permitted students to develop and utilize CAE/CAD/CAM knowledge and skills using CATIA and CADAM as the basic geometric tools. AE6351: Aerospace Systems Design One focused on the conceptual design refinement of a baseline HSCT configuration as defined by Boeing, Douglas, and NASA in their system studies. It required the use of NASA's synthesis codes FLOPS and ACSYNT. A criterion called the productivity index (P.I.) was used to evaluate disciplinary sensitivities and provide refinements of the baseline HSCT configuration. AE6352: Aerospace Systems Design Two was a continuation of Aerospace Systems Design One in which wing concepts were researched and analyzed in more detail. FLOPS and ACSYNT were again used at the system level while other off-the-shelf computer codes were used for more detailed wing disciplinary analysis and optimization. The culmination of all efforts and submission of this report conclude the first year's efforts of Georgia Tech's NASA USRA ADP. It will hopefully provide the foundation for next year's efforts concerning continuous improvement of integrated design and manufacturing for the HSCT.

  17. 76 FR 55614 - Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-08

    ...-0971; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-030-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace... (AD) for Pacific Aerospace Limited Models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 airplanes modified with an unapproved... INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room...

  18. Applying the Theory of Constraints to a Base Civil Engineering Operations Branch

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-09-01

    Figure Page 1. Typical Work Order Processing . .......... 7 2. Typical Job Order Processing . .......... 8 3. Typical Simplified In-Service Work Plan for...Customers’ Customer Request Service Planning Unit Production] Control Center Material Control Scheduling CE Shops Figure 1.. Typical Work Order Processing 7

  19. 47 CFR 15.38 - Incorporation by reference.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ..., 25 West 43rd Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036 or at http://webstore.ansi.org/ansidocstore/default.asp; or Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers at http://www.scte.org/standards/index.cfm...: Consumer Electronics Association, 2500 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 or at http://www.ce.org...

  20. Intergenerational responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles exposure

    EPA Science Inventory

    The intergenerational impact of engineered nanomaterials in plants is a key knowledge gap in the literature. A soil microcosm study was performed to assess the effects of multi-generational exposure of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs). Seeds f...

  1. Near-Road Modeling and Measurement of Particles Generated by Nanoparticle Diesel Fuel Additive Use

    EPA Science Inventory

    Cerium oxide (ceria) nanoparticles (n-Ce) are used as a fuel-borne catalyst in diesel engines to reduce particulate emissions, yet the environmental and human health impacts of the ceria-doped diesel exhaust aerosols are not well understood. To bridge the gap between emission mea...

  2. Integration of the Execution Support System for the Computer-Aided Prototyping System (CAPS)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-09-01

    SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE COMPUTER -AIDED PROTOTYPING SYSTEM (CAPS) by Frank V. Palazzo September 1990 Thesis Advisor: Luq± Approved for public release...ZATON REPOR ,,.VBE (, 6a NAME OF PERPORMING ORGAN ZAT7ON 6b OFF:CE SYVBOL 7a NAME OF MONITORINC O0-CA’Za- ON Computer Science Department (if applicable...Include Security Classification) Integration of the Execution Support System for the Computer -Aided Prototyping System (C S) 12 PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) Frank V

  3. Shaping ability and safety of five different rotary nickel-titanium instruments compared with stainless steel hand instrumentation in simulated curved root canals.

    PubMed

    Schirrmeister, Jörg F; Strohl, Christian; Altenburger, Markus J; Wrbas, Karl-Thomas; Hellwig, Elmar

    2006-06-01

    To compare the shaping ability and safety of engine-driven FlexMaster, GT Rotary, ProFile, ProTaper, and RaCe rotary instrumentation and Hedström hand instrumentation in simulated root canals. One hundred fifty simulated colored root canals with a curvature of 20 degrees and a radius of 10 mm were randomly distributed among 6 groups of 25 specimens each. After preparation to apical size 30 the area of remaining color on the canal wall indicating unprepared areas was measured in mm2 using image analyzer software. Specimens treated with RaCe left least areas of remaining color compared to all other groups (P < .001), followed by ProTaper. Preparation with ProFile left behind the highest amount of unprepared areas. The ProFile group revealed significantly more remaining color than ProTaper, GT Rotary, and FlexMaster (P < .05). Four FlexMaster files separated. RaCe rotary files were safe and more effective compared to the other instruments.

  4. Plasma Centrifuge Heat Engine - a Route to Non-thermal p- 11 B Fusion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barnes, D. C.

    2007-06-01

    An invention [US Patent and Trademark Office App. Nos. 60/596567 (2005) and 60/766791 (2006)] combines centrifugal and dipole confinement, with recent oscillating plasma theory. The plasma undergoes compression/expansion (C/E), parallel to B by centrifugal force and perpendicular to B by B variation, providing a thermal cycle which recovers most (>95%) of heating as mechanical energy. This gives a "Q-amplifier" for beam-target systems. Centrifugally confined Boron plasma undergoes C/E by slow, cross-B interchange activity. Parallel and perpendicular C/E are matched by the rotation profile which arises naturally. Hot plasma is heated and cold plasma is cooled. Beam-target fusion reactions occur in the hot plasma region and expansion returns most of the heat energy as rotation energy. Rotation energy, in turn, produces waves which drive protons to an energy near the fusion peak cross section. A possible machine, including the arrangement of magnets and HV, is described.

  5. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    NONE

    This report supplements the final safety evaluation report (FSER) for the System 80+ standard design. The FSER was issued by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff as NUREG-1462 in August 1994 to document the NRC staff`s review of the System 80+ design. The System 80+ design was submitted by Asea Brown Boveri-Combustion Engineering (ABB-CE), in accordance with the procedures of Subpart B to Part 52 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This supplement documents the NRC staff`s review of the changes to the System 80+ design documentation since the issuance of the FSER. ABB-CE made thesemore » changes as a result of its review of the System 80+ design details. The NRC staff concludes that the changes to the System 80+ design documentation are acceptable, and that ABB-CE`s application for design certification meets the requirements of Subpart B to 10 CFR Part 52 that are applicable and technically relevant to the System 80+ design.« less

  6. SCALE 6.2 Continuous-Energy TSUNAMI-3D Capabilities

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Perfetti, Christopher M; Rearden, Bradley T

    2015-01-01

    The TSUNAMI (Tools for Sensitivity and UNcertainty Analysis Methodology Implementation) capabilities within the SCALE code system make use of sensitivity coefficients for an extensive number of criticality safety applications, such as quantifying the data-induced uncertainty in the eigenvalue of critical systems, assessing the neutronic similarity between different systems, quantifying computational biases, and guiding nuclear data adjustment studies. The need to model geometrically complex systems with improved ease of use and fidelity and the desire to extend TSUNAMI analysis to advanced applications have motivated the development of a SCALE 6.2 module for calculating sensitivity coefficients using three-dimensional (3D) continuous-energy (CE) Montemore » Carlo methods: CE TSUNAMI-3D. This paper provides an overview of the theory, implementation, and capabilities of the CE TSUNAMI-3D sensitivity analysis methods. CE TSUNAMI contains two methods for calculating sensitivity coefficients in eigenvalue sensitivity applications: (1) the Iterated Fission Probability (IFP) method and (2) the Contributon-Linked eigenvalue sensitivity/Uncertainty estimation via Track length importance CHaracterization (CLUTCH) method. This work also presents the GEneralized Adjoint Response in Monte Carlo method (GEAR-MC), a first-of-its-kind approach for calculating adjoint-weighted, generalized response sensitivity coefficients—such as flux responses or reaction rate ratios—in CE Monte Carlo applications. The accuracy and efficiency of the CE TSUNAMI-3D eigenvalue sensitivity methods are assessed from a user perspective in a companion publication, and the accuracy and features of the CE TSUNAMI-3D GEAR-MC methods are detailed in this paper.« less

  7. Computer-assisted study of the axial orientation and distances between renovisceral arteries ostia.

    PubMed

    Lawton, James; Touma, Joseph; Sénémaud, Jean; de Boissieu, Paul; Brossier, Julien; Kobeiter, Hicham; Desgranges, Pascal

    2017-02-01

    Endovascular navigation in aortic, renal and visceral procedures are based on precise knowledge of arterial anatomy. Our aim was to define the anatomical localization of the ostia of renovisceral arteries and their distribution to establish anatomical landmarks for endovascular catheterization. Computer-assisted measurements performed on 55 CT scans and patients features (age, sex, aortic diameter) were analyzed. p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The mean axial angulation of CeT and the SMA origin was 21.8° ± 10.1° and 9.9° ± 10.5°, respectively. The ostia were located on the left anterior edge of the aorta in 96 % of cases for the CeT and 73 % for the SMA. CeT and SMA angles followed Gaussian distribution. Left renal artery (LRA) rose at 96° ± 15° and in 67 % of cases on the left posterior edge. The right renal artery (RRA) rose at -62° ± 16.5° and in 98 % of cases on the right anterior edge of the aorta. RRA angle measurements and cranio-caudal RRA-LRA distance measurements did not follow Gaussian distribution. The mean distances between the CeT and the SMA, LRA, and RRA were 16.7 ± 5.0, 30.7 ± 7.9 and 30.5 ± 7.7 mm, respectively. CeT-SMA distance showed correlation with age and aortic diameter (p = 0.03). CeT-LRA distance showed correlation with age (p = 0.04). The mean distance between the renal ostia was 3.75 ± 0.21 mm. The RRA ostium was higher than the LRA ostium in 52 % of cases. RRA and LRA origins were located at the same level in 7 % of cases. Our results illustrate aortic elongation with ageing and high anatomical variability of renal arteries. Our findings are complementary to anatomical features previously published and might contribute to enhance endovascular procedures safety and efficacy for vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists.

  8. Mobility of nanosized cerium dioxide and polymeric capsules in quartz and loamy sands saturated with model and natural groundwaters.

    PubMed

    Petosa, Adamo Riccardo; Ohl, Carolin; Rajput, Faraz; Tufenkji, Nathalie

    2013-10-01

    The environmental and health risks posed by emerging engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) released into aquatic environments are largely dependent on their aggregation, transport, and deposition behavior. Herein, laboratory-scale columns were used to examine the mobility of polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated cerium dioxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) and an analogous nanosized polymeric capsule (nCAP) in water saturated quartz sand or loamy sand. The influence of solution ionic strength (IS) and cation type (Na(+), Ca(2+), or Mg(2+)) on the transport potential of these ENPs was examined in both granular matrices and results were also compared to measurements obtained using a natural groundwater. ENP suspensions were characterized using dynamic light scattering and nanoparticle tracking analysis to establish aggregate size, and laser Doppler electrophoresis to determine ENP electrophoretic mobility. Regardless of IS, virtually all nCeO2 particles suspended in NaNO3 eluted from the quartz sand-packed columns. In contrast, heightened nCeO2 and nCAP particle retention and dynamic (time-dependent) transport behavior was observed with increasing concentrations of the divalent salts and in the presence of natural groundwater. Enhanced particle retention was also observed in loamy sand in comparison to the quartz sand, emphasizing the need to consider the nature of the aqueous matrix and granular medium in evaluating contamination risks associated with the release of ENPs in natural and engineered aquatic environments. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. American Board of Surgery

    MedlinePlus

    ... Admissibility Policy Leave Policy Specialty Definition Hospice & Palliative Medicine Certifying Exam About the Exam How to Apply Related Policies Exam Admissibility Policy Leave Policy FAQs Application Process Computer Exams General Surgery QE General Surgery CE Certification ...

  10. Image Registration of Cone-Beam Computer Tomography and Preprocedural Computer Tomography Aids in Localization of Adrenal Veins and Decreasing Radiation Dose in Adrenal Vein Sampling

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Busser, Wendy M. H., E-mail: wendy.busser@radboudumc.nl; Arntz, Mark J.; Jenniskens, Sjoerd F. M.

    2015-08-15

    PurposeWe assessed whether image registration of cone-beam computed tomography (CT) (CBCT) and contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) images indicating the locations of the adrenal veins can aid in increasing the success rate of first-attempts adrenal vein sampling (AVS) and therefore decreasing patient radiation dose.Materials and Methods CBCT scans were acquired in the interventional suite (Philips Allura Xper FD20) and rigidly registered to the vertebra in previously acquired CE-CT. Adrenal vein locations were marked on the CT image and superimposed with live fluoroscopy and digital-subtraction angiography (DSA) to guide the AVS. Seventeen first attempts at AVS were performed with image registration and retrospectivelymore » compared with 15 first attempts without image registration performed earlier by the same 2 interventional radiologists. First-attempt AVS was considered successful when both adrenal vein samples showed representative cortisol levels. Sampling time, dose-area product (DAP), number of DSA runs, fluoroscopy time, and skin dose were recorded.ResultsWithout image registration, the first attempt at sampling was successful in 8 of 15 procedures indicating a success rate of 53.3 %. This increased to 76.5 % (13 of 17) by adding CBCT and CE-CT image registration to AVS procedures (p = 0.266). DAP values (p = 0.001) and DSA runs (p = 0.026) decreased significantly by adding image registration guidance. Sampling and fluoroscopy times and skin dose showed no significant changes.ConclusionGuidance based on registration of CBCT and previously acquired diagnostic CE-CT can aid in enhancing localization of the adrenal veins thereby increasing the success rate of first-attempt AVS with a significant decrease in the number of used DSA runs and, consequently, radiation dose required.« less

  11. Self-assembled oxide films with tailored nanoscale ionic and electronic channels for controlled resistive switching

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cho, Seungho; Yun, Chao; Tappertzhofen, Stefan; Kursumovic, Ahmed; Lee, Shinbuhm; Lu, Ping; Jia, Quanxi; Fan, Meng; Jian, Jie; Wang, Haiyan; Hofmann, Stephan; MacManus-Driscoll, Judith L.

    2016-08-01

    Resistive switches are non-volatile memory cells based on nano-ionic redox processes that offer energy efficient device architectures and open pathways to neuromorphics and cognitive computing. However, channel formation typically requires an irreversible, not well controlled electroforming process, giving difficulty to independently control ionic and electronic properties. The device performance is also limited by the incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we report a novel memristive model material system based on self-assembled Sm-doped CeO2 and SrTiO3 films that allow the separate tailoring of nanoscale ionic and electronic channels at high density (~1012 inch-2). We systematically show that these devices allow precise engineering of the resistance states, thus enabling large on-off ratios and high reproducibility. The tunable structure presents an ideal platform to explore ionic and electronic mechanisms and we expect a wide potential impact also on other nascent technologies, ranging from ionic gating to micro-solid oxide fuel cells and neuromorphics.

  12. Remote entanglement stabilization for modular quantum computing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Didier, Nicolas; Shankar, S.; Mirrahimi, M.

    Quantum information processing in a modular architecture requires to distribute and stabilize entanglement in a qubit network. We present autonomous entanglement stabilization protocols between two qubits that are coupled to distant cavities. The cavities coupling is mediated and controlled via a three-wave mixing device that generates either a delocalized mode or a two-mode squeezed state between the remote cavities depending on the pump frequency. Local drives on the qubits and the cavities steer and maintain the system to the desired qubit Bell state. We show that these reservoir-engineering based protocols stabilize entanglement in presence of qubit-cavity asymmetries and losses. Most spectacularly, even a weakly-squeezed state can stabilize a maximally entangled Bell state of two distant qubits through entanglement accumulation. This research was supported by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche under Grant ANR-14-CE26-0018, by Inria's DPEI under the TAQUILLA associated team and by ARO under Grant No. W911NF-14-1-0011.

  13. Detection of zinc oxide and cerium dioxide nanoparticles during drinking water treatment by rapid single particle ICP-MS methods.

    PubMed

    Donovan, Ariel R; Adams, Craig D; Ma, Yinfa; Stephan, Chady; Eichholz, Todd; Shi, Honglan

    2016-07-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) entering water systems are an emerging concern as NPs are more frequently manufactured and used. Single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) methods were validated to detect Zn- and Ce-containing NPs in surface and drinking water using a short dwell time of 0.1 ms or lower, ensuring precision in single particle detection while eliminating the need for sample preparation. Using this technique, information regarding NP size, size distribution, particle concentration, and dissolved ion concentrations was obtained simultaneously. The fates of Zn- and Ce-NPs, including those found in river water and added engineered NPs, were evaluated by simulating a typical drinking water treatment process. Lime softening, alum coagulation, powdered activated carbon sorption, and disinfection by free chlorine were simulated sequentially using river water. Lime softening removed 38-53 % of Zn-containing and ZnO NPs and >99 % of Ce-containing and CeO2 NPs. Zn-containing and ZnO NP removal increased to 61-74 % and 77-79 % after alum coagulation and disinfection, respectively. Source and drinking water samples were collected from three large drinking water treatment facilities and analyzed for Zn- and Ce-containing NPs. Each facility had these types of NPs present. In all cases, particle concentrations were reduced by a minimum of 60 % and most were reduced by >95 % from source water to finished drinking water. This study concludes that uncoated ZnO and CeO2 NPs may be effectively removed by conventional drinking water treatments including lime softening and alum coagulation.

  14. Capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry determination of inorganic ions using an ion spray-sheath flow interface.

    PubMed

    Huggins, T G; Henion, J D

    1993-01-01

    The determination of inorganic cations and anions by capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry (CE/MS) is reported using an ion spray-sheath flow interface coupling. A twelve-component synthetic mixture of cations which included the positive ions of K, Ba, Ca, Mn, Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Ag, and Cu was loaded into the capillary column at levels ranging from 30 to 300 pg, separated by CE, and detected by indirect UV and in the full-scan (m/z 35-450) positive ion CE/MS mode using an aqueous buffer containing 30 mM creatinine and 8 mM alpha-hydroxyisobutyric acid, pH 4.8. Creatinine forms adducts with the cations which are observed in the gas phase and requires rather high (120 electron volts) declustering energy to dissociate. This produces a reduction in charge state to form the free, singly charged, inorganic cations which are observed in the mass spectra. CE/MS analysis of an aqueous acidic extract of used aircraft engine oil revealed high levels of lead as well as lower levels of chromium and nickel. CE-indirect UV analysis of a synthetic mixture containing 300 pg each of 11 inorganic ions, which included the anions of Br, Cl, NO2, NO3, S2O3, N3, SCN, SO4, SeO4, oxalate, and MoO4, is shown. The running buffer which affected this separation contained 5 mM ammonium dichromate, 10 mM ammonium acetate, and 20 mM diethylenetriamine at pH 9.3. Although indirect UV detection revealed good separation of these anions, CE/MS analysis of this mixture was complicated by interfering ion current signals from the cluster ions formed by the interaction between the additives and the analytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  15. Phase Transformation and Lattice Parameter Changes of Non-trivalent Rare Earth-Doped YSZ as a Function of Temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Shengli; Huang, Xiao; He, Zhang; Buyers, Andrew

    2018-01-01

    To examine the effect of doping/co-doping on high-temperature phase compositions of YSZ, stand-alone YSZ and CeO2 and Nb2O5 co-doped YSZ samples were prepared using mechanical alloy and high-temperature sintering. XRD analysis was performed on these samples from room temperature to 1100 °C. The results show that the structure for the co-doped samples tends to be thermally stable when the test temperature is higher than a critical value. Monoclinic phase was dominant in Nb2O5 co-doped YSZ at temperatures lower than 600 °C, while for the YSZ and CeO2 co-doped YSZ, cubic/tetragonal phase was dominant in the whole test temperature range. The lattice parameters for all the samples increase with increasing test temperature generally. The lattice parameters for the two non-trivalent rare earth oxides co-doped YSZ show that the lattice parameter a for the cubic phase of the Ce4+ co-doped YSZ is consistently greater than that of 7YSZ which is related to the presence of larger radius of Ce4+ in the matrix. The lattice parameters a, b, c for the monoclinic phase of Ce4+ co-doped YSZ are much closer to each other than that of the Nb5+ co-doped YSZ, indicating the former has better tendency to form cubic/tetragonal phase, which is desired for vast engineering applications.

  16. Phase Transformation and Lattice Parameter Changes of Non-trivalent Rare Earth-Doped YSZ as a Function of Temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Shengli; Huang, Xiao; He, Zhang; Buyers, Andrew

    2018-05-01

    To examine the effect of doping/co-doping on high-temperature phase compositions of YSZ, stand-alone YSZ and CeO2 and Nb2O5 co-doped YSZ samples were prepared using mechanical alloy and high-temperature sintering. XRD analysis was performed on these samples from room temperature to 1100 °C. The results show that the structure for the co-doped samples tends to be thermally stable when the test temperature is higher than a critical value. Monoclinic phase was dominant in Nb2O5 co-doped YSZ at temperatures lower than 600 °C, while for the YSZ and CeO2 co-doped YSZ, cubic/tetragonal phase was dominant in the whole test temperature range. The lattice parameters for all the samples increase with increasing test temperature generally. The lattice parameters for the two non-trivalent rare earth oxides co-doped YSZ show that the lattice parameter a for the cubic phase of the Ce4+ co-doped YSZ is consistently greater than that of 7YSZ which is related to the presence of larger radius of Ce4+ in the matrix. The lattice parameters a, b, c for the monoclinic phase of Ce4+ co-doped YSZ are much closer to each other than that of the Nb5+ co-doped YSZ, indicating the former has better tendency to form cubic/tetragonal phase, which is desired for vast engineering applications.

  17. Predicting Atomic Decay Rates Using an Informational-Entropic Approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gleiser, Marcelo; Jiang, Nan

    2018-06-01

    We show that a newly proposed Shannon-like entropic measure of shape complexity applicable to spatially-localized or periodic mathematical functions known as configurational entropy (CE) can be used as a predictor of spontaneous decay rates for one-electron atoms. The CE is constructed from the Fourier transform of the atomic probability density. For the hydrogen atom with degenerate states labeled with the principal quantum number n, we obtain a scaling law relating the n-averaged decay rates to the respective CE. The scaling law allows us to predict the n-averaged decay rate without relying on the traditional computation of dipole matrix elements. We tested the predictive power of our approach up to n = 20, obtaining an accuracy better than 3.7% within our numerical precision, as compared to spontaneous decay tables listed in the literature.

  18. Predicting Atomic Decay Rates Using an Informational-Entropic Approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gleiser, Marcelo; Jiang, Nan

    2018-02-01

    We show that a newly proposed Shannon-like entropic measure of shape complexity applicable to spatially-localized or periodic mathematical functions known as configurational entropy (CE) can be used as a predictor of spontaneous decay rates for one-electron atoms. The CE is constructed from the Fourier transform of the atomic probability density. For the hydrogen atom with degenerate states labeled with the principal quantum number n, we obtain a scaling law relating the n-averaged decay rates to the respective CE. The scaling law allows us to predict the n-averaged decay rate without relying on the traditional computation of dipole matrix elements. We tested the predictive power of our approach up to n = 20, obtaining an accuracy better than 3.7% within our numerical precision, as compared to spontaneous decay tables listed in the literature.

  19. Cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles decrease arsenite (As(III)) cytotoxicity to 16HBE14o- human bronchial epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    Zeng, Chao; Nguyen, Chi; Boitano, Scott; Field, Jim A; Shadman, Farhang; Sierra-Alvarez, Reyes

    2018-07-01

    The production and application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are increasing in demand with the rapid development of nanotechnology. However, there are concerns that some of these novel materials could lead to emerging environmental and health problems. Some NPs are able to facilitate the transport of contaminants into cells/organisms via a "Trojan Horse" effect which enhances the toxicity of the adsorbed materials. In this work, we evaluated the toxicity of arsenite (As(III)) adsorbed onto cerium dioxide (CeO 2 ) NPs to human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-) using the xCELLigence real time cell analyzing system (RTCA). Application of 0.5 mg/L As(III) resulted in 81.3% reduction of cell index (CI, an RTCA measure of cell toxicity) over 48 h when compared to control cells exposed to medium lacking As(III). However, when the cells were exposed to 0.5 mg/L As(III) in the presence of CeO 2 NPs (250 mg/L), the CI was only reduced by 12.9% compared to the control. The CeO 2 NPs had a high capacity for As(III) adsorption (20.2 mg/g CeO 2 ) in the bioassay medium, effectively reducing dissolved As(III) in the aqueous solution and resulting in reduced toxicity. Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the transport of CeO 2 NPs into 16HBE14o- cells. NP uptake via engulfment was observed and the internalized NPs accumulated in vesicles. The results demonstrate that dissolved As(III) in the aqueous solution was the decisive factor controlling As(III) toxicity of 16HBE14o- cells, and that CeO 2 NPs effectively reduced available As(III) through adsorption. These data emphasize the evaluation of mixtures when assaying toxicity. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Gold core/ceria shell-based redox active nanozyme mimicking the biological multienzyme complex phenomenon

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bhagat, Stuti; Srikanth Vallabani, N. V.; Shutthanandan, Vaithiyalingam

    Catalytically active individual gold (Au) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles are well known to exhibit specific enzyme-like activities, such as natural catalase, oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase enzymes. These activities have been maneuvered to design several biological applications such as immunoassays, glucose detection, radiation and free radical protection and tissue engineering. A functional nanozyme depicting multienzyme like properties that functions as a synthetic super enzyme has eluded the researchers in the nanoscience community for past decade. In current report, we have designed a functional multienzyme in the form of Gold (core)-CeO2 (shell) nanoparticles (Au@CeO2 CSNPs) exhibiting excellent peroxidase, catalase andmore » superoxide dismutase enzyme-like activities that are controlled simply by tuning the pH. The reaction kinetic parameters reveal that the peroxidase-like activity of this core shell nanozyme is comparable to natural HRP enzyme. Unlike peroxidase-like activity exhibited by other nanomaterials, Au@CeO2 CSNPs showed decrease in hydroxyl radical formation, suggesting that the bio catalytic reactions are performed by efficient electron transfers. A significant enzyme-like activity of this core shell nanoparticle was conserved at extreme pH (2 – 11) and temperatures (up to 90 °C), clearly suggesting the superiority over natural enzymes. Further, the utility of peroxidase-like activity of this core shell nanoparticles was extended for the detection of glucose, which showed a linear range of detection between (100 µM – 1 mM). It is hypothesized that the proximity of the redox potentials of Au+/Au and Ce (III)/Ce (IV) may result in a redox couple promoting the multienzyme activity of core shell nanoparticles. Au@CeO2 CSNPs may open new directions for development of single platform sensors in multiple biosensing applications.« less

  1. Corrosion protection properties and interfacial adhesion mechanism of an epoxy/polyamide coating applied on the steel surface decorated with cerium oxide nanofilm: Complementary experimental, molecular dynamics (MD) and first principle quantum mechanics (QM) simulation methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bahlakeh, Ghasem; Ramezanzadeh, Bahram; Saeb, Mohammad Reza; Terryn, Herman; Ghaffari, Mehdi

    2017-10-01

    The effect of cerium oxide treatment on the corrosion protection properties and interfacial interaction of steel/epoxy was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, (EIS) classical molecular dynamics (MD) and first principle quantum mechanics (QM) simulation methods X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to verify the chemical composition of the Ce film deposited on the steel. To probe the role of the curing agent in epoxy adsorption, computations were compared for an epoxy, aminoamide and aminoamide modified epoxy. Moreover, to study the influence of water on interfacial interactions the MD simulations were executed for poly (aminoamide)-cured epoxy resin in contact with the different crystallographic cerium dioxide (ceria, CeO2) surfaces including (100), (110), and (111) in the presence of water molecules. It was found that aminoamide-cured epoxy material was strongly adhered to all types of CeO2 substrates, so that binding to ceria surfaces followed the decreasing order CeO2 (111) > CeO2 (100) > CeO2 (110) in both dry and wet environments. Calculation of interaction energies noticed an enhanced adhesion to metal surface due to aminoamide curing of epoxy resin; where facets (100) and (111) revealed electrostatic and Lewis acid-base interactions, while an additional hydrogen bonding interaction was identified for CeO2 (110). Overall, MD simulations suggested decrement of adhesion to CeO2 in wet environment compared to dry conditions. Additionally, contact angle, pull-off test, cathodic delamination and salt spray analyses were used to confirm the simulation results. The experimental results in line with modeling results revealed that Ce layer deposited on steel enhanced substrate surface free energy, work of adhesion, and interfacial adhesion strength of the epoxy coating. Furthermore, decrement of adhesion of epoxy to CeO2 in presence of water was affirmed by experimental results. EIS results revealed remarkable enhancement of the corrosion resistance of epoxy coating applied on the steel specimens treated by cerium oxide.

  2. Fine tuning the heavy fermion ground state: A new handle on cerium cobalt indium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pham, Long D.

    A Two Fluid Description of the Kondo Lattice CeCoIn5 has been extended to include additional entropy terms that were not considered in the original work by S. Nakatsuji et al. [1]. The use of a Matlab computer code was successful at iteratively solving for f, the fraction of itinerant interacting heavy quasiparticles, and showed that it converges to a temperature dependent function invariant under successive iterations. The linear specific heat coefficient, gamma, was extracted from transport consideration in conjunction with f(T) and the Kadowacki-Woods ratio to be 204mJ/mole-K2, in good agreement from heat capacity measurements of 290mJ/mole-K2 for CeCoIn 5 [32]. Antiferromagnetism has been induced in CeCoIn5 as well as its two isostructural, isovalent sister compounds CeRhIn5 and CeIrIn 5. Cadmium-doping the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 at the percent level acts as an electronic tuning agent, sensitively shifting the balance between superconductivity and antiferromagnetism and opening new ambient-pressure phase space in the study of heavy-fermion ground states. At nominal concentrations of x>0.070, CeCo(In1-xCd x)5 displays a two phase region of antiferromagnetism coexisting with superconductivity up to x<0.15, above which no trace of superconductivity persists in specific heat. Similar results was seen in CeIr(In1-xCd x)5 where a quantum critical point (QCP) was observed, separating superconductivity from antiferromagnetism at a nominal critical concentration of x≈0.0475, while CeRh(In1-xCdx)5 goes through an incommensurate to commensurate antiferromagnetic transition nominally at x≈0.10. Amazingly, pressure completely recovers Tc in CeCo(In1-x Cdx)5 measured at nominal concentrations of x=0.10, and 0.15. Phase diagrams were constructed from specific heat and confirmed with resistivity and magnetization. An introduction to strongly correlated physics, relevant to the 115 family, will be worked out followed by a description of general techniques of synthesis and physical properties measurements central to this dissertation and in the study of material science in general.

  3. Image fusion of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using volume navigation for detection, characterization and planning of therapeutic interventions of liver tumors.

    PubMed

    Rennert, J; Georgieva, M; Schreyer, A G; Jung, W; Ross, C; Stroszczynski, C; Jung, E M

    2011-01-01

    To evaluate, whether image fusion of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with CT or MRI affects the diagnosis and characterization of liver lesions or the therapeutic strategy of surgical or interventional procedures compared to the preliminary diagnosis. In a retrospective study the image fusion scans of CEUS with contrast enhanced CT or MRI of 100 patients (71 male, mean age 59 years, 0.3-85 years) with benign or malignant liver lesions were evaluated. Fundamental B-scan, color Doppler imaging and CEUS were performed in all patients by an experienced examiner using a multifrequency convex transducer (1-5 MHz, LOGIQ 9/GE) and volume navigation (Vnav). After a bolus injections of up to 2.4 ml SonoVue® (BRACCO, Italy) digital raw data was stored as cine-loops up to 5 min. In 74 patients, CEUS was fused with a pre-existing ceCT, in 26 patients a ceMRI was used. In all 100 patients (100%) the image quality in all modalities (ceCT, ceMRI and CEUS) was excellent or with only minor diagnostic limitations. Regarding the number of lesions revealed in image fusion of CEUS/ceCT/ceMRI and the preceding diagnostic method, concordant results were found in 84 patients. In 12 patients, additional lesions were found using fusion imaging causing subsequently a change of the therapeutical strategy. In 15 out of 21 patients with either concordant or discordant results regarding the number of lesions, image fusion allowed a definite diagnosis due to a continuous documentation of the microcirculation of the tumor and its contrast enhancement. A significant coherency (p < 0.05) among image fusion with either ceCT or ceMRI and CEUS and a subsequent change of therapeutic strategy was found. Image fusion with volume navigation (VNav) of CEUS with ceCT or ceMRI frequently allows a definite localization and diagnosis of hepatic lesions in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma or metastatic diseases. This might cause a change of the therapeutic strategy in many patients with hepatic lesions.

  4. Exposure, Health and Ecological Effects Review of Engineered Nanoscale Cerium and Cerium Oxide Associated with its Use as a Fuel Additive

    EPA Science Inventory

    Advances of nanoscale science have produced nanomaterials with unique physical and chemical properties at commercial levels which are now incorporated into over 1000 products. Nanoscale cerium (di) oxide (CeO(2)) has recently gained a wide range of applications which includes coa...

  5. 75 FR 62716 - Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Model FU24-954 and FU24A-954 Airplanes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-13

    ...-1021; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-053-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace.... FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate... condition on the products listed above. Since we issued AD 2008-14-12, Pacific Aerospace Limited has...

  6. The Influence of Quality Circles on Attitudinal Outcomes Among Civil Engineering Personnel.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-09-01

    whatsoever since 1977 (Donnelly, Gibson, & Ivancevich , 1984). From 1950 to 1980, however, Japan’s annual productivity growth rate has been four times...Cliffs NJ: Pren"ce-Ha11, 1980. Donnelly, James H. Jr., James L. Gibson, and John M. Ivancevich . Fundamentals of Management (Fifth Edition). Plano TX

  7. Between College and Work in the Further Education and Training College Sector

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Garraway, James; Bronkhorst, Joseph; Wickham, Sharman

    2015-01-01

    Students studying Civil Engineering (CE) at the Further Education and Training (FET) colleges spend periods of time in the classroom and workshop as well as in the workplace during experiential learning. The overall purpose of education and training in the college sector is generally understood as preparing students for employability, and…

  8. Near-road modeling and measurement of cerium-containing particles generated by nanoparticle diesel fuel additive use

    EPA Science Inventory

    Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCe) are used as a fuel-borne catalyst in diesel engines to reduce particulate emissions, yet the environmental and human health impacts of the exhaust particles are not well understood. To bridge the gap between emission measurements and ambient impac...

  9. Materials Data on CeRh (SG:63) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-04-07

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  10. Clinical engineering in Romania. The coming of age.

    PubMed

    Naianu, B P; Negoescu, R

    Biomedical engineering (BME) includes clinical engineering and bioengineering. Bioengineering is academically oriented towards theory and research in biology using the methods of exact sciences such as maths and physics, while clinical engineering (CE) has a rather practical orientation focusing on the general management of clinic/hospital equipment and providing aid to the medical staff in the use of advanced technologies for diagnosis and therapy purposes. The Romanian physiological community has been closely involved in the growth of BME that has now come of age in this country. Radu Vrâncianu's great intuition in opening the door to this science and its practical application in an institution created by Daniel Danielopolu definitely represented a good chance for Romanian public health. Recently, both clinical engineering and medical bioengineering have been introduced into the Romanian Classification of Occupations.

  11. Low latency, high bandwidth data communications between compute nodes in a parallel computer

    DOEpatents

    Archer, Charles J.; Blocksome, Michael A.; Ratterman, Joseph D.; Smith, Brian E.

    2010-11-02

    Methods, parallel computers, and computer program products are disclosed for low latency, high bandwidth data communications between compute nodes in a parallel computer. Embodiments include receiving, by an origin direct memory access (`DMA`) engine of an origin compute node, data for transfer to a target compute node; sending, by the origin DMA engine of the origin compute node to a target DMA engine on the target compute node, a request to send (`RTS`) message; transferring, by the origin DMA engine, a predetermined portion of the data to the target compute node using memory FIFO operation; determining, by the origin DMA engine whether an acknowledgement of the RTS message has been received from the target DMA engine; if the an acknowledgement of the RTS message has not been received, transferring, by the origin DMA engine, another predetermined portion of the data to the target compute node using a memory FIFO operation; and if the acknowledgement of the RTS message has been received by the origin DMA engine, transferring, by the origin DMA engine, any remaining portion of the data to the target compute node using a direct put operation.

  12. Parameter estimation in large-scale systems biology models: a parallel and self-adaptive cooperative strategy.

    PubMed

    Penas, David R; González, Patricia; Egea, Jose A; Doallo, Ramón; Banga, Julio R

    2017-01-21

    The development of large-scale kinetic models is one of the current key issues in computational systems biology and bioinformatics. Here we consider the problem of parameter estimation in nonlinear dynamic models. Global optimization methods can be used to solve this type of problems but the associated computational cost is very large. Moreover, many of these methods need the tuning of a number of adjustable search parameters, requiring a number of initial exploratory runs and therefore further increasing the computation times. Here we present a novel parallel method, self-adaptive cooperative enhanced scatter search (saCeSS), to accelerate the solution of this class of problems. The method is based on the scatter search optimization metaheuristic and incorporates several key new mechanisms: (i) asynchronous cooperation between parallel processes, (ii) coarse and fine-grained parallelism, and (iii) self-tuning strategies. The performance and robustness of saCeSS is illustrated by solving a set of challenging parameter estimation problems, including medium and large-scale kinetic models of the bacterium E. coli, bakerés yeast S. cerevisiae, the vinegar fly D. melanogaster, Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, and a generic signal transduction network. The results consistently show that saCeSS is a robust and efficient method, allowing very significant reduction of computation times with respect to several previous state of the art methods (from days to minutes, in several cases) even when only a small number of processors is used. The new parallel cooperative method presented here allows the solution of medium and large scale parameter estimation problems in reasonable computation times and with small hardware requirements. Further, the method includes self-tuning mechanisms which facilitate its use by non-experts. We believe that this new method can play a key role in the development of large-scale and even whole-cell dynamic models.

  13. YAP(Ce) crystal characterization with proton beam up to 60 MeV

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Randazzo, N.; Sipala, V.; Aiello, S.; Lo Presti, D.; Cirrone, G. A. P.; Cuttone, G.; Di Rosa, F.

    2008-02-01

    A YAP(Ce) crystal was characterized with a proton beam up to 60 MeV. Tests were performed to investigate the possibility of using this detector as a proton calorimeter. The size of the crystal was chosen so that the proton energy is totally lost inside the medium. The authors propose to use the YAP(Ce) crystal in medical applications for proton therapy. In particular, in proton computed tomography (pCT) project it is necessary as a calorimeter in order to measure the proton residual energy after the phantom. Energy resolution, linearity, and light yield were measured in the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud with the CATANA proton beam [ http://www.lns.infn.it/CATANA/CATANA] and the results are shown in this paper. The crystal shows a good resolution (3% at 60 MeV proton beam) and it shows good linearity for different proton beam energies (1% at 30-60 MeV energy range). The crystal performances confirm that the YAP(Ce) crystal represents a good solution for these kinds of application.

  14. An Update on Improvements to NiCE Support for PROTEUS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bennett, Andrew; McCaskey, Alexander J.; Billings, Jay Jay

    2015-09-01

    The Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy's Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program has supported the development of the NEAMS Integrated Computational Environment (NiCE), a modeling and simulation workflow environment that provides services and plugins to facilitate tasks such as code execution, model input construction, visualization, and data analysis. This report details the development of workflows for the reactor core neutronics application, PROTEUS. This advanced neutronics application (primarily developed at Argonne National Laboratory) aims to improve nuclear reactor design and analysis by providing an extensible and massively parallel, finite-element solver for current and advanced reactor fuel neutronicsmore » modeling. The integration of PROTEUS-specific tools into NiCE is intended to make the advanced capabilities that PROTEUS provides more accessible to the nuclear energy research and development community. This report will detail the work done to improve existing PROTEUS workflow support in NiCE. We will demonstrate and discuss these improvements, including the development of flexible IO services, an improved interface for input generation, and the addition of advanced Fortran development tools natively in the platform.« less

  15. Composition engineering of single crystalline films based on the multicomponent garnet compounds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zorenko, Yuriy; Gorbenko, Vitalii; Zorenko, Tetiana; Paprocki, Kazimierz; Bilski, Paweł; Twardak, Anna; Voznyak, Taras; Sidletskiy, Oleg; Gerasimov, Yaroslav; Gryniov, Boris; Fedorov, Alexandr

    2016-11-01

    The paper demonstrates our last achievement in development of the novel scintillating screens based on single crystalline films (SCF) of Ce doped multicomponent garnets using the Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) method. We report in this work the optimized content and excellent scintillation properties of SCF of Lu3-xGdxAl5-yGayO12, Lu3-xTbxAl5-yGayO12 and TbxGdxAl5-yGayO12 garnet compounds grown by the LPE method from PbOsbnd B2O3 based melt-solution onto Gd3Al2.5Ga2.5O12 and YAG substrates. We also show that the Tb1.5Gd1.5Al2.5Ga2.5O12:Ce SCF possess the highest light yield (LY) in comparison with all ever grown garnet SCF scintillators. Namely, the LY of these SCF exceeds by 3.8 and 1.85 times the LY values of the best samples of YAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce SCF scintillators, respectively. The SCF samples of the mentioned compounds show low thermoluminescence in the above room temperature range and relatively fast scintillation decay time t1/e in the 180-200 ns range.

  16. Room temperature synthesis of water-dispersible Ln3+:CeF3 (Ln = Nd, Tb) nanoparticles with different morphology as bimodal probes for fluorescence and CT imaging.

    PubMed

    González-Mancebo, Daniel; Becerro, Ana I; Rojas, T Cristina; Olivencia, Andrés; Corral, Ariadna; Balcerzyk, Marcin; Cantelar, Eugenio; Cussó, Fernando; Ocaña, Manuel

    2018-06-15

    The singular properties of lanthanide-based inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) has raised the attention of the scientific community in biotechnological applications. In particular, those systems with two or more functionalities are especially interesting. In this work, an effective and commercially attractive procedure has been developed that renders uniform, water-dispersible Ln 3+ :CeF 3 (Ln = Tb, Nd) NPs with different shapes and size. The method consists of the homogeneous precipitation, in a mixture of polyol and water, of cations and anions using precursors that allow the controlled release of the latter. The advantages of the reported method are related to the absence of surfactants, dispersing agents or corrosive precursors as well as to the room temperature of the process. The obtained Tb:CeF 3 NPs produce an intense emission after excitation through the Ce-Tb energy transfer band located in the UV spectral region, thus being potentially useful as phosphors for in-vitro imaging purposes. On the other hand, the synthesized Nd:CeF 3 NPs are good candidates for in-vivo imaging because their excitation and emission wavelengths lie in the biological windows. Finally, the excellent X-ray attenuation efficacy of the Nd:CeF 3 NPs is shown, which confers double functionality to this material as both luminescence bioprobe and contrast agent for X-ray computed-tomography. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Continuing education needs assessment of pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates.

    PubMed

    Hasan, Sanah

    2009-12-01

    The main objective of this study was to offer an insight on the issue of continuing education (CE) in the UAE and to determine the type and format of CE pharmacists in this country prefer to attend and consider most effective. A multi-theme survey was developed to find the reasons pharmacists choose to attend different CE programs, the survey assessed continuing education needs and preferences of pharmacists. Survey items included the types of formats and topics pharmacists prefer to attend and think are most useful to enhance their knowledge and skill. Finally the survey explored some barriers pharmacists conceive as such to attending effective CE. One hundred thirty-two surveys were included in this study, the vast majority of the participants were bachelor's degree holders who were 40 years and younger. The participant's main types of employment were marketing and hospital practice. Pharmacists' preferences as for the format and topic type for programs they would like to attend were identified and compared to other practice settings. Barriers to attending effective CE programs were also elicited. Interactive workshops were recognized as the most favorable format for CE in this study, computer and internet-based formats were also ranked highly by participants followed by live-in person and printed material-based programs. Topics covering innovations in pharmacy practice and disease management were at the top of priorities for pharmacists who would also like to see more certificate programs be offered to them.

  18. Induction of pulmonary fibrosis by cerium oxide nanoparticles

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ma, Jane Y., E-mail: jym1@cdc.gov; Mercer, Robert R.; Barger, Mark

    2012-08-01

    Cerium compounds have been used as a diesel engine catalyst to lower the mass of diesel exhaust particles, but are emitted as cerium oxide (CeO{sub 2}) nanoparticles in the diesel exhaust. In a previous study, we have demonstrated a wide range of CeO{sub 2}-induced lung responses including sustained pulmonary inflammation and cellular signaling that could lead to pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the fibrogenic responses induced by CeO{sub 2} in a rat model at various time points up to 84 days post-exposure. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to CeO{sub 2} by a single intratracheal instillation. Alveolar macrophagesmore » (AM) were isolated by bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL). AM-mediated cellular responses, osteopontin (OPN) and transform growth factor (TGF)-β1 in the fibrotic process were investigated. The results showed that CeO{sub 2} exposure significantly increased fibrotic cytokine TGF-β1 and OPN production by AM above controls. The collagen degradation enzymes, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 and the tissue inhibitor of MMP were markedly increased in the BAL fluid at 1 day- and subsequently declined at 28 days after exposure, but remained much higher than the controls. CeO{sub 2} induced elevated phospholipids in BAL fluid and increased hydroxyproline content in lung tissue in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical analysis showed MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-10 expressions in fibrotic regions. Morphological analysis noted increased collagen fibers in the lungs exposed to a single dose of 3.5 mg/kg CeO{sub 2} and euthanized at 28 days post-exposure. Collectively, our studies show that CeO{sub 2} induced fibrotic lung injury in rats, suggesting it may cause potential health effects. -- Highlights: ► Cerium oxide exposure significantly affected the following parameters in the lung. ► Induced fibrotic cytokine OPN and TGF-β1 production and phospholipidosis. ► Caused imbalance of the MMP-9/ TIMP-1 ratio that favors fibrosis. ► Cerium oxide particles were detected in lung tissue and AM. ► Cerium oxide caused lung fibrosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner.« less

  19. New Bedford Harbor Superfund Project, Acushnet River Estuary Engineering Feasibility Study of Dredging and Dredged Material Disposal Alternatives. Report 11. Evaluation of Conceptual Dredging and Disposal Alternatives

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-07-01

    Y -- ma ma"o DIVIDENDS~~ 13ATUR -P 313ARM CORPS OF ENGINEERS A D z-. - N K 4 F~~ 1 /V. E C 7- GENERAL NOTES: - Soundtags are in fget a td t enths aid...usoAdter ine stae. Til %format ion depicted on these saps represents Ihq results of surveyjs made on the dates ihdica ted Ogu Ce on Iy .e Couasderedtas

  20. Surface engineering on CeO2 nanorods by chemical redox etching and their enhanced catalytic activity for CO oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Wei; Zhang, Zhiyun; Li, Jing; Ma, Yuanyuan; Qu, Yongquan

    2015-07-01

    Controllable surface properties of nanocerias are desired for various catalytic processes. There is a lack of efficient approaches to adjust the surface properties of ceria to date. Herein, a redox chemical etching method was developed to controllably engineer the surface properties of ceria nanorods. Ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide were used to perform the redox chemical etching process, resulting in a rough surface and/or pores on the surface of ceria nanorods. Increasing the etching cycles induced a steady increase of the specific surface area, oxygen vacancies and surface Ce3+ fractions. As a result, the etched nanorods delivered enhanced catalytic activity for CO oxidation, compared to the non-etched ceria nanorods. Our method provides a novel and facile approach to continuously adjust the surface properties of ceria for practical applications.Controllable surface properties of nanocerias are desired for various catalytic processes. There is a lack of efficient approaches to adjust the surface properties of ceria to date. Herein, a redox chemical etching method was developed to controllably engineer the surface properties of ceria nanorods. Ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide were used to perform the redox chemical etching process, resulting in a rough surface and/or pores on the surface of ceria nanorods. Increasing the etching cycles induced a steady increase of the specific surface area, oxygen vacancies and surface Ce3+ fractions. As a result, the etched nanorods delivered enhanced catalytic activity for CO oxidation, compared to the non-etched ceria nanorods. Our method provides a novel and facile approach to continuously adjust the surface properties of ceria for practical applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Diameter distributions of as-prepared and etched samples, optical images, specific catalytic data of CO oxidation and comparison of CO oxidation. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr01846c

  1. Engineering and introduction of de novo disulphide bridges in organophosphorus hydrolase enzyme for thermostability improvement.

    PubMed

    Farnoosh, Gholamreza; Khajeh, Khosro; Latifi, Ali Mohammad; Aghamollaei, Hossein

    2016-12-01

    The organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) has been used to degrade organophosphorus chemicals, as one of the most frequently used decontamination methods. Under chemical and thermal denaturing conditions, the enzyme has been shown to unfold. To utilize this enzyme in various applications, the thermal stability is of importance. The engineering of de novo disulphide bridges has been explored as a means to increase the thermal stability of enzymes in the rational method of protein engineering. In this study, Disulphide by Design software, homology modelling and molecular dynamics simulations were used to select appropriate amino acid pairs for the introduction of disulphide bridge to improve protein thermostability. The thermostability of the wild-type and three selected mutant enzymes were evaluated by half-life, delta G inactivation (ΔGi) and structural studies (fluorescence and far-UV CD analysis). Data analysis showed that half-life of A204C/T234C and T128C/E153C mutants were increased up to 4 and 24 min, respectively; however, for the G74C/A78C mutant, the half-life was decreased up to 9 min. For the T128C/E124C mutant, both thermal stability and Catalytic efficiency (kcat) were also increased. The half-life and ΔGi results were correlated to the obtained information from structural studies by circular dichroism (CD) spectrometry and extrinsic fluorescence experiments; as rigidity increased in A204C/T2234C and T128C/E153C mutants, half-life and ΔGi also increased. For G74C/A78C mutant, these parameters decreased due to its higher flexibility. The results were submitted a strong evidence for the possibility to improve the thermostability of OPH enzyme by introducing a disulphide bridge after bioinformatics design, even though this design would not be always successful.

  2. Computer Center Harris 1600 Operator’s Guide.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-06-01

    RECIPIENT’S CATALOG NUMBER CMLD-82-15 Vb /9 7 ’ 4. TITLE (and Subtitle) S. TYPE OF REPORT & PERIOD COVERED Computer Center Harris 1600 Operator’s Guide...AD-AIAA 077 DAVID W TAYLOR NAVAL SHIP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CE--ETC F/G. 5/9 COMPUTER CENTER HARRIS 1600 OPEAATOR’S GUIDE.dU) M JUN 62 D A SOMMER...20084 COMPUTER CENTER HARRIS 1600 OPERATOR’s GUIDE by David V. Sommer & Sharon E. Good APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE: DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED ’-.7 SJ0 o 0

  3. Materials Data on CeSb(SBr)2 (SG:14) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  4. Materials Data on CeInIr (SG:189) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  5. Materials Data on CeInAu2 (SG:225) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2015-02-09

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  6. Materials Data on CeSe2 (SG:42) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-07-17

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  7. Materials Data on CeFeSi2 (SG:63) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-05-05

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  8. Materials Data on CeI3 (SG:63) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-05-05

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  9. Materials Data on CeSi2Rh (SG:63) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-05-05

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  10. Materials Data on CeNiSn2 (SG:63) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-05-05

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  11. Materials Data on LiCeSn2 (SG:63) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  12. Materials Data on Ce(NiSn)2 (SG:139) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2014-11-02

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  13. Materials Data on Ce(SnIr)2 (SG:129) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  14. A computer-based time study system for timber harvesting operations

    Treesearch

    Jingxin Wang; Joe McNeel; John Baumgras

    2003-01-01

    A computer-based time study system was developed for timber harvesting operations. Object-oriented techniques were used to model and design the system. The front-end of the time study system resides on the MS Windows CE and the back-end is supported by MS Access. The system consists of three major components: a handheld system, data transfer interface, and data storage...

  15. Ruptured Pulmonary Cystic Echinococcosis Mimicking Tuberculosis in Childhood: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Ünver Korğalı, Elif; Kaymak Cihan, Meriç; Ceylan, Özgür; Kaptanoğlu, Melih

    2017-06-01

    Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease; in places such as Turkey where livestock is common, it is an endemic health concern. The most commonly involved organ is the lungs in children. Pulmonary cysts can be asymptomatic; in some cases, they may rupture and become symptomatic. Ruptured lung hydatid cysts may often be confused with tuberculosis (Tbc) radiologically and clinically. . In this report, we present an 8-year-old female patient admitted with cough, fever, and sputum persisting since 2 weeks; her chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) findings initially indicated Tbc, but the follow-up surgery led to a diagnosis of ruptured lung CE. We want to emphasize that in children belonging to places where livestock is common, if respiratory symptoms are observed, CE and tuberculosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis, and the final diagnosis should be supported by other microbiological-serological tests.

  16. RLS Channel Estimation with Adaptive Forgetting Factor for DS-CDMA Frequency-Domain Equalization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kojima, Yohei; Tomeba, Hiromichi; Takeda, Kazuaki; Adachi, Fumiyuki

    Frequency-domain equalization (FDE) based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion can increase the downlink bit error rate (BER) performance of DS-CDMA beyond that possible with conventional rake combining in a frequency-selective fading channel. FDE requires accurate channel estimation. Recently, we proposed a pilot-assisted channel estimation (CE) based on the MMSE criterion. Using MMSE-CE, the channel estimation accuracy is almost insensitive to the pilot chip sequence, and a good BER performance is achieved. In this paper, we propose a channel estimation scheme using one-tap recursive least square (RLS) algorithm, where the forgetting factor is adapted to the changing channel condition by the least mean square (LMS)algorithm, for DS-CDMA with FDE. We evaluate the BER performance using RLS-CE with adaptive forgetting factor in a frequency-selective fast Rayleigh fading channel by computer simulation.

  17. Measurement of x-ray spectra using a recent YAP(Ce)-MPPC detector

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sato, Eiichi; Oda, Yasuyuki; Yoshida, Sohei; Yamaguchi, Satoshi; Sato, Yuichi; Ishii, Tomotaka; Hagiwara, Osahiko; Matsukiyo, Hiroshi; Enomoto, Toshiyuki; Watanabe, Manabu; Kusachi, Shinya

    2017-09-01

    To measure X-ray spectra with high count rates, we developed a detector consisting of a cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite [YAP(Ce)] crystal and a recent multipixel photon counter (MPPC). Scintillation photons are detected using the MPPC, and the photocurrents flowing through the MPPC are converted into voltages and amplified using a high-speed current-voltage (I-V) amplifier. The MPPC bias voltage was set to a value at the pre-Geiger mode to perform zero-dark counting. The event-pulse widths were approximately 200 ns, and the widths were extend to approximately 1 μs. X-ray spectra were measured using a multichannel analyzer (MCA) for pulse-height analysis. The photon energy was roughly determined by the two-point calibration using tungsten K photons and iodine K fluorescence. Using the YAP(Ce)-MPPC detector, first-generation dual-energy computed tomography was accomplished using iodine and gadolinium contrast media.

  18. Molecular dynamics simulation of fast particle irradiation on the single crystal CeO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sasajima, Y.; Ajima, N.; Osada, T.; Ishikawa, N.; Iwase, A.

    2013-11-01

    We used a molecular dynamics method to simulate structural relaxation caused by the high-energy-ion irradiation of single crystal CeO2. As the initial condition, we assumed high thermal energy was supplied to the individual atoms within a cylindrical region of nanometer-order diameter located in the center of the single crystal. The potential proposed by Inaba et al. was utilized to calculate interactions between atoms [H. Inaba, R. Sagawa, H. Hayashi, K. Kawamura, Solid State Ionics 122 (1999) 95-103]. The supplied thermal energy was first spent to change the crystal structure into an amorphous one within a short period of about 0.3 ps, then it was dissipated in the crystal. We compared the obtained results with those of computer simulations for UO2 and found that CeO2 was more stable than UO2 when supplied with high thermal energy.

  19. Exposure and Health Effects Review of Engineered Nanoscale Cerium and Cerium Dioxide Associated with its Use as a Fuel Additive - NOW IN PRINT IN THE JOURNAL

    EPA Science Inventory

    Advances of nanoscale science have produced nanomaterials with unique physical and chemical properties at commercial levels that are now incorporated into over 1000 products. Nanoscale cerium (di) oxide (Ce02) has recently gained a wide range of applications which includes coatin...

  20. Fuel Injection Strategy for a Next Generation Pulse Detonation Engine

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-06-01

    at 45°C CE Approved EMC EMC Directive 89/336/EEC; EN 61326-1 Emissions and Immunity Safety Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC; EN 61010 -1...Operating Humidity 0–90% Nonoperating Humidity 0–100% CDRH Class IIIb IEC Class 3B From www.mellesgriot.com 47 SILICON OPTICAL SENSOR Model

  1. Automatic and integrated micro-enzyme assay (AIμEA) platform for highly sensitive thrombin analysis via an engineered fluorescence protein-functionalized monolithic capillary column.

    PubMed

    Lin, Lihua; Liu, Shengquan; Nie, Zhou; Chen, Yingzhuang; Lei, Chunyang; Wang, Zhen; Yin, Chao; Hu, Huiping; Huang, Yan; Yao, Shouzhuo

    2015-04-21

    Nowadays, large-scale screening for enzyme discovery, engineering, and drug discovery processes require simple, fast, and sensitive enzyme activity assay platforms with high integration and potential for high-throughput detection. Herein, a novel automatic and integrated micro-enzyme assay (AIμEA) platform was proposed based on a unique microreaction system fabricated by a engineered green fluorescence protein (GFP)-functionalized monolithic capillary column, with thrombin as an example. The recombinant GFP probe was rationally engineered to possess a His-tag and a substrate sequence of thrombin, which enable it to be immobilized on the monolith via metal affinity binding, and to be released after thrombin digestion. Combined with capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF), all the procedures, including thrombin injection, online enzymatic digestion in the microreaction system, and label-free detection of the released GFP, were integrated in a single electrophoretic process. By taking advantage of the ultrahigh loading capacity of the AIμEA platform and the CE automatic programming setup, one microreaction column was sufficient for many times digestion without replacement. The novel microreaction system showed significantly enhanced catalytic efficiency, about 30 fold higher than that of the equivalent bulk reaction. Accordingly, the AIμEA platform was highly sensitive with a limit of detection down to 1 pM of thrombin. Moreover, the AIμEA platform was robust and reliable to detect thrombin in human serum samples and its inhibition by hirudin. Hence, this AIμEA platform exhibits great potential for high-throughput analysis in future biological application, disease diagnostics, and drug screening.

  2. Transformation of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles from a Diesel Fuel Additive during Combustion in a Diesel Engine.

    PubMed

    Dale, James G; Cox, Steven S; Vance, Marina E; Marr, Linsey C; Hochella, Michael F

    2017-02-21

    Nanoscale cerium oxide is used as a diesel fuel additive to reduce particulate matter emissions and increase fuel economy, but its fate in the environment has not been established. Cerium oxide released as a result of the combustion of diesel fuel containing the additive Envirox, which utilizes suspended nanoscale cerium oxide to reduce particulate matter emissions and increase fuel economy, was captured from the exhaust stream of a diesel engine and was characterized using a combination of bulk analytical techniques and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The combustion process induced significant changes in the size and morphology of the particles; ∼15 nm aggregates consisting of 5-7 nm faceted crystals in the fuel additive became 50-300 nm, near-spherical, single crystals in the exhaust. Electron diffraction identified the original cerium oxide particles as cerium(IV) oxide (CeO 2 , standard FCC structure) with no detectable quantities of Ce(III), whereas in the exhaust the ceria particles had additional electron diffraction reflections indicative of a CeO 2 superstructure containing ordered oxygen vacancies. The surfactant coating present on the cerium oxide particles in the additive was lost during combustion, but in roughly 30% of the observed particles in the exhaust, a new surface coating formed, approximately 2-5 nm thick. The results of this study suggest that pristine, laboratory-produced, nanoscale cerium oxide is not a good substitute for the cerium oxide released from fuel-borne catalyst applications and that future toxicity experiments and modeling will require the use/consideration of more realistic materials.

  3. Materials Data on Ce2SbS5Br (SG:62) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-05

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  4. Materials Data on Ce4Al23Ni6 (SG:12) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2016-07-26

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  5. Materials Data on Ca(Ce2Se3)4 (SG:9) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  6. Materials Data on Ca(CeS2)2 (SG:122) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  7. Materials Data on Ce2(Zn2Ge)3 (SG:189) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2015-02-09

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  8. Materials Data on Ce5Zr3O16 (SG:21) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-04-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  9. Materials Data on Ce3Zr5O16 (SG:21) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-04-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  10. Materials Data on Ce(P3Ru)4 (SG:204) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2015-02-09

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  11. Materials Data on CeCrSe2O (SG:12) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2014-11-02

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  12. Materials Data on Ce3(AlI)2 (SG:12) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  13. Materials Data on Ce11MnS16 (SG:18) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2014-07-09

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  14. Materials Data on LiCe(CuP)2 (SG:164) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2017-04-09

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  15. Genome-wide analysis of ABA-responsive elements ABRE and CE3 reveals divergent patterns in Arabidopsis and rice

    PubMed Central

    Gómez-Porras, Judith L; Riaño-Pachón, Diego Mauricio; Dreyer, Ingo; Mayer, Jorge E; Mueller-Roeber, Bernd

    2007-01-01

    Background In plants, complex regulatory mechanisms are at the core of physiological and developmental processes. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in the regulation of various such processes, including stomatal closure, seed and bud dormancy, and physiological responses to cold, drought and salinity stress. The underlying tissue or plant-wide control circuits often include combinatorial gene regulatory mechanisms and networks that we are only beginning to unravel with the help of new molecular tools. The increasing availability of genomic sequences and gene expression data enables us to dissect ABA regulatory mechanisms at the individual gene expression level. In this paper we used an in-silico-based approach directed towards genome-wide prediction and identification of specific features of ABA-responsive elements. In particular we analysed the genome-wide occurrence and positional arrangements of two well-described ABA-responsive cis-regulatory elements (CREs), ABRE and CE3, in thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa). Results Our results show that Arabidopsis and rice use the ABA-responsive elements ABRE and CE3 distinctively. Earlier reports for various monocots have identified CE3 as a coupling element (CE) associated with ABRE. Surprisingly, we found that while ABRE is equally abundant in both species, CE3 is practically absent in Arabidopsis. ABRE-ABRE pairs are common in both genomes, suggesting that these can form functional ABA-responsive complexes (ABRCs) in Arabidopsis and rice. Furthermore, we detected distinct combinations, orientation patterns and DNA strand preferences of ABRE and CE3 motifs in rice gene promoters. Conclusion Our computational analyses revealed distinct recruitment patterns of ABA-responsive CREs in upstream sequences of Arabidopsis and rice. The apparent absence of CE3s in Arabidopsis suggests that another CE pairs with ABRE to establish a functional ABRC capable of interacting with transcription factors. Further studies will be needed to test whether the observed differences are extrapolatable to monocots and dicots in general, and to understand how they contribute to the fine-tuning of the hormonal response. The outcome of our investigation can now be used to direct future experimentation designed to further dissect the ABA-dependent regulatory networks. PMID:17672917

  16. Genome-wide analysis of ABA-responsive elements ABRE and CE3 reveals divergent patterns in Arabidopsis and rice.

    PubMed

    Gómez-Porras, Judith L; Riaño-Pachón, Diego Mauricio; Dreyer, Ingo; Mayer, Jorge E; Mueller-Roeber, Bernd

    2007-08-01

    In plants, complex regulatory mechanisms are at the core of physiological and developmental processes. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in the regulation of various such processes, including stomatal closure, seed and bud dormancy, and physiological responses to cold, drought and salinity stress. The underlying tissue or plant-wide control circuits often include combinatorial gene regulatory mechanisms and networks that we are only beginning to unravel with the help of new molecular tools. The increasing availability of genomic sequences and gene expression data enables us to dissect ABA regulatory mechanisms at the individual gene expression level. In this paper we used an in-silico-based approach directed towards genome-wide prediction and identification of specific features of ABA-responsive elements. In particular we analysed the genome-wide occurrence and positional arrangements of two well-described ABA-responsive cis-regulatory elements (CREs), ABRE and CE3, in thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa). Our results show that Arabidopsis and rice use the ABA-responsive elements ABRE and CE3 distinctively. Earlier reports for various monocots have identified CE3 as a coupling element (CE) associated with ABRE. Surprisingly, we found that while ABRE is equally abundant in both species, CE3 is practically absent in Arabidopsis. ABRE-ABRE pairs are common in both genomes, suggesting that these can form functional ABA-responsive complexes (ABRCs) in Arabidopsis and rice. Furthermore, we detected distinct combinations, orientation patterns and DNA strand preferences of ABRE and CE3 motifs in rice gene promoters. Our computational analyses revealed distinct recruitment patterns of ABA-responsive CREs in upstream sequences of Arabidopsis and rice. The apparent absence of CE3s in Arabidopsis suggests that another CE pairs with ABRE to establish a functional ABRC capable of interacting with transcription factors. Further studies will be needed to test whether the observed differences are extrapolatable to monocots and dicots in general, and to understand how they contribute to the fine-tuning of the hormonal response. The outcome of our investigation can now be used to direct future experimentation designed to further dissect the ABA-dependent regulatory networks.

  17. Computer Engineers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Moncarz, Roger

    2000-01-01

    Looks at computer engineers and describes their job, employment outlook, earnings, and training and qualifications. Provides a list of resources related to computer engineering careers and the computer industry. (JOW)

  18. Remote direct memory access

    DOEpatents

    Archer, Charles J.; Blocksome, Michael A.

    2012-12-11

    Methods, parallel computers, and computer program products are disclosed for remote direct memory access. Embodiments include transmitting, from an origin DMA engine on an origin compute node to a plurality target DMA engines on target compute nodes, a request to send message, the request to send message specifying a data to be transferred from the origin DMA engine to data storage on each target compute node; receiving, by each target DMA engine on each target compute node, the request to send message; preparing, by each target DMA engine, to store data according to the data storage reference and the data length, including assigning a base storage address for the data storage reference; sending, by one or more of the target DMA engines, an acknowledgment message acknowledging that all the target DMA engines are prepared to receive a data transmission from the origin DMA engine; receiving, by the origin DMA engine, the acknowledgement message from the one or more of the target DMA engines; and transferring, by the origin DMA engine, data to data storage on each of the target compute nodes according to the data storage reference using a single direct put operation.

  19. The shaping effects of three nickel-titanium rotary instruments in simulated S-shaped canals.

    PubMed

    Yoshimine, Y; Ono, M; Akamine, A

    2005-05-01

    The purpose of this study was to compare the shaping effects of three nickel-titanium rotary instruments, ProTaper, K3, and RaCe, with emphasis on canal transportation. Simulated canals with an S-shaped curvature in clear resin blocks were prepared with a torque-control, low-speed engine. Canals were prepared using the crown-down technique to the size of #30. Canal aberrations were assessed by comparing the pre- and postinstrumentation images under a stereomicroscope. ProTaper instruments caused greater widening of canals compared to K3 or RaCe. Furthermore, ProTaper files showed a tendency to ledge or zip formation at the end-point of preparation. These canal aberrations may be caused by ProTaper finishing files, which appear to be less flexible than other files of the same tip-size, because of their greater taper-size. These results suggest that nickel-titanium file systems including less tapered, more flexible instruments, like K3 and RaCe should be used in the apical preparation of canals with a complicated curvature.

  20. A Cost-Effective Approach to Optimizing Microstructure and Magnetic Properties in Ce17Fe78B₆ Alloys.

    PubMed

    Tan, Xiaohua; Li, Heyun; Xu, Hui; Han, Ke; Li, Weidan; Zhang, Fang

    2017-07-28

    Optimizing fabrication parameters for rapid solidification of Re-Fe-B (Re = Rare earth) alloys can lead to nanocrystalline products with hard magnetic properties without any heat-treatment. In this work, we enhanced the magnetic properties of Ce 17 Fe 78 B₆ ribbons by engineering both the microstructure and volume fraction of the Ce₂Fe 14 B phase through optimization of the chamber pressure and the wheel speed necessary for quenching the liquid. We explored the relationship between these two parameters (chamber pressure and wheel speed), and proposed an approach to identifying the experimental conditions most likely to yield homogenous microstructure and reproducible magnetic properties. Optimized experimental conditions resulted in a microstructure with homogeneously dispersed Ce₂Fe 14 B and CeFe₂ nanocrystals. The best magnetic properties were obtained at a chamber pressure of 0.05 MPa and a wheel speed of 15 m·s -1 . Without the conventional heat-treatment that is usually required, key magnetic properties were maximized by optimization processing parameters in rapid solidification of magnetic materials in a cost-effective manner.

  1. Effect of template post-annealing on Y(Dy)BaCuO nucleation on CeO2 buffered metallic tapes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Xuefeng; Zhong, Yun; Zhong, Huaxiao; Fan, Feng; Sang, Lina; Li, Mengyao; Fang, Qiang; Zheng, Jiahui; Song, Haoyu; Lu, Yuming; Liu, Zhiyong; Bai, Chuanyi; Guo, Yanqun; Cai, Chuanbing

    2017-08-01

    Substrate engineering is very significant in the synthesis of the high-temperature superconductor (HTS) coated conductor. Here we design and synthesize several distinct and stable Cerium oxide (CeO2) surface reconstructions which are used to grow epitaxial films of the HTS YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO). To identify the influence of annealing and post-annealing surroundings on the nature of nucleation centers, including Ar/5%H2, humid Ar/5%H2 and O2 in high temperature annealing process, we study the well-controlled structure, surface morphology, crystal constants and surface redox processes of the ceria buffers by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field-emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. The ceria film post-annealed under humid Ar/5%H2 gas shows the best buffer layer properties. Furthermore, the film absorbs more oxygen ions, which appears to contribute to oxygenation of superconductor film. The film is well-suited for ceria model studies as well as a perfect substitute for CeO2 bulk material.

  2. First principles study of vibrational dynamics of ceria-titania hybrid clusters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Majid, Abdul; Bibi, Maryam

    2017-04-01

    Density functional theory based calculations were performed to study vibrational properties of ceria, titania, and ceria-titania hybrid clusters. The findings revealed the dominance of vibrations related to oxygen when compared to those of metallic atoms in the clusters. In case of hybrid cluster, the softening of normal modes related to exterior oxygen atoms in ceria and softening/hardening of high/low frequency modes related to titania dimmers are observed. The results calculated for monomers conform to symmetry predictions according to which three IR and three Raman active modes were detected for TiO2, whereas two IR active and one Raman active modes were observed for CeO2. The comparative analysis indicates that the hybrid cluster CeTiO4 contains simultaneous vibrational fingerprints of the component dimmers. The symmetry, nature of vibrations, IR and Raman activity, intensities, and atomic involvement in different modes of the clusters are described in detail. The study points to engineering of CeTiO4 to tailor its properties for technological visible region applications in photocatalytic and electrochemical devices.

  3. Tissue-plastinated vs. celloidin-embedded large serial sections in video, analog and digital photographic on-screen reproduction: a preliminary step to exact virtual 3D modelling, exemplified in the normal midface and cleft-lip and palate.

    PubMed

    Landes, Constantin A; Weichert, Frank; Geis, Philipp; Wernstedt, Katrin; Wilde, Anja; Fritsch, Helga; Wagner, Mathias

    2005-08-01

    This study analyses tissue-plastinated vs. celloidin-embedded large serial sections, their inherent artefacts and aptitude with common video, analog or digital photographic on-screen reproduction. Subsequent virtual 3D microanatomical reconstruction will increase our knowledge of normal and pathological microanatomy for cleft-lip-palate (clp) reconstructive surgery. Of 18 fetal (six clp, 12 control) specimens, six randomized specimens (two clp) were BiodurE12-plastinated, sawn, burnished 90 microm thick transversely (five) or frontally (one), stained with azureII/methylene blue, and counterstained with basic-fuchsin (TP-AMF). Twelve remaining specimens (four clp) were celloidin-embedded, microtome-sectioned 75 microm thick transversely (ten) or frontally (two), and stained with haematoxylin-eosin (CE-HE). Computed-planimetry gauged artefacts, structure differentiation was compared with light microscopy on video, analog and digital photography. Total artefact was 0.9% (TP-AMF) and 2.1% (CE-HE); TP-AMF showed higher colour contrast, gamut and luminance, and CE-HE more red contrast, saturation and hue (P < 0.4). All (100%) structures of interest were light microscopically discerned, 83% on video, 76% on analog photography and 98% in digital photography. Computed image analysis assessed the greatest colour contrast, gamut, luminance and saturation on video; the most detailed, colour-balanced and sharpest images were obtained with digital photography (P < 0.02). TP-AMF retained spatial oversight, covered the entire area of interest and should be combined in different specimens with CE-HE which enables more refined muscle fibre reproduction. Digital photography is preferred for on-screen analysis.

  4. Management and outcome of cardiac and endovascular cystic echinococcosis.

    PubMed

    Díaz-Menéndez, Marta; Pérez-Molina, José Antonio; Norman, Francesca Florence; Pérez-Ayala, Ana; Monge-Maillo, Begoña; Fuertes, Pilar Zamarrón; López-Vélez, Rogelio

    2012-01-01

    Cystic echinococcosis (CE) can affect the heart and the vena cava but few cases are reported. A retrospective case series of 11 patients with cardiac and/or endovascular CE, followed-up over a period of 15 years (1995-2009) is reported. Main clinical manifestations included thoracic pain or dyspnea, although 2 patients were asymptomatic. Cysts were located mostly in the right atrium and inferior vena cava. Nine patients were previously diagnosed with disseminated CE. Echocardiography was the diagnostic method of choice, although serology, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and histology aided with diagnosis and follow-up. Nine patients underwent cardiac surgery and nine received long-term antiparasitic treatment for a median duration of 25 months (range 4-93 months). One patient died intra-operatively due to cyst rupture and endovascular dissemination. Two patients died 10 and 14 years after diagnosis, due to pulmonary embolism (PE) and cardiac failure, respectively. One patient was lost to follow-up. Patients who had cardiac involvement exclusively did not have complications after surgery and were considered cured. There was only one recurrence requiring a second operation. Patients with vena cava involvement developed PEs and presented multiple complications. Cardiovascular CE is associated with a high risk of potentially lethal complications. Clinical manifestations and complications vary according to cyst location. Isolated cardiac CE may be cured after surgery, while endovascular extracardiac involvement is associated with severe chronic complications. CE should be included in the differential diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in patients from endemic areas. © 2012 Díaz-Menéndez et al.

  5. Management and Outcome of Cardiac and Endovascular Cystic Echinococcosis

    PubMed Central

    Díaz-Menéndez, Marta; Pérez-Molina, José Antonio; Norman, Francesca Florence; Pérez-Ayala, Ana; Monge-Maillo, Begoña; Fuertes, Pilar Zamarrón; López-Vélez, Rogelio

    2012-01-01

    Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE) can affect the heart and the vena cava but few cases are reported. Methods A retrospective case series of 11 patients with cardiac and/or endovascular CE, followed-up over a period of 15 years (1995–2009) is reported. Results Main clinical manifestations included thoracic pain or dyspnea, although 2 patients were asymptomatic. Cysts were located mostly in the right atrium and inferior vena cava. Nine patients were previously diagnosed with disseminated CE. Echocardiography was the diagnostic method of choice, although serology, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and histology aided with diagnosis and follow-up. Nine patients underwent cardiac surgery and nine received long-term antiparasitic treatment for a median duration of 25 months (range 4–93 months). One patient died intra-operatively due to cyst rupture and endovascular dissemination. Two patients died 10 and 14 years after diagnosis, due to pulmonary embolism (PE) and cardiac failure, respectively. One patient was lost to follow-up. Patients who had cardiac involvement exclusively did not have complications after surgery and were considered cured. There was only one recurrence requiring a second operation. Patients with vena cava involvement developed PEs and presented multiple complications. Conclusions Cardiovascular CE is associated with a high risk of potentially lethal complications. Clinical manifestations and complications vary according to cyst location. Isolated cardiac CE may be cured after surgery, while endovascular extracardiac involvement is associated with severe chronic complications. CE should be included in the differential diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in patients from endemic areas. PMID:22235354

  6. Effect of injection rate on contrast-enhanced MR angiography image quality: Modulation transfer function analysis.

    PubMed

    Clark, Toshimasa J; Wilson, Gregory J; Maki, Jeffrey H

    2017-07-01

    Contrast-enhanced (CE)-MRA optimization involves interactions of sequence duration, bolus timing, contrast recirculation, and both R 1 relaxivity and R2*-related reduction of signal. Prior data suggest superior image quality with slower gadolinium injection rates than typically used. A computer-based model of CE-MRA was developed, with contrast injection, physiologic, and image acquisition parameters varied over a wide gamut. Gadolinium concentration was derived using Verhoeven's model with recirculation, R 1 and R2* calculated at each time point, and modulation transfer curves used to determine injection rates, resulting in optimal resolution and image contrast for renal and carotid artery CE-MRA. Validation was via a vessel stenosis phantom and example patients who underwent carotid CE-MRA with low effective injection rates. Optimal resolution for renal and carotid CE-MRA is achieved with injection rates between 0.5 to 0.9 mL/s and 0.2 to 0.3 mL/s, respectively, dependent on contrast volume. Optimal image contrast requires slightly faster injection rates. Expected signal-to-noise ratio varies with both contrast volume and cardiac output. Simulated vessel phantom and clinical carotid CE-MRA exams at an effective contrast injection rate of 0.4 to 0.5 mL/s demonstrate increased resolution. Optimal image resolution is achieved at intuitively low, effective injection rates (0.2-0.9 mL/s, dependent on imaging parameters and contrast injection volume). Magn Reson Med 78:357-369, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  7. ROMANCE: A new software tool to improve data robustness and feature identification in CE-MS metabolomics.

    PubMed

    González-Ruiz, Víctor; Gagnebin, Yoric; Drouin, Nicolas; Codesido, Santiago; Rudaz, Serge; Schappler, Julie

    2018-05-01

    The use of capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS) in metabolomics remains an oddity compared to the widely adopted use of liquid chromatography. This technique is traditionally regarded as lacking the reproducibility to adequately identify metabolites by their migration times. The major reason is the variability of the velocity of the background electrolyte, mainly coming from shifts in the magnitude of the electroosmotic flow and from the suction caused by electrospray interfaces. The use of the effective electrophoretic mobility is one solution to overcome this issue as it is a characteristic feature of each compound. To date, such an approach has not been applied to metabolomics due to the complexity and size of CE-MS data obtained in such studies. In this paper, ROMANCE (RObust Metabolomic Analysis with Normalized CE) is introduced as a new software for CE-MS-based metabolomics. It allows the automated conversion of batches of CE-MS files with minimal user intervention. ROMANCE converts the x-axis of each MS file from the time into the effective mobility scale and the resulting files are already pseudo-aligned, present normalized peak areas and improved reproducibility, and can eventually follow existing metabolomic workflows. The software was developed in Scala, so it is multi-platform and computationally-efficient. It is available for download under a CC license. In this work, the versatility of ROMANCE was demonstrated by using data obtained in the same and in different laboratories, as well as its application to the analysis of human plasma samples. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  8. Recent development on computer aided tissue engineering--a review.

    PubMed

    Sun, Wei; Lal, Pallavi

    2002-02-01

    The utilization of computer-aided technologies in tissue engineering has evolved in the development of a new field of computer-aided tissue engineering (CATE). This article reviews recent development and application of enabling computer technology, imaging technology, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD and CAM), and rapid prototyping (RP) technology in tissue engineering, particularly, in computer-aided tissue anatomical modeling, three-dimensional (3-D) anatomy visualization and 3-D reconstruction, CAD-based anatomical modeling, computer-aided tissue classification, computer-aided tissue implantation and prototype modeling assisted surgical planning and reconstruction.

  9. Materials Data on Ce3Si2S8Br (SG:15) by Materials Project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kristin Persson

    2014-07-09

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  10. Materials Data on K5CeCu2(NO2)12 (SG:201) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  11. Materials Data on K5NaCe2(SO4)6 (SG:12) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  12. Materials Data on K5CeCo2(NO2)12 (SG:201) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-04-22

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  13. Materials Data on K5CeNi2(NO2)12 (SG:201) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-04-22

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  14. Materials Data on K5CeFe2(NO2)12 (SG:201) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-04-22

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  15. Stability assessment of structures under earthquake hazard through GRID technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prieto Castrillo, F.; Boton Fernandez, M.

    2009-04-01

    This work presents a GRID framework to estimate the vulnerability of structures under earthquake hazard. The tool has been designed to cover the needs of a typical earthquake engineering stability analysis; preparation of input data (pre-processing), response computation and stability analysis (post-processing). In order to validate the application over GRID, a simplified model of structure under artificially generated earthquake records has been implemented. To achieve this goal, the proposed scheme exploits the GRID technology and its main advantages (parallel intensive computing, huge storage capacity and collaboration analysis among institutions) through intensive interaction among the GRID elements (Computing Element, Storage Element, LHC File Catalogue, federated database etc.) The dynamical model is described by a set of ordinary differential equations (ODE's) and by a set of parameters. Both elements, along with the integration engine, are encapsulated into Java classes. With this high level design, subsequent improvements/changes of the model can be addressed with little effort. In the procedure, an earthquake record database is prepared and stored (pre-processing) in the GRID Storage Element (SE). The Metadata of these records is also stored in the GRID federated database. This Metadata contains both relevant information about the earthquake (as it is usual in a seismic repository) and also the Logical File Name (LFN) of the record for its later retrieval. Then, from the available set of accelerograms in the SE, the user can specify a range of earthquake parameters to carry out a dynamic analysis. This way, a GRID job is created for each selected accelerogram in the database. At the GRID Computing Element (CE), displacements are then obtained by numerical integration of the ODE's over time. The resulting response for that configuration is stored in the GRID Storage Element (SE) and the maximum structure displacement is computed. Then, the corresponding Metadata containing the response LFN, earthquake magnitude and maximum structure displacement is also stored. Finally, the displacements are post-processed through a statistically-based algorithm from the available Metadata to obtain the probability of collapse of the structure for different earthquake magnitudes. From this study, it is possible to build a vulnerability report for the structure type and seismic data. The proposed methodology can be combined with the on-going initiatives to build a European earthquake record database. In this context, Grid enables collaboration analysis over shared seismic data and results among different institutions.

  16. Interfacing HTCondor-CE with OpenStack

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bockelman, B.; Caballero Bejar, J.; Hover, J.

    2017-10-01

    Over the past few years, Grid Computing technologies have reached a high level of maturity. One key aspect of this success has been the development and adoption of newer Compute Elements to interface the external Grid users with local batch systems. These new Compute Elements allow for better handling of jobs requirements and a more precise management of diverse local resources. However, despite this level of maturity, the Grid Computing world is lacking diversity in local execution platforms. As Grid Computing technologies have historically been driven by the needs of the High Energy Physics community, most resource providers run the platform (operating system version and architecture) that best suits the needs of their particular users. In parallel, the development of virtualization and cloud technologies has accelerated recently, making available a variety of solutions, both commercial and academic, proprietary and open source. Virtualization facilitates performing computational tasks on platforms not available at most computing sites. This work attempts to join the technologies, allowing users to interact with computing sites through one of the standard Computing Elements, HTCondor-CE, but running their jobs within VMs on a local cloud platform, OpenStack, when needed. The system will re-route, in a transparent way, end user jobs into dynamically-launched VM worker nodes when they have requirements that cannot be satisfied by the static local batch system nodes. Also, once the automated mechanisms are in place, it becomes straightforward to allow an end user to invoke a custom Virtual Machine at the site. This will allow cloud resources to be used without requiring the user to establish a separate account. Both scenarios are described in this work.

  17. miRSponge: a manually curated database for experimentally supported miRNA sponges and ceRNAs.

    PubMed

    Wang, Peng; Zhi, Hui; Zhang, Yunpeng; Liu, Yue; Zhang, Jizhou; Gao, Yue; Guo, Maoni; Ning, Shangwei; Li, Xia

    2015-01-01

    In this study, we describe miRSponge, a manually curated database, which aims at providing an experimentally supported resource for microRNA (miRNA) sponges. Recent evidence suggests that miRNAs are themselves regulated by competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) or 'miRNA sponges' that contain miRNA binding sites. These competitive molecules can sequester miRNAs to prevent them interacting with their natural targets to play critical roles in various biological and pathological processes. It has become increasingly important to develop a high quality database to record and store ceRNA data to support future studies. To this end, we have established the experimentally supported miRSponge database that contains data on 599 miRNA-sponge interactions and 463 ceRNA relationships from 11 species following manual curating from nearly 1200 published articles. Database classes include endogenously generated molecules including coding genes, pseudogenes, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, along with exogenously introduced molecules including viral RNAs and artificial engineered sponges. Approximately 70% of the interactions were identified experimentally in disease states. miRSponge provides a user-friendly interface for convenient browsing, retrieval and downloading of dataset. A submission page is also included to allow researchers to submit newly validated miRNA sponge data. Database URL: http://www.bio-bigdata.net/miRSponge. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press.

  18. miRSponge: a manually curated database for experimentally supported miRNA sponges and ceRNAs

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Peng; Zhi, Hui; Zhang, Yunpeng; Liu, Yue; Zhang, Jizhou; Gao, Yue; Guo, Maoni; Ning, Shangwei; Li, Xia

    2015-01-01

    In this study, we describe miRSponge, a manually curated database, which aims at providing an experimentally supported resource for microRNA (miRNA) sponges. Recent evidence suggests that miRNAs are themselves regulated by competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) or ‘miRNA sponges’ that contain miRNA binding sites. These competitive molecules can sequester miRNAs to prevent them interacting with their natural targets to play critical roles in various biological and pathological processes. It has become increasingly important to develop a high quality database to record and store ceRNA data to support future studies. To this end, we have established the experimentally supported miRSponge database that contains data on 599 miRNA-sponge interactions and 463 ceRNA relationships from 11 species following manual curating from nearly 1200 published articles. Database classes include endogenously generated molecules including coding genes, pseudogenes, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, along with exogenously introduced molecules including viral RNAs and artificial engineered sponges. Approximately 70% of the interactions were identified experimentally in disease states. miRSponge provides a user-friendly interface for convenient browsing, retrieval and downloading of dataset. A submission page is also included to allow researchers to submit newly validated miRNA sponge data. Database URL: http://www.bio-bigdata.net/miRSponge. PMID:26424084

  19. National Dam Safety Program. Lake Montowese Dam (M0 30151), Mississippi - Kaskaskia - St. Louis Basin, Jefferson County, Missouri. Phase I Inspection Report.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-11-01

    Williams, Chief Applied Engineering & Urban Geology Geology & Land Survey October 8, 1976 I Chart 2-11 APPENDIX _______--row]h NO. 1 : UPS7TREAM FACE 01...be cut out as indicated by the maintenance people. Otherwise the dam looks to be in a very good condition. I Edwin E. Luzten, Geologist Applied ... Engineering & Urban Geology Missouri Geological Survey lJuly 1i, 1973 hI I Chart 2-7 I ... . , ---- -i- - 3~ i Mf itS 0 I C)E R S. BON D .1%A

  20. 5. Photographic copy of engineering drawing showing plans, elevation and ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    5. Photographic copy of engineering drawing showing plans, elevation and section of Deluge Water System, including reservior (4316), Pump House (4317), and water tower. Job No. Muroc A(5-ll), Military Construction, San Bernardino-Mojave Area, San Bernardino, California: Muroc Bombing Range, Muroc Lake, California.; Additional Facilities for Materiel Center Flight Test Base, Water Supply System, Plans and Sections, Sheet 5 of 10, May 1943. Records on file at AFFTC/CE-CECC-B (Design/Construction Flight/RPMC), Edwards AFB, California. - Edwards Air Force Base, North Base, Deluge Water Pumping Station, Near Second & D Streets, Boron, Kern County, CA

  1. Advanced nozzle and engine components test facility

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Beltran, Luis R.; Delroso, Richard L.; Delrosario, Ruben

    1992-01-01

    A test facility for conducting scaled advanced nozzle and engine component research is described. The CE-22 test facility, located in the Engine Research Building of the NASA Lewis Research Center, contains many systems for the economical testing of advanced scale-model nozzles and engine components. The combustion air and altitude exhaust systems are described. Combustion air can be supplied to a model up to 40 psig for primary air flow, and 40, 125, and 450 psig for secondary air flow. Altitude exhaust can be simulated up to 48,000 ft, or the exhaust can be atmospheric. Descriptions of the multiaxis thrust stand, a color schlieren flow visualization system used for qualitative flow analysis, a labyrinth flow measurement system, a data acquisition system, and auxiliary systems are discussed. Model recommended design information and temperature and pressure instrumentation recommendations are included.

  2. In situ and theoretical studies for the dissociation of water on an active Ni/CeO2 catalyst: importance of strong metal-support interactions for the cleavage of O-H bonds.

    PubMed

    Carrasco, Javier; López-Durán, David; Liu, Zongyuan; Duchoň, Tomáš; Evans, Jaime; Senanayake, Sanjaya D; Crumlin, Ethan J; Matolín, Vladimir; Rodríguez, José A; Ganduglia-Pirovano, M Verónica

    2015-03-23

    Water dissociation is crucial in many catalytic reactions on oxide-supported transition-metal catalysts. Supported by experimental and density-functional theory results, the effect of the support on OH bond cleavage activity is elucidated for nickel/ceria systems. Ambient-pressure O 1s photoemission spectra at low Ni loadings on CeO2 (111) reveal a substantially larger amount of OH groups as compared to the bare support. Computed activation energy barriers for water dissociation show an enhanced reactivity of Ni adatoms on CeO2 (111) compared with pyramidal Ni4 particles with one Ni atom not in contact with the support, and extended Ni(111) surfaces. At the origin of this support effect is the ability of ceria to stabilize oxidized Ni(2+) species by accommodating electrons in localized f-states. The fast dissociation of water on Ni/CeO2 has a dramatic effect on the activity and stability of this system as a catalyst for the water-gas shift and ethanol steam reforming reactions. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  3. Acoustic Sensing and Ultrasonic Drug Delivery in Multimodal Theranostic Capsule Endoscopy

    PubMed Central

    Stewart, Fraser R.; Qiu, Yongqiang; Newton, Ian P.; Cox, Benjamin F.; Al-Rawhani, Mohammed A.; Beeley, James; Liu, Yangminghao; Huang, Zhihong; Cumming, David R. S.; Näthke, Inke

    2017-01-01

    Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is now a clinically accepted diagnostic modality in which miniaturized technology, an on-board power supply and wireless telemetry stand as technological foundations for other capsule endoscopy (CE) devices. However, VCE does not provide therapeutic functionality, and research towards therapeutic CE (TCE) has been limited. In this paper, a route towards viable TCE is proposed, based on multiple CE devices including important acoustic sensing and drug delivery components. In this approach, an initial multimodal diagnostic device with high-frequency quantitative microultrasound that complements video imaging allows surface and subsurface visualization and computer-assisted diagnosis. Using focused ultrasound (US) to mark sites of pathology with exogenous fluorescent agents permits follow-up with another device to provide therapy. This is based on an US-mediated targeted drug delivery system with fluorescence imaging guidance. An additional device may then be utilized for treatment verification and monitoring, exploiting the minimally invasive nature of CE. While such a theranostic patient pathway for gastrointestinal treatment is presently incomplete, the description in this paper of previous research and work under way to realize further components for the proposed pathway suggests it is feasible and provides a framework around which to structure further work. PMID:28671642

  4. In-situ and theoretical studies for the dissociation of water on an active Ni/CeO₂ catalyst: Importance of strong metal-support interactions for the cleavage of O-H bonds

    DOE PAGES

    Carrasco, Javier; Rodriguez, Jose A.; Lopez-Duran, David; ...

    2015-03-23

    Water dissociation is crucial in many catalytic reactions on oxide-supported transition-metal catalysts. Here, supported by experimental and density-functional theory results, we elucidate the effect of the support on O-H bond cleavage activity for nickel/ceria systems. Ambient-pressure O1s photoemission spectra at low Ni loadings on CeO₂(111) reveal a substantially larger amount of OH groups as compared to the bare support. Our computed activation energy barriers for water dissociation show an enhanced reactivity of Ni adatoms on CeO₂(111) compared with pyramidal Ni₄ particles with one Ni atom not in contact with the support, and extended Ni(111) surfaces. At the origin of thismore » support effect is the ability of ceria to stabilize oxidized Ni²⁺ species by accommodating electrons in localized f-states. The fast dissociation of water on Ni/CeO₂ has a dramatic effect on the activity and stability of this system as a catalyst for the water-gas shift and ethanol steam reforming reactions.« less

  5. A simplified gross thrust computing technique for an afterburning turbofan engine

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hamer, M. J.; Kurtenbach, F. J.

    1978-01-01

    A simplified gross thrust computing technique extended to the F100-PW-100 afterburning turbofan engine is described. The technique uses measured total and static pressures in the engine tailpipe and ambient static pressure to compute gross thrust. Empirically evaluated calibration factors account for three-dimensional effects, the effects of friction and mass transfer, and the effects of simplifying assumptions for solving the equations. Instrumentation requirements and the sensitivity of computed thrust to transducer errors are presented. NASA altitude facility tests on F100 engines (computed thrust versus measured thrust) are presented, and calibration factors obtained on one engine are shown to be applicable to the second engine by comparing the computed gross thrust. It is concluded that this thrust method is potentially suitable for flight test application and engine maintenance on production engines with a minimum amount of instrumentation.

  6. Performance and emission characteristics of a low heat rejection engine with different air gap thicknesses with Jatropha oil based bio-diesel.

    PubMed

    Murali Krishna, M V S; Sarita, G; Seshagiri Rao, V V R; Chowdary, R P; Ramana Reddy, Ch V

    2010-04-01

    The research work on alternate fuels has been the topic of wider interest in the context of depletion of fossil fuels and increasing of pollution levels of the engines with conventional fossil fuels. Alcohols and vegetable oils are considered to replace diesel fuels as they are renewable in nature. However, use of alcohols in internal combustion engines is limited in India, as these fuels are diverted to PetroChemical industries and hence much emphasis is given to the non-edible vegetable oils as alternate fuels in internal combustion engines. However, the drawbacks of low volatility and high viscosity associated with non-edible vegetable oils call for hot combustion chamber, provided by low heat rejection (LHR) diesel engine. Investigations are carried out on a LHR diesel engine with varied air gap thicknesses and injection pressures with jatropha oil based bio-diesel at normal temperature. Performance is improved with high degree of insulation with LHR engine with vegetable oil in comparison with conventional engine (CE) with pure diesel operation.

  7. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    The Department of Energy (DOE) has contracted with Asea Brown Boveri-Combustion Engineering (ABB-CE) to provide information on the capability of ABB-CE`s System 80 + Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) to transform, through reactor burnup, 100 metric tonnes (MT) of weapons grade plutonium (Pu) into a form which is not readily useable in weapons. This information is being developed as part of DOE`s Plutonium Disposition Study, initiated by DOE in response to Congressional action. This document, Volume 1, presents a technical description of the various elements of the System 80 + Standard Plant Design upon which the Plutonium Disposition Study wasmore » based. The System 80 + Standard Design is fully developed and directly suited to meeting the mission objectives for plutonium disposal. The bass U0{sub 2} plant design is discussed here.« less

  8. United States Air Force Civil Engineering Additive Manufacturing Applications: Tools and Jigs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    designs for printing applications. The overall results push forward the Air Forces 3D printing knowledge while providing critical information for decision makers on this up and coming technology....the results indicate that 3Dscanning technology will reach a point within the next 5 years where it can help foster the rapid build-up of 3D CE asset

  9. Annotated Bibliography for Lake Erie. Volume IV. Physical,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1974-10-01

    Presque Isle Bay, Erie , Pennsylvania - interim report. Environ- mental Sciences Inc. Pittsburg, Pa. 235 P. The factors... Presque Isle Peninsula, Erie , Pennsylvania , indicates apparent correlation of initial high erosion rates of placed beach fill with sand size character...changes since 1854. (CE) 777. U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1960. Presque Isle Peninsula, Erie , Pennsylvania , beach erosion con- trol study.

  10. Alternative Testing Strategy Example: Bioactivity Profilign of Diverse Engineering Nanomaterials via High-throughput Screening in ToxCast

    EPA Science Inventory

    Most of the over 2800 nanomaterials (NMs) in commerce lack hazard data. Efficient NM testing requires suitable toxicity tests for prioritization of NMs to be tested. The EPA’s ToxCast program is evaluating HTS assays to prioritize NMs for targeted testing. Au, Ag, CeO2, Cu(O2), T...

  11. Dredging Operations Technical Support Program. General Decisionmaking Framework for Management of Dredged Material: Example Application to Commencement Bay, Washington.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-06-01

    Figure 4) and was used to predict surface runoff water quality from dredged material as part of the CE/EPA FVP ( Westerdahl and Skogerboe 1981; Lee and...Sedimrnts," Miscellaneous Paper D-83-1, US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS. Westerdahl , H. E., and Skogerboe, J. G. 1981

  12. 76 FR 53497 - Florida Power and Light Company; St. Lucie Plant, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-26

    ... Appendix G to the Code for calculating K IM factors, and instead applies FEM [finite element modeling..., Units 1 and 2 are calculated using the CE NSSS finite element modeling methods. The Need for the... Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code, Section XI, Appendix G) or determined by applying finite...

  13. Test and Evaluation of Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM) for a Large Aircraft Maintenance Shelter (LAMS) Baseplate

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-03-26

    TEST AND EVALUATION OF ULTRASONIC ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING (UAM) FOR A LARGE AREA MAINTENANCE...States Government. AFIT-ENV-MS-15-M-158 TEST AND EVALUATION OF ULTRASONIC ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING FOR A LARGE AREA MAINTENANCE SHELTER...Civil Engineer (CE) operations. This research replicates a Large Area Maintenance Shelter (LAMS) baseplate design for ultrasonic additive

  14. Coefficients for Use in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Reservoir Model, CE-QUAL-R1.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-10-01

    temiper- atares . 53 . Tem,:n ratur: acclimation . The temperature cf1- cicnts for aiaIpoutonare ucoecndesnt upon the acclima- t ion te rt i nd th...Health Bulletin No. 171. 101 4 4- " / Hutchinson, G. E. 1957. A Treatise on Limnology. I. Geog- raphy, Physics and Chemistry . John Wiley and Sons, NY

  15. Capability Engineering Process (CEP) Foundations - Version 2

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-03-02

    R& D /Ops Research, Infrastructure & Organization, Qoncepts, Doctrine & Collective Training, IT Infrastructure , Equipment, Supplies and Services...les investissements strategiques requis pour repondre it une lacune en matiere de capacite. Ce processus est elabore dans la cadre du projet de...ainsi que six (6) buts secondaires servent it positionner Ie PIC comme un processus interne aux activites de planification axee sur les capacites

  16. Method and apparatus of parallel computing with simultaneously operating stream prefetching and list prefetching engines

    DOEpatents

    Boyle, Peter A.; Christ, Norman H.; Gara, Alan; Mawhinney, Robert D.; Ohmacht, Martin; Sugavanam, Krishnan

    2012-12-11

    A prefetch system improves a performance of a parallel computing system. The parallel computing system includes a plurality of computing nodes. A computing node includes at least one processor and at least one memory device. The prefetch system includes at least one stream prefetch engine and at least one list prefetch engine. The prefetch system operates those engines simultaneously. After the at least one processor issues a command, the prefetch system passes the command to a stream prefetch engine and a list prefetch engine. The prefetch system operates the stream prefetch engine and the list prefetch engine to prefetch data to be needed in subsequent clock cycles in the processor in response to the passed command.

  17. Building a new predictor for multiple linear regression technique-based corrective maintenance turnaround time.

    PubMed

    Cruz, Antonio M; Barr, Cameron; Puñales-Pozo, Elsa

    2008-01-01

    This research's main goals were to build a predictor for a turnaround time (TAT) indicator for estimating its values and use a numerical clustering technique for finding possible causes of undesirable TAT values. The following stages were used: domain understanding, data characterisation and sample reduction and insight characterisation. Building the TAT indicator multiple linear regression predictor and clustering techniques were used for improving corrective maintenance task efficiency in a clinical engineering department (CED). The indicator being studied was turnaround time (TAT). Multiple linear regression was used for building a predictive TAT value model. The variables contributing to such model were clinical engineering department response time (CE(rt), 0.415 positive coefficient), stock service response time (Stock(rt), 0.734 positive coefficient), priority level (0.21 positive coefficient) and service time (0.06 positive coefficient). The regression process showed heavy reliance on Stock(rt), CE(rt) and priority, in that order. Clustering techniques revealed the main causes of high TAT values. This examination has provided a means for analysing current technical service quality and effectiveness. In doing so, it has demonstrated a process for identifying areas and methods of improvement and a model against which to analyse these methods' effectiveness.

  18. Gold core/Ceria shell-based redox active nanozyme mimicking the biological multienzyme complex phenomenon

    DOE PAGES

    Bhagat, Stuti; Srikanth Vallabani, NV; Shutthanandan, Vaithiyalingam; ...

    2017-12-02

    Catalytically active individual gold (Au) and cerium oxide (CeO 2) nanoparticles (NPs) are well known to exhibit specific enzyme-like activities, such as natural catalase, oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase enzymes. Our activities have been maneuvered to design several biological applications such as immunoassays, glucose detection, radiation and free radical protection and tissue engineering. In biological systems, multienzyme complexes are involved in catalyzing important reactions of essential metabolic processes such as respiration, biomolecule synthesis, and photosynthesis. It is well known that metabolic processes linked with multienzyme complexes offer several advantages over reactions catalyzed by individual enzymes. A functional nanozyme depicting multienzymemore » like properties has eluded the researchers in the nanoscience community for the past few decades. Here, we have designed a functional multienzyme in the form of Gold (core)-CeO 2 (shell) nanoparticles (Au/CeO 2 CSNPs) exhibiting excellent peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme-like activities that are controlled simply by tuning the pH. The reaction kinetic parameters reveal that the peroxidase-like activity of this core-shell nanozyme is comparable to natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme. Unlike peroxidase-like activity exhibited by other nanomaterials, Au/CeO 2 CSNPs showed a decrease in hydroxyl radical formation, suggesting that the biocatalytic reactions are performed by efficient electron transfers. A significant enzyme-like activity of this core-shell nanoparticle was conserved at extreme pH (2 – 11) and temperatures (up to 90 °C), clearly suggesting the superiority over natural enzymes. Further, the utility of peroxidase-like activity of this core-shell nanoparticles was extended for the detection of glucose, which showed a linear range of detection between (100 µM – 1 mM). It is hypothesized that the proximity of the redox potentials of Au+/Au and Ce (III)/Ce (IV) may result in a redox couple promoting the multienzyme activity of core-shell nanoparticles. Au/CeO 2 CSNPs may open new directions for development of single platform sensors in multiple biosensing applications.« less

  19. Gold core/Ceria shell-based redox active nanozyme mimicking the biological multienzyme complex phenomenon

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bhagat, Stuti; Srikanth Vallabani, NV; Shutthanandan, Vaithiyalingam

    Catalytically active individual gold (Au) and cerium oxide (CeO 2) nanoparticles (NPs) are well known to exhibit specific enzyme-like activities, such as natural catalase, oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase enzymes. Our activities have been maneuvered to design several biological applications such as immunoassays, glucose detection, radiation and free radical protection and tissue engineering. In biological systems, multienzyme complexes are involved in catalyzing important reactions of essential metabolic processes such as respiration, biomolecule synthesis, and photosynthesis. It is well known that metabolic processes linked with multienzyme complexes offer several advantages over reactions catalyzed by individual enzymes. A functional nanozyme depicting multienzymemore » like properties has eluded the researchers in the nanoscience community for the past few decades. Here, we have designed a functional multienzyme in the form of Gold (core)-CeO 2 (shell) nanoparticles (Au/CeO 2 CSNPs) exhibiting excellent peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme-like activities that are controlled simply by tuning the pH. The reaction kinetic parameters reveal that the peroxidase-like activity of this core-shell nanozyme is comparable to natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme. Unlike peroxidase-like activity exhibited by other nanomaterials, Au/CeO 2 CSNPs showed a decrease in hydroxyl radical formation, suggesting that the biocatalytic reactions are performed by efficient electron transfers. A significant enzyme-like activity of this core-shell nanoparticle was conserved at extreme pH (2 – 11) and temperatures (up to 90 °C), clearly suggesting the superiority over natural enzymes. Further, the utility of peroxidase-like activity of this core-shell nanoparticles was extended for the detection of glucose, which showed a linear range of detection between (100 µM – 1 mM). It is hypothesized that the proximity of the redox potentials of Au+/Au and Ce (III)/Ce (IV) may result in a redox couple promoting the multienzyme activity of core-shell nanoparticles. Au/CeO 2 CSNPs may open new directions for development of single platform sensors in multiple biosensing applications.« less

  20. Product design for energy reduction in concurrent engineering: An Inverted Pyramid Approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alkadi, Nasr M.

    Energy factors in product design in concurrent engineering (CE) are becoming an emerging dimension for several reasons; (a) the rising interest in "green design and manufacturing", (b) the national energy security concerns and the dramatic increase in energy prices, (c) the global competition in the marketplace and global climate change commitments including carbon tax and emission trading systems, and (d) the widespread recognition of the need for sustainable development. This research presents a methodology for the intervention of energy factors in concurrent engineering product development process to significantly reduce the manufacturing energy requirement. The work presented here is the first attempt at integrating the design for energy in concurrent engineering framework. It adds an important tool to the DFX toolbox for evaluation of the impact of design decisions on the product manufacturing energy requirement early during the design phase. The research hypothesis states that "Product Manufacturing Energy Requirement is a Function of Design Parameters". The hypothesis was tested by conducting experimental work in machining and heat treating that took place at the manufacturing lab of the Industrial and Management Systems Engineering Department (IMSE) at West Virginia University (WVU) and at a major U.S steel manufacturing plant, respectively. The objective of the machining experiment was to study the effect of changing specific product design parameters (Material type and diameter) and process design parameters (metal removal rate) on a gear head lathe input power requirement through performing defined sets of machining experiments. The objective of the heat treating experiment was to study the effect of varying product charging temperature on the fuel consumption of a walking beams reheat furnace. The experimental work in both directions have revealed important insights into energy utilization in machining and heat-treating processes and its variance based on product, process, and system design parameters. In depth evaluation to how the design and manufacturing normally happen in concurrent engineering provided a framework to develop energy system levels in machining within the concurrent engineering environment using the method of "Inverted Pyramid Approach", (IPA). The IPA features varying levels of output energy based information depending on the input design parameters that is available during each stage (level) of the product design. The experimental work, the in-depth evaluation of design and manufacturing in CE, and the developed energy system levels in machining provided a solid base for the development of the model for the design for energy reduction in CE. The model was used to analyze an example part where 12 evolving designs were thoroughly reviewed to investigate the sensitivity of energy to design parameters in machining. The model allowed product design teams to address manufacturing energy concerns early during the design stage. As a result, ranges for energy sensitive design parameters impacting product manufacturing energy consumption were found in earlier levels. As designer proceeds to deeper levels in the model, this range tightens and results in significant energy reductions.

  1. Characterization of HIFU ablation using DNA fragmentation labeling as apoptosis stain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Anquez, Jeremie; Corréas, Jean-Michel; Pau, Bernard; Lacoste, François; Yon, Sylvain

    2012-11-01

    The goal of this work was to compare modalities to precisely quantify the extent of thermally induced lesions: gross pathology vs. histopathology vs. devascularization. Liver areas of 14 rabbits were targeted with HIFU and RF ablations in an acute study. Contrast enhanced computorized tomography (CE-CT) scan images were acquired two hours after HIFU and RF treatment to obtain the devascularized volumes of the livers. The animals were then euthanized and deep frozen. The livers were sliced and each slice was photographed and stacked yielding a volume of gross pathology. The volume VGP of the HIFU lesions were derived. The area AGP of the lesions were computed on a particular slice. The lesions were segmented as hypo intense (devascularized) regions on CE-CT images and their volumes VC were computed. The ratios VC/VGP were computed for all the HIFU lesions on all the 14 subjects with a mean value of 1.2. Histology was performed on the livers using Hematoxyline Eosine Staining (HES) and DNA Fragmentation labeling (TUNEL® technology) which characterizes apoptosis. Apoptotic regions of area AT were segmented on the images stained by TUNEL®. No necrosis was identified on the HES data. While TUNEL® did not mark the cores of the RF lesions as apoptotic, the periphery of HIFU and RF lesions was always recognized with TUNEL® as apoptotic. The ratio AGP/AT was computed. The mean value was 0.95 and 0.25 for HIFU and RF lesions respectively. These findings show that the devascularized territory seen on CE-CT scan coincide with the coagulated territories seen with gross pathology. Those actually correspond to cells in apoptosis. It is confirmed that HES stain does not show necrosis 2 hours after thermal ablation. TUNEL® technology for DNA fragmentation labeling appears as a useful marker for thermally induced acute lesions in the liver.

  2. The Environment Analysis in the CE-3 Landing Region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mu, L.; Liu, J.; Zeng, X.; Gao, X.; Yan, W.; Zou, X.; Li, C.

    2014-12-01

    To understand the environment and select detecting objects for the Yutu Rover, NAOC used the DEM and DOM data obtained by CE-2, geological data released by USGS, and high resolution image captured by CE-3 and LRO-NAC to analyze the topographical characteristic, geologic age, Geomorphological feathers and new dust distribution in two scale levels. The first level is 45km×75km, and another one is 4km×4km. The center of the study region is the CE-3 landing site (19.51°W, 44.12°N). The following is the initial conclusions: (1) CE-3 landed on a relatively flat region in the Mare Imbrium with an elevation of -2615m. The geological age of the landing site belongs to young Eratoshenian. 10km to the north of the landing site is the older Mare Imbrium stratum, and the location of the landing site is just on the intersection area of these two stratums. (2) The landing site lies on the edge of a lunar mountain with a decline tendency from west to east, and the topographic slope and roughness of the landing region is low, which is the typical characteristic of lunar mare. There is a big crater with diameter of 430 meters in the west of the landing site, and lots of stones in different colors on the rim of this crater, shown in the Figure2. (3) By comparing the images captured by LRO-NAC before and after the landing, much lunar dust was blown away by the engine plume during the landing of CE-3. The change scope is about 60m with from east-west and 135m length from south-north. The direction of landing is from south-north, so the length is larger than the width, shown in the figure 3. (4) In the initial stage, the Yutu Rover was suggested to move in south direction and late in north direction, which would get more scientific data and result.

  3. Materials Data on BaNaCe2C4O12F (SG:194) by Materials Project

    DOE Data Explorer

    Kristin Persson

    2016-02-10

    Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

  4. Towards a General Turbulence Model for Planetary Boundary Layers Based on Direct Statistical Simulation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Skitka, J.; Marston, B.; Fox-Kemper, B.

    2016-02-01

    Sub-grid turbulence models for planetary boundary layers are typically constructed additively, starting with local flow properties and including non-local (KPP) or higher order (Mellor-Yamada) parameters until a desired level of predictive capacity is achieved or a manageable threshold of complexity is surpassed. Such approaches are necessarily limited in general circumstances, like global circulation models, by their being optimized for particular flow phenomena. By building a model reductively, starting with the infinite hierarchy of turbulence statistics, truncating at a given order, and stripping degrees of freedom from the flow, we offer the prospect a turbulence model and investigative tool that is equally applicable to all flow types and able to take full advantage of the wealth of nonlocal information in any flow. Direct statistical simulation (DSS) that is based upon expansion in equal-time cumulants can be used to compute flow statistics of arbitrary order. We investigate the feasibility of a second-order closure (CE2) by performing simulations of the ocean boundary layer in a quasi-linear approximation for which CE2 is exact. As oceanographic examples, wind-driven Langmuir turbulence and thermal convection are studied by comparison of the quasi-linear and fully nonlinear statistics. We also characterize the computational advantages and physical uncertainties of CE2 defined on a reduced basis determined via proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of the flow fields.

  5. Computer Programming Languages and Expertise Needed by Practicing Engineers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Doelling, Irvin

    1980-01-01

    Discussed is the present engineering computer environment of a large aerospace company recognized as a leader in the application and development of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing techniques. A review is given of the exposure spectrum of engineers to the world of computing, the computer languages used, and the career impacts…

  6. Computing in Hydraulic Engineering Education

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duan, J. G.

    2011-12-01

    Civil engineers, pioneers of our civilization, are rarely perceived as leaders and innovators in modern society because of retardations in technology innovation. This crisis has resulted in the decline of the prestige of civil engineering profession, reduction of federal funding on deteriorating infrastructures, and problems with attracting the most talented high-school students. Infusion of cutting-edge computer technology and stimulating creativity and innovation therefore are the critical challenge to civil engineering education. To better prepare our graduates to innovate, this paper discussed the adaption of problem-based collaborative learning technique and integration of civil engineering computing into a traditional civil engineering curriculum. Three interconnected courses: Open Channel Flow, Computational Hydraulics, and Sedimentation Engineering, were developed with emphasis on computational simulations. In Open Channel flow, the focuses are principles of free surface flow and the application of computational models. This prepares students to the 2nd course, Computational Hydraulics, that introduce the fundamental principles of computational hydraulics, including finite difference and finite element methods. This course complements the Open Channel Flow class to provide students with in-depth understandings of computational methods. The 3rd course, Sedimentation Engineering, covers the fundamentals of sediment transport and river engineering, so students can apply the knowledge and programming skills gained from previous courses to develop computational models for simulating sediment transport. These courses effectively equipped students with important skills and knowledge to complete thesis and dissertation research.

  7. Cerium oxide nanoparticles alter the salt stress tolerance of Brassica napus L. by modifying the formation of root apoplastic barriers.

    PubMed

    Rossi, Lorenzo; Zhang, Weilan; Ma, Xingmao

    2017-10-01

    Rapidly growing global population adds significant strains on the fresh water resources. Consequently, saline water is increasingly tapped for crop irrigation. Meanwhile, rapid advancement of nanotechnology is introducing more and more engineered nanoparticles into the environment and in agricultural soils. While some negative effects of ENPs on plant health at very high concentrations have been reported, more beneficial effects of ENPs at relatively low concentrations are increasingly noticed, opening doors for potential applications of nanotechnology in agriculture. In particular, we found that cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NPs) improved plant photosynthesis in salt stressed plants. Due to the close connections between salt stress tolerance and the root anatomical structures, we postulated that CeO 2 NPs could modify plant root anatomy and improve plant salt stress tolerance. This study aimed at testing the hypothesis with Brassica napus in the presence of CeO 2 NPs (0, 500 mg kg -1 dry sand) and/or NaCl (0, 50 mM) in a growth chamber. Free hand sections of fresh roots were taken every seven days for three weeks and the suberin lamellae development was examined under a fluorescence microscope. The results confirmed the hypothesis that CeO 2 NPs modified the formation of the apoplastic barriers in Brassica roots. In salt stressed plants, CeO 2 NPs shortened the root apoplastic barriers which allowed more Na + transport to shoots and less accumulation of Na + in plant roots. The altered Na + fluxes and transport led to better physiological performance of Brassica and may lead to new applications of nanotechnology in agriculture. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Three-Dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Haworth, D.C.; O'Rourke, P.J.; Ranganathan, R.

    1998-09-01

    Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is one discipline falling under the broad heading of computer-aided engineering (CAE). CAE, together with computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), comprise a mathematical-based approach to engineering product and process design, analysis and fabrication. In this overview of CFD for the design engineer, our purposes are three-fold: (1) to define the scope of CFD and motivate its utility for engineering, (2) to provide a basic technical foundation for CFD, and (3) to convey how CFD is incorporated into engineering product and process design.

  9. Environmental risk assessment of engineered nano-SiO2 , nano iron oxides, nano-CeO2 , nano-Al2 O3 , and quantum dots.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yan; Nowack, Bernd

    2018-05-01

    Many research studies have endeavored to investigate the ecotoxicological hazards of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). However, little is known regarding the actual environmental risks of ENMs, combining both hazard and exposure data. The aim of the present study was to quantify the environmental risks for nano-Al 2 O 3 , nano-SiO 2 , nano iron oxides, nano-CeO 2 , and quantum dots by comparing the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) with the predicted-no-effect concentrations (PNECs). The PEC values of these 5 ENMs in freshwaters in 2020 for northern Europe and southeastern Europe were taken from a published dynamic probabilistic material flow analysis model. The PNEC values were calculated using probabilistic species sensitivity distribution (SSD). The order of the PNEC values was quantum dots < nano-CeO 2  < nano iron oxides < nano-Al 2 O 3  < nano-SiO 2 . The risks posed by these 5 ENMs were demonstrated to be in the reverse order: nano-Al 2 O 3  > nano-SiO 2  > nano iron oxides > nano-CeO 2  > quantum dots. However, all risk characterization values are 4 to 8 orders of magnitude lower than 1, and no risk was therefore predicted for any of the investigated ENMs at the estimated release level in 2020. Compared to static models, the dynamic material flow model allowed us to use PEC values based on a more complex parameterization, considering a dynamic input over time and time-dependent release of ENMs. The probabilistic SSD approach makes it possible to include all available data to estimate hazards of ENMs by considering the whole range of variability between studies and material types. The risk-assessment approach is therefore able to handle the uncertainty and variability associated with the collected data. The results of the present study provide a scientific foundation for risk-based regulatory decisions of the investigated ENMs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1387-1395. © 2018 SETAC. © 2018 SETAC.

  10. ANSYS-MATLAB co-simulation of mucus flow distribution and clearance effectiveness of a new simulated cough device.

    PubMed

    Ren, Shuai; Shi, Yan; Cai, Maolin; Zhao, Hongmei; Zhang, Zhaozhi; Zhang, Xiaohua Douglas

    2018-06-01

    Coughing is an irritable reaction that protects the respiratory system from infection and improves mucus clearance. However, for the patients who cannot cough autonomously, an assisted cough device is essential for mucus clearance. Considering the low efficiency of current assisted cough devices, a new simulated cough device based on the pneumatic system is proposed in this paper. Given the uncertainty of airflow rates necessary to clear mucus from airways, the computational fluid dynamics Eulerian wall film model and cough efficiency (CE) were used in this study to simulate the cough process and evaluate cough effectiveness. The Ansys-Matlab co-simulation model was set up and verified through experimental studies using Newtonian fluids. Next, model simulations were performed using non-Newtonian fluids, and peak cough flow (PCF) and PCF duration time were analyzed to determine their influence on mucus clearance. CE growth rate (λ) was calculated to reflect the CE variation trend. From the numerical simulation results, we find that CE rises as PCF increases while the growth rate trends to slow as PCF increases; when PCF changes from 60 to 360 L/min, CE changes from 3.2% to 51.5% which is approximately 16 times the initial value. Meanwhile, keeping a long PCF duration time could greatly improve CE under the same cough expired volume and PCF. The results indicated that increasing the PCF and PCF duration time can improve the efficiency of mucus clearance. This paper provides a new approach and a research direction for control strategy in simulated cough devices for airway mucus clearance. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  11. Integration of 3D imaging data in the assessment of aortic stenosis: impact on classification of disease severity.

    PubMed

    O'Brien, Bridget; Schoenhagen, Paul; Kapadia, Samir R; Svensson, Lars G; Rodriguez, Leonardo; Griffin, Brian P; Tuzcu, E Murat; Desai, Milind Y

    2011-09-01

    In patients with aortic stenosis (AS), precise assessment of severity is critical for treatment decisions. Estimation of aortic valve area (AVA) with transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE)-continuity equation (CE) assumes a circular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). We evaluated incremental utility of 3D multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) over TTE assessment of AS severity. We included 51 patients (age, 81±8 years; 61% men; mean gradient, 42 ± 12 mm Hg) with calcific AS who underwent evaluation for treatment options. TTE parameters included systolic LVOT diameter (D) and continuous and pulsed wave (CW and PW) velocity-time integrals (VTI) through the LVOT and mean transaortic gradient. MDCT parameters included systolic LVOT area, ratio of maximal to minimal LVOT diameter (eccentricity index), and aortic planimetry (AVA(p)). TTE-CE AVA [(D(2)×0.786×VTIpw)/VTIcw] and dimensionless index (DI) [VTIpw/VTIcw] were calculated. Corrected AVA was calculated by substituting MDCT LVOT area into CE. The majority (96%) of patients had eccentric LVOT. LVOT area, measured on MDCT, was higher than on TTE (3.84 ± 0.8 cm(2) versus 3.03 ± 0.5 cm(2), P<0.01). TTE-AVA was smaller than AVA(p) and corrected AVA (0.67 ± 0.1cm(2), 0.82 ± 0.3 cm(2), and 0.86 ± 0.3 cm(2), P<0.01). Using TTE measurements alone, 73% of patients had congruence for severe AS (DI ≤0.25 and CE AVA <0.8 cm(2)), which increased to 92% using corrected CE. In patients with suspected severe AS, incorporation of MDCT-LVOT area into CE improves congruence for AS severity.

  12. High-throughput screening platform for engineered nanoparticle-mediated genotoxicity using CometChip technology.

    PubMed

    Watson, Christa; Ge, Jing; Cohen, Joel; Pyrgiotakis, Georgios; Engelward, Bevin P; Demokritou, Philip

    2014-03-25

    The likelihood of intentional and unintentional engineered nanoparticle (ENP) exposure has dramatically increased due to the use of nanoenabled products. Indeed, ENPs have been incorporated in many useful products and have enhanced our way of life. However, there are many unanswered questions about the consequences of nanoparticle exposures, in particular, with regard to their potential to damage the genome and thus potentially promote cancer. In this study, we present a high-throughput screening assay based upon the recently developed CometChip technology, which enables evaluation of single-stranded DNA breaks, abasic sites, and alkali-sensitive sites in cells exposed to ENPs. The strategic microfabricated, 96-well design and automated processing improves efficiency, reduces processing time, and suppresses user bias in comparison to the standard comet assay. We evaluated the versatility of this assay by screening five industrially relevant ENP exposures (SiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3, Ag, and CeO2) on both suspension human lymphoblastoid (TK6) and adherent Chinese hamster ovary (H9T3) cell lines. MTT and CyQuant NF assays were employed to assess cellular viability and proliferation after ENP exposure. Exposure to ENPs at a dose range of 5, 10, and 20 μg/mL induced dose-dependent increases in DNA damage and cytotoxicity. Genotoxicity profiles of ZnO>Ag>Fe2O3>CeO2>SiO2 in TK6 cells at 4 h and Ag>Fe2O3>ZnO>CeO2>SiO2 in H9T3 cells at 24 h were observed. The presented CometChip platform enabled efficient and reliable measurement of ENP-mediated DNA damage, therefore demonstrating the efficacy of this powerful tool in nanogenotoxicity studies.

  13. Studying the impact of different climate engineering techniques on ocean acidification with the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gonzalez, M. F.; Ilyina, T.; Sonntag, S.

    2016-02-01

    In order to counterbalance the consequences of climate change, different climate engineering (CE) technologies have been suggested. Nonetheless, knowledge about their mitigation potential and side-effects remains sparse. Ocean alkalinization (OA) is an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal method, that aims at enhancing the natural process of weathering by which atmospheric CO2 is absorbed and stored in the ocean via chemical sequestration. Large-scale afforestation can also boost the uptake of CO2 by terrestrial biological systems and it is commonly considered as CE method. Stratospheric sulfur injection is a solar radiation management technique that has been proposed in order to enhance the Earth's albedo, mimicking the release of sulfur particles into the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions and the subsequent decrease in surface atmospheric temperatures. We explore the mitigation potential and side-effects of these CE technologies using the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model. Our scenarios are designed in order to test under what conditions it is possible to achieve a climate state that resembles the one of the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 under RCP8.5 greenhouse gas emissions. Direct and indirect effects of the OA method on the oceanic carbon cycle, differ strongly from those associated with afforestation and stratospheric sulfur injection. This is because they depend upon joint responses and synergies between different elements of the Earth system; thus, effects on the oceanic carbon cycle are not intuitively understood. Changes in the strength of the marine carbon sink, seawater pH and saturation state of carbonate minerals will be discussed. Additionally, collateral changes in marine biota and ocean biogeochemistry will be presented.

  14. Leveraging Independent Management and Chief Engineer Hierarchy: Vertically and Horizontally-Derived Technical Authority Value

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Barley, Bryan; Newhouse, Marilyn

    2012-01-01

    In the development of complex spacecraft missions, project management authority is usually extended hierarchically from NASA's highest agency levels down to the implementing institution's project team level, through both the center and the program. In parallel with management authority, NASA utilizes a complementary, but independent, hierarchy of technical authority (TA) that extends from the agency level to the project, again, through both the center and the program. The chief engineers (CEs) who serve in this technical authority capacity oversee and report on the technical status and ensure sound engineering practices, controls, and management of the projects and programs. At the lowest level, implementing institutions assign project CEs to technically engage projects, lead development teams, and ensure sound technical principles, processes, and issue resolution. At the middle level, programs and centers independently use CEs to ensure the technical success of their projects and programs. At the agency level, NASA's mission directorate CEs maintain technical cognizance over every program and project in their directorate and advise directorate management on the technical, cost, schedule, and programmatic health of each. As part of this vertically-extended CE team, a program level CE manages a continually varying balance between penetration depth and breadth across his or her assigned missions. Teamwork issues and information integration become critical for management at all levels to ensure value-added use of both the synergy available between CEs at the various agency levels, and the independence of the technical authority at each organization.

  15. Sci-Thur AM: YIS – 04: Stopping power-to-Cherenkov power ratios and beam quality specification for clinical Cherenkov emission dosimetry of electrons: beam-specific effects and experimental validation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zlateva, Yana; Seuntjens, Jan; El Naqa, Issam

    Purpose: To advance towards clinical Cherenkov emission (CE)-based dosimetry by investigating beam-specific effects on Monte Carlo-calculated electron-beam stopping power-to-CE power ratios (SCRs), addressing electron beam quality specification in terms of CE, and validating simulations with measurements. Methods: The EGSnrc user code SPRRZnrc, used to calculate Spencer-Attix stopping-power ratios, was modified to instead calculate SCRs. SCRs were calculated for 6- to 22-MeV clinical electron beams from Varian TrueBeam, Clinac 21EX, and Clinac 2100C/D accelerators. Experiments were performed with a 20-MeV electron beam from a Varian TrueBeam accelerator, using a diffraction grating spectrometer with optical fiber input and a cooled back-illuminated CCD.more » A fluorophore was dissolved in the water to remove CE signal anisotropy. Results: It was found that angular spread of the incident beam has little effect on the SCR (≤ 0.3% at d{sub max}), while both the electron spectrum and photon contamination increase the SCR at shallow depths and decrease it at large depths. A universal data fit of R{sub 50} in terms of C{sub 50} (50% CE depth) revealed a strong linear dependence (R{sup 2} > 0.9999). The SCR was fit with a Burns-type equation (R{sup 2} = 0.9974, NRMSD = 0.5%). Below-threshold incident radiation was found to have minimal effect on beam quality specification (< 0.1%). Experiments and simulations were in good agreement. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the feasibility of the proposed CE dosimetry method, contingent on computation of SCRs from additional accelerators and on further experimental validation. This work constitutes an important step towards clinical high-resolution out-of-beam CE dosimetry.« less

  16. Cystic Echinococcosis Epidemiology in Spain Based on Hospitalization Records, 1997-2012

    PubMed Central

    Siles-Lucas, Mar; Aparicio, Pilar; Lopez-Velez, Rogelio; Gherasim, Alin; Garate, Teresa; Benito, Agustín

    2016-01-01

    Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Although present throughout Europe, deficiencies in the official reporting of CE result in under-reporting and misreporting of this disease, which in turn is reflected in the wrong opinion that CE is not an important health problem. By using an alternative data source, this study aimed at describing the clinical and temporal-spatial characteristics of CE hospitalizations in Spain between 1997 and 2012. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed a retrospective descriptive study using the Hospitalization Minimum Data Set (CMBD in Spanish). All CMBD’s hospital discharges with echinococcosis diagnosis placed in first diagnostic position were reviewed. Hospitalization rates were computed and clinical characteristics were described. Spatial and temporal distribution of hospital discharges was also assessed. Between 1997 and 2012, 14,010 hospitalizations with diagnosis of CE were recorded, 55% were men and 67% were aged over 45 years. Pediatric hospitalizations occurred during the whole study period. The 95.2% were discharged at home, and only 1.7% were exitus. The average cost was 8,439.11 €. The hospitalization rate per 100,000 per year showed a decreasing trend during the study period. All the autonomous communities registered discharges, even those considered as non-endemic. Maximum rates were reached by Extremadura, Castilla-Leon and Aragon. Comparison of the CMBD data and the official Compulsory Notifiable Diseases (CND) reports from 2005 to 2012 showed that official data were lower than registered hospitalization discharges. Conclusions Hospitalizations distribution was uneven by year and autonomous region. Although CE hospitalization rates have decreased considerably due to the success of control programs, it remains a public health problem due to its severity and economic impact. Therefore, it would be desirable to improve its oversight and surveillance, since officially reported data are underestimating the real burden of CE in Spain. PMID:27547975

  17. Common Envelope Light Curves. I. Grid-code Module Calibration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Galaviz, Pablo; Marco, Orsola De; Staff, Jan E.

    The common envelope (CE) binary interaction occurs when a star transfers mass onto a companion that cannot fully accrete it. The interaction can lead to a merger of the two objects or to a close binary. The CE interaction is the gateway of all evolved compact binaries, all stellar mergers, and likely many of the stellar transients witnessed to date. CE simulations are needed to understand this interaction and to interpret stars and binaries thought to be the byproduct of this stage. At this time, simulations are unable to reproduce the few observational data available and several ideas have been putmore » forward to address their shortcomings. The need for more definitive simulation validation is pressing and is already being fulfilled by observations from time-domain surveys. In this article, we present an initial method and its implementation for post-processing grid-based CE simulations to produce the light curve so as to compare simulations with upcoming observations. Here we implemented a zeroth order method to calculate the light emitted from CE hydrodynamic simulations carried out with the 3D hydrodynamic code Enzo used in unigrid mode. The code implements an approach for the computation of luminosity in both optically thick and optically thin regimes and is tested using the first 135 days of the CE simulation of Passy et al., where a 0.8  M {sub ⊙} red giant branch star interacts with a 0.6  M {sub ⊙} companion. This code is used to highlight two large obstacles that need to be overcome before realistic light curves can be calculated. We explain the nature of these problems and the attempted solutions and approximations in full detail to enable the next step to be identified and implemented. We also discuss our simulation in relation to recent data of transients identified as CE interactions.« less

  18. Self-assembled oxide films with tailored nanoscale ionic and electronic channels for controlled resistive switching

    DOE PAGES

    Cho, Seungho; Yun, Chao; Tappertzhofen, Stefan; ...

    2016-08-05

    Resistive switches are non-volatile memory cells based on nano-ionic redox processes that offer energy efficient device architectures and open pathways to neuromorphics and cognitive computing. However, channel formation typically requires an irreversible, not well controlled electroforming process, giving difficulty to independently control ionic and electronic properties. The device performance is also limited by the incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we report a novel memristive model material system based on self-assembled Sm-doped CeO 2 and SrTiO 3 films that allow the separate tailoring of nanoscale ionic and electronic channels at high density (~10 12 inch –2). Here, we systematicallymore » show that these devices allow precise engineering of the resistance states, thus enabling large on–off ratios and high reproducibility. The tunable structure presents an ideal platform to explore ionic and electronic mechanisms and we expect a wide potential impact also on other nascent technologies, ranging from ionic gating to micro-solid oxide fuel cells and neuromorphics.« less

  19. Size assessment of breast lesions by means of a computer-aided detection (CAD) system for magnetic resonance mammography.

    PubMed

    Levrini, G; Sghedoni, R; Mori, C; Botti, A; Vacondio, R; Nitrosi, A; Iori, M; Nicoli, F

    2011-10-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a dedicated software tool for automated volume measurement of breast lesions in contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance mammography (MRM). The size of 52 breast lesions with a known histopathological diagnosis (three benign, 49 malignant) was automatically evaluated using different techniques. The volume of all lesions was measured automatically (AVM) from CE 3D MRM examinations by means of a computer-aided detection (CAD) system and compared with the size estimates based on maximum diameter measurement (MDM) on MRM, ultrasonography (US), mammography and histopathology. Compared with histopathology as the reference method, AVM understimated lesion size by 4% on average. This result was similar to MDM (3% understimation, not significantly different) but significantly better than US and mammographic lesion measurements (24% and 33% size underestimation, respectively). AVM is as accurate as MDM but faster. Both methods are more accurate for size assessment of breast lesions compared with US and mammography.

  20. SU-C-201-07: Towards Clinical Cherenkov Emission Dosimetry: Stopping Power-To-Cherenkov Power Ratios and Beam Quality Specification of Clinical Electron Beams

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zlateva, Y; Seuntjens, J; El Naqa, I

    Purpose: We propose a Cherenkov emission (CE)-based reference dosimetry method, which in contrast to ionization chamber-based dosimetry, employs spectrum-averaged electron restricted mass collision stopping power-to-Cherenkov power ratios (SCRs), and we examine Monte Carlo-calculated SCRs and beam quality specification of clinical electron beams. Methods: The EGSnrc user code SPRRZnrc was modified to compute SCRs instead of stopping-power ratios (single medium: water; cut-off: CE threshold (observing Spencer-Attix conditions); CE power: Frank-Tamm). SCRs are calculated with BEAMnrc for realistic electron beams with nominal energies of 6–22 MeV from three Varian accelerators (TrueBeam Clinac 21EX, Clinac 2100C/D) and for mono-energetic beams of energies equalmore » to the mean electron energy at the water surface. Sources of deviation between clinical and mono-energetic SCRs are analyzed quantitatively. A universal fit for the beam-quality index R{sub 50} in terms of the depth of 50% CE C{sub 50} is carried out. Results: SCRs at reference depth are overestimated by mono-energetic values by up to 0.2% for a 6-MeV beam and underestimated by up to 2.3% for a 22-MeV beam. The variation is mainly due to the clinical beam spectrum and photon contamination. Beam angular spread has a small effect across all depths and energies. The influence of the electron spectrum becomes increasingly significant at large depths, while at shallow depths and high beam energies photon contamination is predominant (up to 2.0%). The universal data fit reveals a strong linear correlation between R{sub 50} and C{sub 50} (ρ > 0.99999). Conclusion: CE is inherent to radiotherapy beams and can be detected outside the beam with available optical technologies, which makes it an ideal candidate for out-of-beam high-resolution 3D dosimetry. Successful clinical implementation of CE dosimetry hinges on the development of robust protocols for converting measured CE to radiation dose. Our findings constitute a key step towards clinical CE dosimetry.« less

  1. A rapid and accurate approach for prediction of interactomes from co-elution data (PrInCE).

    PubMed

    Stacey, R Greg; Skinnider, Michael A; Scott, Nichollas E; Foster, Leonard J

    2017-10-23

    An organism's protein interactome, or complete network of protein-protein interactions, defines the protein complexes that drive cellular processes. Techniques for studying protein complexes have traditionally applied targeted strategies such as yeast two-hybrid or affinity purification-mass spectrometry to assess protein interactions. However, given the vast number of protein complexes, more scalable methods are necessary to accelerate interaction discovery and to construct whole interactomes. We recently developed a complementary technique based on the use of protein correlation profiling (PCP) and stable isotope labeling in amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) to assess chromatographic co-elution as evidence of interacting proteins. Importantly, PCP-SILAC is also capable of measuring protein interactions simultaneously under multiple biological conditions, allowing the detection of treatment-specific changes to an interactome. Given the uniqueness and high dimensionality of co-elution data, new tools are needed to compare protein elution profiles, control false discovery rates, and construct an accurate interactome. Here we describe a freely available bioinformatics pipeline, PrInCE, for the analysis of co-elution data. PrInCE is a modular, open-source library that is computationally inexpensive, able to use label and label-free data, and capable of detecting tens of thousands of protein-protein interactions. Using a machine learning approach, PrInCE offers greatly reduced run time, more predicted interactions at the same stringency, prediction of protein complexes, and greater ease of use over previous bioinformatics tools for co-elution data. PrInCE is implemented in Matlab (version R2017a). Source code and standalone executable programs for Windows and Mac OSX are available at https://github.com/fosterlab/PrInCE , where usage instructions can be found. An example dataset and output are also provided for testing purposes. PrInCE is the first fast and easy-to-use data analysis pipeline that predicts interactomes and protein complexes from co-elution data. PrInCE allows researchers without bioinformatics expertise to analyze high-throughput co-elution datasets.

  2. Multidimensional Analysis of Curved Root Canal Preparation Using Continuous or Reciprocating Nickel-titanium Instruments

    PubMed Central

    Mamede-Neto, Iussif; Borges, Álvaro Henrique; Alencar, Ana Helena Gonçalves; Duarte, Marco Antonio Hungaro; Sousa Neto, Manoel Damião; Estrela, Carlos

    2018-01-01

    Objective: To evaluate transportation (T) and centering ability (CA) of root canal preparations using continuous or reciprocating nickel-titanium endodontic files. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six mesiobuccal root canals of mandibular first and second molars were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=16) according to the rotary file used: 1. ProTaper Next; 2. ProTaper Gold; 3. Mtwo; 4. BioRaCe; 5. WaveOne Gold; 6. Reciproc. Root canals were prepared according to manufacturer’s instructions. Cone beam computed tomography scans were obtained before and after root canal preparation. Measurements were made at six different reference points: 2, 3 and 4 mm from the apex and 2, 3 and 4 mm below furcation in different directions. Results: The greatest Mesiodistal (MD) Transportation (T) was found for Reciproc files (p<0.05), and the greatest buccolingual (BL) T, for Reciproc, ProTaper Gold and ProTaper Next files (p<0.05). The greatest Mesiodistal (MD) Centering Ability (CA) was found for BioRaCe files (p<0.05), and the greatest Buccolingual (BL) CA, for BioRaCe and Mtwo files (p<0.05). Conclusion: All systems produced root canal transportation. No file system achieved perfect CA of root preparation. Reciproc files had the greatest MD T and BL T. BioRaCe files had the greatest MD CA, whereas BL CA was similar for BioRaCe and Mtwo files. PMID:29456772

  3. KID Project: an internet-based digital video atlas of capsule endoscopy for research purposes.

    PubMed

    Koulaouzidis, Anastasios; Iakovidis, Dimitris K; Yung, Diana E; Rondonotti, Emanuele; Kopylov, Uri; Plevris, John N; Toth, Ervin; Eliakim, Abraham; Wurm Johansson, Gabrielle; Marlicz, Wojciech; Mavrogenis, Georgios; Nemeth, Artur; Thorlacius, Henrik; Tontini, Gian Eugenio

    2017-06-01

     Capsule endoscopy (CE) has revolutionized small-bowel (SB) investigation. Computational methods can enhance diagnostic yield (DY); however, incorporating machine learning algorithms (MLAs) into CE reading is difficult as large amounts of image annotations are required for training. Current databases lack graphic annotations of pathologies and cannot be used. A novel database, KID, aims to provide a reference for research and development of medical decision support systems (MDSS) for CE.  Open-source software was used for the KID database. Clinicians contribute anonymized, annotated CE images and videos. Graphic annotations are supported by an open-access annotation tool (Ratsnake). We detail an experiment based on the KID database, examining differences in SB lesion measurement between human readers and a MLA. The Jaccard Index (JI) was used to evaluate similarity between annotations by the MLA and human readers.  The MLA performed best in measuring lymphangiectasias with a JI of 81 ± 6 %. The other lesion types were: angioectasias (JI 64 ± 11 %), aphthae (JI 64 ± 8 %), chylous cysts (JI 70 ± 14 %), polypoid lesions (JI 75 ± 21 %), and ulcers (JI 56 ± 9 %).  MLA can perform as well as human readers in the measurement of SB angioectasias in white light (WL). Automated lesion measurement is therefore feasible. KID is currently the only open-source CE database developed specifically to aid development of MDSS. Our experiment demonstrates this potential.

  4. TERS v2.0: An improved version of TERS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nath, S.

    2009-11-01

    We present a new version of the semimicroscopic Monte Carlo code "TERS". The procedure for calculating multiple small angle Coulomb scattering of the residues in the target has been modified. Target-backing and residue charge-reset foils, which are often used in heavy ion-induced complete fusion reactions, are included in the code. New version program summaryProgram title: TERS v2.0 Catalogue identifier: AEBD_v2_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEBD_v2_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 7309 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 219 555 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: C Computer: The code has been developed and tested on a PC with Intel Pentium IV processor. Operating system: Linux RAM: About 8 Mbytes Classification: 17.7 External routines: pgplot graphics subroutine library [1] should be installed in the system for generating residue trajectory plots. (The library is included in the CPC distribution file.) Catalogue identifier of previous version: AEBD_v1_0 Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Comm. 179 (2008) 492 Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes Nature of problem: Recoil separators are employed to select and identify nuclei of interest, produced in a nuclear reaction, rejecting unreacted beam and other undesired reaction products. It is important to know what fraction of the selected nuclei, leaving the target, reach the detection system. This information is crucial for determining absolute cross section of the studied reaction. Solution method: Interaction of projectiles with target nuclei is treated event by event, semimicro-scopically. Position and angle (with respect to beam direction), energy and charge state of the reaction products are calculated by Monte Carlo method. Trajectory of each nuclei inside the separator is then calculated by ion optical transfer matrix method. Ratio of the number of trajectories completing their journey up to the detection system to the total number of trajectories is a direct measure of absolute transmission efficiency of the separator. Reasons for new version: The method for calculating mean squared scattering angle (< ϑ > 2), used earlier [2], was found to be inadequate particularly for low energy heavy residues. Energy loss of beam in the target-backing foil and energy loss of residues in the charge-reset foil (wherever used) needed to be taken into account for better matching of simulated residue parameters with measurements. Summary of revisions: A new method [3] for calculating multiple small angle Coulomb scattering of residues in the target has been adopted. The change is incorporated in function Weibull() in the program ters_pti2.c. Isotopically enriched targets are made on a thin backing foil (usually made of carbon) quite often. Energy loss of beam in the backing foil (assuming beam is made to pass through the backing foil first, which is the usual practice) need to be taken into account. This calls for minor changes in the input file ters_pti2.inp. Following is the modified list of input parameters in this file with explanation. Atomic no. and mass no. of projectile and target. Projectile energy [MeV] in laboratory. Dia. [mm] of (circular) beam spot and target thickness [mg/cm2]. Atomic no. and mass no. of the backing material and thickness [mg/cm2] of the backing foil. Q value [MeV] for CN formation and inverse level density parameter. Numbers of evaporated alphas, protons and neutrons. Alpha separation energies [MeV], to be left blank if no alpha evaporation. Proton separation energies [MeV], to be left blank if no proton evaporation. Neutron separation energies [MeV], to be left blank if no neutron evaporation. Number of events i.e. residues to be considered by the program (maximum 5 ×105). The parameters in input line number 4 are new in this version. If the target is backed by a carbon foil of thickness 125 μg/cm2, the input line would look like "6 12 0.125". If the target is self-supporting, i.e. there is no backing, value of the last parameter (thickness) should be zero. However, the first two parameters must not be left blank or have 0 values. The input line would look like "6 12 0.0" in this case. A new function ThinFoil() has been introduced in the program ters_tra2.c. A thin foil can be inserted anywhere along the path of the residues by calling this function using the following syntax: Status = ThinFoil(argument list); if (Status == 0) continue; The function is particularly useful to place a residue charge-reset foil (usually made of carbon) after the target and is described in Table 1.Name of the functionJob of the functionList of argumentsDescription of argumentsThinFoil()To calculate ion energy loss in a thin foilint arg1, int arg2, int arg3arg1 = atomic number of the foil material, arg2 = mass number of the foil material, arg3 = thickness of the foil [mg/cm2] There is a minor change in the input file ters_tra2.inp. Following is the modified list of input parameters in this file with explanation. Residue atomic number and mass number. Energy [MeV], mass no. and charge state of the reference particle. Number of events i.e. trajectories to be calculated. Program/input files which have been modified in this version are suffixed by "2" in their names (before the extension), e.g., ters_pti.c has been renamed ters_pti2.c. The complete list of files included in the distributed code can be viewed in the readme file. Restrictions: The present version of the code is applicable to complete fusion reactions only. Calculation of transmission efficiency has been illustrated with a specific recoil separator, viz. the Heavy Ion Reaction Analyzer (HIRA) [4,5], at IUAC. One has to make necessary changes in the code, while performing calculations for other recoil separators. Also, atomic number of the residual nucleus should not exceed 92, as the method used for calculating stopping power of ions [6] is valid for Z ⩽ 92. The code can perform energy loss calculation only in elemental targets and foils (i.e. compounds or alloys are not supported). Further, number of events (NEVENT) in ters_tra2.inp should not exceed the same in ters_pti2.inp. Running time: From few seconds to several minutes depending on the reaction, number of events and separator layout. References: [1] http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~tjp/pgplot/. [2] G.R. Lynch, O.I. Dahl, Nucl. Instr. Methods B 58 (1991) 6. [3] L. Meyer, Phys. Status Solidi 44 (1971) 253. [4] A.K. Sinha, N. Madhavan, J.J. Das, P. Sugathan, D.O. Kataria, A.P. Patro, G.K. Mehta, Nucl. Instr. Methods A 339 (1994) 543. [5] S. Nath, Nucl. Instr. Methods A 576 (2007) 403. [6] J.F. Ziegler, J.P. Biersack, U. Littmark, The Stopping and Range of Ions in Solids, vol. I, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1984.

  5. Modeling of methanol decomposition on Pt/CeO2/ZrO2 catalyst in a packed bed microreactor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pohar, Andrej; Belavič, Darko; Dolanc, Gregor; Hočevar, Stanko

    2014-06-01

    Methanol decomposition on Pt/CeO2/ZrO2 catalyst is studied inside a packed bed microreactor in the temperature range of 300-380 °C. The microreactor is fabricated using low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology, which is well suited for the production of relatively complex three-dimensional structures. It is packed with 2 wt% Pt-CeO2 catalyst, which is deposited onto ZrO2 spherical particles. A 1D mathematical model, which incorporates diffusion, convection and mass transfer through the boundary layer to the catalyst particles, as well as a 3D computational fluid dynamics model, are developed to describe the methanol decomposition process inside the packed bed. The microreactor exhibits reliable operation and no catalyst deactivation was observed during three months of experimentation. A comparison between the 1D mathematical model and the 3D model, considering the full 3D geometry of the microreactor is made and the differences between the models are identified and evaluated.

  6. Threshold Ionization and Spin-Orbit Coupling of Cerium Monoxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Wenjin; Zhang, Yuchen; Wu, Lu; Yang, Dong-Sheng

    2017-06-01

    Cerium oxides are widely used in heterogeneous catalysis due to their ability to switch between different oxidation states. We report here the mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy of cerium monoxide (CeO) produced by laser ablating a Ce rod in a molecular beam source. The MATI spectrum in the range of 40000-45000 \\wn exhibits several band systems with similar vibrational progressions. The strongest band is at 43015 (5) \\wn, which can be assigned as the adiabatic ionization energy of the neutral species. The spectrum also shows Ce-O stretching frequencies of 817 and 890 \\wn in the neutral and ion states, respectively. By comparing with spin-orbit coupled multireference quasi-degenerate perturbation theory (SO-MCQDPT) calculations, the observed band systems are assigned to transitions from various low-energy spin-orbit levels of the neutral oxide to the two lowest spin-orbit levels of the corresponding ion. The current work will also be compared with previous experimental and computational studies on the neutral species.

  7. A retrospective analysis of human cystic echinococcosis in Hamedan province, an endemic region of Iran.

    PubMed

    Ahmadi, N A; Hamidi, M

    2008-10-01

    In a retrospective investigation, the medical files of the patients who, between 1992 and 2006, underwent surgery for the treatment of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in one of the three university hospitals in Hamedan province, in western Iran, were explored. Of the 179 patients involved, 44.1% were male and 55.9% female, giving a male/ female ratio of 0.79. The mean annual surgical incidence of CE in the catchment areas of the study hospitals was estimated to be 1.33 cases/100,000. Although most of Hamedan's population is urban (53.02% at the last census, in 1997), most (57.5%) of the patients lived in rural areas (P<0.05). Among the CE cases, housewives (47.3%), farmers (16.6%) and labourers (16.0%) were over-represented compared with the frequencies of these occupations in the general population of the region (P<0.05 for each). Most of the CE cases were aged 20-39 years (35.8%) or 40-59 years (29.0%) and most had liver cysts, either alone (60.9%) or with cysts in other sites (9.5%), although 19.6% of the cases appeared only to have lung cysts. Overall, 90.5% of the cases showed single-organ involvement. Liver involvement was 3.3-fold more common than lung involvement, the ratio between cases with liver cysts and those with lung cysts generally increasing with age (from 1.6 for the cases aged <20 years to 5.6 among the cases aged 40-59 years). The most common clinical symptoms were abdominal pain and/or a sensation of abdominal mass in those with hepatic CE, and chest pain, cough, dyspnoea and/or haemoptysis in those with pulmonary CE. Although 72% of the cases each had a single cyst, 19.6% had two cysts each and 8.4% each had at least three cysts. Only three (1.7%) of the cases had had previous surgery for CE. Diagnosis of CE in Hamedan province is largely dependent on ultrasonography and computed tomography. Together, these results confirm that CE is endemic in the province and indicate that certain occupations (housewife, farmer and labourer) and/or rural life are risk factors.

  8. Enhancing Engineering Computer-Aided Design Education Using Lectures Recorded on the PC

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McGrann, Roy T. R.

    2006-01-01

    Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) is a course that is required during the third year in the mechanical engineering curriculum at Binghamton University. The primary objective of the course is to educate students in the procedures of computer-aided engineering design. The solid modeling and analysis program Pro/Engineer[TM] (PTC[R]) is used as the…

  9. Ontonagon Harbor Operation and Maintenance Activities. Lake Superior.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-08-01

    St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 August 1975 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT OPERATION AND MAINTENAN4CE ACTIVITIES ONTONAGON HARBDOR, MICHIGAN LAKE...SUPERIOR Responsible Office: St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers, 1135 U.S. Post Office and Custom House, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Telephone Number 612...Nonesuch shale is a finer siltstone containing recoverable copper deposits. Active mining is present at White Pine, 12 air miles southwest of Ontonagon

  10. A Feasibility Study of Expanding the F404 Aircraft Engine Repair Capability at the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-06-01

    1 A. OBJECTIVES ............. .... .................. 1 B. HISTORY ................... .................... 2 C...utilization, and any additional manpower requirements at the "selected" AIMD’s. B. HISTORY Until late 1991 both NADEP JAX and NADEP North Island (NORIS...TRIANGULAR OR ALL LOG NORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS FOR SERVICE TIMES AT AIND CECIL FIELD maintenance/ Triangular Log Normal MAZDA Difference Differe•ce Supply

  11. Solution of the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov equations in the Cartesian deformed harmonic-oscillator basis.. (VI) HFODD (v2.40h): A new version of the program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dobaczewski, J.; Satuła, W.; Carlsson, B. G.; Engel, J.; Olbratowski, P.; Powałowski, P.; Sadziak, M.; Sarich, J.; Schunck, N.; Staszczak, A.; Stoitsov, M.; Zalewski, M.; Zduńczuk, H.

    2009-11-01

    We describe the new version (v2.40h) of the code HFODD which solves the nuclear Skyrme-Hartree-Fock or Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov problem by using the Cartesian deformed harmonic-oscillator basis. In the new version, we have implemented: (i) projection on good angular momentum (for the Hartree-Fock states), (ii) calculation of the GCM kernels, (iii) calculation of matrix elements of the Yukawa interaction, (iv) the BCS solutions for state-dependent pairing gaps, (v) the HFB solutions for broken simplex symmetry, (vi) calculation of Bohr deformation parameters, (vii) constraints on the Schiff moments and scalar multipole moments, (viii) the DT2h transformations and rotations of wave functions, (ix) quasiparticle blocking for the HFB solutions in odd and odd-odd nuclei, (x) the Broyden method to accelerate the convergence, (xi) the Lipkin-Nogami method to treat pairing correlations, (xii) the exact Coulomb exchange term, (xiii) several utility options, and we have corrected three insignificant errors. New version program summaryProgram title: HFODD (v2.40h) Catalogue identifier: ADFL_v2_2 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADFL_v2_2.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 79 618 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 372 548 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: FORTRAN-77 and Fortran-90 Computer: Pentium-III, AMD-Athlon, AMD-Opteron Operating system: UNIX, LINUX, Windows XP Has the code been vectorised or parallelized?: Yes, vectorised RAM: 10 Mwords Word size: The code is written in single-precision for use on a 64-bit processor. The compiler option -r8 or +autodblpad (or equivalent) has to be used to promote all real and complex single-precision floating-point items to double precision when the code is used on a 32-bit machine. Classification: 17.22 Catalogue identifier of previous version: ADFL_v2_1 Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Commun. 167 (2005) 214 External routines: Lapack (http://www.netlib.org/lapack/), Blas (http://www.netlib.org), linpack (http://www.netlib/linpack/) Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes Nature of problem: The nuclear mean-field and an analysis of its symmetries in realistic cases are the main ingredients of a description of nuclear states. Within the Local Density Approximation, or for a zero-range velocity-dependent Skyrme interaction, the nuclear mean-field is local and velocity dependent. The locality allows for an effective and fast solution of the self-consistent Hartree-Fock equations, even for heavy nuclei, and for various nucleonic (n-particle n-hole) configurations, deformations, excitation energies, or angular momenta. Similar Local Density Approximation in the particle-particle channel, which is equivalent to using a zero-range interaction, allows for a simple implementation of pairing effects within the Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov method. Solution method: The program uses the Cartesian harmonic oscillator basis to expand single-particle or single-quasiparticle wave functions of neutrons and protons interacting by means of the Skyrme effective interaction and zero-range pairing interaction. The expansion coefficients are determined by the iterative diagonalization of the mean field Hamiltonians or Routhians which depend non-linearly on the local neutron and proton densities. Suitable constraints are used to obtain states corresponding to a given configuration, deformation or angular momentum. The method of solution has been presented in [1]. Summary of revisions: Projection on good angular momentum (for the Hartree-Fock states) has been implemented. Calculation of the GCM kernels has been implemented. Calculation of matrix elements of the Yukawa interaction has been implemented. The BCS solutions for state-dependent pairing gaps have been implemented. The HFB solutions for broken simplex symmetry have been implemented. Calculation of Bohr deformation parameters has been implemented. Constraints on the Schiff moments and scalar multipole moments have been implemented. The DT2h transformations and rotations of wave functions have been implemented. The quasiparticle blocking for the HFB solutions in odd and odd-odd nuclei has been implemented. The Broyden method to accelerate the convergence has been implemented. The Lipkin-Nogami method to treat pairing correlations has been implemented. The exact Coulomb exchange term has been implemented. Several utility options have been implemented. Three insignificant errors have been corrected. Restrictions: The main restriction is the CPU time required for calculations of heavy deformed nuclei and for a given precision required. Unusual features: The user must have access to an implementation of the BLAS (Basic Linear Algebra Subroutines), the NAGLIB subroutine F02AXE, or LAPACK subroutines ZHPEV, ZHPEVX, or ZHEEVR, which diagonalize complex Hermitian matrices, and the LINPACK subroutines ZGEDI and ZGECO, which invert arbitrary complex matrices and calculate determinants or provide another set of subroutines that can perform such a tasks. The LAPACK and LINPACK subroutines and an unoptimized version of the BLAS can be obtained from the Netlib Repository at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville: http://www.netlib.org/. Running time: One Hartree-Fock iteration for the superdeformed, rotating, parity conserving state of 15266Dy86 takes about six seconds on the AMD-Athlon 1600+ processor. Starting from the Woods-Saxon wave functions, about fifty iterations are required to obtain the energy converged within the precision of about 0.1 keV. In the case where every value of the angular velocity is converged separately, the complete superdeformed band with precisely determined dynamical moments J (2) can be obtained in forty minutes of CPU time on the AMD-Athlon 1600+ processor. This time can be often reduced by a factor of three when a self-consistent solution for a given rotational frequency is used as a starting point for a neighboring rotational frequency. References: J. Dobaczewski, J. Dudek, Comput. Phys. Commun. 102 (1997) 166.

  12. Computers in Engineering Teaching.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rushby, N. J.

    This bibliography cites 26 books, papers, and reports dealing with various uses of computers in engineering education; and describes several computer programs available for use in teaching aeronautical, chemical, civil, electrical and electronic, mechanical, and nuclear engineering. Each computer program entry is presented by name, author,…

  13. A stirling engine computer model for performance calculations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tew, R.; Jefferies, K.; Miao, D.

    1978-01-01

    To support the development of the Stirling engine as a possible alternative to the automobile spark-ignition engine, the thermodynamic characteristics of the Stirling engine were analyzed and modeled on a computer. The modeling techniques used are presented. The performance of an existing rhombic-drive Stirling engine was simulated by use of this computer program, and some typical results are presented. Engine tests are planned in order to evaluate this model.

  14. An automated procedure for developing hybrid computer simulations of turbofan engines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Szuch, J. R.; Krosel, S. M.

    1980-01-01

    A systematic, computer-aided, self-documenting methodology for developing hybrid computer simulations of turbofan engines is presented. The methodology makes use of a host program that can run on a large digital computer and a machine-dependent target (hybrid) program. The host program performs all of the calculations and date manipulations needed to transform user-supplied engine design information to a form suitable for the hybrid computer. The host program also trims the self contained engine model to match specified design point information. A test case is described and comparisons between hybrid simulation and specified engine performance data are presented.

  15. Optimization of image processing algorithms on mobile platforms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Poudel, Pramod; Shirvaikar, Mukul

    2011-03-01

    This work presents a technique to optimize popular image processing algorithms on mobile platforms such as cell phones, net-books and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The increasing demand for video applications like context-aware computing on mobile embedded systems requires the use of computationally intensive image processing algorithms. The system engineer has a mandate to optimize them so as to meet real-time deadlines. A methodology to take advantage of the asymmetric dual-core processor, which includes an ARM and a DSP core supported by shared memory, is presented with implementation details. The target platform chosen is the popular OMAP 3530 processor for embedded media systems. It has an asymmetric dual-core architecture with an ARM Cortex-A8 and a TMS320C64x Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The development platform was the BeagleBoard with 256 MB of NAND RAM and 256 MB SDRAM memory. The basic image correlation algorithm is chosen for benchmarking as it finds widespread application for various template matching tasks such as face-recognition. The basic algorithm prototypes conform to OpenCV, a popular computer vision library. OpenCV algorithms can be easily ported to the ARM core which runs a popular operating system such as Linux or Windows CE. However, the DSP is architecturally more efficient at handling DFT algorithms. The algorithms are tested on a variety of images and performance results are presented measuring the speedup obtained due to dual-core implementation. A major advantage of this approach is that it allows the ARM processor to perform important real-time tasks, while the DSP addresses performance-hungry algorithms.

  16. Domain engineering of the metastable domains in the 4f-uniaxial-ferromagnet CeRu2Ga2B

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wulferding, D.; Kim, H.; Yang, I.; Jeong, J.; Barros, K.; Kato, Y.; Martin, I.; Ayala-Valenzuela, O. E.; Lee, M.; Choi, H. C.; Ronning, F.; Civale, L.; Baumbach, R. E.; Bauer, E. D.; Thompson, J. D.; Movshovich, R.; Kim, Jeehoon

    2017-04-01

    In search of novel, improved materials for magnetic data storage and spintronic devices, compounds that allow a tailoring of magnetic domain shapes and sizes are essential. Good candidates are materials with intrinsic anisotropies or competing interactions, as they are prone to host various domain phases that can be easily and precisely selected by external tuning parameters such as temperature and magnetic field. Here, we utilize vector magnetic fields to visualize directly the magnetic anisotropy in the uniaxial ferromagnet CeRu2Ga2B. We demonstrate a feasible control both globally and locally of domain shapes and sizes by the external field as well as a smooth transition from single stripe to bubble domains, which opens the door to future applications based on magnetic domain tailoring.

  17. Domain engineering of the metastable domains in the 4f-uniaxial-ferromagnet CeRu 2Ga 2B

    DOE PAGES

    Wulferding, Dirk; Kim, Hoon; Yang, Ilkyu; ...

    2017-04-10

    In search of novel, improved materials for magnetic data storage and spintronic devices, compounds that allow a tailoring of magnetic domain shapes and sizes are essential. Good candidates are materials with intrinsic anisotropies or competing interactions, as they are prone to host various domain phases that can be easily and precisely selected by external tuning parameters such as temperature and magnetic field. Here, we utilize vector magnetic fields to visualize directly the magnetic anisotropy in the uniaxial ferromagnet CeRu 2Ga 2B. We demonstrate a feasible control both globally and locally of domain shapes and sizes by the external field asmore » well as a smooth transition from single stripe to bubble domains, which opens the door to future applications based on magnetic domain tailoring.« less

  18. Reassessing the English Course Offered to Computer Engineering Students at the National School of Applied Sciences of Al-Hoceima in Morocco: An Action Research Project

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dahbi, M.

    2015-01-01

    In computer engineering education, specific English language practices are needed to enable computer engineering students to succeed in professional settings. This study was conducted for two purposes. First, it aimed at investigating to what extent the English courses offered to computer engineering students at the National School of Applied…

  19. Evaluation of Cumulative Ecosystem Response to Restoration Projects in the Lower Columbia River and Estuary, 2010

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Johnson, Gary E.; Diefenderfer, Heida L.; Thom, Ronald M.

    This is the seventh and final annual report of a project (2004–2010) addressing evaluation of the cumulative effects of habitat restoration actions in the 235-km-long lower Columbia River and estuary. The project, called the Cumulative Effects (CE) study, was conducted for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District by a collaboration of research agencies led by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. We achieved the primary goal of the CE study to develop a methodology to evaluate the cumulative effects of habitat actions in the Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program. We delivered 1) standard monitoring protocols and methods to prioritizemore » monitoring activities; 2) the theoretical and empirical basis for a CE methodology using levels-of-evidence; 3) evaluations of cumulative effects using ecological relationships, geo-referenced data, hydrodynamic modeling, and meta-analyses; and 4) an adaptive management process to coordinate and coalesce restoration efforts in the LCRE. A solid foundation has been laid for future comprehensive evaluations of progress made by the Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program to understand, conserve, and restore ecosystems in the lower Columbia River and estuary.« less

  20. Job Prospects for Computer Engineers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Basta, Nicholas

    1988-01-01

    Discusses the computer engineering industry in the United States. Recounts recent shifts in the computer industry and notes that despite foreign competition, the industry offers graduating computer engineers ample opportunities for employment. Claims that skill and technical knowledge are the most important assets for getting a job. (TW)

  1. Differential conductance and defect states in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn 5

    DOE PAGES

    John S. Van Dyke; Davis, James C.; Morr, Dirk K.

    2016-01-22

    We demonstrate that the electronic band structure extracted from quasiparticle interference spectroscopy [Nat. Phys. 9, 468 (2013)] and the theoretically computed form of the superconducting gaps [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 111, 11663 (2014)] can be used to understand the dI/dV line shape measured in the normal and superconducting state of CeCoIn5 [Nat. Phys. 9, 474 (2013)]. In particular, the dI/dV line shape, and the spatial structure of defect-induced impurity states, reflects the existence of multiple superconducting gaps of d x2–y2 symmetry. As a result, these results strongly support a recently proposed microscopic origin of the unconventional superconducting state.

  2. Collaborative human-machine analysis using a controlled natural language

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mott, David H.; Shemanski, Donald R.; Giammanco, Cheryl; Braines, Dave

    2015-05-01

    A key aspect of an analyst's task in providing relevant information from data is the reasoning about the implications of that data, in order to build a picture of the real world situation. This requires human cognition, based upon domain knowledge about individuals, events and environmental conditions. For a computer system to collaborate with an analyst, it must be capable of following a similar reasoning process to that of the analyst. We describe ITA Controlled English (CE), a subset of English to represent analyst's domain knowledge and reasoning, in a form that it is understandable by both analyst and machine. CE can be used to express domain rules, background data, assumptions and inferred conclusions, thus supporting human-machine interaction. A CE reasoning and modeling system can perform inferences from the data and provide the user with conclusions together with their rationale. We present a logical problem called the "Analysis Game", used for training analysts, which presents "analytic pitfalls" inherent in many problems. We explore an iterative approach to its representation in CE, where a person can develop an understanding of the problem solution by incremental construction of relevant concepts and rules. We discuss how such interactions might occur, and propose that such techniques could lead to better collaborative tools to assist the analyst and avoid the "pitfalls".

  3. A combined experimental and computational study of water-gas shift reaction over rod-shaped Ce 0.75 M 0.25O 2 (M=Ti, Zr, and Mn) supported Cu catalysts

    DOE PAGES

    Ren, Zhibo; Peng, Fei; Chen, Biaohua; ...

    2017-11-02

    Water-gas shift (WGS) reaction over a series of ceria-based mixed oxides supported Cu catalysts was investigated using a combined experimental and theoretical method. The mixed rod-shaped Ce 0.75M 0.25O 2 (M = Ti 4+, Zr 4+, Mn 4+) solid solutions, which majorly expose the (110) and (100) facets, are synthesized by hydrothermal method and used to prepare supported Cu catalysts. We found that the Cu/Ce0.75Ti 0.25O 2 (Cu-CT) exhibits the highest CO conversion in the temperature range of 150-250 °C among all supported Cu catalysts. This is mainly attributed to (i) good dispersion of Cu; (ii) largest amount of moderatemore » copper oxide; and (iii) strongest Cu-support interaction of Cu-CT. And compared to other mixed metals, periodic density functional theory calculations performed, this work further suggest that the introduction of Ti into CeO 2 not only promotes oxygen vacancy formation and CO adsorption, but also facilitates the carboxyl (COOH) formation at the interface of the Cu cluster and the support, which leads to the enhanced catalytic activity of the Cu-CT toward WGS reaction.« less

  4. Traditional Engineering Graphics versus Computer-Aided Drafting: A View from Academe.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Foster, Robert J.

    1987-01-01

    Argues for a legitimate role of manually expressed engineering graphics within engineering education as a needed support for computer-assisted drafting work. Discusses what and how students should learn as well as trends in engineering graphics education. Compares and contrasts manual and computer drafting methods. (CW)

  5. Project-Based Teaching-Learning Computer-Aided Engineering Tools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Simoes, J. A.; Relvas, C.; Moreira, R.

    2004-01-01

    Computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided analysis, reverse engineering and rapid prototyping are tools that play an important key role within product design. These are areas of technical knowledge that must be part of engineering and industrial design courses' curricula. This paper describes our teaching experience of…

  6. Teaching Engineering Design Using Computer Workstations.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hodgson, J. M.

    1988-01-01

    Explains the use of computer workstations in Electronic Engineering and in Control and Computer Engineering. Provides an introduction; initial teaching exercises at the first year, second, and third year design, research and development; and conclusions. (YP)

  7. 78 FR 52224 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-22

    ... Trader Continuing Education Program (S501) is a computer-based education program developed by many of the... Continuing Education Program, which is developed and maintained by the Securities Industry Regulatory Council... change will authorize the Exchange to administer different CE programs to differently registered...

  8. 33 CFR 148.8 - How are certifying entities designated and used for purposes of this subchapter?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... be associated with the CE's duties for the specific project; (7) In-house availability of, or access to, appropriate technology such as computer modeling programs and hardware or testing materials and...-based structures and project-related structures, systems, and equipment; (6) Technical capabilities...

  9. 33 CFR 148.8 - How are certifying entities designated and used for purposes of this subchapter?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... be associated with the CE's duties for the specific project; (7) In-house availability of, or access to, appropriate technology such as computer modeling programs and hardware or testing materials and...-based structures and project-related structures, systems, and equipment; (6) Technical capabilities...

  10. Transactions of the Army Conference on Applied Mathematics and Computing (8th) Held in Ithaca, New York on 19-22 June 1990

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-02-01

    Shamos, M I , "Computational Geometry", Ph.D Thesis , Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven CT, 1978. [53] Steiglitz, K., An...431) whose real and imaginary parts are given by 222 mj cos OmJ + Az -mL cos 2 ML + MS Cos 2MS (432) mj sinO 0M cose OM = L sin aML cos ML + m S sin 9...Aequationes Math. 14, 1976, 271-291. 5. Greenwell, C.E., Finite element methods for partial integro-differential equations, Ph.D. Thesis , University of

  11. Engineering Review Information System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Grems, III, Edward G. (Inventor); Henze, James E. (Inventor); Bixby, Jonathan A. (Inventor); Roberts, Mark (Inventor); Mann, Thomas (Inventor)

    2015-01-01

    A disciplinal engineering review computer information system and method by defining a database of disciplinal engineering review process entities for an enterprise engineering program, opening a computer supported engineering item based upon the defined disciplinal engineering review process entities, managing a review of the opened engineering item according to the defined disciplinal engineering review process entities, and closing the opened engineering item according to the opened engineering item review.

  12. Computer program for a four-cylinder-Stirling-engine controls simulation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Daniels, C. J.; Lorenzo, C. F.

    1982-01-01

    A four cylinder Stirling engine, transient engine simulation computer program is presented. The program is intended for controls analysis. The associated engine model was simplified to shorten computer calculation time. The model includes engine mechanical drive dynamics and vehicle load effects. The computer program also includes subroutines that allow: (1) acceleration of the engine by addition of hydrogen to the system, and (2) braking of the engine by short circuiting of the working spaces. Subroutines to calculate degraded engine performance (e.g., due to piston ring and piston rod leakage) are provided. Input data required to run the program are described and flow charts are provided. The program is modular to allow easy modification of individual routines. Examples of steady state and transient results are presented.

  13. Muon flux measurements at the davis campus of the sanford underground research facility with the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR veto system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abgrall, N.; Aguayo, E.; Avignone, F. T.; Barabash, A. S.; Bertrand, F. E.; Bradley, A. W.; Brudanin, V.; Busch, M.; Buuck, M.; Byram, D.; Caldwell, A. S.; Chan, Y.-D.; Christofferson, C. D.; Chu, P.-H.; Cuesta, C.; Detwiler, J. A.; Dunagan, C.; Efremenko, Yu.; Ejiri, H.; Elliott, S. R.; Galindo-Uribarri, A.; Gilliss, T.; Giovanetti, G. K.; Goett, J.; Green, M. P.; Gruszko, J.; Guinn, I. S.; Guiseppe, V. E.; Henning, R.; Hoppe, E. W.; Howard, S.; Howe, M. A.; Jasinski, B. R.; Keeter, K. J.; Kidd, M. F.; Konovalov, S. I.; Kouzes, R. T.; LaFerriere, B. D.; Leon, J.; Lopez, A. M.; MacMullin, J.; Martin, R. D.; Massarczyk, R.; Meijer, S. J.; Mertens, S.; Orrell, J. L.; O'Shaughnessy, C.; Overman, N. R.; Poon, A. W. P.; Radford, D. C.; Rager, J.; Rielage, K.; Robertson, R. G. H.; Romero-Romero, E.; Ronquest, M. C.; Schmitt, C.; Shanks, B.; Shirchenko, M.; Snyder, N.; Suriano, A. M.; Tedeschi, D.; Trimble, J. E.; Varner, R. L.; Vasilyev, S.; Vetter, K.; Vorren, K.; White, B. R.; Wilkerson, J. F.; Wiseman, C.; Xu, W.; Yakushev, E.; Yu, C.-H.; Yumatov, V.; Zhitnikov, I.

    2017-07-01

    We report the first measurement of the total muon flux underground at the Davis Campus of the Sanford Underground Research Facility at the 4850 ft level. Measurements were performed using the MAJORANADEMONSTRATOR muon veto system arranged in two different configurations. The measured total flux is (5.31 ± 0.17) ×10-9 μ /s/cm2. Demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 count/(ROI-t-y)in the 4-keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039-keV Q-value for 76Ge ββ(0ν) decay. This is required for tonne-scale germanium-based searches that will probe the inverted-ordering neutrino-mass parameter space for the effective Majorana neutrino mass in ββ(0ν) decay. Show technical and engineering scalability toward a tonne-scale instrument. Perform searches for additional physics beyond the Standard Model, such as dark matter and axions. The MAJORANA Collaboration has designed a modular instrument composed of two cryostats built from ultra-pure electroformed copper, with each cryostat capable of housing over 20 kg of HPGe detectors. The MAJORANADEMONSTRATOR contains 30 kg of detectors fabricated from Ge material enriched to 88% in 76Ge and another 15 kg fabricated from natural Ge (7.8% 76Ge). The modular approach allows us to assemble and optimize each cryostat independently, providing a fast deployment with minimal effect on already-operational detectors.Starting from the innermost cavity, the cryostats are surrounded by a compact graded shield composed of an inner layer of electroformed copper, a layer of commercially sourced C10100 copper, high-purity lead, an active muon veto, borated polyethylene, and pure polyethylene shielding. The cryostats, copper, and lead shielding are enclosed in a radon exclusion box and rest on an over-floor table that has openings for the active muon veto and polyethylene shielding panels situated below the detector. The entire experiment is located in a clean room at the 4850 ft level of SURF. A high-level summary of shield components is shown in Fig. 1.A large fraction of the plastic scintillator panels comprising the active muon-veto system were operated in different configurations at the experimental site during Ge detector constructions and commissioning. We used the resulting data to measure the total muon flux at the Davis Campus at SURF for the first time.

  14. Erosion Control at TRESTLE. An Engineering Study, CE 551.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-05-01

    Stabilenka is a polyester fabric. This polymer T40 was specifically selected because its inherent fiber properties make it highly conducive to 50...of prewet ~water be varied up to approximately 0.1 gal. per so. yd. The prewet water should be applied before the fiber glass reinforcing in one...the second application) with the fiber glass reinforcing placed between applications. All these test sections should be photographed monthly to

  15. Data Collection and Management with ENSITE HUB: ENSITE HUB Version 1.0

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-08-01

    Model (GGDM) standards. The Army Geospatial Enterprise (AGE) is where the standardized geospatial information is collected, managed , ana- lyzed...acquisition information management . (http://asc.army.mil/web/organization) ERDC/CERL SR-17-14 6 • Static feature classes with a yearly vintage must...ER D C/ CE RL S R- 17 -1 4 Engineer Site Identification for the Tactical Environment (ENSITE) Data Collection and Management with ENSITE

  16. Instrumentation Needs of Academic Departments of Chemistry: A Survey Study. Report of a Joint Task Force of the Committee on Science and Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

    A questionnaire was mailed to 50 major chemistry departments, 112 smaller chemistry departments, and 25 chemical engineering (CE) departments. The survey (included in an appendix) consists of a series of questions on two broad subjects--the current inventory at the surveyed institutions and the needs for instrumentation. Responses were received…

  17. AGARD/SMP Review Damage Tolerance for Engine Structures. 2. Defects and Quantitative Materials Behaviour

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-10-01

    TURBISTAN). En ce qui concerne les materiaux pour aubes de turbine la question reste ouverte. La caracterisation des materiaux pour... caracterisation mecanique. Face aux couts des caracterisations et qualifications de materiaux pour disques de lurbomachines, il importe de tenter...de concentrer ses propres forces : une solution possible est de constituer des plans standard de caracterisation . Federer au sein d’un groupe de

  18. Modeling discharge, temperature, and water quality in the Tualatin River, Oregon

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Rounds, Stewart A.; Wood, Tamara M.; Lynch, Dennis D.

    1999-01-01

    The discharge, water temperature, and water quality of the Tualatin River in northwestern Oregon was simulated with CE-QUAL-W2, a two-dimensional, laterally averaged model developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The model was calibrated for May through October periods of 1991, 1992, and 1993. Nine hypothetical scenarios were tested with the model to provide insight for river managers and regulators.

  19. High Frequency Analog LSI Development.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-11-12

    made to incorporate more optimal values through appropriate series or parallel connection of the four capacitors embedded on chip. The use of SPICE-2...collector of Q4 to about 50Q with some inductive reactance at the output. An external capacitor in series with the chip output serves as a DC block...by Under authority of CE Holland, Head CD Pierson, Jr, Head Advanced Applications Electronics Engineering Division and Sciences Department / f

  20. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of cerium dioxide nanoparticles immobilized on the surface of silica nanoparticles in rat experimental pneumonia.

    PubMed

    Serebrovska, Z; Swanson, R J; Portnichenko, V; Shysh, A; Pavlovich, S; Tumanovska, L; Dorovskych, A; Lysenko, V; Tertykh, V; Bolbukh, Y; Dosenko, V

    2017-08-01

    A massage with the potent counter-inflammatory material, cerium dioxide nanoparticles, is promising and the antioxidant properties of CeO 2 are considered the main, if not the only, mechanism of this action. Nevertheless, the elimination of ceria nano-particles from the organism is very slow and there is a strong concern for toxic effect of ceria due to its accumulation. To overcome this problem, we engineered a combined material in which cerium nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of silica nanoparticles (CeO 2 NP), which is shown to be easily removed from an organism and could be used as carriers for nano-ceria. In our study particle size was 220±5nm, Zeta-potential -4.5mV (in water), surface charge density -17.22μC/cm 2 (at pH 7). Thirty-six male Wistar rats, 5 months old and 250-290g were divided into four groups: 1) control; 2) CeO 2 NP treatment; 3) experimental pneumonia (i/p LPS injection, 1mg/kg); and 4) experimental pneumonia treated with CeO 2 NP (4 times during the study in dosage of 0.6mg/kg with an orogastric catheter). Gas exchange and pulmonary ventilation were measured four times: 0, 1, 3 and 24h after LPS injection in both untreated and CeO 2 NP-treated animals. The mRNA of TNF-α, Il-6, and CxCL2 were determined by RT-PCR. ROS-generation in blood plasma and lung tissue homogenates were measured by means of lucigenin- and luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. Endotoxemia in the acute phase was associated with: (1) pathological changes in lung morphology; (2) increase of ROS generation; (3) enhanced expression of CxCL2; and (4) a gradual decrease of VO 2 and V E . CeO2 NP treatment of intact animals did not make any changes in all studied parameters except for a significant augmentation of VO 2 and V E. CeO 2 NP treatment of rats with pneumonia created positive changes in diminishing lung tissue injury, decreasing ROS generation in blood and lung tissue and decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (TNF-α, Il-6 and CxCL2). Oxygen consumption in this group was increased compared to the LPS pneumonia group. In our study we have shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of CeO 2 NP. In addition, this paper is the first to report that CeO 2 NP stimulates oxygen consumption in both healthy rats, and rats with pneumonia. We propose the key in understanding the mechanisms behind the phenomena lies in the property of CeO 2 NP to scavenge ROS and the influence of this potent antioxidant on mitochondrial function. The study of biodistribution and elimination of СеО 2 NP is the purpose of our ongoing study. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  1. Computational fluid dynamics: An engineering tool?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Anderson, J. D., Jr.

    1982-06-01

    Computational fluid dynamics in general, and time dependent finite difference techniques in particular, are examined from the point of view of direct engineering applications. Examples are given of the supersonic blunt body problem and gasdynamic laser calculations, where such techniques are clearly engineering tools. In addition, Navier-Stokes calculations of chemical laser flows are discussed as an example of a near engineering tool. Finally, calculations of the flowfield in a reciprocating internal combustion engine are offered as a promising future engineering application of computational fluid dynamics.

  2. Applications of hybrid and digital computation methods in aerospace-related sciences and engineering. [problem solving methods at the University of Houston

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Huang, C. J.; Motard, R. L.

    1978-01-01

    The computing equipment in the engineering systems simulation laboratory of the Houston University Cullen College of Engineering is described and its advantages are summarized. The application of computer techniques in aerospace-related research psychology and in chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering is described in abstracts of 84 individual projects and in reprints of published reports. Research supports programs in acoustics, energy technology, systems engineering, and environment management as well as aerospace engineering.

  3. KID Project: an internet-based digital video atlas of capsule endoscopy for research purposes

    PubMed Central

    Koulaouzidis, Anastasios; Iakovidis, Dimitris K.; Yung, Diana E.; Rondonotti, Emanuele; Kopylov, Uri; Plevris, John N.; Toth, Ervin; Eliakim, Abraham; Wurm Johansson, Gabrielle; Marlicz, Wojciech; Mavrogenis, Georgios; Nemeth, Artur; Thorlacius, Henrik; Tontini, Gian Eugenio

    2017-01-01

    Background and aims  Capsule endoscopy (CE) has revolutionized small-bowel (SB) investigation. Computational methods can enhance diagnostic yield (DY); however, incorporating machine learning algorithms (MLAs) into CE reading is difficult as large amounts of image annotations are required for training. Current databases lack graphic annotations of pathologies and cannot be used. A novel database, KID, aims to provide a reference for research and development of medical decision support systems (MDSS) for CE. Methods  Open-source software was used for the KID database. Clinicians contribute anonymized, annotated CE images and videos. Graphic annotations are supported by an open-access annotation tool (Ratsnake). We detail an experiment based on the KID database, examining differences in SB lesion measurement between human readers and a MLA. The Jaccard Index (JI) was used to evaluate similarity between annotations by the MLA and human readers. Results  The MLA performed best in measuring lymphangiectasias with a JI of 81 ± 6 %. The other lesion types were: angioectasias (JI 64 ± 11 %), aphthae (JI 64 ± 8 %), chylous cysts (JI 70 ± 14 %), polypoid lesions (JI 75 ± 21 %), and ulcers (JI 56 ± 9 %). Conclusion  MLA can perform as well as human readers in the measurement of SB angioectasias in white light (WL). Automated lesion measurement is therefore feasible. KID is currently the only open-source CE database developed specifically to aid development of MDSS. Our experiment demonstrates this potential. PMID:28580415

  4. International core curriculum for capsule endoscopy training courses.

    PubMed

    Fernandez-Urien, Ignacio; Panter, Simon; Carretero, Cristina; Davison, Carolyn; Dray, Xavier; Fedorov, Evgeny; Makins, Richard; Mascarenhas, Miguel; McAlindon, Mark; McNamara, Deirdre; Palmer, Hansa; Rey, Jean Francoise; Saurin, Jean Christophe; Seitz, Uwe; Spada, Cristiano; Toth, Ervin; Wiedbrauck, Felix; Keuchel, Martin

    2017-06-01

    Capsule endoscopy (CE) has become a first-line noninvasive tool for visualisation of the small bowel (SB) and is being increasingly used for investigation of the colon. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines have specified requirements for the clinical applications of CE. However, there are no standardized recommendations yet for CE training courses in Europe. The following suggestions in this curriculum are based on the experience of European CE training courses directors. It is suggested that 12 hours be dedicated for either a small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) or a colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) course with 4 hours for an introductory CCE course delivered in conjunction with SBCE courses. SBCE courses should include state-of-the-art lectures on indications, contraindications, complications, patient management and hardware and software use. Procedural issues require approximately 2 hours. For CCE courses 2.5 hours for theoretical lessons and 3.5 hours for procedural issued are considered appropriate. Hands-on training on reading and interpretation of CE cases using a personal computer (PC) for 1 or 2 delegates is recommended for both SBCE and CCE courses. A total of 6 hours hands-on session- time should be allocated. Cases in a SBCE course should cover SB bleeding, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), tumors and variants of normal and cases with various types of polyps covered in CCE courses. Standardization of the description of findings and generation of high-quality reports should be essential parts of the training. Courses should be followed by an assessment of trainees' skills in order to certify readers' competency.

  5. International core curriculum for capsule endoscopy training courses

    PubMed Central

    Fernandez-Urien, Ignacio; Panter, Simon; Carretero, Cristina; Davison, Carolyn; Dray, Xavier; Fedorov, Evgeny; Makins, Richard; Mascarenhas, Miguel; McAlindon, Mark; McNamara, Deirdre; Palmer, Hansa; Rey, Jean Francoise; Saurin, Jean Christophe; Seitz, Uwe; Spada, Cristiano; Toth, Ervin; Wiedbrauck, Felix; Keuchel, Martin

    2017-01-01

    Capsule endoscopy (CE) has become a first-line noninvasive tool for visualisation of the small bowel (SB) and is being increasingly used for investigation of the colon. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines have specified requirements for the clinical applications of CE. However, there are no standardized recommendations yet for CE training courses in Europe. The following suggestions in this curriculum are based on the experience of European CE training courses directors. It is suggested that 12 hours be dedicated for either a small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) or a colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) course with 4 hours for an introductory CCE course delivered in conjunction with SBCE courses. SBCE courses should include state-of-the-art lectures on indications, contraindications, complications, patient management and hardware and software use. Procedural issues require approximately 2 hours. For CCE courses 2.5 hours for theoretical lessons and 3.5 hours for procedural issued are considered appropriate. Hands-on training on reading and interpretation of CE cases using a personal computer (PC) for 1 or 2 delegates is recommended for both SBCE and CCE courses. A total of 6 hours hands-on session- time should be allocated. Cases in a SBCE course should cover SB bleeding, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), tumors and variants of normal and cases with various types of polyps covered in CCE courses. Standardization of the description of findings and generation of high-quality reports should be essential parts of the training. Courses should be followed by an assessment of traineesʼ skills in order to certify readers’ competency. PMID:28596986

  6. Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache Concurrent With Cervical Stenosis by Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion.

    PubMed

    Liu, Hong; Ploumis, Avraam; Wang, Shijun; Li, Chunde; Li, Hong

    2017-10-01

    Retrospective study. To report the efficacy of anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery as treatment method for cervicogenic headache (CeH). The exact diagnostic criteria and optimal treatment of CeH is still under investigation. A total of 34 consecutive patients (mean age 55.8 y) with CeH (in addition to cervical stenosis symptomatology) resistant to nonoperative treatment were treated by anterior cervical decompression and fusion from 1 up to 3 levels and were followed for at least 1 year. Clinical visual analog pain scale for headache, patient satisfaction index as well as radiographic examinations (flexion-extension radiographs and, when diagnosis of fusion status was uncertain, computed tomography) were documented for all patients at regular intervals. Statistical comparisons of outcome measures between different time points of examinations were performed. All patients reported relief of their CeH with mean (range) visual analog pain scale scores as 8.1 (3-9), 2.4 (0-4), and 3.1 (0-5) preoperatively, at 2 months postoperatively, and at the final follow-up, respectively. There was a significant improvement (P<0.001) of visual analog pain scale score between before surgery and at 2 months postoperatively or at the last follow-up. Thirty patients (88%) reported satisfied with their treatment, whereas 4 patients (12%) were not satisfied with surgery. No major surgical complication was seen and only 1 patient had symptomless pseudoarthrosis. CeH when associated with cervical spinal stenosis of the subaxial spine can improve when stenosis is treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

  7. In-vivo Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Using Gamma Stimulated Emission Computed Tomography

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-04-01

    2006. [9] Floyd CE, Howell CR, Harrawood BP, Crowell AS, Kapadia AJ, Macri R, Xia JQ, Pedroni R, Bowsher J, Kiser MR, Tourassi GD, Tornow W , and...spin-sequence 0-1-2), with emitted gamma-ray energy 3448keV, 2601keV, 2657.562keV. In our simulation, w take tw m jor de-excitation parts into... Walter R, "Neutron Stimulated Emission Computed Tomography of Stable Isotopes," Proceedings of SPIE Medical Imaging 2004, vol. 5368, pp. 248-254. 17

  8. Impacts and Opportunities for Engineering in the Era of Cloud Computing Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-01-31

    2012 UNCLASSIFIED 1 of 58 Impacts and Opportunities for Engineering in the Era of Cloud Computing Systems A Report to the U.S. Department...2.1.7 Engineering of Computational Behavior .............................................................18 2.2 How the Cloud Will Impact Systems...58 Executive Summary This report discusses the impact of cloud computing and the broader revolution in computing on systems, on the disciplines of

  9. Transnational Discourses of Knowledge and Learning in Professional Work: Examples from Computer Engineering

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nerland, Monika

    2010-01-01

    Taking a Foucauldian framework as its point of departure, this paper discusses how transnational discourses of knowledge and learning operate in the profession of computer engineering and form a certain logic through which modes of being an engineer are regulated. Both the knowledge domain of computer engineering and its related labour market is…

  10. 76 FR 61118 - Advisory Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Notice of Meeting

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-03

    ... Engineering; Notice of Meeting In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92- 463, as... Computer and Information Science and Engineering (1115). Date and Time: November 1, 2011 from 12 p.m.-5:30... Computer and Information Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite...

  11. An Undergraduate Computer Engineering Option for Electrical Engineering.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC. Commission on Education.

    This report is the result of a study, funded by the National Science Foundation, of a group constituted as the COSINE Task Force on Undergraduate Education in Computer Engineering in 1969. The group was formed in response to the growing demand for education in computer engineering and the limited opportunities for study in this area. Computer…

  12. Automated procedure for developing hybrid computer simulations of turbofan engines. Part 1: General description

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Szuch, J. R.; Krosel, S. M.; Bruton, W. M.

    1982-01-01

    A systematic, computer-aided, self-documenting methodology for developing hybrid computer simulations of turbofan engines is presented. The methodology that is pesented makes use of a host program that can run on a large digital computer and a machine-dependent target (hybrid) program. The host program performs all the calculations and data manipulations that are needed to transform user-supplied engine design information to a form suitable for the hybrid computer. The host program also trims the self-contained engine model to match specified design-point information. Part I contains a general discussion of the methodology, describes a test case, and presents comparisons between hybrid simulation and specified engine performance data. Part II, a companion document, contains documentation, in the form of computer printouts, for the test case.

  13. Genetic evaluation using single-step genomic best linear unbiased predictor in American Angus.

    PubMed

    Lourenco, D A L; Tsuruta, S; Fragomeni, B O; Masuda, Y; Aguilar, I; Legarra, A; Bertrand, J K; Amen, T S; Wang, L; Moser, D W; Misztal, I

    2015-06-01

    Predictive ability of genomic EBV when using single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) in Angus cattle was investigated. Over 6 million records were available on birth weight (BiW) and weaning weight (WW), almost 3.4 million on postweaning gain (PWG), and over 1.3 million on calving ease (CE). Genomic information was available on, at most, 51,883 animals, which included high and low EBV accuracy animals. Traditional EBV was computed by BLUP and genomic EBV by ssGBLUP and indirect prediction based on SNP effects was derived from ssGBLUP; SNP effects were calculated based on the following reference populations: ref_2k (contains top bulls and top cows that had an EBV accuracy for BiW ≥0.85), ref_8k (contains all parents that were genotyped), and ref_33k (contains all genotyped animals born up to 2012). Indirect prediction was obtained as direct genomic value (DGV) or as an index of DGV and parent average (PA). Additionally, runs with ssGBLUP used the inverse of the genomic relationship matrix calculated by an algorithm for proven and young animals (APY) that uses recursions on a small subset of reference animals. An extra reference subset included 3,872 genotyped parents of genotyped animals (ref_4k). Cross-validation was used to assess predictive ability on a validation population of 18,721 animals born in 2013. Computations for growth traits used multiple-trait linear model and, for CE, a bivariate CE-BiW threshold-linear model. With BLUP, predictivities were 0.29, 0.34, 0.23, and 0.12 for BiW, WW, PWG, and CE, respectively. With ssGBLUP and ref_2k, predictivities were 0.34, 0.35, 0.27, and 0.13 for BiW, WW, PWG, and CE, respectively, and with ssGBLUP and ref_33k, predictivities were 0.39, 0.38, 0.29, and 0.13 for BiW, WW, PWG, and CE, respectively. Low predictivity for CE was due to low incidence rate of difficult calving. Indirect predictions with ref_33k were as accurate as with full ssGBLUP. Using the APY and recursions on ref_4k gave 88% gains of full ssGBLUP and using the APY and recursions on ref_8k gave 97% gains of full ssGBLUP. Genomic evaluation in beef cattle with ssGBLUP is feasible while keeping the models (maternal, multiple trait, and threshold) already used in regular BLUP. Gains in predictivity are dependent on the composition of the reference population. Indirect predictions via SNP effects derived from ssGBLUP allow for accurate genomic predictions on young animals, with no advantage of including PA in the index if the reference population is large. With the APY conditioning on about 10,000 reference animals, ssGBLUP is potentially applicable to a large number of genotyped animals without compromising predictive ability.

  14. Computer-Aided Engineering Education at the K.U. Leuven.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Snoeys, R.; Gobin, R.

    1987-01-01

    Describes some recent initiatives and developments in the computer-aided design program in the engineering faculty of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium). Provides a survey of the engineering curriculum, the computer facilities, and the main software packages available. (TW)

  15. Dual compile strategy for parallel heterogeneous execution

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Smith, Tyler Barratt; Perry, James Thomas

    2012-06-01

    The purpose of the Dual Compile Strategy is to increase our trust in the Compute Engine during its execution of instructions. This is accomplished by introducing a heterogeneous Monitor Engine that checks the execution of the Compute Engine. This leads to the production of a second and custom set of instructions designed for monitoring the execution of the Compute Engine at runtime. This use of multiple engines differs from redundancy in that one engine is working on the application while the other engine is monitoring and checking in parallel instead of both applications (and engines) performing the same work atmore » the same time.« less

  16. Evaluation of (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT for the detection of duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in patients with MEN1.

    PubMed

    Morgat, Clément; Vélayoudom-Céphise, Fritz-Line; Schwartz, Paul; Guyot, Martine; Gaye, Delphine; Vimont, Delphine; Schulz, Jürgen; Mazère, Joachim; Nunes, Marie-Laure; Smith, Denis; Hindié, Elif; Fernandez, Philippe; Tabarin, Antoine

    2016-07-01

    Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with (111)In-pentetreotide (SRS) is used to detect duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (dpNETs) in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). However, SRS has limited sensitivity for this purpose. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC has a higher rate of sporadic dpNETs detection than SRS but there is little data for dpNETs detection in MEN1. To compare the performances of (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT, SRS and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) to diagnose dpNETs in MEN1. Single-institution prospective comparative study Nineteen consecutive MEN1 patients (aged 47 ± 13 years) underwent (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT, SRS, and CE-CT within 2 months in random order. Blinded readings of images were performed separately by experienced physicians. Unblinded analysis of CE-CT, combined with additional magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic-ultrasound, (18)F-2-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT or histopathology results served as reference standard for dpNETs diagnosis. The sensitivity of (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT, SRS, and CE-CT was 76, 20, and 60 %, respectively (p < 0.0001). All the true-positive lesions detected by SRS were also depicted on (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT. (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT detected lesions of smaller size than SRS (10.7 ± 7.6 and 15.2 ± 5.9 mm, respectively, p < 0.03). False negatives of (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT included small dpNETs (<10 mm) and (18)F-FDG PET/CT positive aggressive dpNETs. No false positives were recorded. In addition, whole-body mapping with (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT identified extra-abdominal MEN1-related tumors including one neuroendocrine thymic carcinoma identified by the three imaging procedures, one bronchial carcinoid undetected by CE-CT and three meningiomas undetected by SRS. Owing to higher diagnostic performance, (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT (or alternative (68)Ga-labeled somatostatin analogues) should replace (111)In-pentetreotide in the investigation of MEN1 patients.

  17. In Situ Spectroscopy and Mechanistic Insights into CO Oxidation on Transition-Metal-Substituted Ceria Nanoparticles

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Elias, Joseph S.; Stoerzinger, Kelsey A.; Hong, Wesley T.

    Herein we investigate the reaction intermediates formed during CO oxidation on copper-substituted ceria nanoparticles (Cu0.1Ce0.9O2–x) by means of in situ spectroscopic techniques and identify an activity descriptor that rationalizes a trend with other metal substitutes (M0.1Ce0.9O2–x, M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni). In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) performed under catalytic conditions demonstrates that O2– transfer occurs at dispersed copper centers, which are redox active during catalysis. In situ XAS reveals a dramatic reduction at the copper centers that is fully reversible under catalytic conditions, which rationalizes the high catalytic activity of Cu0.1Ce0.9O2–x. Ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) andmore » in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) show that CO can be oxidized to CO32– in the absence of O2. We find that CO32– desorbs as CO2 only under oxygen-rich conditions when the oxygen vacancy is filled by the dissociative adsorption of O2. These data, along with kinetic analyses, lend support to a mechanism in which the breaking of copper–oxygen bonds is rate-determining under oxygen-rich conditions, while refilling the resulting oxygen vacancy is rate-determining under oxygen-lean conditions. On the basis of these observations and density functional calculations, we introduce the computed oxygen vacancy formation energy (Evac) as an activity descriptor for substituted ceria materials and demonstrate that Evac successfully rationalizes the trend in the activities of M0.1Ce0.9O2–x catalysts that spans three orders of magnitude. The applicability of Evac as a useful design descriptor is demonstrated by the catalytic performance of the ternary oxide Cu0.1La0.1Ce0.8O2–x, which has an apparent activation energy rivaling those of state-of-the-art Au/TiO2 materials. Thus, we suggest that cost-effective catalysts for CO oxidation can be rationally designed by judicious choice of substituting metal through the computational screening of Evac.« less

  18. 2-Step Maximum Likelihood Channel Estimation for Multicode DS-CDMA with Frequency-Domain Equalization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kojima, Yohei; Takeda, Kazuaki; Adachi, Fumiyuki

    Frequency-domain equalization (FDE) based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion can provide better downlink bit error rate (BER) performance of direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) than the conventional rake combining in a frequency-selective fading channel. FDE requires accurate channel estimation. In this paper, we propose a new 2-step maximum likelihood channel estimation (MLCE) for DS-CDMA with FDE in a very slow frequency-selective fading environment. The 1st step uses the conventional pilot-assisted MMSE-CE and the 2nd step carries out the MLCE using decision feedback from the 1st step. The BER performance improvement achieved by 2-step MLCE over pilot assisted MMSE-CE is confirmed by computer simulation.

  19. Clinical utility of capsule endoscopy with flexible spectral imaging color enhancement for diagnosis of small bowel lesions

    PubMed Central

    Sato, Yasushi; Sagawa, Tamotsu; Hirakawa, Masahiro; Ohnuma, Hiroyuki; Osuga, Takahiro; Okagawa, Yutaka; Tamura, Fumito; Horiguchi, Hiroto; Takada, Kohichi; Hayashi, Tsuyoshi; Sato, Tsutomu; Miyanishi, Koji; Takimoto, Rishu; Kobune, Masayoshi; Kato, Junji

    2014-01-01

    Background and study aims: The clinical utility of computed virtual chromoendoscopy with flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE) in capsule endoscopy (CE) remains controversial. To clarify the clinical utility of FICE-enhanced CE in evaluating small bowel lesions, we quantitatively assessed white light (WL), FICE, and blue mode (BM) images and examined the sensitivity of these 3 imaging modes of small-bowel lesions from patients who underwent CE. Methods: The CIELAB color difference (∆E) and visual analogue scales (VAS) were measured in 261 CE images (3 different lesion categories) using WL and FICE set 1, 2, and 3, and BM images, respectively. Three endoscopists reviewed CE videos with WL, 3 FICE mode settings, and BM, and compared the sensitivity and detectability for small intestinal diseases from 50 patients who underwent CE. Results: In the assessment of visibility in the 152 vascular lesion images, the ∆E and VAS of FICE set 1, 2, and BM images were significantly higher than that of WL images. In 88 erosion/ulceration images, the ∆E and VAS of FICE set 1 and 2 images were significantly higher than that of WL images. In 21 tumor images, there were no significant differences in ∆E among these modalities. When analyzed on a per-patient basis, FICE settings 1 and 2 had the highest sensitivity (100 %) and specificity (97.3 – 100 %) for vascular lesions. As for erosive/ulcerative lesions, FICE setting 2 had the highest sensitivity (100 %) and specificity (97.2 %). For tumors or polyps, WL had the highest sensitivity (90.9 %) and specificity (87.1 %). In per-lesion analysis, FICE settings 1 and 2 showed significantly superior detection ability over WL for vascular lesions. In the detection of erosive/ulcerative lesions, FICE setting 2 was significantly superior to WL. In tumor images, there was no significant improvement with any of the settings relative to WL images. Conclusions: FICE is most useful for improving CE image quality and detection in cases of angioectasia and erosion/ulceration of the small intestine. PMID:26135265

  20. microRNA as a Potential Vector for the Propagation of Robustness in Protein Expression and Oscillatory Dynamics within a ceRNA Network

    PubMed Central

    Gérard, Claude; Novák, Béla

    2013-01-01

    microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that are important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. miRNAs can induce thresholds in protein synthesis. Such thresholds in protein output can be also achieved by oligomerization of transcription factors (TF) for the control of gene expression. First, we propose a minimal model for protein expression regulated by miRNA and by oligomerization of TF. We show that miRNA and oligomerization of TF generate a buffer, which increases the robustness of protein output towards molecular noise as well as towards random variation of kinetics parameters. Next, we extend the model by considering that the same miRNA can bind to multiple messenger RNAs, which accounts for the dynamics of a minimal competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) network. The model shows that, through common miRNA regulation, TF can control the expression of all proteins formed by the ceRNA network, even if it drives the expression of only one gene in the network. The model further suggests that the threshold in protein synthesis mediated by the oligomerization of TF can be propagated to the other genes, which can increase the robustness of the expression of all genes in such ceRNA network. Furthermore, we show that a miRNA could increase the time delay of a “Goodwin-like” oscillator model, which may favor the occurrence of oscillations of large amplitude. This result predicts important roles of miRNAs in the control of the molecular mechanisms leading to the emergence of biological rhythms. Moreover, a model for the latter oscillator embedded in a ceRNA network indicates that the oscillatory behavior can be propagated, via the shared miRNA, to all proteins formed by such ceRNA network. Thus, by means of computational models, we show that miRNAs could act as vectors allowing the propagation of robustness in protein synthesis as well as oscillatory behaviors within ceRNA networks. PMID:24376695

  1. Manufacturing engineering: Principles for optimization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koenig, Daniel T.

    Various subjects in the area of manufacturing engineering are addressed. The topics considered include: manufacturing engineering organization concepts and management techniques, factory capacity and loading techniques, capital equipment programs, machine tool and equipment selection and implementation, producibility engineering, methods, planning and work management, and process control engineering in job shops. Also discussed are: maintenance engineering, numerical control of machine tools, fundamentals of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture, computer-aided process planning and data collection, group technology basis for plant layout, environmental control and safety, and the Integrated Productivity Improvement Program.

  2. Scalability in Production System Programs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-01-01

    met this tall, stooping, mostly bald man who glared at me through large glasses . I guess I must have liked being glared at because within a few days, he...yes) < ceill >) {(cell Aid <id> ^modified no) <cell2>) (modify <celll> ^modified no) (remove <ce12>)) (p stage-computation-O (flag compaite-cells

  3. Improving Communicative Competence with "Clickers": Acceptance/Attitudes among Nigerian Primary School Teachers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Agbatogun, Alaba Olaoluwakotansibe

    2014-01-01

    This study examined the predictive power of teachers' perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEU), behavioural intention (BI) to use personal response system (PRS) and computer experience (CE) on teachers' acceptance and attitude towards using PRS in improving communicative competence in the classroom where English is taught as a second…

  4. Learning by gaming - evaluation of an online game for children.

    PubMed

    Lazareck, Lisa J; Farrell, David; Kostkova, Patty; Lecky, Donna M; McNulty, Cliodna A M; Weerasinghe, Dasun

    2010-01-01

    Playing computer games is widely popular among children and teenagers as an entertainment activity; meanwhile, playing computer games also provides a learning opportunity. For example, the rules of the game have to be learned by the player in order to improve his/her performance. Based on that principle, the City eHealth Research Centre (CeRC) developed a web game for 13-15 year olds, whereby the player becomes an investigator who attends the scene of an incident that involves microbes. There are four missions in total, each involving a mystery that the player needs to solve and learning objectives that need to be taught - such as antibiotic resistance and the importance of hygiene. This paper presents the results from a game evaluation that took place between July of 2009, in four UK schools (Glasgow, Gloucester, London), with 129 students; whereby 98% of the students commented positively about playing the game. Subsequently, CeRC has improved the game and developed an interactive educational games portal (www.edugames4all.com) for different age groups of web game enthusiasts.

  5. 3D morphometry using automated aortic segmentation in native MR angiography: an alternative to contrast enhanced MRA?

    PubMed

    Müller-Eschner, Matthias; Müller, Tobias; Biesdorf, Andreas; Wörz, Stefan; Rengier, Fabian; Böckler, Dittmar; Kauczor, Hans-Ulrich; Rohr, Karl; von Tengg-Kobligk, Hendrik

    2014-04-01

    Native-MR angiography (N-MRA) is considered an imaging alternative to contrast enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) for patients with renal insufficiency. Lower intraluminal contrast in N-MRA often leads to failure of the segmentation process in commercial algorithms. This study introduces an in-house 3D model-based segmentation approach used to compare both sequences by automatic 3D lumen segmentation, allowing for evaluation of differences of aortic lumen diameters as well as differences in length comparing both acquisition techniques at every possible location. Sixteen healthy volunteers underwent 1.5-T-MR Angiography (MRA). For each volunteer, two different MR sequences were performed, CE-MRA: gradient echo Turbo FLASH sequence and N-MRA: respiratory-and-cardiac-gated, T2-weighted 3D SSFP. Datasets were segmented using a 3D model-based ellipse-fitting approach with a single seed point placed manually above the celiac trunk. The segmented volumes were manually cropped from left subclavian artery to celiac trunk to avoid error due to side branches. Diameters, volumes and centerline length were computed for intraindividual comparison. For statistical analysis the Wilcoxon-Signed-Ranked-Test was used. Average centerline length obtained based on N-MRA was 239.0±23.4 mm compared to 238.6±23.5 mm for CE-MRA without significant difference (P=0.877). Average maximum diameter obtained based on N-MRA was 25.7±3.3 mm compared to 24.1±3.2 mm for CE-MRA (P<0.001). In agreement with the difference in diameters, volumes obtained based on N-MRA (100.1±35.4 cm(3)) were consistently and significantly larger compared to CE-MRA (89.2±30.0 cm(3)) (P<0.001). 3D morphometry shows highly similar centerline lengths for N-MRA and CE-MRA, but systematically higher diameters and volumes for N-MRA.

  6. 3D morphometry using automated aortic segmentation in native MR angiography: an alternative to contrast enhanced MRA?

    PubMed Central

    Müller-Eschner, Matthias; Müller, Tobias; Biesdorf, Andreas; Wörz, Stefan; Rengier, Fabian; Böckler, Dittmar; Kauczor, Hans-Ulrich; Rohr, Karl

    2014-01-01

    Introduction Native-MR angiography (N-MRA) is considered an imaging alternative to contrast enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) for patients with renal insufficiency. Lower intraluminal contrast in N-MRA often leads to failure of the segmentation process in commercial algorithms. This study introduces an in-house 3D model-based segmentation approach used to compare both sequences by automatic 3D lumen segmentation, allowing for evaluation of differences of aortic lumen diameters as well as differences in length comparing both acquisition techniques at every possible location. Methods and materials Sixteen healthy volunteers underwent 1.5-T-MR Angiography (MRA). For each volunteer, two different MR sequences were performed, CE-MRA: gradient echo Turbo FLASH sequence and N-MRA: respiratory-and-cardiac-gated, T2-weighted 3D SSFP. Datasets were segmented using a 3D model-based ellipse-fitting approach with a single seed point placed manually above the celiac trunk. The segmented volumes were manually cropped from left subclavian artery to celiac trunk to avoid error due to side branches. Diameters, volumes and centerline length were computed for intraindividual comparison. For statistical analysis the Wilcoxon-Signed-Ranked-Test was used. Results Average centerline length obtained based on N-MRA was 239.0±23.4 mm compared to 238.6±23.5 mm for CE-MRA without significant difference (P=0.877). Average maximum diameter obtained based on N-MRA was 25.7±3.3 mm compared to 24.1±3.2 mm for CE-MRA (P<0.001). In agreement with the difference in diameters, volumes obtained based on N-MRA (100.1±35.4 cm3) were consistently and significantly larger compared to CE-MRA (89.2±30.0 cm3) (P<0.001). Conclusions 3D morphometry shows highly similar centerline lengths for N-MRA and CE-MRA, but systematically higher diameters and volumes for N-MRA. PMID:24834406

  7. Efficacy of D-RaCe and ProTaper Universal Retreatment NiTi instruments and hand files in removing gutta-percha from curved root canals - a micro-computed tomography study.

    PubMed

    Rödig, T; Hausdörfer, T; Konietschke, F; Dullin, C; Hahn, W; Hülsmann, M

    2012-06-01

    To compare the efficacy of two rotary NiTi retreatment systems and Hedström files in removing filling material from curved root canals. Curved root canals of 57 extracted teeth were prepared using FlexMaster instruments and filled with gutta-percha and AH Plus. After determination of root canal curvatures and radii in two directions, the teeth were assigned to three identical groups (n = 19). The root fillings were removed with D-RaCe instruments, ProTaper Universal Retreatment instruments or Hedström files. Pre- and postoperative micro-CT imaging was used to assess the percentage of residual filling material as well as the amount of dentine removal. Working time and procedural errors were recorded. Data were analysed using analysis of covariance and analysis of variance procedures. D-RaCe instruments were significantly more effective than ProTaper Universal Retreatment instruments and Hedström files (P < 0.05). Hedström files removed significantly less dentine than the rotary NiTi systems (P < 0.0001). D-RaCe instruments were significantly faster compared to both other groups (P < 0.05). No procedural errors such as instrument fracture, blockage, ledging or perforation were detected in the Hedström group. In the ProTaper group, four instrument fractures and one lateral perforation were observed. Five instrument fractures were recorded for D-RaCe. D-RaCe instruments were associated with significantly less residual filling material than ProTaper Universal Retreatment instruments and hand files. Hedström files removed significantly less dentine than both rotary NiTi systems. Retreatment with rotary NiTi systems resulted in a high incidence of procedural errors. © 2012 International Endodontic Journal.

  8. Early Results of Coronary Endarterectomy Combined with Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Diffused Coronary Artery Disease

    PubMed Central

    Chi, Li-Qun; Zhang, Jian-Qun; Kong, Qing-Yu; Xiao, Wei; Liang, Lin; Chen, Xin-Liang

    2015-01-01

    Background: It is still a challenge for the cardiac surgeons to achieve adequate revascularization for diffused coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary endarterectomy (CE) offers an alternative choice of coronary artery reconstruction and revascularization. In this study, short-term result of CE combined with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was discussed in the treatment for the diffused CAD. Methods: From January 2012 to April 2014, 221 cases of CABG were performed by the same surgeon in our unit. Among these cases, 38 cases of CE + CABG were performed, which was about 17.2% (38/221) of the cohort. All these patients were divided into two groups: CE + CABG group (Group A) and CABG alone group (Group B). All clinical data were compared between the two groups, and postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality were analyzed. The categorical and continuous variables were analyzed by Chi-square test and Student's t-test respectively. Results: Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and peripheral vascular disease were more common in group A. In this cohort, a total of 50 vessels were endarterectomized. Among them, CE was performed on left anterior descending artery in 11 cases, on right coronary artery in 29 cases, on diagonal artery in 3 cases, on intermediate artery in 2 cases, on obtuse marginal artery in 5 cases. There was no hospital mortality in both groups. The intro-aortic balloon pump was required in 3 cases in Group A (3/38), which was more often than that in Group B (3/183). At the time of follow-up, coronary computed tomography angiogram showed all the grafts with CE were patent (50/50). There is no cardio-related mortality in both groups. All these patients were free from coronary re-intervention. Conclusions: Coronary endarterectomy + CABG can offer satisfactory result for patients with diffused CAD in a short-term after the operation. PMID:26021501

  9. Will Computer Engineer Barbie® Impact Young Women's Career Choices?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Martincic, Cynthia J.; Bhatnagar, Neelima

    2012-01-01

    Controversy and fanfare accompanied the announcement in 2010 by Mattel, Inc. of the Barbie® doll's 126th career--computer engineer. Even though women have been and still are in a minority in the information technology (IT) and computer science (CS) fields, enough women voted for the computer engineer as the next career for Barbie® on Mattel's…

  10. Repair Air Conditioning, COC Bldg 2605, First Floor Plan. By ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    Repair Air Conditioning, COC Bldg 2605, First Floor Plan. By Strategic Air Command, Civil Engineering. Drawing no. R-156, sheet no. 2 of 4, 15 August 1968; project no. MAR-125-8;CE-572; file drawer 2605-6. Scale one-eighth inch to one foot. 29x41 inches. pencil on paper 405 - March Air Force Base, Strategic Air Command, Combat Operations Center, 5220 Riverside Drive, Moreno Valley, Riverside County, CA

  11. Energy and Process Optimization Assessment, Fort Stewart, GA

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-04-01

    ER D C/ CE R L TR -0 6 -8 Energy and Process Optimization Assessment Fort Stewart, GA John L. Vavrin, Alexander M. Zhivov, William T...distribution is unlimited. ERDC/CERL TR-06-8 April 2006 Energy and Process Optimization Assessment Fort Stewart, GA John L. Vavrin, Alexander...U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington, DC 20314-1000 Under Work Unit 33143 ERDC/CERL TR-06-8 ii Abstract: An Energy and Process Optimization

  12. Fort Leonard Wood - Building 2101: Interior Character-Defining Features, Inventory and Assessment

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-04-01

    the original wood wain- scot and original wallboard above (Figure 12 and Figure 13), and a large room with the original wood wainscot and original...ER D C/ CE RL S R- 14 -3 Fort Leonard Wood – Building 2101 Interior Character-Defining Features, Inventory and Assessment Co ns tr uc...2014 Fort Leonard Wood – Building 2101 Interior Character-Defining Features, Inventory and Assessment Adam D. Smith Construction Engineering

  13. Air Force Civil Engineer, Volume 9, Number 1, Spring 2001

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2001-01-01

    generated some important lessons learned. The Gulf War was a wakeup call for contingency training. When it began, many in CE had never trained on bare...square foot, corrosion control facility at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Construction is scheduled for comple- tion in early 2002. The facility is...Rhein Main Transition Program. This program, scheduled for completion in 2005, transfers operational capability from Rhein Main AB to Spangdahlem and

  14. An experimental study of interstitial lung tissue classification in HRCT images using ANN and role of cost functions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dash, Jatindra K.; Kale, Mandar; Mukhopadhyay, Sudipta; Khandelwal, Niranjan; Prabhakar, Nidhi; Garg, Mandeep; Kalra, Naveen

    2017-03-01

    In this paper, we investigate the effect of the error criteria used during a training phase of the artificial neural network (ANN) on the accuracy of the classifier for classification of lung tissues affected with Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD). Mean square error (MSE) and the cross-entropy (CE) criteria are chosen being most popular choice in state-of-the-art implementations. The classification experiment performed on the six interstitial lung disease (ILD) patterns viz. Consolidation, Emphysema, Ground Glass Opacity, Micronodules, Fibrosis and Healthy from MedGIFT database. The texture features from an arbitrary region of interest (AROI) are extracted using Gabor filter. Two different neural networks are trained with the scaled conjugate gradient back propagation algorithm with MSE and CE error criteria function respectively for weight updation. Performance is evaluated in terms of average accuracy of these classifiers using 4 fold cross-validation. Each network is trained for five times for each fold with randomly initialized weight vectors and accuracies are computed. Significant improvement in classification accuracy is observed when ANN is trained by using CE (67.27%) as error function compared to MSE (63.60%). Moreover, standard deviation of the classification accuracy for the network trained with CE (6.69) error criteria is found less as compared to network trained with MSE (10.32) criteria.

  15. Effect of side-chain structure of rigid polyimide dispersant on mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube/cyanate ester composite.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Wei; Li, Weifeng; Mu, Yuguang; Chan-Park, Mary B

    2011-05-01

    Three kinds of polymer, polyimide without side-chain (PI), polyimide-graft-glyceryl 4-nonylphenyl ether (PI-GNE), and polyimide-graft-bisphenol A diglyceryl acrylate (PI-BDA), have been synthesized and used to disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and to improve the interfacial bonding between SWNTs and cyanate ester (CE) matrix. Visual observation, UV-vis-near-IR (UV-vis-NIR) spectra, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show that both PI-GNE and PI-BDA are highly effective at dispersing and debundling SWNTs in DMF, whereas PI is less effective. Interaction between SWNTs and PI, PI-GNE or PI-BDA was confirmed by computer simulation and Raman spectra. A series of CE-based composite films reinforced with different loadings of SWNTs, SWNTs/PI, SWNTs/PI-GNE and SWNTs/PI-BDA were prepared by solution casting. It was found that, because of the unique side-chain structure of PI-BDA, SWNTs/PI-BDA disperse better in CE matrix than do SWNTs/PI-GNE, SWNTs/PI, and SWNTs. As a result, SWNTs/PI-BDA/CE composites have the greatest improvement in mechanical properties of the materials tested. These results imply that the choice of side-chain on a dispersant is very important to the dispersion of SWNTs in matrix and the filler/matrix interfacial adhesion, which are two key requirements for achieving effective reinforcement.

  16. Computing and Engineering in Elementary School: The Effect of Year-Long Training on Elementary Teacher Self-Efficacy and Beliefs about Teaching Computing and Engineering

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rich, Peter Jacob; Jones, Brian; Belikov, Olga; Yoshikawa, Emily; Perkins, McKay

    2017-01-01

    STEM, the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is increasingly being promoted in elementary education. However, elementary educators are largely untrained in the 21st century skills of computing (a subset of technology) and engineering. The purpose of this study was to better understand elementary teachers'…

  17. Real-time simulation of the TF30-P-3 turbofan engine using a hybrid computer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Szuch, J. R.; Bruton, W. M.

    1974-01-01

    A real-time, hybrid-computer simulation of the TF30-P-3 turbofan engine was developed. The simulation was primarily analog in nature but used the digital portion of the hybrid computer to perform bivariate function generation associated with the performance of the engine's rotating components. FORTRAN listings and analog patching diagrams are provided. The hybrid simulation was controlled by a digital computer programmed to simulate the engine's standard hydromechanical control. Both steady-state and dynamic data obtained from the digitally controlled engine simulation are presented. Hybrid simulation data are compared with data obtained from a digital simulation provided by the engine manufacturer. The comparisons indicate that the real-time hybrid simulation adequately matches the baseline digital simulation.

  18. Flow of a Gas Turbine Engine Low-Pressure Subsystem Simulated

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Veres, Joseph P.

    1997-01-01

    The NASA Lewis Research Center is managing a task to numerically simulate overnight, on a parallel computing testbed, the aerodynamic flow in the complete low-pressure subsystem (LPS) of a gas turbine engine. The model solves the three-dimensional Navier- Stokes flow equations through all the components within the LPS, as well as the external flow around the engine nacelle. The LPS modeling task is being performed by Allison Engine Company under the Small Engine Technology contract. The large computer simulation was evaluated on networked computer systems using 8, 16, and 32 processors, with the parallel computing efficiency reaching 75 percent when 16 processors were used.

  19. Trajectories of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering Students by Race and Gender

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lord, S. M.; Layton, R. A.; Ohland, M. W.

    2011-01-01

    Electrical engineering (EE) is one of the largest engineering disciplines. Computer engineering (CpE) has a similar curriculum, but different demographics and student outcomes. Using a dataset from universities in the U.S. that includes over 70,000 students who majored in engineering, this paper describes the outcomes for students matriculating in…

  20. Numerical methods for engine-airframe integration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Murthy, S.N.B.; Paynter, G.C.

    1986-01-01

    Various papers on numerical methods for engine-airframe integration are presented. The individual topics considered include: scientific computing environment for the 1980s, overview of prediction of complex turbulent flows, numerical solutions of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations, elements of computational engine/airframe integrations, computational requirements for efficient engine installation, application of CAE and CFD techniques to complete tactical missile design, CFD applications to engine/airframe integration, and application of a second-generation low-order panel methods to powerplant installation studies. Also addressed are: three-dimensional flow analysis of turboprop inlet and nacelle configurations, application of computational methods to the design of large turbofan engine nacelles, comparison ofmore » full potential and Euler solution algorithms for aeropropulsive flow field computations, subsonic/transonic, supersonic nozzle flows and nozzle integration, subsonic/transonic prediction capabilities for nozzle/afterbody configurations, three-dimensional viscous design methodology of supersonic inlet systems for advanced technology aircraft, and a user's technology assessment.« less

  1. Protein engineering and the use of molecular modeling and simulation: the case of heterodimeric Fc engineering.

    PubMed

    Spreter Von Kreudenstein, Thomas; Lario, Paula I; Dixit, Surjit B

    2014-01-01

    Computational and structure guided methods can make significant contributions to the development of solutions for difficult protein engineering problems, including the optimization of next generation of engineered antibodies. In this paper, we describe a contemporary industrial antibody engineering program, based on hypothesis-driven in silico protein optimization method. The foundational concepts and methods of computational protein engineering are discussed, and an example of a computational modeling and structure-guided protein engineering workflow is provided for the design of best-in-class heterodimeric Fc with high purity and favorable biophysical properties. We present the engineering rationale as well as structural and functional characterization data on these engineered designs. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Comparative lung toxicity of engineered nanomaterials utilizing in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches.

    PubMed

    Kim, Yong Ho; Boykin, Elizabeth; Stevens, Tina; Lavrich, Katelyn; Gilmour, M Ian

    2014-11-26

    Although engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are currently regulated either in the context of a new chemical, or as a new use of an existing chemical, hazard assessment is still to a large extent reliant on information from historical toxicity studies of the parent compound, and may not take into account special properties related to the small size and high surface area of ENM. While it is important to properly screen and predict the potential toxicity of ENM, there is also concern that current toxicity tests will require even heavier use of experimental animals, and reliable alternatives should be developed and validated. Here we assessed the comparative respiratory toxicity of ENM in three different methods which employed in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo toxicity testing approaches. Toxicity of five ENM (SiO2 (10), CeO2 (23), CeO2 (88), TiO2 (10), and TiO2 (200); parentheses indicate average ENM diameter in nm) were tested in this study. CD-1 mice were exposed to the ENM by oropharyngeal aspiration at a dose of 100 μg. Mouse lung tissue slices and alveolar macrophages were also exposed to the ENM at concentrations of 22-132 and 3.1-100 μg/mL, respectively. Biomarkers of lung injury and inflammation were assessed at 4 and/or 24 hr post-exposure. Small-sized ENM (SiO2 (10), CeO2 (23), but not TiO2 (10)) significantly elicited pro-inflammatory responses in mice (in vivo), suggesting that the observed toxicity in the lungs was dependent on size and chemical composition. Similarly, SiO2 (10) and/or CeO2 (23) were also more toxic in the lung tissue slices (ex vivo) and alveolar macrophages (in vitro) compared to other ENM. A similar pattern of inflammatory response (e.g., interleukin-6) was observed in both ex vivo and in vitro when a dose metric based on cell surface area (μg/cm(2)), but not culture medium volume (μg/mL) was employed. Exposure to ENM induced acute lung inflammatory effects in a size- and chemical composition-dependent manner. The cell culture and lung slice techniques provided similar profiles of effect and help bridge the gap in our understanding of in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro toxicity outcomes.

  3. 48 CFR 227.7206 - Contracts for architect-engineer services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... Rights in Computer Software and Computer Software Documentation 227.7206 Contracts for architect-engineer services. Follow 227.7107 when contracting for architect-engineer services. ...-engineer services. 227.7206 Section 227.7206 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION...

  4. 48 CFR 227.7206 - Contracts for architect-engineer services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Rights in Computer Software and Computer Software Documentation 227.7206 Contracts for architect-engineer services. Follow 227.7107 when contracting for architect-engineer services. ...-engineer services. 227.7206 Section 227.7206 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION...

  5. 48 CFR 227.7206 - Contracts for architect-engineer services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Rights in Computer Software and Computer Software Documentation 227.7206 Contracts for architect-engineer services. Follow 227.7107 when contracting for architect-engineer services. ...-engineer services. 227.7206 Section 227.7206 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION...

  6. 48 CFR 227.7206 - Contracts for architect-engineer services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Rights in Computer Software and Computer Software Documentation 227.7206 Contracts for architect-engineer services. Follow 227.7107 when contracting for architect-engineer services. ...-engineer services. 227.7206 Section 227.7206 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION...

  7. 48 CFR 227.7206 - Contracts for architect-engineer services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ...-engineer services. 227.7206 Section 227.7206 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION... Rights in Computer Software and Computer Software Documentation 227.7206 Contracts for architect-engineer services. Follow 227.7107 when contracting for architect-engineer services. ...

  8. Developments in REDES: The rocket engine design expert system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Davidian, Kenneth O.

    1990-01-01

    The Rocket Engine Design Expert System (REDES) is being developed at the NASA-Lewis to collect, automate, and perpetuate the existing expertise of performing a comprehensive rocket engine analysis and design. Currently, REDES uses the rigorous JANNAF methodology to analyze the performance of the thrust chamber and perform computational studies of liquid rocket engine problems. The following computer codes were included in REDES: a gas properties program named GASP, a nozzle design program named RAO, a regenerative cooling channel performance evaluation code named RTE, and the JANNAF standard liquid rocket engine performance prediction code TDK (including performance evaluation modules ODE, ODK, TDE, TDK, and BLM). Computational analyses are being conducted by REDES to provide solutions to liquid rocket engine thrust chamber problems. REDES is built in the Knowledge Engineering Environment (KEE) expert system shell and runs on a Sun 4/110 computer.

  9. Developments in REDES: The Rocket Engine Design Expert System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Davidian, Kenneth O.

    1990-01-01

    The Rocket Engine Design Expert System (REDES) was developed at NASA-Lewis to collect, automate, and perpetuate the existing expertise of performing a comprehensive rocket engine analysis and design. Currently, REDES uses the rigorous JANNAF methodology to analyze the performance of the thrust chamber and perform computational studies of liquid rocket engine problems. The following computer codes were included in REDES: a gas properties program named GASP; a nozzle design program named RAO; a regenerative cooling channel performance evaluation code named RTE; and the JANNAF standard liquid rocket engine performance prediction code TDK (including performance evaluation modules ODE, ODK, TDE, TDK, and BLM). Computational analyses are being conducted by REDES to provide solutions to liquid rocket engine thrust chamber problems. REDES was built in the Knowledge Engineering Environment (KEE) expert system shell and runs on a Sun 4/110 computer.

  10. An Object-Oriented Graphical User Interface for a Reusable Rocket Engine Intelligent Control System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Litt, Jonathan S.; Musgrave, Jeffrey L.; Guo, Ten-Huei; Paxson, Daniel E.; Wong, Edmond; Saus, Joseph R.; Merrill, Walter C.

    1994-01-01

    An intelligent control system for reusable rocket engines under development at NASA Lewis Research Center requires a graphical user interface to allow observation of the closed-loop system in operation. The simulation testbed consists of a real-time engine simulation computer, a controls computer, and several auxiliary computers for diagnostics and coordination. The system is set up so that the simulation computer could be replaced by the real engine and the change would be transparent to the control system. Because of the hard real-time requirement of the control computer, putting a graphical user interface on it was not an option. Thus, a separate computer used strictly for the graphical user interface was warranted. An object-oriented LISP-based graphical user interface has been developed on a Texas Instruments Explorer 2+ to indicate the condition of the engine to the observer through plots, animation, interactive graphics, and text.

  11. Computers in Electrical Engineering Education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bennett, A. Wayne

    1982-01-01

    Discusses use of computers in Electrical Engineering (EE) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Topics include: departmental background, level of computing power using large scale systems, mini and microcomputers, use of digital logic trainers and analog/hybrid computers, comments on integrating computers into EE curricula, and computer use in…

  12. Computer Science and Engineering Students Addressing Critical Issues Regarding Gender Differences in Computing: A Case Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tsagala, Evrikleia; Kordaki, Maria

    2008-01-01

    This study focuses on how Computer Science and Engineering Students (CSESs) of both genders address certain critical issues for gender differences in the field of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). This case study is based on research conducted on a sample of 99 Greek CSESs, 43 of which were women. More specifically, these students were asked…

  13. 78 FR 64255 - Advisory Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Cancellation of Meeting

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-28

    ... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Advisory Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Cancellation of Meeting SUMMARY: As a result of the impact of the recent government shutdown, the... Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering meeting. The public notice for this committee...

  14. Computer Aided Design in Engineering Education.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gobin, R.

    1986-01-01

    Discusses the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems in an undergraduate engineering education program. Provides a rationale for CAD/CAM use in the already existing engineering program. Describes the methods used in choosing the systems, some initial results, and warnings for first-time users. (TW)

  15. Enhancing the Undergraduate Computing Experience in Chemical Engineering CACHE Corporation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Edgar, Thomas F.

    2006-01-01

    This white paper focuses on the integration and enhancement of the computing experience for undergraduates throughout the chemical engineering curriculum. The computing experience for undergraduates in chemical engineering should have continuity and be coordinated from course to course, because a single software solution is difficult to achieve in…

  16. Integrating Computational Science Tools into a Thermodynamics Course

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vieira, Camilo; Magana, Alejandra J.; García, R. Edwin; Jana, Aniruddha; Krafcik, Matthew

    2018-01-01

    Computational tools and methods have permeated multiple science and engineering disciplines, because they enable scientists and engineers to process large amounts of data, represent abstract phenomena, and to model and simulate complex concepts. In order to prepare future engineers with the ability to use computational tools in the context of…

  17. Generalized dynamic engine simulation techniques for the digital computer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sellers, J.; Teren, F.

    1974-01-01

    Recently advanced simulation techniques have been developed for the digital computer and used as the basis for development of a generalized dynamic engine simulation computer program, called DYNGEN. This computer program can analyze the steady state and dynamic performance of many kinds of aircraft gas turbine engines. Without changes to the basic program, DYNGEN can analyze one- or two-spool turbofan engines. The user must supply appropriate component performance maps and design-point information. Examples are presented to illustrate the capabilities of DYNGEN in the steady state and dynamic modes of operation. The analytical techniques used in DYNGEN are briefly discussed, and its accuracy is compared with a comparable simulation using the hybrid computer. The impact of DYNGEN and similar all-digital programs on future engine simulation philosophy is also discussed.

  18. Generalized dynamic engine simulation techniques for the digital computer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sellers, J.; Teren, F.

    1974-01-01

    Recently advanced simulation techniques have been developed for the digital computer and used as the basis for development of a generalized dynamic engine simulation computer program, called DYNGEN. This computer program can analyze the steady state and dynamic performance of many kinds of aircraft gas turbine engines. Without changes to the basic program DYNGEN can analyze one- or two-spool turbofan engines. The user must supply appropriate component performance maps and design-point information. Examples are presented to illustrate the capabilities of DYNGEN in the steady state and dynamic modes of operation. The analytical techniques used in DYNGEN are briefly discussed, and its accuracy is compared with a comparable simulation using the hybrid computer. The impact of DYNGEN and similar all-digital programs on future engine simulation philosophy is also discussed.

  19. Generalized dynamic engine simulation techniques for the digital computers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sellers, J.; Teren, F.

    1975-01-01

    Recently advanced simulation techniques have been developed for the digital computer and used as the basis for development of a generalized dynamic engine simulation computer program, called DYNGEN. This computer program can analyze the steady state and dynamic performance of many kinds of aircraft gas turbine engines. Without changes to the basic program, DYNGEN can analyze one- or two-spool turbofan engines. The user must supply appropriate component performance maps and design point information. Examples are presented to illustrate the capabilities of DYNGEN in the steady state and dynamic modes of operation. The analytical techniques used in DYNGEN are briefly discussed, and its accuracy is compared with a comparable simulation using the hybrid computer. The impact of DYNGEN and similar digital programs on future engine simulation philosophy is also discussed.

  20. Computational structural mechanics engine structures computational simulator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chamis, C. C.

    1989-01-01

    The Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) program at Lewis encompasses: (1) fundamental aspects for formulating and solving structural mechanics problems, and (2) development of integrated software systems to computationally simulate the performance/durability/life of engine structures.

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