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

Hanrieder, W.F.

These essays explore the implications of arms control negotiations for the FRG and consider why Germany has traditionally found it impossible to divorce considerations of arms control from their larger political context.

Squeezing the Efimov effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandoval, J. H.; Bellotti, F. F.; Yamashita, M. T.; Frederico, T.; Fedorov, D. V.; Jensen, A. S.; Zinner, N. T.

2018-03-01

The quantum mechanical three-body problem is a source of continuing interest due to its complexity and not least due to the presence of fascinating solvable cases. The prime example is the Efimov effect where infinitely many bound states of identical bosons can arise at the threshold where the two-body problem has zero binding energy. An important aspect of the Efimov effect is the effect of spatial dimensionality; it has been observed in three dimensional systems, yet it is believed to be impossible in two dimensions. Using modern experimental techniques, it is possible to engineer trap geometry and thus address the intricate nature of quantum few-body physics as function of dimensionality. Here we present a framework for studying the three-body problem as one (continuously) changes the dimensionality of the system all the way from three, through two, and down to a single dimension. This is done by considering the Efimov favorable case of a mass-imbalanced system and with an external confinement provided by a typical experimental case with a (deformed) harmonic trap.

On pulse duration of self-terminating lasers

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

Bokhan, P A

2011-02-28

The problem of the maximum pulse duration {tau}{sub max} of self-terminating lasers is considered. It is shown that the duration depends on the transition probability in the laser channel, on the decay rate of the resonant state in all other channels, and on the excitation rate of the metastable state. As a result, {tau}{sub max} is found to be significantly shorter than previously estimated. The criteria for converting the 'self-terminating' lasing to quasi-cw lasing are determined. It is shown that in the case of nonselective depopulation of the metastable state, for example in capillary lasers or in a fast flowmore » of the active medium gas, it is impossible to obtain continuous lasing. Some concrete examples are considered. It is established that in several studies of barium vapour lasers ({lambda} = 1.5 {mu}m) and nitrogen lasers ({lambda} = 337 nm), collisional lasing is obtained by increasing the relaxation rate of the metastable state in collisions with working particles (barium atoms and nitrogen molecules). (lasers)« less

Is Changing Teaching Practice the Mission Impossible? A Case Study of Continuing Professional Development for Primary School Teachers in Senegal

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miyazaki, Takeshi

2016-01-01

This paper reports on research into a continuing professional development (CPD) project, "Projet de Renforcement de l'Enseignement des Mathématiques, des Sciences et de la Technologie" (PREMST) [Strengthening Mathematics, Science, and Technologies in Education Project]. The literature review reveals few examples of CPD changing the…

Bubbles are responsive materials interesting for nonequilibrium physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreeva, Daria; Granick, Steve

Understanding of nature and conditions of non-equilibrium transformations of bubbles, droplets, polysomes and vesicles in a gradient filed is a breath-taking question that dissipative systems raise. We ask: how to establish a dynamic control of useful characteristics, for example dynamic control of morphology and composition modulation in soft matter. A possible answer is to develop a new generation of dynamic impactors that can trigger spatiotemporal oscillations of structures and functions. We aim to apply acoustic filed for development of temperature and pressure oscillations at a microscale area. We demonstrate amazing dynamic behavior of gas-filled bubbles in pressure gradient field using a unique technique combining optical imaging, high intensity ultrasound and high speed camera. We find that pressure oscillations trigger continuous phase transformations that are considered to be impossible in physical systems.

Entanglement and the three-dimensionality of the Bloch ball

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

Masanes, Ll., E-mail: ll.masanes@gmail.com; Müller, M. P.; Pérez-García, D.

2014-12-15

We consider a very natural generalization of quantum theory by letting the dimension of the Bloch ball be not necessarily three. We analyze bipartite state spaces where each of the components has a d-dimensional Euclidean ball as state space. In addition to this, we impose two very natural assumptions: the continuity and reversibility of dynamics and the possibility of characterizing bipartite states by local measurements. We classify all these bipartite state spaces and prove that, except for the quantum two-qubit state space, none of them contains entangled states. Equivalently, in any of these non-quantum theories, interacting dynamics is impossible. Thismore » result reveals that “existence of entanglement” is the requirement with minimal logical content which singles out quantum theory from our family of theories.« less

A review of recent literature on plague

PubMed Central

Pollitzer, R.

1960-01-01

In his comprehensive monograph on plague, published by WHO in 1954, Dr Pollitzer pointed out that despite the marked drop in the incidence of this disease in recent years, he considered it impossible for various reasons to be complacent about the situation. Since this monograph appeared, plague has shown a truly spectacular decrease, but in case this is partly the outcome of a natural periodicity of the infection, the author still feels that the disease ”should be given continued attention by those interested in global public health”. To this end he summarizes here the latest information on the subject, his review covering not only works published since 1954, but also some earlier literature (particularly from the USSR) which was not available to him at the time of preparation of his monograph. PMID:13736873

Deployment strategies of managed lanes on arterials : [summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-02-01

Floridas continuing growth has often been attracted to areas where good highway : infrastructure already exists. Traffic loads have developed to the point where widening existing : highways is not sufficient, or perhaps impossible, to accommodate ...

Reexamination of quantum bit commitment: The possible and the impossible

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

D'Ariano, Giacomo Mauro; Kretschmann, Dennis; Institut fuer Mathematische Physik, Technische Universitaet Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstrasse 3, 38106 Braunschweig

2007-09-15

Bit commitment protocols whose security is based on the laws of quantum mechanics alone are generally held to be impossible. We give a strengthened and explicit proof of this result. We extend its scope to a much larger variety of protocols, which may have an arbitrary number of rounds, in which both classical and quantum information is exchanged, and which may include aborts and resets. Moreover, we do not consider the receiver to be bound to a fixed 'honest' strategy, so that 'anonymous state protocols', which were recently suggested as a possible way to beat the known no-go results, aremore » also covered. We show that any concealing protocol allows the sender to find a cheating strategy, which is universal in the sense that it works against any strategy of the receiver. Moreover, if the concealing property holds only approximately, the cheat goes undetected with a high probability, which we explicitly estimate. The proof uses an explicit formalization of general two-party protocols, which is applicable to more general situations, and an estimate about the continuity of the Stinespring dilation of a general quantum channel. The result also provides a natural characterization of protocols that fall outside the standard setting of unlimited available technology and thus may allow secure bit commitment. We present such a protocol whose security, perhaps surprisingly, relies on decoherence in the receiver's laboratory.« less

The impossible interview with the man of the hidden biological structures. Interview by Paolo Mazzarello.

PubMed

Golgi, Camillo

2006-12-01

This paper presents an "impossible interview" to Professor Camillo Golgi, placed in time in December 1906. The Italian Professor Golgi from Pavia has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine ex aequo with the Spanish anatomist Santiago Ramón y Cajal. Both scientists have obtained the award for their work on the anatomy of the nervous system. However, they have opposite views on the mechanisms underlying nervous functions. Golgi believes that the axons stained by his "black reaction" form a continuous anatomical or functional network along which nervous impulses propagate. Ramón y Cajal is the paladin of the neuron theory, a hypothesis questioned by Golgi in his Nobel lecture of Tuesday, December 11. After the ceremony, an independent journalist has interviewed Professor Golgi in the Grand Hotel in Stockholm. Excerpts about his education, his main scientific discoveries, and his personal life are here given (reconstructing the "impossible interview" on the basis of Golgi's original writings).

Prediction and Repetition in Quantum Mechanics: The EPR Experiment and Quantum Probability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plotnitsky, Arkady

2007-02-01

The article considers the implications of the experiment of A. Einstein, B. Podolsky, and N. Rosen (EPR), and of the exchange (concerning this experiment) between EPR and Bohr concerning the incompleteness, or else nonlocality, of quantum mechanics for our understanding of quantum phenomena and quantum probability. The article specifically argues that in the case of quantum phenomena, including those involved in the experiments of the EPR type, the probabilistic considerations are important even when the predictions concerned can be made with certainty, due to the impossibility, in general, to repeat any given quantum experiment with the same outcome. The article argue that this fact, not properly considered or taken into account by EPR, makes it difficult and ultimately impossible to sustain their argument, which it is consistent with Bohr's counterargument to EPR and with his view of quantum phenomena and quantum mechanics.

Judgment, 24 June 1987.

PubMed

1988-01-01

The Constitutional Court of Slovenia held that Article 65 of the Law on Marriage and Family Relations of Slovenia is not unconstitutional. Law 65 provides that a spouse may request a divorce on the grounds that "the marriage is not possible to continue due to whatever reason." The Court rejected the argument of the applicant that a court must determine fault and specific grounds on which the marriage is impossible to continue. full text

46 CFR 76.15-50 - Lockout valves.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... any carbon dioxide extinguishing system protecting a space over 6,000 cubic feet in volume and... system from the protected space or spaces, making it impossible for carbon dioxide to discharge in the... GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) PASSENGER VESSELS FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT Carbon...

46 CFR 76.15-50 - Lockout valves.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... any carbon dioxide extinguishing system protecting a space over 6,000 cubic feet in volume and... system from the protected space or spaces, making it impossible for carbon dioxide to discharge in the... GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) PASSENGER VESSELS FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT Carbon...

Ethnocinema and the Impossibility of Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Anne

2014-01-01

The emerging methodology of ethnocinema fuses techniques from its ethnographic origins with its co-constitutive methods, and invites collaborators to creatively come together for mutual education and cultural transformation. Education as a site of the enactment and "politics of identity construction" continues to confront notions of…

On the local fractional derivative of everywhere non-differentiable continuous functions on intervals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Cheng-shi

2017-01-01

We first prove that for a continuous function f(x) defined on an open interval, the Kolvankar-Gangal's (or equivalently Chen-Yan-Zhang's) local fractional derivative f(α)(x) is not continuous, and then prove that it is impossible that the KG derivative f(α)(x) exists everywhere on the interval and satisfies f(α)(x) ≠ 0 in the same time. In addition, we give a criterion of the nonexistence of the local fractional derivative of everywhere non-differentiable continuous functions. Furthermore, we construct two simple nowhere differentiable continuous functions on (0, 1) and prove that they have no the local fractional derivatives everywhere.

Congenital syphilis in the 21st century.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Cerdeira, C; Silami-Lopes, V G

2012-10-01

While the prevalence of congenital syphilis continues to be low throughout most of the developed world, there has been a slight resurgence of the disease in several European countries, including Spain. In this context, we need to become more familiar with the signs and symptoms of this disease and consider its diagnosis in patients with only mild clinical manifestations. A definitive diagnosis may be difficult or even impossible in patients whose diagnostic tests reveal low positive titers or inconsistent results. The cornerstone of congenital syphilis control is prenatal screening and the treatment of infected mothers with penicillin, an effective and economical intervention. Based on a review of the literature supplemented by data from our own clinical experience, this article provides a detailed description of the clinical manifestations of congenital syphilis as well as the various diagnostic methods and treatments available. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. y AEDV. All rights reserved.

[Breast tomosynthesis: a new tool for diagnosing breast cancer].

PubMed

Martínez Miravete, P; Etxano, J

2015-01-01

Breast cancer continues to be the most common malignant tumor in women in occidental countries. Mammography is currently the technique of choice for screening programs; however, although it has been widely validated, mammography has its limitations, especially in dense breasts. Breast tomosynthesis is a revolutionary advance in the diagnosis of breast cancer. It makes it possible to define lesions that are occult in the glandular tissue and therefore to detect breast tumors that are impossible to see on conventional mammograms. In considering the combined use of mammography and tomosynthesis, many factors must be taken into account apart from cancer detection; these include additional radiation, the recall rate, and the time necessary to carry out and interpret the two tests. In this article, we review the technical principles of tomosynthesis, it main uses, and the future perspective for this imaging technique. Copyright © 2013 SERAM. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

21 CFR 601.27 - Pediatric studies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 7 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Pediatric studies. 601.27 Section 601.27 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) BIOLOGICS... substantial number of pediatric patients; (ii) Necessary studies are impossible or highly impractical because...

21 CFR 601.27 - Pediatric studies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 7 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Pediatric studies. 601.27 Section 601.27 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) BIOLOGICS... substantial number of pediatric patients; (ii) Necessary studies are impossible or highly impractical because...

21 CFR 601.27 - Pediatric studies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 7 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Pediatric studies. 601.27 Section 601.27 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) BIOLOGICS... substantial number of pediatric patients; (ii) Necessary studies are impossible or highly impractical because...

A Practical English Teaching Mode of Vocational Education: Induction-Interaction Learning Community

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Yonglong

2008-01-01

Secondary Vocational School Students are characterized by the awkward fact "congenital malnutrition" and "acquired development deficiency", continuously adopting of the current teaching methods and modes of General Education is completely impossible. In this report, a new English Teaching Mode of Induction-Interaction Learning…

Coexistence of unlimited bipartite and genuine multipartite entanglement: Promiscuous quantum correlations arising from discrete to continuous-variable systems

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

Adesso, Gerardo; CNR-INFM Coherentia , Naples; Grup d'Informacio Quantica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra

2007-08-15

Quantum mechanics imposes 'monogamy' constraints on the sharing of entanglement. We show that, despite these limitations, entanglement can be fully 'promiscuous', i.e., simultaneously present in unlimited two-body and many-body forms in states living in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. Monogamy just bounds the divergence rate of the various entanglement contributions. This is demonstrated in simple families of N-mode (N{>=}4) Gaussian states of light fields or atomic ensembles, which therefore enable infinitely more freedom in the distribution of information, as opposed to systems of individual qubits. Such a finding is of importance for the quantification, understanding, and potential exploitation of shared quantummore » correlations in continuous variable systems. We discuss how promiscuity gradually arises when considering simple families of discrete variable states, with increasing Hilbert space dimension towards the continuous variable limit. Such models are somehow analogous to Gaussian states with asymptotically diverging, but finite, squeezing. In this respect, we find that non-Gaussian states (which in general are more entangled than Gaussian states) exhibit also the interesting feature that their entanglement is more shareable: in the non-Gaussian multipartite arena, unlimited promiscuity can be already achieved among three entangled parties, while this is impossible for Gaussian, even infinitely squeezed states.« less

Multimedia Networks: Mission Impossible?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiss, Andrew M.

1996-01-01

Running multimedia on a network, often difficult because of the memory and processing power required, is becoming easier thanks to new protocols and products. Those developing network design criteria may wish to consider making use of Fast Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Method (ATM), switches, "fat pipes", additional network…

21 CFR 314.55 - Pediatric use information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 5 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Pediatric use information. 314.55 Section 314.55 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS... to be used in a substantial number of pediatric patients; (ii) Necessary studies are impossible or...

Measuring Incompatible Observables by Exploiting Sequential Weak Values.

PubMed

Piacentini, F; Avella, A; Levi, M P; Gramegna, M; Brida, G; Degiovanni, I P; Cohen, E; Lussana, R; Villa, F; Tosi, A; Zappa, F; Genovese, M

2016-10-21

One of the most intriguing aspects of quantum mechanics is the impossibility of measuring at the same time observables corresponding to noncommuting operators, because of quantum uncertainty. This impossibility can be partially relaxed when considering joint or sequential weak value evaluation. Indeed, weak value measurements have been a real breakthrough in the quantum measurement framework that is of the utmost interest from both a fundamental and an applicative point of view. In this Letter, we show how we realized for the first time a sequential weak value evaluation of two incompatible observables using a genuine single-photon experiment. These (sometimes anomalous) sequential weak values revealed the single-operator weak values, as well as the local correlation between them.

Measuring Incompatible Observables by Exploiting Sequential Weak Values

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piacentini, F.; Avella, A.; Levi, M. P.; Gramegna, M.; Brida, G.; Degiovanni, I. P.; Cohen, E.; Lussana, R.; Villa, F.; Tosi, A.; Zappa, F.; Genovese, M.

2016-10-01

One of the most intriguing aspects of quantum mechanics is the impossibility of measuring at the same time observables corresponding to noncommuting operators, because of quantum uncertainty. This impossibility can be partially relaxed when considering joint or sequential weak value evaluation. Indeed, weak value measurements have been a real breakthrough in the quantum measurement framework that is of the utmost interest from both a fundamental and an applicative point of view. In this Letter, we show how we realized for the first time a sequential weak value evaluation of two incompatible observables using a genuine single-photon experiment. These (sometimes anomalous) sequential weak values revealed the single-operator weak values, as well as the local correlation between them.

The queer limits of Pratibha Parmar's Nina's Heavenly Delights.

PubMed

Mahn, Churnjeet

2013-01-01

This article considers the impossibility and possibilities inherent in discussing queerness in films of the South Asian diaspora through the specific lens of Scotland. By using the contexts of "impossibility" in describing the same-sex desire between South Asian women in two different national contexts, this article argues that while same-sex desire becomes "possible" in the Scottish context of Parmar's film (conforming to a type of "coming out" story), Mehta's film cannot posit any open or stable lesbian subject. In light of this, even though Parmar's film may be the more optimistic realization of South Asian lesbian identity, its queer potential is shut down by the parameters of a Western coming out story.

A Tipping Point

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heid, Susan D.

2007-01-01

It's near-impossible to think about course management systems (CMS) without thinking about innovation, collaboration, and the sharing of ideas across institutions and even from vendor to vendor. Yet, "the next step" in CMS now means distinctly different things to various colleges and universities as, going forward, they consider their…

Calculation of thermal inertia from day-night measurements separated by days or weeks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kahle, A. B.; Alley, R. E.

1985-01-01

The calculation of the thermal inertia of an area from remotely sensed data involves the measurement of the surface albedo and the determination of the diurnal temperature range of the surface in image format. The temperature-range image is calculated from surface thermal radiance measured as near as possible to the time of maximum surface temperature and (predawn) surface minimum temperature. Ordinarily, both surface-temperature images are measured within the same 12-hour period. If this is impossible, then the measurement of the predawn surface radiance within a 36-hour period has been considered to be adequate, although less satisfactory. The problems arising in connection with the impossibility to conduct measurements within the same 12-hour period are studied, and suggestions are made for cases in which only relative thermal inertia across an area is required. In such cases investigators should consider using the best day-night temperature pairs available, even if not acquired within a 12 to 36 hour period.

The influence of action possibility and end-state comfort on motor imagery of manual action sequences.

PubMed

Seegelke, Christian; Hughes, Charmayne M L

2015-12-01

It has been proposed that the preparation of goal-direct actions involves internal movement simulation, or motor imagery. Evidence suggests that motor imagery is critically involved in the prediction of action consequences and contributes heavily to movement planning processes. The present study examined whether the sensitivity towards end-state comfort and the possibility/impossibility to perform an action sequence are considered during motor imagery. Participants performed a mental rotation task in which two images were simultaneously presented. The image on the left depicted the start posture of a right hand when grasping a bar, while the right image depicted the hand posture at the end of the action sequence. The right image displayed the bar in a vertical orientation with the hand in a comfortable (thumb-up) or in an uncomfortable (thumb-down) posture, while the bar in the left image was rotated in picture plane in steps of 45°. Crucially, the two images formed either a physically possible or physically impossible to perform action sequence. Results revealed strikingly different response time patterns for the two action sequence conditions. In general, response times increased almost monotonically with increasing angular disparity for the possible to perform action sequences. However, slight deviations from this monotonicity were apparent when the sequences contained an uncomfortable as opposed to a comfortable final posture. In contrast, for the impossible sequences, response times did not follow a typical mental rotation function, but instead were uniformly very slow. These findings suggest that both biomechanical constraints (i.e., end-state comfort) and the awareness of the possibility/impossibility to perform an action sequence are considered during motor imagery. We conclude that motor representations contain information about the spatiotemporal movement organization and the possibility of performing an action, which are crucially involved in anticipation and planning of action sequences. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Semantik und Semantisierung (Semantics and Semanticizing)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butzkamm, Wolfgang

1977-01-01

Argues against the thesis that exact translation is impossible, because languages reflect different world-views or different cognitive structures (de Saussure, Humboldt, Whorf, Weisgerber). The possibility of underlying universals (Lenneberg, Heger) must be considered and discussed in the field of language teacing. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

To Dream the Impossible Dream: College Graduation in Four Years

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raikes, Mark H.; Berling, Victoria L.; Davis, Jody M.

2012-01-01

The cost of higher education continues to climb, while calls for increased institutional accountability and the value of a "four-year degree" are ever present. This research sought to identify factors by which consumers might predict four-year graduation rates at institutions within the CCCU. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis of data…

A Woman with a Plan: Recognizing Competencies for Ascent to Administration in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turner, Paaige K.; Norwood, Kristen; Noe, Charlotte

2013-01-01

Despite progress, women are still disproportionally underrepresented in leadership positions in higher education. Women must contend with a glass ceiling, which we argue is constituted by discourses of impossibility and femininity. These discourses discourage women from recognizing their qualifications, continuing to develop skills, and making a…

Plateauing and Its Consequences for Educators and Educational Organizations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Milstein, Mike

Plateauing is an individual's conviction that continued progress is impossible. This conviction occurs as a consequence of long periods of occupational stability. When practitioners doubt the probability of promotion or the importance of their work and find their work to be boring and redundant, they are exhibiting symptoms of plateauing rather…

Successful use of plasma exchange for profound hemolysis in a child with loxoscelism.

PubMed

Said, Ahmed; Hmiel, Paul; Goldsmith, Matthew; Dietzen, Dennis; Hartman, Mary E

2014-11-01

We describe a 6-year-old boy who presented with massive hemolysis, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, and acute renal failure after loxosceles envenomation. In this patient, plasma exchange therapy (PEX) successfully cleared the plasma from an initial hemolytic index of 2000 (equivalent to 2 g/dL hemoglobin, where optimetric laboratory evaluation is impossible) to an index of <50 (no detectable hemolysis). This allowed the PICU team to correct his coagulopathy, assess his degree of organ dysfunction, and provide routine laboratory assessments during continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. After 9 single volume PEX sessions, his hemolysis and coagulopathy had resolved and his plasma had cleared sufficiently to permit routine laboratory assessments without difficulty. Multiorgan system support with an aggressive transfusion strategy, mechanical ventilation, inotropes, and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration resulted in complete recovery. We conclude that in the presence of overwhelming hemolysis, plasma can become so icteric that optimetric laboratory evaluation is impossible. In this setting, PEX can be used to clear the plasma, restoring the ability to perform routine laboratory assessments. Copyright © 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Guiding People to Interpret Their Experienced Difficulty as Importance Highlights Their Academic Possibilities and Improves Their Academic Performance

PubMed Central

Oyserman, Daphna; Elmore, Kristen; Novin, Sheida; Fisher, Oliver; Smith, George C.

2018-01-01

Does experiencing difficulty bolster or undermine future self-images, strategies to get there and actual performance? We build on four insights from prior research to predict that accessible interpretation-of-experienced-difficulty mindset shapes identity and performance. First, people have two different interpretation-of-experienced-difficulty mindsets available in memory; their difficulty-as-impossibility mindset focuses attention on difficulty as implying low odds and their difficulty-as-importance mindset focuses attention on difficulty as implying high value. Second, people are sensitive to contextual cues as to which mindset to apply to understand their experienced difficulty. Third, people apply the mindset that comes to mind unless they have reason to question why it is “on-the-mind.” Fourth, social class can be thought of as a chronic context influencing how much people endorse each interpretation-of-experienced-difficulty mindset. We used subtle primes to guide participants’ attention toward either a difficulty-as-importance or a difficulty-as-impossibility mindset (N = 591). Participants guided toward a difficulty-as-importance mindset performed better on difficult academic tasks (Studies 1, 2) than participants guided toward a difficulty-as-impossibility mindset; whether they had more school-focused possible identities and linked strategies depended on sample (Studies 3, 4). For college students, the effect of guided interpretation-of-experienced-difficulty mindset was not moderated by how much participants agreed with that mindset (Studies 1, 3, 4). College students mostly disagreed with a difficulty-as-impossibility mindset, but making that mindset accessible undermined their performance and sometimes their possible identities anyway. In contrast, middle school students (a younger and lower social class sample) were more likely to agree with a difficulty-as-impossibility mindset. In this sample (Study 2), we found an effect of mindset endorsement: agreeing that difficulty implies importance and disagreeing that difficulty implies impossibility improved performance. This study had a control group. Control group participants not guided to use a particular interpretation-of-experienced-difficulty mindset performed no differently than participants guided toward a difficulty-as-impossibility mindset. Results suggest that people may chronically act as if they are using a difficulty-as-impossibility mindset and may benefit from being guided to consider that experienced difficulty might imply task importance. Effect of accessible mindset on salience of academic possible selves was not stable, accessible mindset mattered in one university sample but not the other. PMID:29887819

Change the Joke and Slip the Yoke: Traditions of Afro-American Satire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cook, William W.

1985-01-01

Cites and discusses various forms of satire from Black American, Caribbean, and African cultures. Forms considered include oral ballads ('toasts') antebellum sermons, praise poems, mother-rhyming, ritual insult and theater. Emphasizes the agonistic element and the impossibility of performing Afro-American satire in standard English. (RDN)

Moral Leadership in the 21st Century: Everyone Is Watching--Especially the Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Quick, Paul M.; Normore, Anthony H.

2004-01-01

Educational leaders continually must be vigilant about their actions as they speak volumes about the values that the leader supports. It is impossible for an educational leader to take an action without generating some comment about how things should be done--which by definition is moral action. What's more, everyone is watching--especially the…

Paul Pintrich: A Once and Continuing Influence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maehr, Martin L.

2005-01-01

This article provides an integrative perspective on the articles presented in this special issue. It is also a very personal perspective. In such small space it is impossible to do justice fully to Paul's work or to the reflections on that work. What this final article attempts is a statement that emphasizes the scope and depth of this work as…

Financial heat machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khrennikov, Andrei

2005-05-01

We consider dynamics of financial markets as dynamics of expectations and discuss such a dynamics from the point of view of phenomenological thermodynamics. We describe a financial Carnot cycle and the financial analog of a heat machine. We see, that while in physics a perpetuum mobile is absolutely impossible, in economics such mobile may exist under some conditions.

Critical dimensions of trans-sacral corridors assessed by 3D CT models: Relevance for implant positioning in fractures of the sacrum.

PubMed

Wagner, Daniel; Kamer, Lukas; Sawaguchi, Takeshi; Geoff Richards, R; Noser, Hansrudi; Uesugi, Masafumi; Ossendorf, Christian; Rommens, Pol M

2017-11-01

Trans-sacral implants can be used alternatively to sacro-iliac screws in the treatment of osteoporosis-associated fragility fractures of the pelvis and the sacrum. We investigated trans-sacral corridor dimensions, the number of individuals amenable to trans-sacral fixation, as well as the osseous boundaries and shape of the S1 corridor. 3D models were reconstructed from pelvic CT scans from 92 Europeans and 64 Japanese. A corridor of <12 mm was considered critical for trans-sacral implant positioning, and <8 mm as impossible. A statistical model of trans-sacral corridor S1 was computed. The limiting cranio-caudal diameter was 11.6 mm (±5.4) for S1 and 14 mm (±2.4) for S2. Trans-sacral implant positioning was critical in 52% of cases for S1, and in 21% for S2. The S1 corridor was impossible in 26%, with no impossible corridor in S2. Antero-superiorly, the S1 corridor was limited not only by the sacrum but in 40% by the iliac fossa. The statistical model demonstrated a consistent oval shape of the trans-section of corridor S1. Considering the variable in size and shape of trans-sacral corridors in S1, a thorough anatomical knowledge and preoperative planning are mandatory using trans-sacral implants. In critical cases, S2 is a veritable alternative. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2577-2584, 2017. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Determination of the kinetics of guanine nucleotide exchange on EF-Tu and EF-Ts: continuing uncertainties.

PubMed

Manchester, Keith L

2004-01-30

An analysis is made of the rate constants for the reactions involving the interactions of EF-Tu, EF-Ts, GDP, and GTP recently derived by Gromadski et al. [Biochemistry 41 (2002) 162]. Though their measured values appear to allow a reasonable rate of nucleotide exchange sufficient to support rates of protein synthesis in vivo, their data underestimate the thermodynamic barrier involved in nucleotide exchange and therefore cannot be considered definitive. A kinetic scheme consistent with the thermodynamic barrier can be achieved by modification of various rate constants, particularly of those involving the release of EF-Ts from EF-Tu.GTP.EF-Ts, but such constants are markedly different from what are experimentally observed. It thus remains impossible at present satisfactorily to model guanine nucleotide exchange on EF-Tu, catalysed by EF-Ts by a double displacement mechanism, with experimentally derived rate constants. Metabolic control analysis has been applied to determine the degree of flux control of the different steps in the pathway.

Changing consumer attitudes to energy efficiency: Midterm results from an advertising campaign

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

Peters, J.S.; Seiden, K.; Baggett, S.

As utilities move away from rebates and incentives, many choose to use educational campaigns as a means to continue energy efficiency acquisition efforts. Measuring these effects is difficult and has long been considered nearly impossible by many in the evaluation community. Given the difficulty of observing behavior changes associated with education campaigns, this project sought to measure the likelihood that consumers exposed to a campaign will take the action. A model of behavior change, the theory of planned behavior developed by Icek Ajzen demonstrates that such is possible. This paper reports on the results of a longitudinal panel study ofmore » an energy efficiency mass-market educational campaign, using the Ajzen model with results from a five-wave survey of 1,200 targeted consumers and a control group of 1,200. The first wave collected pre-campaign data in Spring 1997. The authors compare these baseline data with data collected from the second and third survey waves, which were performed in Fall 1997 and Spring 1998, respectively.« less

Effect of Pre-ozonation on Haloacetic Acids Formation in Ganga River Water at Kanpur, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naladala, Nagasrinivasa Rao; Singh, Rambabu; Katiyar, Kumud Lata Devi; Bose, Purnendu; Dutta, Venkatesh

2017-11-01

Almost all natural water bodies which are considered to be sustainable sources of drinking water contain organic matter in dissolved form and pathogens. This dissolved organic matter and pathogens cannot be removed effectively through traditional filtering processes in drinking water treatment plants. Chlorination of such water for disinfection results in large amounts of disinfection by-products (DBPs), mainly trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids (HAAs), which showed many health effects like cancer and reproductive problems in lab animals and in human beings as well. Complete removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which is a precursor compound for HAAs formation, is impossible from a practical point of view; hence, it will be better if DOC activity towards DBPs formation can be reduced via some process. The present article describes the process of pre-ozonating post-coagulated Ganga River water at Kanpur in a continuous flow mode and its effect on HAAs formation. Nearly 58% reduction in HAAs formation was observed during this study at higher doses of ozone.

Medicaid Expansion in a Litmus State: The Missouri Struggle.

PubMed

Brasfield, James

2016-12-01

For a century Missouri was a bellwether state in presidential elections, always picking the winner. Since 2008 it has been experiencing a partisan divide along urban/rural lines with President Obama losing the state twice. The battle over Medicaid expansion found a Democratic governor unable to convince a Republican legislative majority to support ACA-based expansion. The more highly partisan legislative environment has rendered traditional bargaining and negotiations impossible on the controversial question of Medicaid expansion.Despite supportive advocacy by hospitals and the business community, the Republican legislative leaders have opposed any movement on Medicaid expansion over the past four years. There will be a new occupant in the governor's mansion in 2017, which may create a fork in the road. Democrats are unlikely to regain a legislative majority, and one path is continued Republican refusal to consider expansion. The other path features the new governor responding to the national 2016 election outcome, and creating the prospects for a deal, perhaps around a waiver plan. Copyright © 2016 by Duke University Press.

Blister rust control in the management of western white pine

Treesearch

Kenneth P. Davis; Virgil D. Moss

1940-01-01

The forest industry of the western white pine region depends on the production of white pine as a major species on about 2,670,000 acres of commercial forest land. Continued production of this species and maintenance of the forest industry at anything approaching its present level is impossible unless the white pine blister rust is controlled. Existing merchantable...

General practitioners and learning by audit

PubMed Central

Freeling, P.; Burton, R. H.

1982-01-01

The ways in which `medical audit' can be used in the continuing education of general practitioners are examined, and certain rules for the conduct of such education in small groups of peers are put forward. However, it proved impossible to evaluate the outcome of the educational exercise because those taking part refused to audit twice any single aspect of their daily work. PMID:7086756

Aiding blister rust control by silvicultural measures in the western white pine type

Treesearch

Virgil D. Moss; Charles A. Wellner

1953-01-01

The forest industry of the Inland Empire depends on the production of western white pine (Pinus monticola Dougl.) as a major species. Continued production of this tree is impossible unless white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola Fischer) is controlled. Existing merchantable timber can and probably will be harvested before serious losses occur, but the young growth...

Strange, incredible and impossible things: the early anthropology of Reginald Scot.

PubMed

Littlewood, Roland

2009-06-01

Reginald Scot has been acclaimed as an early rationalist for his critical consideration of witchcraft in 1584. At the same time, the Discoverie of Witchcraft appears organized much as later classic anthropological monographs. This article considers whether his methods and writing might indeed correspond to what we recognise as the procedures of medical or psychiatric anthropology.

Surprise! From CEOs to Navy Seals: How a Select Group of Professionals Prepare for and Respond to the Unexpected

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was a good example of a UU.7 The disaster itself was entirely unexpected and presented a variety of diplomatic challenges...This Chernobyl example helps to clarify an important point: A UU need not be considered an impossible event—certainly, a nuclear plant meltdown

Globalisation and Science Education: The Case of "Sustainability by the Bay"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, Lyn; Dediwalage, Ranjith

2010-01-01

It is impossible to consider contemporary science education in isolation from globalisation as the dominant logic, rethinking and reconfiguring social and cultural life in which it is located. Carter (J Res Sci Teach 42, 561-580, "2005") calls for a close reading of policy documents, curriculum projects, research studies and a range of other…

What should be impossible: resolution of the mononuclear gallium coordination complex, Tris(benzohydroxamato)gallium(III).

PubMed

Brumaghim, Julia L; Raymond, Kenneth N

2003-10-08

Complexes of Ga3+, a d10 metal ion which lacks ligand-field-stabilization energy, are considered labile. In fact, hexaaquagallium(III) has a ligand exchange rate of 403 s-1, 2.5 times that of the analagous Fe3+ complex (Hugi-Cleary, D.; Helm, L.; Merbach, A. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 4444-4450). Given this lability, resolution of Ga3+ complexes should be impossible. Despite this, we report the resolution of the Lambda and Delta isomers of tris(benzohydroxamate)gallium (III) (1), the first resolution of a mononuclear gallium complex. Not only is resolution possible, but these resolved complexes show remarkable resistance to racemization in aprotic solvents. The unprecedented stability of Lambda- and Delta-1 is a surprise, and as such, alters our understanding of classical coordination chemistry.

NASA In-Space Propulsion Technology Program: Overview and Update

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Les; Alexander, Leslie; Baggett, Randy M.; Bonometti, Joseph A.; Herrmann, Melody; James, Bonnie F.; Montgomery, Sandy E.

2004-01-01

NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program is investing in technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the robotic exploration of deep space. For robotic exploration and science missions, increased efficiencies of future propulsion systems are critical to reduce overall life-cycle costs and, in some cases, enable missions previously considered impossible. Continued reliance on conventional chemical propulsion alone will not enable the robust exploration of deep space - the maximum theoretical efficiencies have almost been reached and they are insufficient to meet needs for many ambitious science missions currently being considered. The In-Space Propulsion Technology Program's technology portfolio includes many advanced propulsion systems. From the next-generation ion propulsion system operating in the 5- to 10-kW range to aerocapture and solar sails, substantial advances in - spacecraft propulsion performance are anticipated. Some of the most promising technologies for achieving these goals use the environment of space itself for energy and propulsion and are generically called 'propellantless' because they do not require onboard fuel to achieve thrust. Propellantless propulsion technologies include scientific innovations such as solar sails, electrodynamic and momentum transfer.tethers, aeroassist and aerocapture. This paper will provide an overview of both propellantless and propellant-based advanced propulsion technologies, as well as NASA's plans for advancing them as part of the In-Space Propulsion Technology Program.

NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program: Overview and Status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Les; Alexander, Leslie; Baggett, Randy; Bonometti, Joe; Herrmann, Melody; James, Bonnie; Montgomery, Sandy

2004-01-01

NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program is investing in technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the robotic exploration of deep space. For robotic exploration and science missions, increased efficiencies of future propulsion systems are critical to reduce overall life-cycle costs and, in some cases, enable missions previously considered impossible. Continued reliance on conventional chemical propulsion alone will not enable the robust exploration of deep space - the maximum theoretical efficiencies have almost been reached and they are insufficient to meet needs for many ambitious science missions currently being considered. The In-Space Propulsion Technology Program s technology portfolio includes many advanced propulsion systems. From the next generation ion propulsion system operating in the 5 - 10 kW range, to advanced cryogenic propulsion, substantial advances in spacecraft propulsion performance are anticipated. Some of the most promising technologies for achieving these goals use the environment of space itself for energy and propulsion and are generically called, 'propellantless' because they do not require onboard fuel to achieve thrust. Propellantless propulsion technologies include scientific innovations such as solar sails, electrodynamic and momentum transfer tethers, aeroassist, and aerocapture. This paper will provide an overview of both propellantless and propellant-based advanced propulsion technologies, and NASA s plans for advancing them as part of the $60M per year In-Space Propulsion Technology Program.

NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program: Overview and Update

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Les; Alexander, Leslie; Baggett, Randy M.; Bonometti, Joseph A.; Herrmann, Melody; James, Bonnie F.; Montgomery, Sandy E.

2004-01-01

NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program is investing in technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the robotic exploration of deep space. For robotic exploration and science missions, increased efficiencies of future propulsion systems are critical to reduce overall life-cycle costs and, in some cases, enable missions previously considered impossible. Continued reliance on conventional chemical propulsion alone will not enable the robust exploration of deep space - the maximum theoretical efficiencies have almost been reached and they are insufficient to meet needs for many ambitious science missions currently being considered. The In-Space Propulsion Technology Program s technology portfolio includes many advanced propulsion systems. From the next-generation ion propulsion system operating in the 5- to 10-kW range to aerocapture and solar sails, substantial advances in spacecraft propulsion performance are anticipated. Some of the most promising technologies for achieving these goals ase the environment of space itself for energy and propulsion and are generically called 'propellantless' because they do not require onboard fuel to achieve thrust. Propellantless propulsion technologies include scientific innovations such as solar sails, electrodynamic and momentum transfer tethers, aeroassist, and aerocapture. This paper will provide an overview of both propellantless and propellant-based advanced propulsion technologies, as well as NASA s plans for advancing them as part of the In-Space Propulsion Technology Program.

Low Energy Nuclear Reactions: Status at the Beginning of the New Millenium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallove, Eugene F.

2001-03-01

This talk will summarize some of the more convincing recent experiments that show that ^4He,^3He (including impossible to explain changes in the ^4He/^3He isotopic ratio), nuclear scale excess energy, tritium, low-level neutron production, and the transmutation of heavy elements can occur near room temperature in relatively simple systems. Despite inappropriate theory-based arguments against it and unethical attacks by people unfamiliar with the supporting experiments, the new field of solid state nuclear reactions is progressing. The physical theory behind the associated phenomena continues to be debated among theorists. But progress is being made. The facts of the history of this scientific controversy suggest that it is inadvisable to rush to judgment against allegedly ``impossible" new phenomena when increasingly careful experiments have revealed new vistas in physics. Detailed discussion of evidence for solid state nuclear reactions is available

US Army Institute of Surgical Research Annual Research Progress Report, FY 1980.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-01

strain of 1244. EXAMINATION OF ANTI-PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ACTIVITY OF CEFSULODIN Most cephalosporin antibiotics, despite broad antibacterial spec- tra...documents the clinical and laboratory activities of the US Army Institute of Surgical Research during the fiscal year 1980. These activities include...of irreversible shock. Clinical care is jeopardized and the continued involvement of clinicians in investigative activities is virtually impossible

[I, Robot: artificial intelligence, uniqueness and self-consciousness].

PubMed

Agrest, Martín

2008-01-01

The cinematographic version of the science fiction classical book by Isaac Asimov (I, Robot) is used as a starting point, from the Artificial Intelligence perspective, in order to analyze what it is to have a self. Uniqueness or the exchange impossibility and the continuity of being one self are put forward to understand the movie's characters as well as the possibilities of feeling self conscious.

75 FR 63052 - Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS350B3 and EC130 B4 Helicopters

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-14

... Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS350B3 and EC130 B4 Helicopters AGENCY: Federal... directive (AD) for the Eurocopter France Model AS350B3 and EC130 B4 helicopters. This amendment is prompted... autorotation training making it impossible to execute a power recovery and compelling the pilot to continue the...

Documenting and Analyzing the Results of Non-Formal Adult Education: The Hungarian Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Toth, Janos Szigeti

2007-01-01

Many valuable activities and local innovations go on in the field of non-formal adult learning. With the pressures of day-today work it is impossible to have a systematic overview of these, so that they are forgotten and are not continued, developed or passed on to others. More generally, these activities fail to be documented and analysed, even…

Is the Unfolding of the Group Discussion Off-Pattern? Improving Coordination Support in Educational Forums Using Mobile Devices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gerosa, Marco Aurelio; Filippo, Denise; Pimentel, Mariano; Fuks, Hugo; Lucena, Carlos J. P.

2010-01-01

A forum is a valuable tool to foster reflection in an in-depth discussion; however, it forces the course mediator to continually pay close attention in order to coordinate learners' activities. Moreover, monitoring a forum is time consuming given that it is impossible to know in advance when new messages are going to be posted. Additionally, a…

Continuous Preconcentrator for Trace Gas Analysis (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-21

several ppb to several hundreds of ppb) gradually impact human health and raise concerns for the general public.xv In any of these cases, but...The large number of patents on the subject makes a complete comprehensive review impossible, but general characteristics will be discussed along...established technology and the general trend in their development is towards faster and more accurately controlled desorption systems. A natural progression

Von Neumann's impossibility proof: Mathematics in the service of rhetorics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dieks, Dennis

2017-11-01

According to what has become a standard history of quantum mechanics, in 1932 von Neumann persuaded the physics community that hidden variables are impossible as a matter of principle, after which leading proponents of the Copenhagen interpretation put the situation to good use by arguing that the completeness of quantum mechanics was undeniable. This state of affairs lasted, so the story continues, until Bell in 1966 exposed von Neumann's proof as obviously wrong. The realization that von Neumann's proof was fallacious then rehabilitated hidden variables and made serious foundational research possible again. It is often added in recent accounts that von Neumann's error had been spotted almost immediately by Grete Hermann, but that her discovery was of no effect due to the dominant Copenhagen Zeitgeist. We shall attempt to tell a story that is more historically accurate and less ideologically charged. Most importantly, von Neumann never claimed to have shown the impossibility of hidden variables tout court, but argued that hidden-variable theories must possess a structure that deviates fundamentally from that of quantum mechanics. Both Hermann and Bell appear to have missed this point; moreover, both raised unjustified technical objections to the proof. Von Neumann's argument was basically that hidden-variables schemes must violate the ;quantum principle; that physical quantities are to be represented by operators in a Hilbert space. As a consequence, hidden-variables schemes, though possible in principle, necessarily exhibit a certain kind of contextuality. As we shall illustrate, early reactions to Bohm's theory are in agreement with this account. Leading physicists pointed out that Bohm's theory has the strange feature that pre-existing particle properties do not generally reveal themselves in measurements, in accordance with von Neumann's result. They did not conclude that the ;impossible was done; and that von Neumann had been shown wrong.

Einstein's Elevator in Class: A Self-Construction by Students for the Study of the Equival

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kapotis, Efstratios; Kalkanis, George

2016-01-01

According to the principle of equivalence, it is impossible to distinguish between gravity and inertial forces that a noninertial observer experiences in his own frame of reference. For example, let's consider an elevator in space that is being accelerated in one direction. An observer inside it would feel as if there was gravity force pulling him…

42 CFR 62.12 - Under what circumstances can the service or payment obligation be canceled, waived or suspended?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... requested action. The Secretary may approve a request for a suspension for a period of 1 year. A renewal of... obligation will be considered impossible if the Secretary determines, on the basis of information and... good conscience, the Secretary, on the basis of information and documentation as may be required, will...

42 CFR 62.12 - Under what circumstances can the service or payment obligation be canceled, waived or suspended?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... requested action. The Secretary may approve a request for a suspension for a period of 1 year. A renewal of... obligation will be considered impossible if the Secretary determines, on the basis of information and... good conscience, the Secretary, on the basis of information and documentation as may be required, will...

42 CFR 62.12 - Under what circumstances can the service or payment obligation be canceled, waived or suspended?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... requested action. The Secretary may approve a request for a suspension for a period of 1 year. A renewal of... obligation will be considered impossible if the Secretary determines, on the basis of information and... good conscience, the Secretary, on the basis of information and documentation as may be required, will...

42 CFR 62.12 - Under what circumstances can the service or payment obligation be canceled, waived or suspended?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... requested action. The Secretary may approve a request for a suspension for a period of 1 year. A renewal of... obligation will be considered impossible if the Secretary determines, on the basis of information and... good conscience, the Secretary, on the basis of information and documentation as may be required, will...

42 CFR 68a.13 - Under what circumstances can the service or payment obligation be canceled, waived, or suspended?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... be canceled upon the death of the participant. (b) The Secretary may waive or suspend any service or... considered impossible if the Secretary determines, on the basis of such information and documentation as may... good conscience, the Secretary, on the basis of such information and documentation as may be required...

42 CFR 62.12 - Under what circumstances can the service or payment obligation be canceled, waived or suspended?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... requested action. The Secretary may approve a request for a suspension for a period of 1 year. A renewal of... obligation will be considered impossible if the Secretary determines, on the basis of information and... good conscience, the Secretary, on the basis of information and documentation as may be required, will...

Using a Data Mining Approach to Develop a Student Engagement-Based Institutional Typology. IR Applications, Volume 18, February 8, 2009

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luan, Jing; Zhao, Chun-Mei; Hayek, John C.

2009-01-01

Data mining provides both systematic and systemic ways to detect patterns of student engagement among students at hundreds of institutions. Using traditional statistical techniques alone, the task would be significantly difficult--if not impossible--considering the size and complexity in both data and analytical approaches necessary for this…

El Grupo Cerúleo: Cooperation for Non-breeding Season Conservation of the Cerulean Warbler

Treesearch

David Mehlman; Paul Hamel

2010-01-01

Without collaboration, conservation is impossible for long-distance migrants such as the Cerulean Warbler, a declining forest breeding bird in North America that overwinters in the Andes Mountains of South America. The Cerulean Warbler, one of the fastest declining woodland birds of eastern North America, is considered Vulnerable by BirdLife international, in the...

On stability of fixed points and chaos in fractional systems.

PubMed

Edelman, Mark

2018-02-01

In this paper, we propose a method to calculate asymptotically period two sinks and define the range of stability of fixed points for a variety of discrete fractional systems of the order 0<α<2. The method is tested on various forms of fractional generalizations of the standard and logistic maps. Based on our analysis, we make a conjecture that chaos is impossible in the corresponding continuous fractional systems.

Effectiveness of the Civil Aviation Security Program.

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-10-06

Results of the passenger screening procedures continue to reflect the success and effec- tiveness of airline and airport security programs. During the...airline and airport security programs. While it is impossible to estimate accurately just how many hijackings and related crimes were prevented, the...attempts might have occurred during 1974 and as many as 25 during the first 6 months of 1975, if current airline and airport security programs had not

Describing and Explaining the Personal and Professional Moral Codes Considered by Administrators as They Make Decisions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, David E.

2011-01-01

Every administrative action a principal will take is reduced to a decision. These decisions are made in an arena of overlapping moralities stemming from the organizational morality in concert with his/her personal morality. As Barnard stated, it is impossible to divorce one from the other. The purpose of this study was to attempt to describe and…

Variable cross-section windings for efficiency improvement of electric machines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grachev, P. Yu; Bazarov, A. A.; Tabachinskiy, A. S.

2018-02-01

Implementation of energy-saving technologies in industry is impossible without efficiency improvement of electric machines. The article considers the ways of efficiency improvement and mass and dimensions reduction of electric machines with electronic control. Features of compact winding design for stators and armatures are described. Influence of compact winding on thermal and electrical process is given. Finite element method was used in computer simulation.

From photons to big-data applications: terminating terabits

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Computer architectures have entered a watershed as the quantity of network data generated by user applications exceeds the data-processing capacity of any individual computer end-system. It will become impossible to scale existing computer systems while a gap grows between the quantity of networked data and the capacity for per system data processing. Despite this, the growth in demand in both task variety and task complexity continues unabated. Networked computer systems provide a fertile environment in which new applications develop. As networked computer systems become akin to infrastructure, any limitation upon the growth in capacity and capabilities becomes an important constraint of concern to all computer users. Considering a networked computer system capable of processing terabits per second, as a benchmark for scalability, we critique the state of the art in commodity computing, and propose a wholesale reconsideration in the design of computer architectures and their attendant ecosystem. Our proposal seeks to reduce costs, save power and increase performance in a multi-scale approach that has potential application from nanoscale to data-centre-scale computers. PMID:26809573

From photons to big-data applications: terminating terabits.

PubMed

Zilberman, Noa; Moore, Andrew W; Crowcroft, Jon A

2016-03-06

Computer architectures have entered a watershed as the quantity of network data generated by user applications exceeds the data-processing capacity of any individual computer end-system. It will become impossible to scale existing computer systems while a gap grows between the quantity of networked data and the capacity for per system data processing. Despite this, the growth in demand in both task variety and task complexity continues unabated. Networked computer systems provide a fertile environment in which new applications develop. As networked computer systems become akin to infrastructure, any limitation upon the growth in capacity and capabilities becomes an important constraint of concern to all computer users. Considering a networked computer system capable of processing terabits per second, as a benchmark for scalability, we critique the state of the art in commodity computing, and propose a wholesale reconsideration in the design of computer architectures and their attendant ecosystem. Our proposal seeks to reduce costs, save power and increase performance in a multi-scale approach that has potential application from nanoscale to data-centre-scale computers. © 2016 The Authors.

Lifelong Learning for the Hand Surgeon.

PubMed

Adkinson, Joshua M; Chung, Kevin C

2015-09-01

Hand surgeons are faced with the impossible task of mastering a rapidly expanding pool of knowledge and surgical techniques. Dedication to lifelong learning is, therefore, an essential component of delivering the best, most up-to-date care for patients. Board certification, participation in continuing medical education and maintenance of certification activities, and attendance at national meetings are essential mechanisms by which hand surgeons may foster the acquisition of essential knowledge and clinical skills, This article highlights the history, current status, and emerging needs in continuing medical education for the hand surgeon. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Shock and Vibration Digest. Volume 17. Number 3

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-03-01

conscious public. The public have been the technology and the applications . It continually asking for more elaborate de- was impossible for colleges and...are assessed in the context of earlier work as AEROACOUSTIC APPROACH wel as contemporary wok. Emphasis is on application and usefulness in design of...mismatch assures that much only rectar.ular elements were used; the less power enters the muffler and hence two dimensional program was applicable much

Long-term follow-up of women and men after unsuccessful IVF.

PubMed

Filetto, Juliana N; Makuch, Maria Y

2005-10-01

The experience of 92 couples, who had unsuccessfully undergone one or more IVF cycles at a university clinic, was evaluated 3-8 years following their last failed attempt. One member of each couple completed a telephone questionnaire regarding life events during their last IVF cycle performed at the clinic and at the time of the interview. Some couples had continued further treatment and some had not. Multivariate correspondence analysis was used to analyse the data. Regarding the long-term experience of couples who had undergone further treatment, for men the main experiences were psychological problems and having adopted a child. For women, the main experiences were related to problems of self-image, psychological problems, loss of hope, and having adopted a child. These women also presented a strong association with problems in their marital relationship and with adoption. For the group that did not undergo further treatment, the women showed a strong association with considering adoption, and a less intense association with psychological problems and loss of hope. The men presented psychological problems and having adopted a child as associated variables. Comparison between men and women showed that recognizing the impossibility of conceiving a child and giving up treatment were strongly associated. Men and women who had not continued with further treatment were more affected in the long term than those who had undergone further treatment after IVF failure.

Prediction and outcomes of impossible mask ventilation: a review of 50,000 anesthetics.

PubMed

Kheterpal, Sachin; Martin, Lizabeth; Shanks, Amy M; Tremper, Kevin K

2009-04-01

There are no existing data regarding risk factors for impossible mask ventilation and limited data regarding its incidence. The authors sought to determine the incidence, predictors, and outcomes associated with impossible mask ventilation. The authors performed an observational study over a 4-yr period. For each adult patient undergoing a general anesthetic, preoperative patient characteristics, detailed airway physical exam, and airway outcome data were collected. The primary outcome was impossible mask ventilation defined as the inability to exchange air during bag-mask ventilation attempts, despite multiple providers, airway adjuvants, or neuromuscular blockade. Secondary outcomes included the final, definitive airway management technique and direct laryngoscopy view. The incidence of impossible mask ventilation was calculated. Independent (P < 0.05) predictors of impossible mask ventilation were identified by performing a logistic regression full model fit. Over a 4-yr period from 2004 to 2008, 53,041 attempts at mask ventilation were recorded. A total of 77 cases of impossible mask ventilation (0.15%) were observed. Neck radiation changes, male sex, sleep apnea, Mallampati III or IV, and presence of beard were identified as independent predictors. The receiver-operating-characteristic area under the curve for this model was 0.80 +/- 0.03. Nineteen impossible mask ventilation patients (25%) also demonstrated difficult intubation, with 15 being intubated successfully. Twelve patients required an alternative intubation technique, including two surgical airways and two patients who were awakened and underwent successful fiberoptic intubation. Impossible mask ventilation is an infrequent airway event that is associated with difficult intubation. Neck radiation changes represent the most significant clinical predictor of impossible mask ventilation in the patient dataset.

Many behavioral tendencies associated with right-leaning (conservative) political ideologies are malleable and unrelated to negativity.

PubMed

Olivola, Christopher Y; Sussman, Abigail B

2014-06-01

Recent research has identified several judgment and decision making tendencies associated with right-leaning political ideologies that are difficult (if not impossible) to explain in terms of stable, negative affective appraisals because they (1) are uncorrelated with the negativity of the stimuli being considered, (2) do not reflect divergent affective evaluations, and (3) can be eliminated by superficial manipulations and interventions.

Resolving arguments about the sanctity of life: a response to Long.

PubMed Central

Singer, P; Kuhse, H

1988-01-01

Thomas Long has argued that there is an irreconcilable metaphysical difference between the views of those who, like ourselves, believe that on quality-of-life grounds it is sometimes justifiable to end the life of a severely handicapped infant, and those who, like Paul Ramsey, reject this view. Because of this metaphysical difference, Long considers it impossible for our arguments to refute Ramsey's position. We disagree. PMID:2976837

Cyber Power: Attack and Defense Lessons from Land, Sea, and Air Power

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

over defense for a long time to come. The logical conclusion is that effective electronic and cyber defense are impossible. However, in...air attack with sufficient accuracy and warning time to mount an effective defense. 3 The 1...considering the suddenness of the attack, it is unlikely that the enemy would have time enough to parry the blow effectively either in the air or from the

NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program: A Step Toward Interstellar Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Les; James, Bonnie; Baggett, Randy; Montgomery, Sandy

2005-01-01

NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program is investing in technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the robotic exploration of deep space. For robotic exploration and science missions, increased efficiencies of future propulsion systems are critical to reduce overall life-cycle costs and, in some cases, enable missions previously considered impossible. Continued reliance on conventional chemical propulsion alone will not enable the robust exploration of deep space. The maximum theoretical efficiencies have almost been reached and are insufficient to meet needs for many ambitious science missions currently being considered. By developing the capability to support mid-term robotic mission needs, the program is laying the technological foundation for travel to nearby interstellar space. The In-Space Propulsion Technology Program s technology portfolio includes many advanced propulsion systems. From the next-generation ion propulsion systems operating in the 5-10 kW range, to solar sail propulsion, substantial advances in spacecraft propulsion performance are anticipated. Some of the most promising technologies for achieving these goals use the environment of space itself for energy and propulsion and are generically called "propellantless" because they do not require onboard fuel to achieve thrust. Propellantless propulsion technologies include scientific innovations, such as solar sails, electrodynamic and momentum transfer tethers, and aerocapture. This paper will provide an overview of those propellantless and propellant-based advanced propulsion technologies that will most significantly advance our exploration of deep space.

The highs and lows of object impossibility: effects of spatial frequency on holistic processing of impossible objects.

PubMed

Freud, Erez; Avidan, Galia; Ganel, Tzvi

2015-02-01

Holistic processing, the decoding of a stimulus as a unified whole, is a basic characteristic of object perception. Recent research using Garner's speeded classification task has shown that this processing style is utilized even for impossible objects that contain an inherent spatial ambiguity. In particular, similar Garner interference effects were found for possible and impossible objects, indicating similar holistic processing styles for the two object categories. In the present study, we further investigated the perceptual mechanisms that mediate such holistic representation of impossible objects. We relied on the notion that, whereas information embedded in the high-spatial-frequency (HSF) content supports fine-detailed processing of object features, the information conveyed by low spatial frequencies (LSF) is more crucial for the emergence of a holistic shape representation. To test the effects of image frequency on the holistic processing of impossible objects, participants performed the Garner speeded classification task on images of possible and impossible cubes filtered for their LSF and HSF information. For images containing only LSF, similar interference effects were observed for possible and impossible objects, indicating that the two object categories were processed in a holistic manner. In contrast, for the HSF images, Garner interference was obtained only for possible, but not for impossible objects. Importantly, we provided evidence to show that this effect could not be attributed to a lack of sensitivity to object possibility in the LSF images. Particularly, even for full-spectrum images, Garner interference was still observed for both possible and impossible objects. Additionally, performance in an object classification task revealed high sensitivity to object possibility, even for LSF images. Taken together, these findings suggest that the visual system can tolerate the spatial ambiguity typical to impossible objects by relying on information embedded in LSF, whereas HSF information may underlie the visual system's susceptibility to distortions in objects' spatial layouts.

Evidence for similar early but not late representation of possible and impossible objects

PubMed Central

Freud, Erez; Hadad, Bat-Sheva; Avidan, Galia; Ganel, Tzvi

2015-01-01

The perceptual processes that mediate the ability to efficiently represent object 3D structure are still not fully understood. The current study was aimed to shed light on these processes by utilizing spatially possible and impossible objects that could not be created in real 3D space. Despite being perceived as exceptionally unusual, impossible objects still possess fundamental Gestalt attributes and valid local depth cues that may support their initial successful representation. Based on this notion and on recent findings from our lab, we hypothesized that the initial representation of impossible objects would involve common mechanisms to those mediating typical object perception while the perceived differences between possible and impossible objects would emerge later along the processing hierarchy. In Experiment 1, participants preformed same/different classifications of two markers superimposed on a display containing two objects (possible or impossible). Faster reaction times were observed for displays in which the markers were superimposed on the same object (“object-based benefit”). Importantly, this benefit was similar for possible and impossible objects, suggesting that the representations of the two object categories rely on similar perceptual organization processes. Yet, responses for impossible objects were slower compared to possible objects. Experiment 2 was designed to examine the origin of this effect. Participants classified the location of two markers while exposure duration was manipulated. A similar pattern of performance was found for possible and impossible objects for the short exposure duration, with differences in accuracy between these two types of objects emerging only for longer exposure durations. Overall, these findings provide evidence that the representation of object structure relies on a multi-level process and that object impossibility selectively impairs the rendering of fine-detailed description of object structure. PMID:25762949

JPRS Report, China QIUSHI (SEEKING TRUTH no 4, 16 February 1989.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-05-12

industries in effect make it impossible for contemporary China to establish a uni- tary system of market economy. If we ignore that fact and continue in...products are badly needed, and, at the same time, to try to achieve high economic effectiveness in some fields. In a market economy, resources are...government will probably play the principal role in quantitative regulation for a long time to come. Effective market organizations (organizations of trades

Chaotic Motions in the Dynamics of Space Tethered Systems. 1. Analysis of the Problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pirozhenko, A. V.

The determined-chaos phenomenon in the dynamics of space tethered systems is analyzed. A model problem, the essence of stochastic regimes of motion in the oscillation of masses in the internal degrees of freedom is formulated. A number of calculus approaches to the phenomenon is considered and the supposition is made that it is impossible to define the essence of the phenomenon by the mathematical methods traditional for mechanics.

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

Faye, Sherry A.; Richards, Jason M.; Gallardo, Athena M.

Sequential extraction is a useful technique for assessing the potential to leach actinides from soils; however, current literature lacks uniformity in experimental details, making direct comparison of results impossible. This work continued development toward a standardized five-step sequential extraction protocol by analyzing extraction behaviors of 232Th, 238U, 239,240Pu and 241Am from lake and ocean sediment reference materials. Results produced a standardized procedure after creating more defined reaction conditions to improve method repeatability. A NaOH fusion procedure is recommended following sequential leaching for the complete dissolution of insoluble species.

Six Impossible Things: Fractional Charge From Laughlin's Wave Function

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

Shrivastava, Keshav N.

2010-12-23

The Laughlin's wave function is found to be the zero-energy ground state of a {delta}-function Hamiltonian. The finite negative value of the ground state energy which is 91 per cent of Wigner value, can be obtained only when Coulomb correlations are introduced. The Laughlin's wave function is of short range and it overlaps with that of the exact wave functions of small (number of electrons 2 or 5) systems. (i) It is impossible to obtain fractional charge from Laughlin's wave function. (ii) It is impossible to prove that the Laughlin's wave function gives the ground state of the Coulomb Hamiltonian.more » (iii) It is impossible to have particle-hole symmetry in the Laughlin's wave function. (iv) It is impossible to derive the value of m in the Laughlin's wave function. The value of m in {psi}{sub m} can not be proved to be 3 or 5. (v) It is impossible to prove that the Laughlin's state is incompressible because the compressible states are also likely. (vi) It is impossible for the Laughlin's wave function to have spin. This effort is directed to explain the experimental data of quantum Hall effect in GaAs/AlGaAs.« less

Keith's MAGIC: Cloning and the Cell Cycle.

PubMed

Wells, D N

2013-10-01

Abstract Professor Keith Campbell's critical contribution to the discovery that a somatic cell from an adult animal can be fully reprogrammed by oocyte factors to form a cloned individual following nuclear transfer (NT)(Wilmut et al., 1997 ) overturned a dogma concerning the reversibility of cell fate that many scientists had considered to be biologically impossible. This seminal experiment proved the totipotency of adult somatic nuclei and finally confirmed that adult cells could differentiate without irreversible changes to the genetic material.

A Quantitative Gibbard-Satterthwaite Theorem Without Neutrality

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-02

aggregation (see the survey by Faliszewski and Procaccia [8]). Many of the results in the study of social choice are negative: it is impossible to design...manipulation: if it is computationally hard for a voter to manipulate, then she would just tell the truth (we refer to the survey by Faliszewski and...popular as a tool in preference aggregation (see the survey by Faliszewski and Procaccia [8]). For example, consider web (meta-)search engines (see, e.g

Global linear gyrokinetic particle-in-cell simulations including electromagnetic effects in shaped plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishchenko, A.; Borchardt, M.; Cole, M.; Hatzky, R.; Fehér, T.; Kleiber, R.; Könies, A.; Zocco, A.

2015-05-01

We give an overview of recent developments in electromagnetic simulations based on the gyrokinetic particle-in-cell codes GYGLES and EUTERPE. We present the gyrokinetic electromagnetic models implemented in the codes and discuss further improvements of the numerical algorithm, in particular the so-called pullback mitigation of the cancellation problem. The improved algorithm is employed to simulate linear electromagnetic instabilities in shaped tokamak and stellarator plasmas, which was previously impossible for the parameters considered.

An Empirical Evaluation of Air Force Field Feeding with Recommendations for a New System

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

however, lack of temperature control results in generally poor quality. Cooking eggs to order is difficult, if not impossible; browning meats is...from or Short Order Menu Two Juices Two Entrees -Hot and Cold Cereal Two Potatoes or Substitutes Eggs to Order Two Vegetables *One Breakfast Meat Three...designed to meet the requirement. 6. The menu to be served must be considered. A complete breakfast with eggs to order including omelets requires specific

New psychoactive substances: Are there any good options for regulating new psychoactive substances?

PubMed

Reuter, Peter; Pardo, Bryce

2017-02-01

Advances in chemistry, technology, and globalization have contributed to the rapid development and diffusion of NPS (new psychoactive substances), creating perhaps the most serious challenge to the century-old international drug control system and to national systems. Very little is known about the effects of these substances which fall outside of national and international controls. The predominant response to the flood of NPS has been the development of more expeditious methods of prohibiting a new chemical entity. This article explores alternative mechanisms that have been considered: foodstuffs, alcohol and tobacco and medicines. None seems promising in terms of avoiding the problems of prohibition without permitting unsafe substances on the market. The article then considers whether there is a bias in the existing system toward excessive prohibition. In public discussion, no attention is given to the pleasures that users obtain from any NPS, to the possibility of substitution for a more dangerous legal or illegal drug or to the consequences of illegal markets for prohibited NPS. On the other hand, it may well be impossible to obtain meaningful assessments on any of these matters at the time when decisions are made. These complexities have led a number of countries, most recently Australia and the UK, to impose total bans, the effects of which are impossible to predict. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Impossible in Mathematics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adler, Irving

The material in this reprint, with minor editorial changes, is from the chapter "Doing the Impossible" in MONKEY BUSINESS by Irving Adler. This 25-page booklet contains brief accounts of historical attempts to prove impossible problems in mathematics. The mathematical recreations in this booklet of geometric constructions include the trisection…

Duration of the common cold and similar continuous outcomes should be analyzed on the relative scale: a case study of two zinc lozenge trials.

PubMed

Hemilä, Harri

2017-05-12

The relative scale has been used for decades in analysing binary data in epidemiology. In contrast, there has been a long tradition of carrying out meta-analyses of continuous outcomes on the absolute, original measurement, scale. The biological rationale for using the relative scale in the analysis of binary outcomes is that it adjusts for baseline variations; however, similar baseline variations can occur in continuous outcomes and relative effect scale may therefore be often useful also for continuous outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the relative scale is more consistent with empirical data on treating the common cold than the absolute scale. Individual patient data was available for 2 randomized trials on zinc lozenges for the treatment of the common cold. Mossad (Ann Intern Med 125:81-8, 1996) found 4.0 days and 43% reduction, and Petrus (Curr Ther Res 59:595-607, 1998) found 1.77 days and 25% reduction, in the duration of colds. In both trials, variance in the placebo group was significantly greater than in the zinc lozenge group. The effect estimates were applied to the common cold distributions of the placebo groups, and the resulting distributions were compared with the actual zinc lozenge group distributions. When the absolute effect estimates, 4.0 and 1.77 days, were applied to the placebo group common cold distributions, negative and zero (i.e., impossible) cold durations were predicted, and the high level variance remained. In contrast, when the relative effect estimates, 43 and 25%, were applied, impossible common cold durations were not predicted in the placebo groups, and the cold distributions became similar to those of the zinc lozenge groups. For some continuous outcomes, such as the duration of illness and the duration of hospital stay, the relative scale leads to a more informative statistical analysis and more effective communication of the study findings. The transformation of continuous data to the relative scale is simple with a spreadsheet program, after which the relative scale data can be analysed using standard meta-analysis software. The option for the analysis of relative effects of continuous outcomes directly from the original data should be implemented in standard meta-analysis programs.

Embedded Empiricisms in Soft Soil Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijeyesekera, D. C.; John, L. M. S. Alvin; Adnan, Z.

2016-07-01

Civil engineers of today are continuously challenged by innovative projects that push further the knowledge boundaries with conceptual and/or ingenious solutions leading to the realization of that once was considered impossible in the realms of geotechnology. Some of the forward developments rely on empirical methods embedded within soft soil technology and the spectral realms of engineering in its entirety. Empiricisms unlike folklore are not always shrouded in mysticism but can find scientific reasoning to justify them being adopted in design and tangible construction projects. This lecture therefore is an outline exposition of how empiricism has been integrally embedded in total empirical beginnings in the evolution of soft soil technology from the Renaissance time, through the developments of soil mechanics in the 19th century which in turn has paved the way to the rise of computational soil mechanics. Developments in computational soil mechanics has always embraced and are founded on a wide backdrop of empirical geoenvironment simulations. However, it is imperative that a competent geotechnical engineer needs postgraduate training combined with empiricism that is based on years of well- winnowed practical experience to fathom the diverseness and complexity of nature. However, experience being regarded more highly than expertise can, perhaps inadvertently, inhibit development and innovation.

Use of the stapler in anterior resection for cancer of the rectosigmoid.

PubMed

Resnick, S D; Burstein, A E; Viner, Y L

1983-02-01

The circular stapling device was used for anterior resection in 61 of 88 patients who underwent curative surgery for rectosigmoid cancer. Use of the autosuture increased the success rate to 68.5% for this radical sphincter-saving procedure. In three-quarters of the patients the stapling end-to-end inverting colorectal anastomosis was created within 3 to 8 cm from the dentate line, where it is difficult or even impossible to perform anastamoses by the conventional manual technique. Anastomotic leakage (3.3%) and hemorrhage (4.9%), mild anastomotic stenosis (1.6%) and transitory anal incontinence (4.9%) were the main complications. There were no deaths in our series. The great safety of the stapling anastomosis and the low rate of anal incontinence may be explained by the preservation of an adequate blood supply and innervation of the rectal stump and its sphincter apparatus, as the stapling device needs only minimal mobilization of the bowel involved in the anastomosis. Restoring colorectal continuity after Hartmann's resection is a speedy, safe and simple procedure with the EEA (enteroenterostomy) stapler. Hartmann's operation may thus be considered the procedure of choice in emergency surgery for obstructed rectosigmoid cancer.

The Benefits of Breast Feeding.

PubMed

Shamir, Raanan

2016-01-01

Human milk is considered as the gold standard for infant feeding. Breastfeeding advantages extend beyond the properties of human milk itself. A complex of nutritional, environmental, socioeconomic, psychological as well as genetic interactions establish a massive list of benefits of breastfeeding to the health outcomes of the breastfed infant and to the breastfeeding mother. For this reason, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for about 6 months and should be continued as long as mutually desired by mother and child. The evidence in the literature on the effect of breastfeeding on health outcomes is based on observational studies due to the fact that it is unethical and practically impossible to randomize children to be breastfed or not. As such, multiple confounders cloud the evidence and one must base conclusions on the accumulating evidence when not contradictory and on the only intervention study, PROBIT (Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial). This review highlights some of the health outcomes related to breastfeeding such as the prevention of infections, the effect of breastfeeding on neurodevelopmental outcome, obesity, allergy and celiac disease. Available evidence as well as some of the contradictory results is discussed. © 2016 Nestec Ltd., Vevey/S. Karger AG, Basel.

Metapsychological and clinical issues in psychosomatics research.

PubMed

Press, Jacques

2016-02-01

The author starts by treating the general epistemological problems inherent to research and emphasizes that all investigation takes place between two poles: a creative pole and one that is defensive in relation to the unknown and formlessness. In the psychosomatic field, an additional difficulty resides in the western dualistic vision of the relationship between psyche and soma which influences our way of thinking about the body as well as about otherness. The author continues by exploring Pierre Marty's psychosomatic model. Its psychosomatic monism is revolutionary but incomplete and creates a distance with the other, the somatizing patient, resulting in a medically oriented nosology symptomatic of the impossibility to think about some of the most important aspects of counter-transference. With the help of clinical material, the author considers these unthought aspects and some of their theoretical implications, particularly the way of understanding the negative often so prevalent with these patients. Based on these reflections as well as Freud's on beyond the pleasure principle and Winnicott's theorization on the fear of breakdown, the author suggests some directions for research. Somatic illness might occur when the attempts at filling the cracks created by a breakdown are unsuccessful. Copyright © 2015 Institute of Psychoanalysis.

At the end of a moving string

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanna, James; Santangelo, Christian

2012-11-01

We address a basic problem in the dynamics of flexible bodies: the propagation of a shape along a string and its reflection at a free boundary. Although the string equations - inertia balancing stress in an inextensible curve - are quite old, the only exact solutions known for non-trivial geometries are traveling waves with spatially uniform stress. Suitable for closed ``lariats,'' these solutions are incompatible with a free end, where the stress must vanish. It is impossible to drag an open, flexible, curved string along its tangents. This is reflected in the unwrapping motion of a string or chain as it is pulled around an object, and has strong implications for slender structures in passive locomotion, whether industrial cables or the ribbons of rhythmic gymnastics. We consider planar dynamics restricted to time-independent, but spatially varying, stress. We find a new exact solution at a distance ~t4/3 from the free end; continuation to the end requires introduction of a secular error into the positions and velocities and a singularity in acceleration ~t-2/3 at the end, which appears to have a physical basis. This work is an early step towards understanding the dynamics of a wide class of industrial and natural thin-object systems.

78 FR 46410 - Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel IMPOSSIBLE DREAM; Invitation...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-31

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration [Docket No. MARAD-2013 0084] Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel IMPOSSIBLE DREAM; Invitation for Public Comments AGENCY... of the vessel IMPOSSIBLE DREAM is: Intended Commercial Use of Vessel: ``Day, Multiple Day, Week...

Does the Latissimus dorsi insert on the iliac crest in man? Anatomic and ontogenic study.

PubMed

Ben Hadj Yahia, Sihem; Vacher, Christian

2011-11-01

The Latissimus dorsi muscle is usually considered as inserted on the iliac crest, but it is separated from it by the thoracolumbar fascia. In our experience based on the harvesting of pedicled Latissimus dorsi flaps to cover cervicofacial loss of substances, we have found that in some cases, the muscular fibers of the anterior border of the muscle are directly inserted on the iliac crest. In these cases, the harvesting of the flap could be more distal. To determine whether this direct muscular insertion is frequent or not, we performed dissections on 30 fresh cadavers of the lower insertion of the Latissimus dorsi muscle, and 6 dissections of human fetuses to study the ontogeny of these insertions. The Latissimus dorsi muscle presented direct muscular insertions on the iliac crest in 13.33% of cases. The fetal dissections showed that before 30 weeks of development, the anterior part of the muscle was directly inserted on the iliac crest, and after it was separated from it by the thoracolumbar fascia. Although the harvesting of the Latissimus dorsi in continuity with the thoracolumbar fascia has been described in pedicled flaps, it is usually considered that it is impossible to harvest Latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps in contact with the iliac crest, because there are no perforating vessels from the thoracolumbar fascia to the skin. According to our results, in some cases, it could be possible to harvest a pedicled musculo-cutaneous LD flap more distal that it is usually described.

A continuum theory for multicomponent chromatography modeling.

PubMed

Pfister, David; Morbidelli, Massimo; Nicoud, Roger-Marc

2016-05-13

A continuum theory is proposed for modeling multicomponent chromatographic systems under linear conditions. The model is based on the description of complex mixtures, possibly involving tens or hundreds of solutes, by a continuum. The present approach is shown to be very efficient when dealing with a large number of similar components presenting close elution behaviors and whose individual analytical characterization is impossible. Moreover, approximating complex mixtures by continuous distributions of solutes reduces the required number of model parameters to the few ones specific to the characterization of the selected continuous distributions. Therefore, in the frame of the continuum theory, the simulation of large multicomponent systems gets simplified and the computational effectiveness of the chromatographic model is thus dramatically improved. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Autobalancing of a rigid rotor in viscoelastic orthotropic supports considering eccentricity of the automatic ball balancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bykov, V. G.; Kovachev, A. S.

2018-05-01

A statically unbalanced rotor in viscoelastic orthotropic supports equipped with an automatic ball balancer (ABB), the axis of symmetry of which does not coincide with the symmetry axis of the rotor, is considered. Based on an analysis of the equations describing the stationary modes of motion of the system, the principal impossibility of complete balancing of the rotor is shown. The possibility of the existence of two types of stationary modes is established, one of which has a constant average amplitude of residual vibration equal to the eccentricity of the ABB. The solution corresponding to this almost balanced mode is constructed analytically. A study is made of its asymptotic stability.

The (Im)possibility of the Project: Radford Address

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Bill

2010-01-01

In this address, the author engages both with the possibility "and" the impossibility of the educational project--and suggests something of what it means to say this. His presentation is specifically addressed to the theme of the (im)possibility of the educational project. He draws from philosophy, literature, psychoanalysis and history,…

Young Children Discriminate Improbable from Impossible Events in Fiction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weisberg, Deena Skolnick; Sobel, David M.

2012-01-01

Can young children discriminate impossible events, which cannot happen in reality, from improbable events, which are unfamiliar but could possibly happen in reality? When asked explicitly to categorize these types of events, 4-year-olds (N = 54) tended to report that improbable events were impossible, consistent with prior results (Shtulman &…

Oculomotor Exploration of Impossible Figures in Early Infancy

PubMed Central

Shuwairi, Sarah M.; Johnson, Scott P.

2012-01-01

Previous studies with young infants revealed that young infants can distinguish between displays of possible or impossible figures, which may require detection of inconsistent depth relations among local line junctions that disrupt global object configurations. Here, we used an eye-tracking paradigm to record eye movements in young infants during an object discrimination task with matched pairs of possible and impossible figures. Our goal was to identify differential patterns of oculomotor activity as infants viewed pictures of possible and impossible objects. We predicted that infants would actively attend to specific pictorial depth cues that denote shape (e.g., T-junctions), and in the context of an impossible figure that they would fixate to a greater extent in anomalous regions of the display relative to other parts. By the age of 4 months, infants fixated reliably longer overall on displays of impossible vs. possible cubes, specifically within the critical region where the incompatible lines and irreconcilable depth relations were located, implying an early capacity for selective attention to critical line junction information and integration of local depth cues necessary to perceive object coherence. PMID:23646001

Comparing the Palmer Drought Index and the Standardized Precipitation Index for Zagreb Gric Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandzic, K.; Likso, T.

2012-04-01

Conventional Palmer Drought Index (PDI) and recent Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) for Zagreb Gric Observatory are compared by spectral analysis technique. Data for a period 1862-2010 are used. The results indicate that SPI is simpler for interpretation but PDI more comprehensive index. On the other side, lack of temperature within SPI, make impossible application of it on climate change interpretation. Possible applications of them in irrigation scheduling system is considered as well for drought risk assessment.

Report on the Service Academy Sexual Assault and Leadership Survey

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-04

decayed into something more idealistic than practical , which is troubling since we will all come out of here as 2nd Lt’s.” • Comment two: “Honor...cadets who practice the toleration portion of the honor code. Especially in the IC locker rooms it is almost impossible to turn someone in for honor...freely talk about porn, masturbation , sex, strip clubs, hookers, and various other things which I consider to be personal issues that I would rather

Ripcord adjustable suture technique for use in strabismus surgery.

PubMed

Coats, D K

2001-09-01

Adjustable sutures in strabismus surgery may be difficult or impossible in poorly cooperative patients. An adjunct suture technique that allows a 1-step, all-or-nothing, preprogrammed adjustment in patients not considered good candidates for standard postoperative adjustable sutures is described. Twelve patients underwent adjustable strabismus surgery using the ripcord technique. Six patients had unacceptable alignment after surgery. In 5 of these, alignment was successfully adjusted. The ripcord adjustable suture technique is effective and is well tolerated by patients.

Comments on the photospheric dynamo model of Henoux and Somov

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melrose, D. B.; Khan, J. I.

1989-01-01

A detailed model for a photospheric dynamo has been presented by Henoux and Somov (1987), who used the three-fluid model to treat the properties of the weakly ionized plasma. Only the equations for the two ionized components were solved. The equation for the neutral component is considered, and it is argued that the model is unacceptable becaused of an implied impossibly large unbalanced stress on the neutral gas. It is argued more generally that all existing photospheric dynamo models are untenable.

Holistic processing of impossible objects: evidence from Garner's speeded-classification task.

PubMed

Freud, Erez; Avidan, Galia; Ganel, Tzvi

2013-12-18

Holistic processing, the decoding of the global structure of a stimulus while the local parts are not explicitly represented, is a basic characteristic of object perception. The current study was aimed to test whether such a representation could be created even for objects that violate fundamental principles of spatial organization, namely impossible objects. Previous studies argued that these objects cannot be represented holistically in long-term memory because they lack coherent 3D structure. Here, we utilized Garner's speeded classification task to test whether the perception of possible and impossible objects is mediated by similar holistic processing mechanisms. To this end, participants were asked to make speeded classifications of one object dimension while an irrelevant dimension was kept constant (baseline condition) or when this dimension varied (filtering condition). It is well accepted that ignoring the irrelevant dimension is impossible when holistic perception is mandatory, thus the extent of Garner interference in performance between the baseline and filtering conditions serves as an index of holistic processing. Critically, in Experiment 1, similar levels of Garner interference were found for possible and impossible objects implying holistic perception of both object types. Experiment 2 extended these results and demonstrated that even when depth information was explicitly processed, participants were still unable to process one dimension (width/depth) while ignoring the irrelevant dimension (depth/width, respectively). The results of Experiment 3 replicated the basic pattern found in Experiments 1 and 2 using a novel set of object exemplars. In Experiment 4, we used possible and impossible versions of the Penrose triangles in which information about impossibility is embedded in the internal elements of the objects which participant were explicitly asked to judge. As in Experiments 1-3, similar Garner interference was found for possible and impossible objects. Taken together, these findings emphasize the centrality of holistic processing style in object perception and suggest that it applies even for atypical stimuli such as impossible objects. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimal information networks: Application for data-driven integrated health in populations

PubMed Central

Servadio, Joseph L.; Convertino, Matteo

2018-01-01

Development of composite indicators for integrated health in populations typically relies on a priori assumptions rather than model-free, data-driven evidence. Traditional variable selection processes tend not to consider relatedness and redundancy among variables, instead considering only individual correlations. In addition, a unified method for assessing integrated health statuses of populations is lacking, making systematic comparison among populations impossible. We propose the use of maximum entropy networks (MENets) that use transfer entropy to assess interrelatedness among selected variables considered for inclusion in a composite indicator. We also define optimal information networks (OINs) that are scale-invariant MENets, which use the information in constructed networks for optimal decision-making. Health outcome data from multiple cities in the United States are applied to this method to create a systemic health indicator, representing integrated health in a city. PMID:29423440

Experimental control of sea lampreys with electricity on the south shore of Lake Superior, 1953-60

USGS Publications Warehouse

McLain, Alberton L.; Smith, Bernard R.; Moore, Harry H.

1965-01-01

Electric devices of the type and design used are capable of blocking entire runs of adult sea lampreys. An accurate appraisal of the effectiveness of the barrier system is impossible, however. Most of the barriers were not operated long enough to reduce the contribution of parasites from the streams. Furthermore, a complete system of efficient electric barriers was never realized. The greatest weakness of this method of control lies in maintenance of the units in continuous, uninterrupted operation through consecutive migratory seasons.

28 CFR 79.5 - Requirements for medical documentation, contemporaneous records, and other records or documents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... copies of the originals, unless it is impossible to obtain an original or certified copy of the original. If it is impossible for a claimant to provide an original or certified copy of an original, the... setting forth the reason why it is impossible to provide an original or a certified copy of an original...

She Bought the Unicorn from the Pet Store: Six- to Seven-Year-Olds Are Strongly Inclined to Generate Natural Explanations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nancekivell, Shaylene E.; Friedman, Ori

2017-01-01

In two experiments (N = 64), we told 6- to 7-year-olds about improbable or impossible outcomes (Experiment 1) and about impossible outcomes concerning ordinary or magical agents (Experiment 2). In both experiments, children claimed that the outcomes were impossible and could not happen, but nonetheless generated realistic and natural explanations…

Bias effects in the possible/impossible object decision test with matching objects.

PubMed

Soldan, Anja; Hilton, H John; Stern, Yaakov

2009-03-01

In the possible/impossible object decision test, priming has consistently been found for structurally possible, but not impossible, objects, leading Schacter, Cooper, and Delaney (1990) to suggest that priming relies on a system that represents the global 3-D structure of objects. Using a modified design with matching objects to control for the influence of episodic memory, Ratcliff and McKoon (1995) and Williams and Tarr (1997) found negative priming for impossible objects (i.e., lower performance for old than for new items). Both teams argued that priming derives from (1) episodic memory for object features and (2) bias to respond "possible" to encoded objects or their possible parts. The present study applied the matched-objects design to the original Schacter and Cooper stimuli-same possible objects and matching impossible figures-with minimal procedural variation. The data from Experiment 1 only partially supported the bias models and suggested that priming was mediated by both local and global structural descriptions. Experiment 2 showed that negative priming for impossible objects derived from the structural properties of these objects, not from the influence of episodic memory on task performance. Supplemental materials for this study may be downloaded from mc.psychonomic-journals.org/content/supplemental.

Assessment of PlanIQ Feasibility DVH for head and neck treatment planning.

PubMed

Fried, David V; Chera, Bhishamjit S; Das, Shiva K

2017-09-01

Designing a radiation plan that optimally delivers both target coverage and normal tissue sparing is challenging. There are limited tools to determine what is dosimetrically achievable and frequently the experience of the planner/physician is relied upon to make these determinations. PlanIQ software provides a tool that uses target and organ at risk (OAR) geometry to indicate the difficulty of achieving different points for organ dose-volume histograms (DVH). We hypothesized that PlanIQ Feasibility DVH may aid planners in reducing dose to OARs. Clinically delivered head and neck treatments (clinical plan) were re-planned (re-plan) putting high emphasis on maximally sparing the contralateral parotid gland, contralateral submandibular gland, and larynx while maintaining routine clinical dosimetric objectives. The planner was blinded to the results of the clinically delivered plan as well as the Feasibility DVHs from PlanIQ. The re-plan treatments were designed using 3-arc VMAT in Raystation (RaySearch Laboratories, Sweden). The planner was then given the results from the PlanIQ Feasibility DVH analysis and developed an additional plan incorporating this information using 4-arc VMAT (IQ plan). The DVHs across the three treatment plans were compared with what was deemed "impossible" by PlanIQ's Feasibility DVH (Impossible DVH). The impossible DVH (red) is defined as the DVH generated using the minimal dose that any voxel outside the targets must receive given 100% target coverage. The re-plans performed blinded to PlanIQ Feasibilty DVH achieved superior sparing of aforementioned OARs compared to the clinically delivered plans and resulted in discrepancies from the impossible DVHs by an average of 200-700 cGy. Using the PlanIQ Feasibility DVH led to additionalOAR sparing compared to both the re-plans and clinical plans and reduced the discrepancies from the impossible DVHs to an average of approximately 100 cGy. The dose reduction from clinical to re-plan and re-plan to IQ plan were significantly different even when taking into account multiple hypothesis testing for both the contralateral parotid and the larynx (P < 0.004 for all comparisons). No significant differences were observed between the three plans for the contralateral parotid when considering multiple hypothesis testing. Clinical treatment plans and blinded re-plans were found to suboptimally spare OARs. PlanIQ could aid planners in generating treatment plans that push the limits of OAR sparing while maintaining routine clinical target coverage goals. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Differentiate low impedance media in closed steel tank using ultrasonic wave tunneling.

PubMed

Wang, Chunying; Chen, Zhaojiang; Cao, Wenwu

2018-01-01

Ultrasonic wave tunneling through seriously mismatched media, such as steel and water, is possible only when the frequency matches the resonance of the steel plate. But it is nearly impossible to realize continuous wave tunneling if the low acoustic impedance media is air because the transducer frequency cannot be made so accurate. The issue might be resolved using tone-burst signals. Using finite element simulations, we found that for air media when the cycle number is 20, the -6dB bandwidth of energy transmission increased from 0.001% to 5.9% compared with that of continuous waves. We show that the tunneling waves can give us enough information to distinguish low acoustic impedance media inside a steel tank. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Imaging of alloplastic ligament implant. An in vivo and in vitro study exemplified by Kevlar].

PubMed

Wening, J V; Katzer, A; Nicolas, V; Hahn, M; Jungbluth, K H; Kratzer A [corrected to Katzer, A

1994-04-01

Neither native X-ray nor CT or NMR allow to evaluate intraarticular implantation results of Kevlar -49 directly. In animal trials, the course of an artificial ligament may only be presumed from connective tissue ingrowth. Although soft tissue structure appears much better in NMR than in CT, direct proof of ligament continuity is still impossible. As soon as the connective tissue becomes continuous, it appears clearly and allows indirect evaluation of the prosthesis, as integrity can be judged by its shape like in natural cruciate ligament. Anatomic preparations show that connective tissue fills up the small space between the two cords of a Kevlar -49 two bundle prosthesis eight weeks after implantation, so that imaging systems show only one intraarticular bundle.

[Clinical evaluation and problem of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy of liver metastasis from digestive organ cancer].

PubMed

Ohya, T; Fukunaga, J; Kitahama, H; Okuyama, A; Seki, T; Tsurui, K; Saka, M; Sasagawa, M; Hishinuma, S; Kotake, K

1990-08-01

Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy using an implantable reservoir was used for 22 patients with liver metastasis from September 1986 to March 1990. The material consisted of 8 subjects with gastric cancer and 14 with colorectal cancer. One had metastasis in one lobe (H1), 10 had a few scattered metastases in both lobes (H2) and 11 had numerous metastases in both lobes (H3). In 5 cases, a reservoir was implanted to prevent the recurrence after hepatectomy. Infusion catheter was placed in the proper hepatic artery in 5 cases via the gastroduodenal artery at laparotomy and it was carried out subcutaneously via the femoral artery in 17 cases. In all cases intra-arterial infusion of 5-FU was continuously administered followed by intermittent one shot injection of ADM. The clinical effectiveness of the therapy was well evaluated. One-year cumulative survival rate of all cases by Kaplan-Meier method was 55% and that of H2 cases was 78%. No recurrence was noted in post hepatectomy cases. Eight cases (36.3%) showed remarkable complications, which made it impossible to continue intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy: hepatic artery occlusion (3 cases), infection (2 cases), abdominal pain (1 case), hematoma in the implanted site (1 case) and dislocation of the infusion catheter (1 case). From the present study, it is considered that intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy is a useful procedure for the control of liver metastasis. Regimens for improved chemotherapy and the maintenance of more useful and safer catheters should therefore be investigated for further development of the therapeutical estimation.

Can We Sustainably Harvest Ivory?

PubMed

Lusseau, David; Lee, Phyllis C

2016-11-07

Despite the 1989 ivory trade ban, elephants continue to be killed to harvest their tusks for ivory. Since 2008, this poaching has increased to unprecedented levels driven by consumer demand for ivory products. CITES is now considering the development of a legal ivory trade [1, 2]. The proposal relies on three assumptions: (1) harvest regulation will cease all illegal activities, (2) defined sustainable quotas can be enforced, and (3) we can define meaningful sustainable quotas that come close to the current demand. We know that regulation of harvest does not stop illegal takes. Despite whaling regulation after World War II, illegal whaling continued for decades [3]. The introduction of wolf culls in the US actually increased poaching activities [4], and one-off ivory sales in 1999 and 2008 did nothing to halt elephant poaching. Governance issues over the ivory supply chains, including stockpiling, make enforcing quotas challenging, if not impossible [5, 6]. We have not yet adequately assessed what could be a sustainable ivory yield. To do so, we develop a compartmental model composed of a two-sex age-structured demographic model and an ivory production and harvest model. We applied several offtake and quota strategies to define how much ivory could be sustainably harvested. We found that the sustainability space is very small. Only 100 to 150 kg of ivory could be removed from a reference population of 1,360 elephants, levels well below the current demand. Our study shows that lifting the ivory ban will not address the current poaching challenge. We should instead focus on reducing consumer demand. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Context on Eye Movements When Reading About Possible and Impossible Events

PubMed Central

Warren, Tessa; McConnell, Kerry; Rayner, Keith

2009-01-01

Plausibility violations resulting in impossible scenarios lead to earlier and longer lasting eye movement disruption than violations resulting in highly unlikely scenarios (K. Rayner, T. Warren, B. J. Juhasz, & S. P. Liversedge, 2004; T. Warren & K. McConnell, 2007). This could reflect either differences in the timing of availability of different kinds of information (e.g., selectional restrictions, world knowledge, and context) or differences in their relative power to guide semantic interpretation. The authors investigated eye movements to possible and impossible events in real-world and fantasy contexts to determine when contextual information influences detection of impossibility cued by a semantic mismatch between a verb and an argument. Gaze durations on a target word were longer to impossible events independent of context. However, a measure of the time elapsed from first fixating the target word to moving past it showed disruption only in the real-world context. These results suggest that contextual information did not eliminate initial disruption but moderated it quickly thereafter. PMID:18605885

Feasibility and Scaling of Composite Based Additive Manufacturing

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

Nuttall, David; Chen, Xun; Kunc, Vlastimil

2016-04-27

Engineers and Researchers at Oak Ridge National Lab s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (ORNL MDF) collaborated with Impossible Objects (IO) in the characterization of PEEK infused carbon fiber mat manufactured by means of CBAM composite-based additive manufacturing, a first generation assembly methodology developed by Robert Swartz, Chairman, Founder, and CTO of Impossible Objects.[1] The first phase of this project focused on demonstration of CBAM for composite tooling. The outlined steps focused on selecting an appropriate shape that fit the current machine s build envelope, characterized the resulting form, and presented next steps for transitioning to a Phase II CRADA agreement. Phasemore » I of collaborative research and development agreement NFE-15-05698 was initiated in April of 2015 with an introduction to Impossible Objects, and concluded in March of 2016 with a visitation to Impossible Objects headquarters in Chicago, IL. Phase II as discussed herein is under consideration by Impossible Objects as of this writing.« less

High resolution observations: The state of the art and beyond

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Title, A.; Tarbell, T.; Shine, R.; Topka, K.; Frank, Z.

1992-01-01

The meaning of high resolution and its scientific importance with regard to solar observations is discussed. The state of the art is reviewed, looking into Solar Optical Universal Polarimeter (SOUP) observations, image selection techniques, and adaptive optics. It is concluded that until there are observations in space, complete understanding of processes in the solar photosphere, chromosphere, transition region, and corona will be impossible. The importance of high resolution is considered with regard to solar surface and convection, solar photosphere inside and outside magnetic fields, and sunspot geometry.

Total synthesis of feglymycin based on a linear/convergent hybrid approach using micro-flow amide bond formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuse, Shinichiro; Mifune, Yuto; Nakamura, Hiroyuki; Tanaka, Hiroshi

2016-11-01

Feglymycin is a naturally occurring, anti-HIV and antimicrobial 13-mer peptide that includes highly racemizable 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycines (Dpgs). Here we describe the total synthesis of feglymycin based on a linear/convergent hybrid approach. Our originally developed micro-flow amide bond formation enabled highly racemizable peptide chain elongation based on a linear approach that was previously considered impossible. Our developed approach will enable the practical preparation of biologically active oligopeptides that contain highly racemizable amino acids, which are attractive drug candidates.

Knowledge modeling tool for evidence-based design.

PubMed

Durmisevic, Sanja; Ciftcioglu, Ozer

2010-01-01

The aim of this study is to take evidence-based design (EBD) to the next level by activating available knowledge, integrating new knowledge, and combining them for more efficient use by the planning and design community. This article outlines a framework for a performance-based measurement tool that can provide the necessary decision support during the design or evaluation of a healthcare environment by estimating the overall design performance of multiple variables. New knowledge in EBD adds continuously to complexity (the "information explosion"), and it becomes impossible to consider all aspects (design features) at the same time, much less their impact on final building performance. How can existing knowledge and the information explosion in healthcare-specifically the domain of EBD-be rendered manageable? Is it feasible to create a computational model that considers many design features and deals with them in an integrated way, rather than one at a time? The found evidence is structured and readied for computation through a "fuzzification" process. The weights are calculated using an analytical hierarchy process. Actual knowledge modeling is accomplished through a fuzzy neural tree structure. The impact of all inputs on the outcome-in this case, patient recovery-is calculated using sensitivity analysis. Finally, the added value of the model is discussed using a hypothetical case study of a patient room. The proposed model can deal with the complexities of various aspects and the relationships among variables in a coordinated way, allowing existing and new pieces of evidence to be integrated in a knowledge tree structure that facilitates understanding of the effects of various design interventions on overall design performance.

Transient analysis of gas transport in anode channel of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with dead-ended anode under pressure swing operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ichikawa, Yasushi; Oshima, Nobuyuki; Tabuchi, Yuichiro; Ikezoe, Keigo

2014-12-01

Further cost reduction is a critical issue for commercialization of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) based on polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). The cost of the fuel-cell system is driven by the multiple parts required to maximize stack performance and maintain durability and robustness. The fuel-cell system of the FCEV must be simplified while maintaining functionality. The dead-ended anode is considered as a means of simplification in this study. Generally, if hydrogen is supplied under constant pressure during dead-ended operation, stable power generation is impossible because of accumulation of liquid water produced by power generation and of nitrogen via leakage from the cathode through the membrane. Herein, pressure oscillation is applied to address this issue. Empirical and CFD data are employed to elucidate the mechanism of stable power generation using the pressure swing supply. Simultaneous and time-continuous measurements of the current distribution and gas concentration distribution are also conducted. The results demonstrate that the nitrogen concentration in the anode channel under pressure constant operation differs from that under pressure swing supply conditions. The transient two-dimensional CFD results indicate that oscillatory flow is generated by pressure swing supply, which periodically sweeps out nitrogen from the active area, resulting in stable power generation.

Retreat from Nuremberg: can we prevent unethical medical research?

PubMed

Horner, J S

1999-09-01

The prosecution of doctors guilty of appalling human rights abuses at Nuremberg was achieved on the mistaken premise that the research community already had a code of conduct which, if applied, would have made such abuses impossible. In fact, not only was there no such code but when the 'Nuremberg Code' was published after the trial it continued to be ignored by many doctors for some thirty years afterwards. Indeed its central principle of informed consent has itself been eroded by subsequent international agreements on the ethics of medical research. This review shows that the mechanisms for approval of medical research which have now been promulgated in England and Wales, in practice, are applied on a very variable basis. Research in vulnerable groups unable to give fully informed consent such as children, prisoners and the incompetent elderly require the application of more rigorous standards of ethical control than those currently in operation. The use of vulnerable populations in the developing world and the application of international standards to them is also considered. A number of suggestions for improvements in current procedures in all these areas are put forward. The proposals for the United Kingdom would meet the requirements of the European Convention on bioethical research and the recent government consultation paper on medical treatment and research in incompetent adults.

Type 2 and type 3 burst theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, D. F.

1973-01-01

The present state of the theory of type 3 bursts is reviewed by dividing the problem into the exciting agency, radiation source, and propagation of radiation between the source and the observer. In-situ measurements indicate that the excitors are electron streams of energy about 40 keV which are continuously relaxing. An investigation of neutralization of an electron stream indicates that n sub s is much less than 100,000 n sub e, where n sub s is the stream density and n sub e the coronal electron density. In situ observations are consistent with this result. An analysis of propagation of electrons in the current sheets of coronal streamers shows that such propagation at heights greater than 1 solar radius is impossible. The mechanisms for radiation are reviewed; it is shown that fundamental radiation at high frequencies (approximately 100 MHz) is highly beamed in the radial direction and that near the earth second harmonic radiation must be dominant. Because of beaming of the fundamental at high frequencies, it can often be quite weak near the limb so that the second harmonic is dominant. In considering propagation to the observer, the results of scattering of radiation are discussed. The present state of the theory of type 2 bursts is reviewed in the same manner as type 3 bursts.

Seaweed communities in retreat from ocean warming.

PubMed

Wernberg, Thomas; Russell, Bayden D; Thomsen, Mads S; Gurgel, C Frederico D; Bradshaw, Corey J A; Poloczanska, Elvira S; Connell, Sean D

2011-11-08

In recent decades, global climate change [1] has caused profound biological changes across the planet [2-6]. However, there is a great disparity in the strength of evidence among different ecosystems and between hemispheres: changes on land have been well documented through long-term studies, but similar direct evidence for impacts of warming is virtually absent from the oceans [3, 7], where only a few studies on individual species of intertidal invertebrates, plankton, and commercially important fish in the North Atlantic and North Pacific exist. This disparity of evidence is precarious for biological conservation because of the critical role of the marine realm in regulating the Earth's environmental and ecological functions, and the associated socioeconomic well-being of humans [8]. We interrogated a database of >20,000 herbarium records of macroalgae collected in Australia since the 1940s and documented changes in communities and geographical distribution limits in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, consistent with rapid warming over the past five decades [9, 10]. We show that continued warming might drive potentially hundreds of species toward and beyond the edge of the Australian continent where sustained retreat is impossible. The potential for global extinctions is profound considering the many endemic seaweeds and seaweed-dependent marine organisms in temperate Australia. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical models of interstellar gas-grain processes. II - The effect of grain-catalysed methane on gas phase evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Paul D.; Charnley, S. B.

1991-01-01

The effects on gas phase chemistry which result from the continuous desorption of methane molecules from grain surfaces are studied. Significant and sustained enhancements in the abundances of several complex hydrocarbon molecules are found, in good agreement with their observed values in TMC-1. The overall agreement is, however, just as good for the case of zero CH4 desorption efficiency. It is thus impossible to determine from the models whether or not the grain-surface production of methane is responsible for the observed abundances of some hydrocarbon molecules.

Development of a standardized sequential extraction protocol for simultaneous extraction of multiple actinide elements

DOE PAGES

Faye, Sherry A.; Richards, Jason M.; Gallardo, Athena M.; ...

2017-02-07

Sequential extraction is a useful technique for assessing the potential to leach actinides from soils; however, current literature lacks uniformity in experimental details, making direct comparison of results impossible. This work continued development toward a standardized five-step sequential extraction protocol by analyzing extraction behaviors of 232Th, 238U, 239,240Pu and 241Am from lake and ocean sediment reference materials. Results produced a standardized procedure after creating more defined reaction conditions to improve method repeatability. A NaOH fusion procedure is recommended following sequential leaching for the complete dissolution of insoluble species.

Thermographic In-Situ Process Monitoring of the Electron Beam Melting Technology used in Additive Manufacturing

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

Dinwiddie, Ralph Barton; Dehoff, Ryan R; Lloyd, Peter D

2013-01-01

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been utilizing the ARCAM electron beam melting technology to additively manufacture complex geometric structures directly from powder. Although the technology has demonstrated the ability to decrease costs, decrease manufacturing lead-time and fabricate complex structures that are impossible to fabricate through conventional processing techniques, certification of the component quality can be challenging. Because the process involves the continuous deposition of successive layers of material, each layer can be examined without destructively testing the component. However, in-situ process monitoring is difficult due to metallization on inside surfaces caused by evaporation and condensation of metal from themore » melt pool. This work describes a solution to one of the challenges to continuously imaging inside of the chamber during the EBM process. Here, the utilization of a continuously moving Mylar film canister is described. Results will be presented related to in-situ process monitoring and how this technique results in improved mechanical properties and reliability of the process.« less

[Euthanasia in patients with cancer and the continuous-care providers].

PubMed

Camps Herrero, Carlos; Gavilá Gregori, Joaquín; Garde Noguera, Javier; Caballero Díaz, Cristina; Iranzo González-Cruz, Vega; Juárez Marroquí, Asunción; Safont Aguilera, Maria José; Blasco Cordellat, Ana; Berrocal Jaime, Alfonso; Sanz de Bremond, Maria Godes

2005-08-01

During the clinical evolution of patients with cancer there are many occasions, or phases of the disease, when there are no specific treatments and, as such, we need to provide maximum comfort following appropriate symptom control; in this stage it is fundamental to respect personal autonomy together with the option to reject futile treatment. With appropriate control of symptoms it is possible to reach the stage where the majority of the patients do not continue to suffer. Continuous-care providers for cancer patients are those who are responsible for providing help to resolve these situations. In palliative medicine there are highly-efficacious procedures to the help in these last hours. Sedation is applied when it is impossible to control symptoms by other means. With appropriate Carer cover, it is not necessary to introduce laws on assisted suicide and/or active voluntary euthanasia, neither because of the magnitude of demand, nor because of the difficulties in achieving appropriate control of symptoms.

Chromatographic separation and continuously referenced, on-line monitoring of creatine kinase isoenzymes by use of an immobilized-enzyme microreactor

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

Denton, M.S.; Bostick, W.D.; Dinsmore, S.R.

1978-08-01

We describe a new concept in continuously referenced monitoring of the isoenzyme activities of creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) after liquid-chromatographic separation. After separation on a diethylaminoethyl-Sephacel column, the three isoenzymes of creatine kinase undergo a series of coupled enzyme reactions, ultimately resulting in the formation of ultraviolet-detectable NADPH. A major advantage of this detection system is the immobilized-enzyme microreactor (2 x 17 mm), which may be removed and stored refrigerated when not in use. A split-stream configuration allows self-blanking of endogenous ultraviolet-absorbing constituents in authentic sera samples, which would otherwise make definitive diagnosis and quantitation difficult or impossible. This detectionmore » system is applicable to the automated analysis of creatine kinase isoenzymes in the clinical laboratory.« less

Use of the continuous slope-area method to estimate runoff in a network of ephemeral channels, southeast Arizona, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stewart, Anne M.; Callegary, James B.; Smith, Christopher F.; Gupta, Hoshin V.; Leenhouts, James M.; Fritzinger, Robert A.

2012-01-01

The continuous slope-area (CSA) method is an innovative gaging method for indirect computation of complete-event discharge hydrographs that can be applied when direct measurement methods are unsafe, impractical, or impossible to apply. This paper reports on use of the method to produce event-specific discharge hydrographs in a network of sand-bedded ephemeral stream channels in southeast Arizona, USA, for water year 2008. The method provided satisfactory discharge estimates for flows that span channel banks, and for moderate to large flows, with about 10–16% uncertainty, respectively for total flow volume and peak flow, as compared to results obtained with an alternate method. Our results also suggest that the CSA method may be useful for estimating runoff of small flows, and during recessions, but with increased uncertainty.

Feeling powerless: a feeling expressed by caregivers of sexual violence victims.

PubMed

Correa, Maria Eduarda Cavadinha; Labronici, Liliana Maria; Trigueiro, Tatiane Herreira

2009-01-01

This phenomenological study aimed to reveal the meaning of providing care to victims of sexual violence. The study was carried out from December 2006 to March 2007 with 12 health professionals. Data were collected through tape-recorded semi-structured interviews, whose analysis followed the phenomenological trajectory. The following theme emerged: Feeling powerless, a feeling expressed by caregivers of sexual violence victims. The feeling of powerlessness is continuously fed by health professionals' daily routines, given the impossibility of solving situations of violence, of problems that emerge from the other's subjectivity, as well as social issues, because these professionals were not trained for that. Thus, it is essential to address the issue both in undergraduate and graduate programs in health and human areas. Institutions should promote continuing education so that these professionals can act properly.

Investigation of aquifer-estuary interaction using wavelet analysis of fiber-optic temperature data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Henderson, R.D.; Day-Lewis, Frederick D.; Harvey, Charles F.

2009-01-01

Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (FODTS) provides sub-minute temporal and meter-scale spatial resolution over kilometer-long cables. Compared to conventional thermistor or thermocouple-based technologies, which measure temperature at discrete (and commonly sparse) locations, FODTS offers nearly continuous spatial coverage, thus providing hydrologic information at spatiotemporal scales previously impossible. Large and information-rich FODTS datasets, however, pose challenges for data exploration and analysis. To date, FODTS analyses have focused on time-series variance as the means to discriminate between hydrologic phenomena. Here, we demonstrate the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and cross-wavelet transform (XWT) to analyze FODTS in the context of related hydrologic time series. We apply the CWT and XWT to data from Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts to identify the location and timing of tidal pumping of submarine groundwater.

Impossible spaces: maximizing natural walking in virtual environments with self-overlapping architecture.

PubMed

Suma, Evan A; Lipps, Zachary; Finkelstein, Samantha; Krum, David M; Bolas, Mark

2012-04-01

Walking is only possible within immersive virtual environments that fit inside the boundaries of the user's physical workspace. To reduce the severity of the restrictions imposed by limited physical area, we introduce "impossible spaces," a new design mechanic for virtual environments that wish to maximize the size of the virtual environment that can be explored with natural locomotion. Such environments make use of self-overlapping architectural layouts, effectively compressing comparatively large interior environments into smaller physical areas. We conducted two formal user studies to explore the perception and experience of impossible spaces. In the first experiment, we showed that reasonably small virtual rooms may overlap by as much as 56% before users begin to detect that they are in an impossible space, and that the larger virtual rooms that expanded to maximally fill our available 9.14 m x 9.14 m workspace may overlap by up to 31%. Our results also demonstrate that users perceive distances to objects in adjacent overlapping rooms as if the overall space was uncompressed, even at overlap levels that were overtly noticeable. In our second experiment, we combined several well-known redirection techniques to string together a chain of impossible spaces in an expansive outdoor scene. We then conducted an exploratory analysis of users' verbal feedback during exploration, which indicated that impossible spaces provide an even more powerful illusion when users are naive to the manipulation.

Successful twin delivery following transmyometrial embryo transfer in a patient with a false uterine cavity.

PubMed

Muñoz, Manuel; Galindo, Noemí; Pérez-Cano, Inmaculada; Cruz, María; García-Velasco, Juan Antonio

2014-02-01

A successful pregnancy is the greatest goal for reproductive medicine. The probability that pregnancy occurs during a cycle of assisted reproduction is a function of multiple factors, of which embryo transfer is one of the most critical steps in these treatments. This article reports a case of successful pregnancy and twin delivery by transmyometrial embryo transfer after IVF in a woman with a neocavity parallel to the uterine cavity, which prevented the transfer of embryos to the correct place. The patient first went to another fertility centre where embryo transfer was impossible to perform because the cervix could not be canalized. Subsequently in this study clinic, after considering the difficulty of inserting a catheter into the endometrial cavity, a trial transfer was performed, which discovered a false route parallel to endometrial cavity. Following a first cycle in which conventional transcervical embryo transfer was performed, a transmyometrial embryo transfer was carried out and the patient became pregnant with twins. In cases where transcervical embryo transfer is very difficult or impossible to perform, the value of transmyometrial transfer is self-evident. Copyright © 2013 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Effects of two different methods for airway humidification for patients with tracheostomy: a Meta-analysis].

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Pi, Hongying

2016-01-01

To evaluate the effects of two different kinds of airway humidification for tracheostomy patients, and to provide their relevant clinical effect and suggestions for their use. Online databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, JBI evidence-based nursing center library, the Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP, CBM) were searched systematically up to March 2015. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered eligible for inclusion if the following criteria were met: no history of respiratory tract infection; satisfactory nutritional status; tracheotomy performed; 18 years older. Two different humidification methods were used. Continuous airway humidification was used in the experiment group, while intermittent airway humidification was used in the control group. Two qualified reviewers reviewed the original articles, evaluating the quality of articles, and data were extracted independently. The enrolled RCTs were analyzed by Meta-analysis. A total of nine RCTs were included, containing 631 cases, among them 316 cases in expertment group, and 315 cases in control group. Continuous airway humidification was shown to be able to reduce the incidence of irritable cough [odds ratio (OR) = 0.20, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.12-0.34, P < 0.000?01], bleeding form mucosa of respiratory tract (OR = 0.25, 95%CI = 0.14-0.45, P < 0.000?01), sputum conglomeration (OR = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.10-0.39, P < 0.000?01), and pneumonia (OR = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.19-0.45, P < 0.000?01). The funnel plots were largely symmetrical, suggesting there was no publication bias in the Meta-analysis of two methods for airway humidification for tracheostomy patients. Because the number of including articles was relative small, and the quality of some articles was poor, it is impossible to draw a reliable conclusion that continuous airway humidification could lower the incidence of complications for patients undergone tracheostomy.

Therapeutic and reproductive cloning: a critique.

PubMed

Bowring, Finn

2004-01-01

This article is a critical examination of the science and ethics of human cloning. It summarises the key scientific milestones in the development of nuclear transplantation, explains the importance of cloning to research into the medical potential of embryonic stem cells, and discusses the well-worn distinction between 'therapeutic' and 'reproductive' cloning. Suggesting that this distinction will be impossible to police, it goes on to consider the ethics of full human cloning. It is concluded that it represents an unacceptable form of parental despotism, and that the genetic engineering and cloning of future human beings will fracture the foundations of modern humanism.

Is Prediction Possible in General Relativity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manchak, John Byron

2008-04-01

Here we briefly review the concept of “prediction” within the context of classical relativity theory. We prove a theorem asserting that one may predict one’s own future only in a closed universe. We then question whether prediction is possible at all (even in closed universes). We note that interest in prediction has stemmed from considering the epistemological predicament of the observer. We argue that the definitions of prediction found thus far in the literature do not fully appreciate this predicament. We propose a more adequate alternative and show that, under this definition, prediction is essentially impossible in general relativity.

[Metabolic and hemodynamic effects of the growth hormone system - insulin-like growth factor].

PubMed

Manhylova, T A; Gafarova, N H

2015-01-01

Significant congenital deficiency of growth factor (GF) results in pituitary nanism (dwarfism) and its substantial excess is accompanied by the development of gigantism or acromegaly. Its impact on the growth of the whole body or its individual parts is impossible without affecting metabolic processes and hemodynamic parameters. A number of investigations have proven that GF has a direct lipolytic effect: adequate replacement therapy for pituitary nanism gives rise to a reduction in fat depots. Since the concentration of GF is lower in obesity, Whether it may be used to treat this abnormality is considered.

Angular aberration in the problem of power beaming to geostationary satellites through the atmosphere.

PubMed

Baryshnikov, F F

1995-10-20

The influence of angular aberration of radiation as a result of the difference in speed of a geostationary satellite and the speed of the Earth's surface on laser power beaming to satellites is considered. Angular aberration makes it impossible to direct the energy to the satellite, and additional beam rotation is necessary. Because the Earth's rotation may cause bad phase restoration, we face a serious problem: how to transfer incoherent radiation to remote satellites. In the framework of the Kolmogorov turbulence model simple conditions of energy transfer are derived and discussed.

Application of M-JPEG compression hardware to dynamic stimulus production.

PubMed

Mulligan, J B

1997-01-01

Inexpensive circuit boards have appeared on the market which transform a normal micro-computer's disk drive into a video disk capable of playing extended video sequences in real time. This technology enables the performance of experiments which were previously impossible, or at least prohibitively expensive. The new technology achieves this capability using special-purpose hardware to compress and decompress individual video frames, enabling a video stream to be transferred over relatively low-bandwidth disk interfaces. This paper will describe the use of such devices for visual psychophysics and present the technical issues that must be considered when evaluating individual products.

[Health care systems and impossibility theorems].

PubMed

Penchas, Shmuel

2004-02-01

Health care systems, amongst the most complicated systems that serve mankind, have been in turmoil for many years. They are characterized by widespread dissatisfaction, repeated reforms and a general perception of failure. Is it possible that this abominable situation derives from underlying causes, which are inherent to the most basic elements of these systems? Those elements compromise the use of words and definitions in the formulation of their principles and their way of action, in their logical structure as well as in the social order in which they exist. An in-depth investigation of these elements raises findings that may negate the basic feasibility of the success of such complex systems, as currently known in the western world. One of the main elements of the democratic regime is its system of decision/choice making, i.e. the majority vote. But, already in the nineteenth century, it was discovered that a majority was an intransitive ordering and did not produce a consistent definition of a preference. The Marquis of Condorcet in his famous 1785 "Essai sur l'application de l'analyse a la probabilite des decisions rendues a la plurite des voix", clearly demonstrated that majority decisions might lead to intransitivity and an indeterminancy in social choices. On the basis of his discoveries, it was later shown that legislative rules may lead to the choice of a proposal that is actually opposed by the majority, or to a deadlock and therefore, to socially undesirable implications. Subsequent to these theories of Condorcet, which became known as "The Paradox of Condorcet", many papers were published in the 19th and 20th centuries regarding the issue of problems dealing with individual preferences leading to social order--a complex procedure of, amongst others, aggregation in a defined axiomatic framework. During the twentieth century it became astoundingly manifest that certain issues, although correctly attacked logically, could not be resolved. Two such famous results are Kurt Godel's seminal paper in 1931: "Ueber formal unentscheidbare Saetze der Principia Mathematica and verwandter System I" and Arrow's Nobel Prize winning "Impossibility Theorem" (Social Choice and Individual Values, 1951). Godel showed, unequivocally, that there is an enormous gap between what is being perceived as truth and what in fact can be proven as such. Arrow showed that the translation of individual preferences into a social order is impossible--except in a dictatorship. The unsolved controversies concerning the desirable or ideal structure of health care systems are impinged upon by these findings generally, and, in the case of the impossibility theorem, also directly. There is the impossibility of aggregating preferences and, at a deeper level, the impossibility of defining certain fundamental values, coupled with the problematic use of certain words, the absence of the possibility of creating, on a logically defined base, a complex system, complete and comprehensive in its own right. This is added to the fact that according to the elaboration by Stephen Wolfram in "A New Kind of Science", it is not easy to reduce complicated systems to simple components and to predict the continuation of their development even from simple basic laws without complicated calculations. All of these factors impede the construction of satisfying health care systems and leave obvious problems which overshadow the structure and the operation of health care systems.

Chromatographic separation and continuously referenced, on-line monitoring of creatine kinase isoenzymes by use of an immobilized-enzyme microreactor

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

Denton, M.S.; Bostick, W.D.; Dinsmore, S.R.

1978-08-01

We describe a new concept in continuously referenced monitoring of the isoenzyme activities of creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) after liquid-chromatographic separation. After separation on a diethylaminoethyl-Sephacel column, the three isoenzymes of creatine kinase undergo a series of upled enzyme reactions, ultimately resulting in the formation of ultraviolet-detectable NADPH. A major advantage of this detection system is the immobilized-enzyme microreactor (2 x 17 mm), which may be removed and stored refrigerated when not in use. A split-stream configuration allows self-blanking of endogenous ultraviolet-absorbing constituents in authentic sera samples, which would otherwise make definitive diagnosis and quantitation difficult or impossible. This detectionmore » system is applicable to the automated analysis of creatine kinase isoenzymes in the clinical laboratory. 5 figures; 42 references.« less

Recording vocalizations with Bluetooth technology.

PubMed

Gaona-González, Andrés; Santillán-Doherty, Ana María; Arenas-Rosas, Rita Virginia; Muñoz-Delgado, Jairo; Aguillón-Pantaleón, Miguel Angel; Ordoñez-Gómez, José Domingo; Márquez-Arias, Alejandra

2011-06-01

We propose a method for capturing vocalizations that is designed to avoid some of the limiting factors found in traditional bioacoustical methods, such as the impossibility of obtaining continuous long-term registers or analyzing amplitude due to the continuous change of distance between the subject and the position of the recording system. Using Bluetooth technology, vocalizations are captured and transmitted wirelessly into a receiving system without affecting the quality of the signal. The recordings of the proposed system were compared to those obtained as a reference, which were based on the coding of the signal with the so-called pulse-code modulation technique in WAV audio format without any compressing process. The evaluation showed p < .05 for the measured quantitative and qualitative parameters. We also describe how the transmitting system is encapsulated and fixed on the animal and a way to video record a spider monkey's behavior simultaneously with the audio recordings.

[Influenza, an eternal problem].

PubMed

Barry, Stéphane; Hessel, Luc; Gualde, Norbert

2007-01-01

Influenza remains a serious disease in humans and animals (primarily poultry). Since influenza is caused by a virus that both undergoes continuous antigenic change and possesses an animal reservoir, it will be quite difficult to avoid any future pandemics and an eradication of the disease is likely to be impossible. It is now clear, for instance, that the avian viruses may jump into the human population. Are we heading towards another influenza pandemic? One cannot discount that eventuality and one should be cautious while trying to produce new specific drugs as well as efficient vaccines that eventually cannot be discounted, and various precautions must be taken in the production of new specific drugs and vaccines.

High-Speed Device-Independent Quantum Random Number Generation without a Detection Loophole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yang; Yuan, Xiao; Li, Ming-Han; Zhang, Weijun; Zhao, Qi; Zhong, Jiaqiang; Cao, Yuan; Li, Yu-Huai; Chen, Luo-Kan; Li, Hao; Peng, Tianyi; Chen, Yu-Ao; Peng, Cheng-Zhi; Shi, Sheng-Cai; Wang, Zhen; You, Lixing; Ma, Xiongfeng; Fan, Jingyun; Zhang, Qiang; Pan, Jian-Wei

2018-01-01

Quantum mechanics provides the means of generating genuine randomness that is impossible with deterministic classical processes. Remarkably, the unpredictability of randomness can be certified in a manner that is independent of implementation devices. Here, we present an experimental study of device-independent quantum random number generation based on a detection-loophole-free Bell test with entangled photons. In the randomness analysis, without the independent identical distribution assumption, we consider the worst case scenario that the adversary launches the most powerful attacks against the quantum adversary. After considering statistical fluctuations and applying an 80 Gb ×45.6 Mb Toeplitz matrix hashing, we achieve a final random bit rate of 114 bits /s , with a failure probability less than 10-5. This marks a critical step towards realistic applications in cryptography and fundamental physics tests.

Purely neuroendoscopic resection of an intraventricular cavernous angioma: case report.

PubMed

Giannetti, Alexandre Varella

2013-01-01

Intraventricular cavernomas are rare and generally treated by microsurgical approach. With the advances in neuroendoscopy, intraventricular lesions have been managed by this technique. However, tumor size and vascular nature are considered restrictive factors. As far as we are concerned, there are two cases in the literature of intraventricular cavernoma resection done by neuroendoscopy. We describe a case of a man who presented with hydrocephalus secondary to a mesencephalic cavernoma and a second cavernous angioma located at the dorsum thalamus. This second lesion was successfully removed using a pure neuroendoscopic technique at the same time as a third ventriculostomy was performed. As neuroendoscopy evolves, we see that lesions considered impossible to be managed by neuroendoscopy before today are being treated with the advantages that the minimally invasive surgery offers. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

A Formal Valuation Framework for Emotions and Their Control.

PubMed

Huys, Quentin J M; Renz, Daniel

2017-09-15

Computational psychiatry aims to apply mathematical and computational techniques to help improve psychiatric care. To achieve this, the phenomena under scrutiny should be within the scope of formal methods. As emotions play an important role across many psychiatric disorders, such computational methods must encompass emotions. Here, we consider formal valuation accounts of emotions. We focus on the fact that the flexibility of emotional responses and the nature of appraisals suggest the need for a model-based valuation framework for emotions. However, resource limitations make plain model-based valuation impossible and require metareasoning strategies to apportion cognitive resources adaptively. We argue that emotions may implement such metareasoning approximations by restricting the range of behaviors and states considered. We consider the processes that guide the deployment of the approximations, discerning between innate, model-free, heuristic, and model-based controllers. A formal valuation and metareasoning framework may thus provide a principled approach to examining emotions. Copyright © 2017 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

On-line Machine Learning and Event Detection in Petascale Data Streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, David R.; Wagstaff, K. L.

2012-01-01

Traditional statistical data mining involves off-line analysis in which all data are available and equally accessible. However, petascale datasets have challenged this premise since it is often impossible to store, let alone analyze, the relevant observations. This has led the machine learning community to investigate adaptive processing chains where data mining is a continuous process. Here pattern recognition permits triage and followup decisions at multiple stages of a processing pipeline. Such techniques can also benefit new astronomical instruments such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and Square Kilometre Array (SKA) that will generate petascale data volumes. We summarize some machine learning perspectives on real time data mining, with representative cases of astronomical applications and event detection in high volume datastreams. The first is a "supervised classification" approach currently used for transient event detection at the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). It injects known signals of interest - faint single-pulse anomalies - and tunes system parameters to recover these events. This permits meaningful event detection for diverse instrument configurations and observing conditions whose noise cannot be well-characterized in advance. Second, "semi-supervised novelty detection" finds novel events based on statistical deviations from previous patterns. It detects outlier signals of interest while considering known examples of false alarm interference. Applied to data from the Parkes pulsar survey, the approach identifies anomalous "peryton" phenomena that do not match previous event models. Finally, we consider online light curve classification that can trigger adaptive followup measurements of candidate events. Classifier performance analyses suggest optimal survey strategies, and permit principled followup decisions from incomplete data. These examples trace a broad range of algorithm possibilities available for online astronomical data mining. This talk describes research performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved. U.S. Government support acknowledged.

Assessing Potential Habitat and Carrying Capacity for Reintroduction of Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) in Banff National Park

PubMed Central

Steenweg, Robin; Hebblewhite, Mark; Gummer, David; Low, Brian; Hunt, Bill

2016-01-01

Interest in bison (Bison bison, B. bonasus) conservation and restoration continues to grow globally. In Canada, plains bison (B. b. bison) are threatened, occupying less than 0.5% of their former range. The largest threat to their recovery is the lack of habitat in which they are considered compatible with current land uses. Fences and direct management make range expansion by most bison impossible. Reintroduction of bison into previously occupied areas that remain suitable, therefore, is critical for bison recovery in North America. Banff National Park is recognized as historical range of plains bison and has been identified as a potential site for reintroduction of a wild population. To evaluate habitat quality and assess if there is sufficient habitat for a breeding population, we developed a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model for the proposed reintroduction and surrounding areas in Banff National Park (Banff). We then synthesize previous studies on habitat relationships, forage availability, bison energetics and snowfall scenarios to estimate nutritional carrying capacity. Considering constraints on nutritional carrying capacity, the most realistic scenario that we evaluated resulted in an estimated maximum bison density of 0.48 bison/km2. This corresponds to sufficient habitat to support at least 600 to 1000 plains bison, which could be one of the largest 10 plains bison populations in North America. Within Banff, there is spatial variation in predicted bison habitat suitability and population size that suggests one potential reintroduction site as the most likely to be successful from a habitat perspective. The successful reintroduction of bison into Banff would represent a significant global step towards conserving this iconic species, and our approach provides a useful template for evaluating potential habitat for other endangered species reintroductions into their former range. PMID:26910226

Evaluating local benefits from conservation in Nepal's Annapurna Conservation Area.

PubMed

Spiteri, Arian; Nepal, Sanjay K

2008-09-01

Protected areas are integral to the global effort to conserve biodiversity, and, over the past two decades, protected area managers have begun to recognize that conservation objectives are next to impossible to achieve without considering the needs and concerns of local communities. Incentive-based programs (IBPs) have become a favored approach to protected area management, geared at fostering local stewardship by delivering benefits tied to conservation to local people. Effective IBPs require benefits to accrue to and be recognized by those experiencing the greatest consequences as a result of the protected area, and those likely to continue extractive activities if their livelihood needs are compromised. This research examines dispersal of IBP benefits, as perceived by local residents in Nepal's Annapurna Conservation Area. Results reported here are based on questionnaire interviews with 188 households conducted between September and December 2004. Results indicate that local residents primarily identify benefits from social development activities, provisions for resource extraction, and economic opportunities. Overall, benefits have been dispersed equally to households in villages on and off the main tourist route, and regardless of a household's participation in tourism. However, benefits are not effectively targeted to poorer residents, those highly dependent on natural resources, and those experiencing the most crop damage and livestock loss from protected wildlife. This article provides several suggestions for improving the delivery of conservation incentives.

Numerical modeling of the 2017 active seismic infrasound balloon experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brissaud, Q.; Komjathy, A.; Garcia, R.; Cutts, J. A.; Pauken, M.; Krishnamoorthy, S.; Mimoun, D.; Jackson, J. M.; Lai, V. H.; Kedar, S.; Levillain, E.

2017-12-01

We have developed a numerical tool to propagate acoustic and gravity waves in a coupled solid-fluid medium with topography. It is a hybrid method between a continuous Galerkin and a discontinuous Galerkin method that accounts for non-linear atmospheric waves, visco-elastic waves and topography. We apply this method to a recent experiment that took place in the Nevada desert to study acoustic waves from seismic events. This experiment, developed by JPL and its partners, wants to demonstrate the viability of a new approach to probe seismic-induced acoustic waves from a balloon platform. To the best of our knowledge, this could be the only way, for planetary missions, to perform tomography when one faces challenging surface conditions, with high pressure and temperature (e.g. Venus), and thus when it is impossible to use conventional electronics routinely employed on Earth. To fully demonstrate the effectiveness of such a technique one should also be able to reconstruct the observed signals from numerical modeling. To model the seismic hammer experiment and the subsequent acoustic wave propagation, we rely on a subsurface seismic model constructed from the seismometers measurements during the 2017 Nevada experiment and an atmospheric model built from meteorological data. The source is considered as a Gaussian point source located at the surface. Comparison between the numerical modeling and the experimental data could help future mission designs and provide great insights into the planet's interior structure.

An iterative algorithm for soft tissue reconstruction from truncated flat panel projections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langan, D.; Claus, B.; Edic, P.; Vaillant, R.; De Man, B.; Basu, S.; Iatrou, M.

2006-03-01

The capabilities of flat panel interventional x-ray systems continue to expand, enabling a broader array of medical applications to be performed in a minimally invasive manner. Although CT is providing pre-operative 3D information, there is a need for 3D imaging of low contrast soft tissue during interventions in a number of areas including neurology, cardiac electro-physiology, and oncology. Unlike CT systems, interventional angiographic x-ray systems provide real-time large field of view 2D imaging, patient access, and flexible gantry positioning enabling interventional procedures. However, relative to CT, these C-arm flat panel systems have additional technical challenges in 3D soft tissue imaging including slower rotation speed, gantry vibration, reduced lateral patient field of view (FOV), and increased scatter. The reduced patient FOV often results in significant data truncation. Reconstruction of truncated (incomplete) data is known an "interior problem", and it is mathematically impossible to obtain an exact reconstruction. Nevertheless, it is an important problem in 3D imaging on a C-arm to address the need to generate a 3D reconstruction representative of the object being imaged with minimal artifacts. In this work we investigate the application of an iterative Maximum Likelihood Transmission (MLTR) algorithm to truncated data. We also consider truncated data with limited views for cardiac imaging where the views are gated by the electrocardiogram(ECG) to combat motion artifacts.

The quality of learning in Nigerian primary education. The UPE programme 1976 - 1982

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelly, George; Lassa, Peter

1983-06-01

The speed with which UPE was introduced to Nigeria has meant enormous problems of both a logistical and educational nature. After six years many have proved all but impossible to overcome. While generalising may be wrong, it is questionable whether the government's objectives for UPE can be achieved. Vast regional discrepancies of implementation have meant that the reduction in the previous imblance of opportunity is unlikely. A high rate of unemployment and disaffection among terminal primary leavers will offset the concept of UPE as an investment. Grassroots support will weaken if primary schooling offers no tangible returns. A further problem is present. The curriculum of UPE has been inappropriate for a system which is terminal for the majority. Basic skills are often unlearned. The national curriculum has not been sufficiently localised and, with staff and material shortages, has been impossible to teach. In current conditions it is academic and certificate-orientated. There is an urgent need to review the structure of primary education before it is too late. A community base might be considered in the face of weakening government funding but the redesign of the curriculum is an essential prerequisite. The content and quality of education is as important as the logistics of its provision.

Feature-based data assimilation in geophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morzfeld, Matthias; Adams, Jesse; Lunderman, Spencer; Orozco, Rafael

2018-05-01

Many applications in science require that computational models and data be combined. In a Bayesian framework, this is usually done by defining likelihoods based on the mismatch of model outputs and data. However, matching model outputs and data in this way can be unnecessary or impossible. For example, using large amounts of steady state data is unnecessary because these data are redundant. It is numerically difficult to assimilate data in chaotic systems. It is often impossible to assimilate data of a complex system into a low-dimensional model. As a specific example, consider a low-dimensional stochastic model for the dipole of the Earth's magnetic field, while other field components are ignored in the model. The above issues can be addressed by selecting features of the data, and defining likelihoods based on the features, rather than by the usual mismatch of model output and data. Our goal is to contribute to a fundamental understanding of such a feature-based approach that allows us to assimilate selected aspects of data into models. We also explain how the feature-based approach can be interpreted as a method for reducing an effective dimension and derive new noise models, based on perturbed observations, that lead to computationally efficient solutions. Numerical implementations of our ideas are illustrated in four examples.

Perioperative and rehabilitation outcome after lower-limb amputation in elderly Chinese patients in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Leung, H B; Wong, W C; Wu, F C J; Guerin, J S

2004-06-01

Major amputation of the lower limb is considered the last resort when limb salvage is impossible. The aim of this study is to determine the morbidity, mortality, and rehabilitation outcome of patients that underwent a lower-limb amputation. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 100 elderly patients who underwent a total of 120 lower-limb amputations in a regional hospital in Hong Kong from 1996 to 2001. The mean age of the amputees was 77.9 years; 58 were female. 95% of the amputations were performed because of infection with or without vascular compromise; 55 transfemoral and 60 transtibial amputations contributed 96% of the case mix. Some 43% of patients experienced early complications and 12% required re-amputation. The early (30-day) mortality rate was 15%. Only 55% of the amputees survived after 4 years. A 44% return-home rate was achieved. However, only 11% of the amputees could walk without help from other people. Although prostheses were issued to 42% of the survivors, compliance was only 53%; 24% of the survivors lost their remaining leg within 2 years. The outcome of major lower-extremity amputation remains poor. Efforts should be made to retain these limbs. When it is proven impossible, one should strive to preserve the knee joint whenever feasible.

Lower bounds on entropy for polymer chains on a square and a cubic lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gujrati, P. D.

1982-07-01

Rigorous lower bounds on the entropy per particle as a function of the fraction g of the gauche bonds of a system of semiflexible polymer chains is obtained in the thermodynamic limit. Only square and cubic lattices are considered. For the case of a single chain having l monomers, the bound is obtained for all g⩽g=2/3. For the case of p>1 chains, each having l monomers, where l is a multiple of 4, the bound is obtained for all g⩽g'=13/90. In both cases, it is shown that the entropy is always nonzero for all 0< g

Reliability Analysis of Systems Subject to First-Passage Failure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lutes, Loren D.; Sarkani, Shahram

2009-01-01

An obvious goal of reliability analysis is the avoidance of system failure. However, it is generally recognized that it is often not feasible to design a practical or useful system for which failure is impossible. Thus it is necessary to use techniques that estimate the likelihood of failure based on modeling the uncertainty about such items as the demands on and capacities of various elements in the system. This usually involves the use of probability theory, and a design is considered acceptable if it has a sufficiently small probability of failure. This report contains findings of analyses of systems subject to first-passage failure.

How to Measure Motivational Interviewing Fidelity in Randomized Controlled Trials: Practical Recommendations.

PubMed

Jelsma, Judith G M; Mertens, Vera-Christina; Forsberg, Lisa; Forsberg, Lars

2015-07-01

Many randomized controlled trials in which motivational interviewing (MI) is a key intervention make no provision for the assessment of treatment fidelity. This methodological shortcoming makes it impossible to distinguish between high- and low-quality MI interventions, and, consequently, to know whether MI provision has contributed to any intervention effects. This article makes some practical recommendations for the collection, selection, coding and reporting of MI fidelity data, as measured using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code. We hope that researchers will consider these recommendations and include MI fidelity measures in future studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mission possible: creating a technology infrastructure to help reduce administrative costs.

PubMed

Alper, Michael

2003-01-01

Controlling administrative costs associated with managed care benefits has traditionally been considered a "mission impossible" in healthcare, with the unreasonably high cost of paperwork and administration pushing past the $420 billion mark. Why administrative costs remain a critical problem in healthcare while other industries have alleviated their administrative burdens must be carefully examined. This article looks at the key factors contributing to high administrative costs and how these costs can be controlled in the future with "mission possible" tools, including business process outsourcing, IT outsourcing, technology that helps to bring "consumerism" to managed care, and an IT infrastructure that improves quality and outcomes.

Gauged Q-balls

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Kimyeong; Stein-Schabes, Jaime A.; Watkins, Richard; Widrow, Lawrence M.

1988-01-01

Classical non-topological soliton configurations are considered within the theory of a complex scalar field with a gauged U symmetry. Their existence and stability against dispersion are demonstrated and some of their properties are investigated analytically and numerically. The soliton configuration is such that inside the soliton the local U symmetry is broken, the gauge field becomes massive and for a range of values of the coupling constants the soliton becomes a superconductor pushing the charge to the surface. Furthermore, because of the repulsive Coulomb force, there is a maximum size for these objects, making impossible the existence of Q-matter in bulk form. Also briefly discussed are solitons with fermions in a U gauge theory.

Automated plant, production management system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aksenova, V. I.; Belov, V. I.

1984-12-01

The development of a complex of tasks for the operational management of production (OUP) within the framework of an automated system for production management (ASUP) shows that it is impossible to have effective computations without reliable initial information. The influence of many factors involving the production and economic activity of the entire enterprise upon the plan and course of production are considered. It is suggested that an adequate model should be available which covers all levels of the hierarchical system: workplace, section (bridgade), shop, enterprise, and the model should be incorporated into the technological sequence of performance and there should be provisions for an adequate man machine system.

Quantum memories and Landauer's principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alicki, Robert

2011-10-01

Two types of arguments concerning (im)possibility of constructing a scalable, exponentially stable quantum memory equipped with Hamiltonian controls are discussed. The first type concerns ergodic properties of open Kitaev models which are considered as promising candidates for such memories. It is shown that, although the 4D Kitaev model provides stable qubit observables, the Hamiltonian control is not possible. The thermodynamical approach leads to the new proposal of the revised version of Landauer's principle and suggests that the existence of quantum memory implies the existence of the perpetuum mobile of the second kind. Finally, a discussion of the stability property of information and its implications is presented.

High-Speed Device-Independent Quantum Random Number Generation without a Detection Loophole.

PubMed

Liu, Yang; Yuan, Xiao; Li, Ming-Han; Zhang, Weijun; Zhao, Qi; Zhong, Jiaqiang; Cao, Yuan; Li, Yu-Huai; Chen, Luo-Kan; Li, Hao; Peng, Tianyi; Chen, Yu-Ao; Peng, Cheng-Zhi; Shi, Sheng-Cai; Wang, Zhen; You, Lixing; Ma, Xiongfeng; Fan, Jingyun; Zhang, Qiang; Pan, Jian-Wei

2018-01-05

Quantum mechanics provides the means of generating genuine randomness that is impossible with deterministic classical processes. Remarkably, the unpredictability of randomness can be certified in a manner that is independent of implementation devices. Here, we present an experimental study of device-independent quantum random number generation based on a detection-loophole-free Bell test with entangled photons. In the randomness analysis, without the independent identical distribution assumption, we consider the worst case scenario that the adversary launches the most powerful attacks against the quantum adversary. After considering statistical fluctuations and applying an 80  Gb×45.6  Mb Toeplitz matrix hashing, we achieve a final random bit rate of 114  bits/s, with a failure probability less than 10^{-5}. This marks a critical step towards realistic applications in cryptography and fundamental physics tests.

Gravitational effective action at second order in curvature and gravitational waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calmet, Xavier; Capozziello, Salvatore; Pryer, Daniel

2017-09-01

We consider the full effective theory for quantum gravity at second order in curvature including non-local terms. We show that the theory contains two new degrees of freedom beyond the massless graviton: namely a massive spin-2 ghost and a massive scalar field. Furthermore, we show that it is impossible to fine-tune the parameters of the effective action to eliminate completely the classical spin-2 ghost because of the non-local terms in the effective action. Being a classical field, it is not clear anyway that this ghost is problematic. It simply implies a repulsive contribution to Newton's potential. We then consider how to extract the parameters of the effective action and show that it is possible to measure, at least in principle, the parameters of the local terms independently of each other using a combination of observations of gravitational waves and measurements performed by pendulum type experiments searching for deviations of Newton's potential.

Observational studies are complementary to randomized controlled trials.

PubMed

Grootendorst, Diana C; Jager, Kitty J; Zoccali, Carmine; Dekker, Friedo W

2010-01-01

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard study design to investigate the effect of health interventions, including treatment. However, in some situations, it may be unnecessary, inappropriate, impossible, or inadequate to perform an RCT. In these special situations, well-designed observational studies, including cohort and case-control studies, may provide an alternative to doing nothing in order to obtain estimates of treatment effect. It should be noted that such studies should be performed with caution and correctly. The aims of this review are (1) to explain why RCTs are considered the optimal study design to evaluate treatment effects, (2) to describe the situations in which an RCT is not possible and observational studies are an adequate alternative, and (3) to explain when randomization is not needed and can be approximated in observational studies. Examples from the nephrology literature are used for illustration. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

[Comparison of reproducibility measurements for calibration of dental caries epidemiological surveys].

PubMed

Assaf, Andréa Videira; Zanin, Luciane; Meneghim, Marcelo de Castro; Pereira, Antonio Carlos; Ambrosano, Gláucia Maria Bovi

2006-09-01

This study compares three measurements (Kappa, general agreement percentage, or GAP, and dice index) used to determine the reproducibility of caries diagnosis in epidemiological surveys under different clinical diagnostic thresholds. Eleven examiners with previous experience in epidemiological surveys were submitted to a theoretical and clinical calibration process. Data analysis used two caries detection thresholds: World Health Organization (WHO) and WHO with the inclusion of initial enamel lesions (WHO + IL). Twenty-three children 6-7 years of age were examined, with and without caries. Mean values for Kappa index, GAP, and Dice were considered high (> 0.90), except for the dice index for the WHO + IL threshold (0.69). Since Kappa is an adjusted agreement index, it can be considered the instrument of choice for calibration of examiners. However, when it is impossible to use, the GAP is recommended together with the dice index in order to orient and improve examiners when examining caries lesions.

Quantum Stabilizer Codes Can Realize Access Structures Impossible by Classical Secret Sharing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, Ryutaroh

We show a simple example of a secret sharing scheme encoding classical secret to quantum shares that can realize an access structure impossible by classical information processing with limitation on the size of each share. The example is based on quantum stabilizer codes.

Aporias, Responsibility, and the Im/possibility of Teaching Multicultural Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Hongyu

2005-01-01

Drawing upon Jacques Derrida's notions of aporia and responsibility, this essay discusses the dilemmas of multicultural education and the pedagogical responsibility of multicultural educators. Derrida emphasizes that there is no responsibility without experiencing aporia as the possibility of the impossible. To promote personal transformation and…

Curiosity and exploratory behaviour towards possible and impossible events in children and adults.

PubMed

Subbotsky, Eugene

2010-08-01

In four experiments with 4-, 6-, and 9-year-old children and adults, the hypothesis was tested that, all other conditions being equal, a novel and unusual event elicits stronger curiosity and exploratory behaviour if its suggested explanation involves an element of the supernatural than if it does not (the impossible over possible effect - the I/P effect). Participants were shown an unusual phenomenon (a spontaneous disintegration of a physical object in an apparently empty box) framed in the context of either a magical (the impossible event) or scientific (the possible event) explanation. In the verbal trial, participants showed a clear understanding of the difference between the effect of genuine magic and the effect of a trick. In the behavioural trial, both children and adults showed the I/P effect. They were more likely to run the risk of losing their valuable objects in order to explore the impossible event than the possible event. Follow-up experiments showed that the I/P effect couldn't be explained as an artifact of the different degrees of cost of exploratory behaviour in the possible and impossible conditions or as a result of misinterpreting magic as tricks. The I/P effect emerged when the cost of exploratory behaviour was moderate and disappeared when the cost was perceived as too high or too low.

The Construction of Impossibility: A Logic-Based Analysis of Conjuring Tricks

PubMed Central

Smith, Wally; Dignum, Frank; Sonenberg, Liz

2016-01-01

Psychologists and cognitive scientists have long drawn insights and evidence from stage magic about human perceptual and attentional errors. We present a complementary analysis of conjuring tricks that seeks to understand the experience of impossibility that they produce. Our account is first motivated by insights about the constructional aspects of conjuring drawn from magicians' instructional texts. A view is then presented of the logical nature of impossibility as an unresolvable contradiction between a perception-supported belief about a situation and a memory-supported expectation. We argue that this condition of impossibility is constructed not simply through misperceptions and misattentions, but rather it is an outcome of a trick's whole structure of events. This structure is conceptualized as two parallel event sequences: an effect sequence that the spectator is intended to believe; and a method sequence that the magician understands as happening. We illustrate the value of this approach through an analysis of a simple close-up trick, Martin Gardner's Turnabout. A formalism called propositional dynamic logic is used to describe some of its logical aspects. This elucidates the nature and importance of the relationship between a trick's effect sequence and its method sequence, characterized by the careful arrangement of four evidence relationships: similarity, perceptual equivalence, structural equivalence, and congruence. The analysis further identifies two characteristics of magical apparatus that enable the construction of apparent impossibility: substitutable elements and stable occlusion. PMID:27378959

How do we capture the emergency nurse practitioners' contribution to value in health service delivery?

PubMed

Jennings, Natasha; Lutze, Matthew; Clifford, Stuart; Maw, Michael

2017-03-01

The emergency nurse practitioner is now a well established and respected member of the healthcare team. Evaluation of the role has focused on patient safety, effectiveness and quality of care outcomes. Comparisons of the role continue to focus on cost, with findings based on incomplete and almost impossible to define, recognition of contribution to service delivery by paralleled practitioners. Currently there is no clear definition as to how nurse practitioners contribute to value in health service delivery. Robust and rigorous research needs to be commissioned taking into consideration the unique hybrid nature of the emergency nurse practitioner role and focusing on the value they contribute to health care delivery.

Forecasting of a Thermal Condition of Pneumatic Tires of Dump Trucks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kvasova, Anna; Gerike, Boris; Murko, Elena; Skudarnov, Dmitriy

2017-11-01

Over the last 10 years the world consumption of coal has grown almost by 50%. Coal is one of the main energy resources capable to satisfy basic energy demands of increasing population and developing world economy. On January 24, 2012 the long-term Coal Industry Development Program for the period till 2030 was approved in Russia. According to this Program coal mining in Kuzbass in 2030 will make 260 million tonns of coal per year. Development of the coal industry is impossible without upgrade of coal production by avoiding inefficient technological, organizational and economic solutions. Off the road (OTR) tires play an important role in ensuring effective, continuous and safe work of mining motor transport.

Electronic Systems for Spacecraft Vehicles: Required EDA Tools

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bachnak, Rafic

1999-01-01

The continuous increase in complexity of electronic systems is making the design and manufacturing of such systems more challenging than ever before. As a result, designers are finding it impossible to design efficient systems without the use of sophisticated Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. These tools offer integrated simulation of the electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing functions and lead to a correct by design methodology. This report identifies the EDA tools that would be needed to design, analyze, simulate, and evaluate electronic systems for spacecraft vehicles. In addition, the report presents recommendations to enhance the current JSC electronic design capabilities. This includes cost information and a discussion as to the impact, both positive and negative, of implementing the recommendations.

Radioisotope Power Systems Program: A Program Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamley, John A.

2016-01-01

NASA's Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) Program continues to plan, mature research in energy conversion, and partners with the Department of Energy (DOE) to make RPS ready and available to support the exploration of the solar system in environments where the use of conventional solar or chemical power generation is impractical or impossible to meet potential future mission needs. Recent programs responsibilities include providing investment recommendations to NASA stakeholders on emerging thermoelectric and Stirling energy conversion technologies and insight on NASA investments at DOE in readying a generator for the Mars 2020 mission. This presentation provides an overview of the RPS Program content and status and the approach used to maintain the readiness of RPS to support potential future NASA missions.

[Mid-term results after post-traumatic knee joint replacement in elderly patients].

PubMed

Weber, O; Goost, H; Mueller, M; Burger, C; Wirtz, D; Pagenstert, G; Gravius, S

2011-04-01

Due to the increasing prevalence of elderly people in Germany, the number of geriatric fractures will continue to increase. Typical geriatric skeletal and physical changes are osteoporosis, arthrosis, and reduced ability of coordination. Altogether, these factors may lead to a failure of a performed osteosynthesis, or may make the classical fracture treatment of reduction and internal fixation appear to be impossible. The aim of this study was to examine the results of peri-knee fractures treated directly or within 3 months by implantation of a knee prosthesis. 15 geriatric patients could be identified who were treated in the described way in the last 4 years. The follow-up time was 39 months. The knee injury occurred in all cases after a banal trauma. 14 patients could be examined by applying the HSS scoring system. We furthermore checked the operative management and postoperative course. The patients reached a good score level and showed few complications. For elderly patients, the primary knee arthroplasty after periarticular fractures of the knee is a valid treatment option. Nevertheless, the surgeon has to identify those fractures which are impossible to treat by a classical osteosynthesis. Furthermore, the application of the appropriate knee prosthesis, regarding the degree of hinge constrainment or augmentation of the tibial or femoral bone stock, is important. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

The Development of Possibility Judgment within and across Domains

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shtulman, Andrew

2009-01-01

The ability to differentiate possible events from impossible ones is an invaluable skill when reasoning about claims that transcend the perceptual evidence at hand, yet preschool-aged children do not readily make this differentiation when reasoning about physically extraordinary events [Shtulman, A., & Carey, S. (2007). "Improbable or impossible?…

Fractals and the irreducibility of consciousness in plants and animals

PubMed Central

Gardiner, John

2013-01-01

In both plants and animals consciousness is fractal. Since fractals can only pass information in one direction it is impossible to extrapolate backward to find the rule that governs the fractal. Thus, similarly, it will be impossible to completely determine the rule or rules that govern consciousness. PMID:23759545

Fractals and the irreducibility of consciousness in plants and animals.

PubMed

Gardiner, John

2013-08-01

In both plants and animals consciousness is fractal. Since fractals can only pass information in one direction it is impossible to extrapolate backward to find the rule that governs the fractal. Thus, similarly, it will be impossible to completely determine the rule or rules that govern consciousness.

Practicing Possibilities: Parents' Explanations of Unusual Events and Children's Possibility Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nolan-Reyes, Charlotte; Callanan, Maureen A.; Haigh, Kirsten A.

2016-01-01

Young children tend to judge improbable events to be impossible, yet there is variability across age and across individuals. Our study examined parent-child conversations about impossible and improbable events and links between parents' explanations about those events and children's possibility judgments in a reasoning task. Regression analyses…

Oculomotor Exploration of Impossible Figures in Early Infancy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shuwairi, Sarah M.; Johnson, Scott P.

2013-01-01

Previous studies have revealed that young infants can distinguish between displays of possible or impossible figures, which may require detection of inconsistent depth relations among local line junctions that disrupt global object configurations. Here, we used an eye-tracking paradigm to record eye movements in young infants during an object…

All above Average: Secondary School Improvement as an Impossible Endeavour

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Phil

2015-01-01

This article argues that secondary school improvement in England, when viewed as a system, has become an impossible endeavour. This arises from the conflation of improvement with effectiveness, judged by a narrow range of outcome measures and driven by demands that all schools should somehow be above average. The expectation of comparable…

28 CFR 16.81 - Exemption of United States Attorneys Systems-limited access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under the Privacy Act § 16.81 Exemption of... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what...

28 CFR 16.81 - Exemption of United States Attorneys Systems-limited access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under the Privacy Act § 16.81 Exemption of... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what...

28 CFR 16.81 - Exemption of United States Attorneys Systems-limited access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under the Privacy Act § 16.81 Exemption of... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what...

28 CFR 16.81 - Exemption of United States Attorneys Systems-limited access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under the Privacy Act § 16.81 Exemption of... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what... collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what...

An approach for access differentiation design in medical distributed applications built on databases.

PubMed

Shoukourian, S K; Vasilyan, A M; Avagyan, A A; Shukurian, A K

1999-01-01

A formalized "top to bottom" design approach was described in [1] for distributed applications built on databases, which were considered as a medium between virtual and real user environments for a specific medical application. Merging different components within a unified distributed application posits new essential problems for software. Particularly protection tools, which are sufficient separately, become deficient during the integration due to specific additional links and relationships not considered formerly. E.g., it is impossible to protect a shared object in the virtual operating room using only DBMS protection tools, if the object is stored as a record in DB tables. The solution of the problem should be found only within the more general application framework. Appropriate tools are absent or unavailable. The present paper suggests a detailed outline of a design and testing toolset for access differentiation systems (ADS) in distributed medical applications which use databases. The appropriate formal model as well as tools for its mapping to a DMBS are suggested. Remote users connected via global networks are considered too.

Physiologically Relevant Changes in Serotonin Resolved by Fast Microdialysis

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Online microdialysis is a sampling and detection method that enables continuous interrogation of extracellular molecules in freely moving subjects under behaviorally relevant conditions. A majority of recent publications using brain microdialysis in rodents report sample collection times of 20–30 min. These long sampling times are due, in part, to limitations in the detection sensitivity of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By optimizing separation and detection conditions, we decreased the retention time of serotonin to 2.5 min and the detection threshold to 0.8 fmol. Sampling times were consequently reduced from 20 to 3 min per sample for online detection of serotonin (and dopamine) in brain dialysates using a commercial HPLC system. We developed a strategy to collect and to analyze dialysate samples continuously from two animals in tandem using the same instrument. Improvements in temporal resolution enabled elucidation of rapid changes in extracellular serotonin levels associated with mild stress and circadian rhythms. These dynamics would be difficult or impossible to differentiate using conventional microdialysis sampling rates. PMID:23614776

A Computer Model of the Evaporator for the Development of an Automatic Control System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozin, K. A.; Efremov, E. V.; Kabrysheva, O. P.; Grachev, M. I.

2016-08-01

For the implementation of a closed nuclear fuel cycle it is necessary to carry out a series of experimental studies to justify the choice of technology. In addition, the operation of the radiochemical plant is impossible without high-quality automatic control systems. In the technologies of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, the method of continuous evaporation is often used for a solution conditioning. Therefore, the effective continuous technological process will depend on the operation of the evaporation equipment. Its essential difference from similar devices is a small size. In this paper the method of mathematic simulation is applied for the investigation of one-effect evaporator with an external heating chamber. Detailed modelling is quite difficult because the phase equilibrium dynamics of the evaporation process is not described. Moreover, there is a relationship with the other process units. The results proved that the study subject is a MIMO plant, nonlinear over separate control channels and not selfbalancing. Adequacy was tested using the experimental data obtained at the laboratory evaporation unit.

Free vibration analysis of a robotic fish based on a continuous and non-uniform flexible backbone with distributed masses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coral, W.; Rossi, C.; Curet, O. M.

2015-12-01

This paper presents a Differential Quadrature Element Method for free transverse vibration of a robotic fish based on a continuous and non-uniform flexible backbone with distributed masses (fish ribs). The proposed method is based on the theory of a Timoshenko cantilever beam. The effects of the masses (number, magnitude and position) on the value of natural frequencies are investigated. Governing equations, compatibility and boundary conditions are formulated according to the Differential Quadrature rules. The convergence, efficiency and accuracy are compared to other analytical solution proposed in the literature. Moreover, the proposed method has been validate against the physical prototype of a flexible fish backbone. The main advantages of this method, compared to the exact solutions available in the literature are twofold: first, smaller computational cost and second, it allows analysing the free vibration in beams whose section is an arbitrary function, which is normally difficult or even impossible with other analytical methods.

Who Are the Participants? Rethinking Representational Practices and Writing with Heterotopic Possibility in Qualitative Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonick, Marnina; Hladki, Janice

2005-01-01

This paper draws on Foucault's notion of heterotopia to ask a series of questions about the important link between the crisis of representation in qualitative research and new theorizations of the 'subject' within poststructural feminist research. Reiterating Foucault's question, 'what is it impossible to think and what kind of impossibility are…

The Assessment of Student PowerPoint Presentations--Attempting the Impossible?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dobson, Stephen

2006-01-01

Assessing students through their Microsoft PowerPoint presentations might be thought to be impossible, a waste of time or a fascination with new technology which will pass sooner or later. However, to make a judgement on such assertions requires examining the strengths and weaknesses of such a form of assessment. Examples within an academic…

28 CFR 16.106 - Exemption of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)-Limited Access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRODUCTION OR DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under... information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what information is accurate... (2). (5) From subsection (e)(1) because it is often impossible to determine in advance if...

28 CFR 16.106 - Exemption of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)-Limited Access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRODUCTION OR DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under... information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what information is accurate... (2). (5) From subsection (e)(1) because it is often impossible to determine in advance if...

28 CFR 16.106 - Exemption of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)-Limited Access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRODUCTION OR DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under... information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what information is accurate... (2). (5) From subsection (e)(1) because it is often impossible to determine in advance if...

28 CFR 16.106 - Exemption of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)-Limited Access.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRODUCTION OR DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION Exemption of Records Systems Under... information for law enforcement purposes it is impossible to determine in advance what information is accurate... (2). (5) From subsection (e)(1) because it is often impossible to determine in advance if...

Impossible Dreams, Impossible Choices, and Thoughts about Depolarizing the Debate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morrow, Susan L.; Beckstead, A. Lee; Hayes, Jeffrey A.; Haldeman, Douglas C.

2004-01-01

The titles of the reactions to this major contribution alone set the stage for further exploration of the issues regarding the hopes and dreams of same-sex attracted (SSA) clients in religious conflict and their therapists, issues of choice, and whether or not it is possible - or even appropriate - to depolarize the current debate (Gonsiorek,…

Playing with the Tensions of Theory to Practice: Teacher, Professor, and Students Co-Constructing Identity through Curriculum Transformation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pfeiler-Wunder, Amy; Tomel, Rhonda

2014-01-01

Pfeiler-Wunder and Tomel are exploring the spaces that exist within and between their art educational practices in this article, questioning: "Who this is about?" Mira Kallio-Tavin presents a similar questioning in her "Studies" commentary, "Impossible Practice and Theories of the Impossible: A Response to Helene…

Impossible Practice and Theories of the Impossible: A Response to Helene Illeris's "Potentials of Togetherness"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kallio-Tavin, Mira

2014-01-01

In a recent commentary in "Studies in Art Education," Helene Illeris (2013) discussed the idea of "performative experimental communities" via a critique of visual culture pedagogy and the romanticism of community-oriented art education in Nordic countries. Illeris underpinned her arguments with Jean-Luc Nancy's (1997)…

Generalist Pre-Service Teacher Education, Self-Efficacy and Arts Education: An Impossible Expectation?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, Anita

2016-01-01

Generalist teacher educators in Australia are struggling with an impossible expectation in the area of arts education. This is due to a cascading trio of systemic issues. Firstly generalist teachers are entering their teacher education courses with variable and often minimal personal arts training. Secondly they are ill supported to improve their…

Simple proof of the impossibility of bit commitment in generalized probabilistic theories using cone programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sikora, Jamie; Selby, John

2018-04-01

Bit commitment is a fundamental cryptographic task, in which Alice commits a bit to Bob such that she cannot later change the value of the bit, while, simultaneously, the bit is hidden from Bob. It is known that ideal bit commitment is impossible within quantum theory. In this work, we show that it is also impossible in generalized probabilistic theories (under a small set of assumptions) by presenting a quantitative trade-off between Alice's and Bob's cheating probabilities. Our proof relies crucially on a formulation of cheating strategies as cone programs, a natural generalization of semidefinite programs. In fact, using the generality of this technique, we prove that this result holds for the more general task of integer commitment.

Emerging microengineering tools for functional analysis and phenotyping of blood cells

PubMed Central

Li, Xiang; Chen, Weiqiang; Li, Zida; Li, Ling; Gu, Hongchen; Fu, Jianping

2014-01-01

The available techniques for assessing blood cell functions are limited considering the various types of blood cells and their diverse functions. In the past decade, rapid advancement in microengineering has enabled an array of blood cell functional measurements that are difficult or impossible to achieve using conventional bulk platforms. Such miniaturized blood cell assay platforms also provide attractive capabilities of reducing chemical consumption, cost, assay time, as well as exciting opportunities of device integration, automation, and assay standardization. This review summarizes these contemporary microengineering tools and discusses their promising potential for constructing accurate in vitro models and rapid clinical diagnosis using minimal amount of whole blood samples. PMID:25283971

Kepler’s Earth-like Planets Should Not Be Confirmed without Independent Detection: The Case of Kepler-452b

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mullally, Fergal; Thompson, Susan E.; Coughlin, Jeffrey L.; Burke, Christopher J.; Rowe, Jason F.

2018-05-01

We show that the claimed confirmed planet Kepler-452b (a.k.a., K07016.01, KIC 8311864) cannot be confirmed using a purely statistical validation approach. Kepler detects many more periodic signals from instrumental effects than it does from transits, and it is likely impossible to confidently distinguish the two types of events at low signal-to-noise. As a result, the scenario that the observed signal is due to an instrumental artifact cannot be ruled out with 99% confidence, and the system must still be considered a candidate planet. We discuss the implications for other confirmed planets in or near the habitable zone.

Impossibility of asymptotic synchronization for pulse-coupled oscillators with delayed excitatory coupling.

PubMed

Wu, Wei; Chen, Tianping

2009-12-01

Fireflies, as one of the most spectacular examples of synchronization in nature, have been investigated widely. In 1990, Mirollo and Strogatz proposed a pulse-coupled oscillator model to explain the synchronization of South East Asian fireflies (Pteroptyx malaccae). However, transmission delays were not considered in their model. In fact, when transmission delays are introduced, the dynamic behaviors of pulse-coupled networks change a lot. In this paper, pulse-coupled oscillator networks with delayed excitatory coupling are studied. A concept of synchronization, named weak asymptotic synchronization, which is weaker than asymptotic synchronization, is proposed. We prove that for pulse-coupled oscillator networks with delayed excitatory coupling, weak asymptotic synchronization cannot occur.

Clinical Ethics Consultants are not “Ethics” Experts—But They do Have Expertise 1

PubMed Central

Rasmussen, Lisa M.

2016-01-01

The attempt to critique the profession of clinical ethics consultation by establishing the impossibility of ethics expertise has been a red herring. Decisions made in clinical ethics cases are almost never based purely on moral judgments. Instead, they are all-things-considered judgments that involve determining how to balance other values as well. A standard of justified decision-making in this context would enable us to identify experts who could achieve these standards more often than others, and thus provide a basis for expertise in clinical ethics consultation. This expertise relies in part on what Richard Zaner calls the “expert knowledge of ethical phenomena” (1988, 8). PMID:27302970

Recombination Processes and Nonlinear Markov Chains.

PubMed

Pirogov, Sergey; Rybko, Alexander; Kalinina, Anastasia; Gelfand, Mikhail

2016-09-01

Bacteria are known to exchange genetic information by horizontal gene transfer. Since the frequency of homologous recombination depends on the similarity between the recombining segments, several studies examined whether this could lead to the emergence of subspecies. Most of them simulated fixed-size Wright-Fisher populations, in which the genetic drift should be taken into account. Here, we use nonlinear Markov processes to describe a bacterial population evolving under mutation and recombination. We consider a population structure as a probability measure on the space of genomes. This approach implies the infinite population size limit, and thus, the genetic drift is not assumed. We prove that under these conditions, the emergence of subspecies is impossible.

Generalized mass ordering degeneracy in neutrino oscillation experiments

DOE PAGES

Coloma, Pilar; Schwetz, Thomas

2016-09-07

Here, we consider the impact of neutral-current (NC) nonstandard neutrino interactions (NSI) on the determination of the neutrino mass ordering. We show that in the presence of NSI there is an exact degeneracy which makes it impossible to determine the neutrino mass ordering and the octant of the solar mixing angle θ 12 at oscillation experiments. The degeneracy holds at the probability level and for arbitrary matter density profiles, and hence solar, atmospheric, reactor, and accelerator neutrino experiments are affected simultaneously. The degeneracy requires order-1 corrections from NSI to the NC electron neutrino-quark interaction and can be tested in electronmore » neutrino NC scattering experiments.« less

Control of the transition between regular and mach reflection of shock waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alekseev, A. K.

2012-06-01

A control problem was considered that makes it possible to switch the flow between stationary Mach and regular reflection of shock waves within the dual solution domain. The sensitivity of the flow was computed by solving adjoint equations. A control disturbance was sought by applying gradient optimization methods. According to the computational results, the transition from regular to Mach reflection can be executed by raising the temperature. The transition from Mach to regular reflection can be achieved by lowering the temperature at moderate Mach numbers and is impossible at large numbers. The reliability of the numerical results was confirmed by verifying them with the help of a posteriori analysis.

Spontaneous representations of small numbers of objects by rhesus macaques: examinations of content and format.

PubMed

Hauser, Marc D; Carey, Susan

2003-12-01

The project of comparative cognition benefits from common measures across species. We report here on five experiments using the violation of expectancy looking time measure with free-ranging rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), each designed to build on current knowledge concerning spontaneous representations of number. Each subject, tested in only one experimental condition, watched as eggplants were placed behind a screen one at a time, after which the screen was removed revealing an outcome that either matched or did not match the number placed there. Subjects looked longer at impossible than possible outcomes in 1+1=2 or 3, 1 small+1 small=1 big or 2 small, 2+1=2 or 3, and 2+1=3 or 4 conditions. They failed in 2+1+1=4 or 3 or 5 and in 1+1+1=2 or 3 conditions. This pattern of results closely matches that observed across several previous studies of human infants. The data allow us to test among four different proposals concerning the format and content of the mental representations underlying looking in these experiments. Object file representations are favored over: (i) low-level perceptual representations, (ii) representations of continuous variables such as volume or surface area, and (iii) analog magnitude representations of number. We conclude by considering exactly how the object tracking system revealed in these and other related experiments does and does not represent number, and how it might be one evolutionary precursor of the human specific system of number representations.

Constructing the "Best" Reliability Data for the Job

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeMott, D. L.; Kleinhammer, R. K.

2014-01-01

Modern business and technical decisions are based on the results of analyses. When considering assessments using "reliability data", the concern is how long a system will continue to operate as designed. Generally, the results are only as good as the data used. Ideally, a large set of pass/fail tests or observations to estimate the probability of failure of the item under test would produce the best data. However, this is a costly endeavor if used for every analysis and design. Developing specific data is costly and time consuming. Instead, analysts rely on available data to assess reliability. Finding data relevant to the specific use and environment for any project is difficult, if not impossible. Instead, we attempt to develop the "best" or composite analog data to support our assessments. One method used incorporates processes for reviewing existing data sources and identifying the available information based on similar equipment, then using that generic data to derive an analog composite. Dissimilarities in equipment descriptions, environment of intended use, quality and even failure modes impact the "best" data incorporated in an analog composite. Once developed, this composite analog data provides a "better" representation of the reliability of the equipment or component can be used to support early risk or reliability trade studies, or analytical models to establish the predicted reliability data points. Data that is more representative of reality and more project specific would provide more accurate analysis, and hopefully a better final decision.

Early discharge after total thyroidectomy: a retrospective feasibility study.

PubMed

Tartaglia, F; Giuliani, A; Sorrenti, S; Tromba, L; Carbotta, S; Maturo, A; Carbotta, G; De Anna, L; Merola, R; Livadoti, G; Pelle, F; Ulisse, S

2016-01-01

The continued hospitalization after total thyroidectomy is often due to the onset of hypocalcemic complications more than 24 hours after surgery. So it would be important to predict which patients will not develop the hypocalcemic complication to discharge them early. This was the aim of our study. Our retrospective study was conducted on 327 consecutive thyroidectomized patients, operated on for benign and malignant diseases. We evaluated the values of preoperative serum calcium levels (Cal0) and of the first postoperative day (Cal1) and two new variables were calculated (dCal and dCaln). The same thing was made on a subgroup of 111 patients in whom also parathiroyd hormone (PTH) values were detected. Statistical analysis was performed with the goal of determining if we could establish a safe criterion for discharge at 24 hours after surgery and if there is a correlation between suitability for discharge and diagnosis. As to discharge, the predictive power of the discriminant function applied was significant both on the total of patients and in the subgroup of 111 patients, but it was clinically unacceptable because it would expose us to a 21% to 27% error rate. It is not possible to identify a threshold, below which to consider patients surely dischargeable. The diagnosis does not appear correlated with the suitability for discharge. On the basis of serum calcium and PTH levels in the first postoperative day, it is impossible to predict which patients can be discharged 24 hours after surgery without incurring in hypocalcemic complications.

Constructing the Best Reliability Data for the Job

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kleinhammer, R. K.; Kahn, J. C.

2014-01-01

Modern business and technical decisions are based on the results of analyses. When considering assessments using "reliability data", the concern is how long a system will continue to operate as designed. Generally, the results are only as good as the data used. Ideally, a large set of pass/fail tests or observations to estimate the probability of failure of the item under test would produce the best data. However, this is a costly endeavor if used for every analysis and design. Developing specific data is costly and time consuming. Instead, analysts rely on available data to assess reliability. Finding data relevant to the specific use and environment for any project is difficult, if not impossible. Instead, we attempt to develop the "best" or composite analog data to support our assessments. One method used incorporates processes for reviewing existing data sources and identifying the available information based on similar equipment, then using that generic data to derive an analog composite. Dissimilarities in equipment descriptions, environment of intended use, quality and even failure modes impact the "best" data incorporated in an analog composite. Once developed, this composite analog data provides a "better" representation of the reliability of the equipment or component can be used to support early risk or reliability trade studies, or analytical models to establish the predicted reliability data points. Data that is more representative of reality and more project specific would provide more accurate analysis, and hopefully a better final decision.

The track structure in condensed matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaplan, I. G.

1995-11-01

The physical stage of track formation in a condensed phase is discussed. For interaction of charged particles with condensed molecular media its most important specific features are: (a) the continuous oscillator strength distribution with the broak peak in the energy range 21-22 eV attributed to the collective plasmon-type state; (b) the lowering of ionization potential compared to a gas phase. These specific features must be taken into account for simulation of track structures. The great difference in mass and charge for a electron and heavy ions cause a qualitative difference in their track structures. We analyse the structure of heavy ion tracks and prove the impossibility to use the LET as a universal characteristic for the radiation action of different ions.

Quantification of Gaussian quantum steering.

PubMed

Kogias, Ioannis; Lee, Antony R; Ragy, Sammy; Adesso, Gerardo

2015-02-13

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering incarnates a useful nonclassical correlation which sits between entanglement and Bell nonlocality. While a number of qualitative steering criteria exist, very little has been achieved for what concerns quantifying steerability. We introduce a computable measure of steering for arbitrary bipartite Gaussian states of continuous variable systems. For two-mode Gaussian states, the measure reduces to a form of coherent information, which is proven never to exceed entanglement, and to reduce to it on pure states. We provide an operational connection between our measure and the key rate in one-sided device-independent quantum key distribution. We further prove that Peres' conjecture holds in its stronger form within the fully Gaussian regime: namely, steering bound entangled Gaussian states by Gaussian measurements is impossible.

Infants as Others: Uncertainties, Difficulties and (Im)possibilities in Researching Infants' Lives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elwick, Sheena; Bradley, Ben; Sumsion, Jennifer

2014-01-01

Increasingly, researchers are trying to understand what daily life is like for infants in non-parental care from the perspectives of the infants themselves. In this article, we argue that it is profoundly difficult, if not impossible, to know how infants experience their worlds with any certainty and, indeed, whether they do or do not possess…

Complicity as Infiltration: The (Im)possibilities of Research with/in NSF Engineering Grants in the Age of Neoliberal Scientism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daza, Stephanie Lynn

2012-01-01

In this article, I use a Spivakian decolonizing perspective to take simplification to task in two ways--the simplification of methodology with/in grants and the simplification of critique that skirts the impossibility of noncomplicitous research and researchers. I posit that "neoliberal scientism"'s grants culture is colonizing research--narrowly…

The Inspiration Given by the Successful Practice of Development of Higher Vocational Education in the Developed Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, Gaoling

2010-01-01

Higher vocational education is the product of economic development, scientific and technological progress. If the country does not have a well-developed vocational education, it is impossible to make a good advanced science and technology into productive forces, it is also impossible to achieve economy development in a high speed. In turn, powers…

78 FR 21189 - Petition for Exemption From the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; BMW of North America, LLC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-09

... must be recognized by the EWS/CAS control unit in order for the vehicle to start. The transponder... in the mechanical keys make the locks almost impossible to pick and the keys impossible to duplicate... description of the antitheft device is necessary in order to notify law enforcement agencies of new vehicle...

Developing the Impossible Figures Task to Assess Visual-Spatial Talents among Chinese Students: A Rasch Measurement Model Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, David W.

2010-01-01

Data of item responses to the Impossible Figures Task (IFT) from 492 Chinese primary, secondary, and university students were analyzed using the dichotomous Rasch measurement model. Item difficulty estimates and person ability estimates located on the same logit scale revealed that the pooled sample of Chinese students, who were relatively highly…

Rational Rationing: Impossible or Inevitable?

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-04-01

AD-A276 769 1993 Executive Research Project S45 Rational Rationing : Impossible or Inevitable? Commander Albert Benjamin Long, III Medical Service...used until exhausted. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE All other editions are obsolete. UNCLASSIFIED Rational Rationing : Inevitable or Inpossible...dilemma requires that we--as individuals and as a Nation--consciously and rationally decide what we expect from our future health care delivery system and

Mental rotation and the motor system: embodiment head over heels.

PubMed

Krüger, Markus; Amorim, Michel-Ange; Ebersbach, Mirjam

2014-01-01

We examined whether body parts attached to abstract stimuli automatically force embodiment in a mental rotation task. In Experiment 1, standard cube combinations reflecting a human pose were added with (1) body parts on anatomically possible locations, (2) body parts on anatomically impossible locations, (3) colored end cubes, and (4) simple end cubes. Participants (N=30) had to decide whether two simultaneously presented stimuli, rotated in the picture plane, were identical or not. They were fastest and made less errors in the possible-body condition, but were slowest and least accurate in the impossible-body condition. A second experiment (N=32) replicated the results and ruled out that the poor performance in the impossible-body condition was due to the specific stimulus material. The findings of both experiments suggest that body parts automatically trigger embodiment, even when it is counterproductive and dramatically impairs performance, as in the impossible-body condition. It can furthermore be concluded that body parts cannot be used flexibly for spatial orientation in mental rotation tasks, compared to colored end cubes. Thus, embodiment appears to be a strong and inflexible mechanism that may, under certain conditions, even impede performance. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On being a certifying abortion consultant: an ethical dilemma.

PubMed

Clarkson, S E

1980-05-14

The medical profession was relieved when the Contraceptive, Sterilization and Abortion Act was passed in New Zealand in 1977, but it now appears that there are continuing problems with the implementation of the law. Most of the law's clauses are concerned with the practical aspects of the performance of abortions in New Zealand. Outlined in the law are requirements for licenses of hospitals, certifying consultants and operating surgeons, and the tasks of the supervising committee are specified. Thus, the medical profession accepted the impossible job of becoming the arbiter of morals of New Zealand society. There have been problems, since passage of the law, with inadequate numbers of certifying consultants being recruited, the resignation of the chair of the Abortion Supervisory Committee, a lack of resources to provide the required counseling services, and local variation in interpretations resulting in inconsistent treatment of abortion requests in different parts of the country. The basis of the problem is the fact that this law requires a moral rather than a medical decision to be made. Although at 1st glance the phrase serious risk to mental health would appear to be easily interpreted, this is not so. The morality of an act of abortion depends on the right afforded the fetus, and no society has as yet achieved a consensus on this. Thus, this must remain the conviction of each separate individual. Some guidance may come from medidal and legal advisers in this moral decision, but it is impossible to delegate personal moral decisions.

Detecting impossible changes in infancy: a three-system account

PubMed Central

Wang, Su-hua; Baillargeon, Renée

2012-01-01

Can infants detect that an object has magically disappeared, broken apart or changed color while briefly hidden? Recent research suggests that infants detect some but not other ‘impossible’ changes; and that various contextual manipulations can induce infants to detect changes they would not otherwise detect. We present an account that includes three systems: a physical-reasoning, an object-tracking, and an object-representation system. What impossible changes infants detect depends on what object information is included in the physical-reasoning system; this information becomes subject to a principle of persistence, which states that objects can undergo no spontaneous or uncaused change. What contextual manipulations induce infants to detect impossible changes depends on complex interplays between the physical-reasoning system and the object-tracking and object-representation systems. PMID:18078778

She bought the unicorn from the pet store: Six- to seven-year-olds are strongly inclined to generate natural explanations.

PubMed

Nancekivell, Shaylene E; Friedman, Ori

2017-06-01

In two experiments (N = 64), we told 6- to 7-year-olds about improbable or impossible outcomes (Experiment 1) and about impossible outcomes concerning ordinary or magical agents (Experiment 2). In both experiments, children claimed that the outcomes were impossible and could not happen, but nonetheless generated realistic and natural explanations for the outcomes. These findings show that 6- to 7-year-olds are strongly inclined to provide natural explanations. The findings are also informative about children's judgments about whether outcomes are possible, and further suggest that asymmetries between children's predictions and explanations may stem from differences in how these 2 forms of reasoning are constrained by possibility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Current status of establishing a venous line in CPA patients by Emergency Life-Saving Technicians in the prehospital setting in Japan and a proposal for intraosseous infusion.

PubMed

Isayama, Kenji; Nakatani, Toshio; Tsuda, Masanobu; Hirakawa, Akihiko

2012-01-09

It is important to have a venous line in cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) patients as an emergency treatment measure in prehospital settings, but establishment of a peripheral venous line is difficult in such patients. This study aimed to investigate the current status of intravenous infusion (IVI) in CPA patients by Emergency Life-Saving Technicians (ELSTs) in Japan. We also considered alternative measures in case IVI was difficult or impossible. We investigated a nationwide database between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008. From a total of 431,968 CPA cases, we calculated the IVI success rate and related parameters.The Bone Injection Gun (BIG) and simulator legs (adult, pediatric, and infant) were used by 100 ELSTs selected for the study to measure the time required and the success rate for intraosseous infusion (IOI). The number of CPA patients, IVI, adrenaline administration, and the IVI success rate in adult CPA patients increased every year. However, the IVI success rate in pediatric CPA patients did not increase. Although adrenaline administration elevated the ROSC rate, there was no improvement in the 1-month survival rate. The time required for IOI with BIG was not different among the leg models. The success rates of IOI with BIG were 93%, 94%, and 84% (p < 0.05 vs. adult and pediatric) in adult, pediatric, and infant models, respectively. The rate of success of IVI in adult CPA patients has been increased yearly in Japan. However, as establishing a peripheral venous line in pediatric patients (1-7 years old) by ELSTs is extremely difficult in prehospital settings, there was no increase in the IVI success rate in such patients. As the study findings indicated IOI with BIG was easy and rapid, it may be necessary to consider IOI with BIG as an alternative option in case IVI is difficult or impossible in adult and pediatric patients.

Assessing sensor accuracy for non-adjunct use of continuous glucose monitoring.

PubMed

Kovatchev, Boris P; Patek, Stephen D; Ortiz, Edward Andrew; Breton, Marc D

2015-03-01

The level of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) accuracy needed for insulin dosing using sensor values (i.e., the level of accuracy permitting non-adjunct CGM use) is a topic of ongoing debate. Assessment of this level in clinical experiments is virtually impossible because the magnitude of CGM errors cannot be manipulated and related prospectively to clinical outcomes. A combination of archival data (parallel CGM, insulin pump, self-monitoring of blood glucose [SMBG] records, and meals for 56 pump users with type 1 diabetes) and in silico experiments was used to "replay" real-life treatment scenarios and relate sensor error to glycemic outcomes. Nominal blood glucose (BG) traces were extracted using a mathematical model, yielding 2,082 BG segments each initiated by insulin bolus and confirmed by SMBG. These segments were replayed at seven sensor accuracy levels (mean absolute relative differences [MARDs] of 3-22%) testing six scenarios: insulin dosing using sensor values, threshold, and predictive alarms, each without or with considering CGM trend arrows. In all six scenarios, the occurrence of hypoglycemia (frequency of BG levels ≤50 mg/dL and BG levels ≤39 mg/dL) increased with sensor error, displaying an abrupt slope change at MARD =10%. Similarly, hyperglycemia (frequency of BG levels ≥250 mg/dL and BG levels ≥400 mg/dL) increased and displayed an abrupt slope change at MARD=10%. When added to insulin dosing decisions, information from CGM trend arrows, threshold, and predictive alarms resulted in improvement in average glycemia by 1.86, 8.17, and 8.88 mg/dL, respectively. Using CGM for insulin dosing decisions is feasible below a certain level of sensor error, estimated in silico at MARD=10%. In our experiments, further accuracy improvement did not contribute substantively to better glycemic outcomes.

Assessing Sensor Accuracy for Non-Adjunct Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring

PubMed Central

Patek, Stephen D.; Ortiz, Edward Andrew; Breton, Marc D.

2015-01-01

Abstract Background: The level of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) accuracy needed for insulin dosing using sensor values (i.e., the level of accuracy permitting non-adjunct CGM use) is a topic of ongoing debate. Assessment of this level in clinical experiments is virtually impossible because the magnitude of CGM errors cannot be manipulated and related prospectively to clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: A combination of archival data (parallel CGM, insulin pump, self-monitoring of blood glucose [SMBG] records, and meals for 56 pump users with type 1 diabetes) and in silico experiments was used to “replay” real-life treatment scenarios and relate sensor error to glycemic outcomes. Nominal blood glucose (BG) traces were extracted using a mathematical model, yielding 2,082 BG segments each initiated by insulin bolus and confirmed by SMBG. These segments were replayed at seven sensor accuracy levels (mean absolute relative differences [MARDs] of 3–22%) testing six scenarios: insulin dosing using sensor values, threshold, and predictive alarms, each without or with considering CGM trend arrows. Results: In all six scenarios, the occurrence of hypoglycemia (frequency of BG levels ≤50 mg/dL and BG levels ≤39 mg/dL) increased with sensor error, displaying an abrupt slope change at MARD =10%. Similarly, hyperglycemia (frequency of BG levels ≥250 mg/dL and BG levels ≥400 mg/dL) increased and displayed an abrupt slope change at MARD=10%. When added to insulin dosing decisions, information from CGM trend arrows, threshold, and predictive alarms resulted in improvement in average glycemia by 1.86, 8.17, and 8.88 mg/dL, respectively. Conclusions: Using CGM for insulin dosing decisions is feasible below a certain level of sensor error, estimated in silico at MARD=10%. In our experiments, further accuracy improvement did not contribute substantively to better glycemic outcomes. PMID:25436913

An ancient dental gene set governs development and continuous regeneration of teeth in sharks.

PubMed

Rasch, Liam J; Martin, Kyle J; Cooper, Rory L; Metscher, Brian D; Underwood, Charlie J; Fraser, Gareth J

2016-07-15

The evolution of oral teeth is considered a major contributor to the overall success of jawed vertebrates. This is especially apparent in cartilaginous fishes including sharks and rays, which develop elaborate arrays of highly specialized teeth, organized in rows and retain the capacity for life-long regeneration. Perpetual regeneration of oral teeth has been either lost or highly reduced in many other lineages including important developmental model species, so cartilaginous fishes are uniquely suited for deep comparative analyses of tooth development and regeneration. Additionally, sharks and rays can offer crucial insights into the characters of the dentition in the ancestor of all jawed vertebrates. Despite this, tooth development and regeneration in chondrichthyans is poorly understood and remains virtually uncharacterized from a developmental genetic standpoint. Using the emerging chondrichthyan model, the catshark (Scyliorhinus spp.), we characterized the expression of genes homologous to those known to be expressed during stages of early dental competence, tooth initiation, morphogenesis, and regeneration in bony vertebrates. We have found that expression patterns of several genes from Hh, Wnt/β-catenin, Bmp and Fgf signalling pathways indicate deep conservation over ~450 million years of tooth development and regeneration. We describe how these genes participate in the initial emergence of the shark dentition and how they are redeployed during regeneration of successive tooth generations. We suggest that at the dawn of the vertebrate lineage, teeth (i) were most likely continuously regenerative structures, and (ii) utilised a core set of genes from members of key developmental signalling pathways that were instrumental in creating a dental legacy redeployed throughout vertebrate evolution. These data lay the foundation for further experimental investigations utilizing the unique regenerative capacity of chondrichthyan models to answer evolutionary, developmental, and regenerative biological questions that are impossible to explore in classical models. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The UTCI-clothing model.

PubMed

Havenith, George; Fiala, Dusan; Błazejczyk, Krzysztof; Richards, Mark; Bröde, Peter; Holmér, Ingvar; Rintamaki, Hannu; Benshabat, Yael; Jendritzky, Gerd

2012-05-01

The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was conceived as a thermal index covering the whole climate range from heat to cold. This would be impossible without considering clothing as the interface between the person (here, the physiological model of thermoregulation) and the environment. It was decided to develop a clothing model for this application in which the following three factors were considered: (1) typical dressing behaviour in different temperatures, as observed in the field, resulting in a model of the distribution of clothing over the different body segments in relation to the ambient temperature, (2) the changes in clothing insulation and vapour resistance caused by wind and body movement, and (3) the change in wind speed in relation to the height above ground. The outcome was a clothing model that defines in detail the effective clothing insulation and vapour resistance for each of the thermo-physiological model's body segments over a wide range of climatic conditions. This paper details this model's conception and documents its definitions.

Fast physical-random number generation using laser diode's frequency noise: influence of frequency discriminator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, Kouhei; Kasuya, Yuki; Yumoto, Mitsuki; Arai, Hideaki; Sato, Takashi; Sakamoto, Shuichi; Ohkawa, Masashi; Ohdaira, Yasuo

2018-02-01

Not so long ago, pseudo random numbers generated by numerical formulae were considered to be adequate for encrypting important data-files, because of the time needed to decode them. With today's ultra high-speed processors, however, this is no longer true. So, in order to thwart ever-more advanced attempts to breach our system's protections, cryptologists have devised a method that is considered to be virtually impossible to decode, and uses what is a limitless number of physical random numbers. This research describes a method, whereby laser diode's frequency noise generate a large quantities of physical random numbers. Using two types of photo detectors (APD and PIN-PD), we tested the abilities of two types of lasers (FP-LD and VCSEL) to generate random numbers. In all instances, an etalon served as frequency discriminator, the examination pass rates were determined using NIST FIPS140-2 test at each bit, and the Random Number Generation (RNG) speed was noted.

Consequences of Decontamination Procedures in Forensic Hair Analysis Using Metal-Assisted Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

PubMed

Cuypers, Eva; Flinders, Bryn; Boone, Carolien M; Bosman, Ingrid J; Lusthof, Klaas J; Van Asten, Arian C; Tytgat, Jan; Heeren, Ron M A

2016-03-15

Today, hair testing is considered to be the standard method for the detection of chronic drug abuse. Nevertheless, the differentiation between systemic exposure and external contamination remains a major challenge in the forensic interpretation of hair analysis. Nowadays, it is still impossible to directly show the difference between external contamination and use-related incorporation. Although the effects of washing procedures on the distribution of (incorporated) drugs in hair remain unknown, these decontamination procedures prior to hair analysis are considered to be indispensable in order to exclude external contamination. However, insights into the effect of decontamination protocols on levels and distribution of drugs incorporated in hair are essential to draw the correct forensic conclusions from hair analysis; we studied the consequences of these procedures on the spatial distribution of cocaine in hair using imaging mass spectrometry. Additionally, using metal-assisted secondary ion mass spectrometry, we are the first to directly show the difference between cocaine-contaminated and user hair without any prior washing procedure.

Infant and Adult Perceptions of Possible and Impossible Body Movements: An Eye-Tracking Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morita, Tomoyo; Slaughter, Virginia; Katayama, Nobuko; Kitazaki, Michiteru; Kakigi, Ryusuke; Itakura, Shoji

2012-01-01

This study investigated how infants perceive and interpret human body movement. We recorded the eye movements and pupil sizes of 9- and 12-month-old infants and of adults (N = 14 per group) as they observed animation clips of biomechanically possible and impossible arm movements performed by a human and by a humanoid robot. Both 12-month-old…

Object Permanence in 3 1/2- and 4 1/2-Month-Old Infants.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baillargeon, Renee

1987-01-01

Three experiments test object permanenece in 3 1/2- and 4 1/2-month-old infants, and use an impossible-possible-habituation event format. The 4 1/2-month-olds, and the 3 1/2-month-olds who were fast habituators, look reliably longer at the impossible than at the possible event. Results seriously question Piaget's (1954) claims regarding the age at…

CGBayesNets: Conditional Gaussian Bayesian Network Learning and Inference with Mixed Discrete and Continuous Data

PubMed Central

Weiss, Scott T.

2014-01-01

Bayesian Networks (BN) have been a popular predictive modeling formalism in bioinformatics, but their application in modern genomics has been slowed by an inability to cleanly handle domains with mixed discrete and continuous variables. Existing free BN software packages either discretize continuous variables, which can lead to information loss, or do not include inference routines, which makes prediction with the BN impossible. We present CGBayesNets, a BN package focused around prediction of a clinical phenotype from mixed discrete and continuous variables, which fills these gaps. CGBayesNets implements Bayesian likelihood and inference algorithms for the conditional Gaussian Bayesian network (CGBNs) formalism, one appropriate for predicting an outcome of interest from, e.g., multimodal genomic data. We provide four different network learning algorithms, each making a different tradeoff between computational cost and network likelihood. CGBayesNets provides a full suite of functions for model exploration and verification, including cross validation, bootstrapping, and AUC manipulation. We highlight several results obtained previously with CGBayesNets, including predictive models of wood properties from tree genomics, leukemia subtype classification from mixed genomic data, and robust prediction of intensive care unit mortality outcomes from metabolomic profiles. We also provide detailed example analysis on public metabolomic and gene expression datasets. CGBayesNets is implemented in MATLAB and available as MATLAB source code, under an Open Source license and anonymous download at http://www.cgbayesnets.com. PMID:24922310

CGBayesNets: conditional Gaussian Bayesian network learning and inference with mixed discrete and continuous data.

PubMed

McGeachie, Michael J; Chang, Hsun-Hsien; Weiss, Scott T

2014-06-01

Bayesian Networks (BN) have been a popular predictive modeling formalism in bioinformatics, but their application in modern genomics has been slowed by an inability to cleanly handle domains with mixed discrete and continuous variables. Existing free BN software packages either discretize continuous variables, which can lead to information loss, or do not include inference routines, which makes prediction with the BN impossible. We present CGBayesNets, a BN package focused around prediction of a clinical phenotype from mixed discrete and continuous variables, which fills these gaps. CGBayesNets implements Bayesian likelihood and inference algorithms for the conditional Gaussian Bayesian network (CGBNs) formalism, one appropriate for predicting an outcome of interest from, e.g., multimodal genomic data. We provide four different network learning algorithms, each making a different tradeoff between computational cost and network likelihood. CGBayesNets provides a full suite of functions for model exploration and verification, including cross validation, bootstrapping, and AUC manipulation. We highlight several results obtained previously with CGBayesNets, including predictive models of wood properties from tree genomics, leukemia subtype classification from mixed genomic data, and robust prediction of intensive care unit mortality outcomes from metabolomic profiles. We also provide detailed example analysis on public metabolomic and gene expression datasets. CGBayesNets is implemented in MATLAB and available as MATLAB source code, under an Open Source license and anonymous download at http://www.cgbayesnets.com.

Emerging microengineered tools for functional analysis and phenotyping of blood cells.

PubMed

Li, Xiang; Chen, Weiqiang; Li, Zida; Li, Ling; Gu, Hongchen; Fu, Jianping

2014-11-01

The available techniques for assessing blood cell functions are limited considering the various types of blood cell and their diverse functions. In the past decade, rapid advances in microengineering have enabled an array of blood cell functional measurements that are difficult or impossible to achieve using conventional bulk platforms. Such miniaturized blood cell assay platforms also provide the attractive capabilities of reducing chemical consumption, cost, and assay time, as well as exciting opportunities for device integration, automation, and assay standardization. This review summarizes these contemporary microengineered tools and discusses their promising potential for constructing accurate in vitro models and rapid clinical diagnosis using minimal amounts of whole-blood samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phase retrapping in a pointlike φ Josephson junction: the butterfly effect.

PubMed

Goldobin, E; Kleiner, R; Koelle, D; Mints, R G

2013-08-02

We consider a φ Josephson junction, which has a bistable zero-voltage state with the stationary phases ψ = ±φ. In the nonzero voltage state the phase "moves" viscously along a tilted periodic double-well potential. When the tilting is reduced quasistatically, the phase is retrapped in one of the potential wells. We study the viscous phase dynamics to determine in which well (-φ or +φ) the phase is retrapped for a given damping, when the junction returns from the finite-voltage state back to the zero-voltage state. In the limit of low damping, the φ Josephson junction exhibits a butterfly effect-extreme sensitivity of the destination well on damping. This leads to an impossibility to predict the destination well.

Intelligent Process Abnormal Patterns Recognition and Diagnosis Based on Fuzzy Logic.

PubMed

Hou, Shi-Wang; Feng, Shunxiao; Wang, Hui

2016-01-01

Locating the assignable causes by use of the abnormal patterns of control chart is a widely used technology for manufacturing quality control. If there are uncertainties about the occurrence degree of abnormal patterns, the diagnosis process is impossible to be carried out. Considering four common abnormal control chart patterns, this paper proposed a characteristic numbers based recognition method point by point to quantify the occurrence degree of abnormal patterns under uncertain conditions and a fuzzy inference system based on fuzzy logic to calculate the contribution degree of assignable causes with fuzzy abnormal patterns. Application case results show that the proposed approach can give a ranked causes list under fuzzy control chart abnormal patterns and support the abnormity eliminating.

From the connectome to the synaptome: an epic love story.

PubMed

DeFelipe, Javier

2010-11-26

A major challenge in neuroscience is to decipher the structural layout of the brain. The term "connectome" has recently been proposed to refer to the highly organized connection matrix of the human brain. However, defining how information flows through such a complex system represents so difficult a task that it seems unlikely it could be achieved in the near future or, for the most pessimistic, perhaps ever. Circuit diagrams of the nervous system can be considered at different levels, although they are surely impossible to complete at the synaptic level. Nevertheless, advances in our capacity to marry macro- and microscopic data may help establish a realistic statistical model that could describe connectivity at the ultrastructural level, the "synaptome," giving us cause for optimism.

Welfare, Tax Burden and Fiscal Balance in Artificial Societies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kikuchi, Toshiko

Japan's social security system is facing a crisis by short-sighted policies to balance of the accounts in a financial crisis. However, such a balance of accounts does not necessarily bring remedy of financial difficulties. If it is possible to reduce the social security payments because the weak become independent, it is considered that short-sighted reforms cause a further financial crisis. This study explores how welfare and tax burden influence fiscal balance using multi-agent simulations. The results of simulation show that fiscal balance is improved by high-welfare than a cut in fiscal expenditures, and that welfare reducing is impossible unless the three relations of social configuration (market, obligatory, and communal relations) function in balance with each other.

Solving differential equations for Feynman integrals by expansions near singular points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Roman N.; Smirnov, Alexander V.; Smirnov, Vladimir A.

2018-03-01

We describe a strategy to solve differential equations for Feynman integrals by powers series expansions near singular points and to obtain high precision results for the corresponding master integrals. We consider Feynman integrals with two scales, i.e. non-trivially depending on one variable. The corresponding algorithm is oriented at situations where canonical form of the differential equations is impossible. We provide a computer code constructed with the help of our algorithm for a simple example of four-loop generalized sunset integrals with three equal non-zero masses and two zero masses. Our code gives values of the master integrals at any given point on the real axis with a required accuracy and a given order of expansion in the regularization parameter ɛ.

Plant food supplements with anti-inflammatory properties: a systematic review (I).

PubMed

Dell'Agli, Mario; Di Lorenzo, Chiara; Badea, Mihaela; Sangiovanni, Enrico; Dima, Lorena; Bosisio, Enrica; Restani, Patrizia

2013-01-01

Plant food supplements (PFS) receive great acceptance by European consumers. However, quality and efficacy of these products remain a question of concern. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize and critically evaluate the evidence for or against the efficacy of PFS for coping inflammatory conditions by considering epidemiological and human intervention studies. The review, which consists of two parts, considers Olea europea L., Camellia sinensis L., Vitis vinifera L., and Matricaria recutita L., which are herbal material frequently used also as food. The search retrieved 1251 publications. By applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, the final number of papers was 91. Vitis vinifera L. showed promising results, but other trials should be performed in order to assessing the efficacy. Surprisingly, it was impossible to draw conclusions for the anti-inflammatory effect of Camellia sinensis L. as green tea. No studies were found on the leaves of Olea europea L. whereas more human trials are needed to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of olive oil. Only one study for Matricaria recutita L. was selected. In conclusion, it is advisable to conduct further studies with more homogeneous population and larger number of subjects by avoiding the heterogeneity of the herbal preparations considered.

Approaches to biofilm-associated infections: the need for standardized and relevant biofilm methods for clinical applications.

PubMed

Malone, Matthew; Goeres, Darla M; Gosbell, Iain; Vickery, Karen; Jensen, Slade; Stoodley, Paul

2017-02-01

The concept of biofilms in human health and disease is now widely accepted as cause of chronic infection. Typically, biofilms show remarkable tolerance to many forms of treatments and the host immune response. This has led to vast increase in research to identify new (and sometimes old) anti-biofilm strategies that demonstrate effectiveness against these tolerant phenotypes. Areas covered: Unfortunately, a standardized methodological approach of biofilm models has not been adopted leading to a large disparity between testing conditions. This has made it almost impossible to compare data across multiple laboratories, leaving large gaps in the evidence. Furthermore, many biofilm models testing anti-biofilm strategies aimed at the medical arena have not considered the matter of relevance to an intended application. This may explain why some in vitro models based on methodological designs that do not consider relevance to an intended application fail when applied in vivo at the clinical level. Expert commentary: This review will explore the issues that need to be considered in developing performance standards for anti-biofilm therapeutics and provide a rationale for the need to standardize models/methods that are clinically relevant. We also provide some rational as to why no standards currently exist.

Retrieval of large Occlutech Figula Flex septal defect occluders using a commercially available bioptome: proof of concept.

PubMed

Georgiev, Stanimir; Tanase, Daniel; Genz, Thomas; Ewert, Peter; Naumann, Susanne; Pozza, Robert Dalla; Eicken, Andreas

2018-07-01

This study aimed to develop a method for retrieval of the new meshed nitinol atrial septal defect occluders - Ceraflex and Occlutech. The newly developed atrial septal defect occluders have potential benefits considering implantation, but concerns regarding their removal in case of embolisation have been raised. Over 21 years, 1449 patients underwent interventional atrial septal defect occlusion in our institution. We reviewed the cases of embolisation of the device, developed a strategy for device removal, and tested it on the benchside and in animal tests. In 11 patients (0.8%), the intended atrial septal defect occlusion was complicated by an embolisation of the device. In contrast to the Amplatzer septal occluders, retrieval of Occlutech devices larger than 16 mm with snare techniques was impossible. In benchside tests, this was confirmed and a new method for removal of large meshed devices was developed. This involved the commercially available Maslanka® biopsy forceps. The feasibility of this technique in vivo was tested in a pig model. During animal tests, using the Maslanka biopsy forceps it was possible to interventionally retrieve embolised Ceraflex and Occlutech devices of different sizes - 10, 16, 30, and 40 mm - into a 12-F sheath. It was impossible to retrieve Occlutech and Ceraflex devices larger than 16 mm into a large sheath in vivo and during benchside tests. However, this was feasible on the bench and in vivo using the Maslanka biopsy forceps even with the largest available devices.

[Current problems arising from not having biosafety level 4 laboratories in Japan--qualitative study of infectious disease experts].

PubMed

Yamamoto, Yuko; Horiguchi, Itsuko; Marui, Eiji

2009-09-01

No public consensus exists yet on handling Biosafety Level 4 agents and no laboratory is operational at BSL4 in Japan. A discussion that includes neighboring residents and experts should be initiated to communicate risks. In this article, we present the current situation and prioritize problems we presently face. A three-stage Delphi survey was conducted. The subjects were twenty-two persons with extensive experience and knowledge of infectious diseases. Seven projections and issues were made with regard to the problems arising from the lack of an operational BSL4 laboratory. These were tabulated by the KJ method. The top seven projections were scored, such that the top received 7 points and the last received 1 point. A total of 51 projections were obtained for the first part of the survey, 39 for the second, and 29 for the last. The projection with the highest score was that it is impossible to cope with newly emerging infectious diseases. The second was that complete diagnoses are impossible without a BSL4 laboratory. All projections and issues were divided into the following four main groups: issues for researchers and laboratory staff, clinical practice and research on BSL4 agents, domestic and global security, and Japan's international position. We clarified possible problem arising from not having BSL4 laboratories in Japan. The identification of projections by the Delphi survey in this study should be considered as one of many attempts to develop effective risk communication strategies.

Frontoparietal Activation Distinguishes Face and Space from Artifact Concepts

PubMed Central

Chen, Chi-Hua; Zeki, Semir

2012-01-01

Empirical and theoretical studies suggest that human knowledge is partly based on innate concepts that are experience-independent. We can, therefore, consider concepts underlying our knowledge as being broadly divided into inherited and acquired ones. Using fMRI, we studied the brain reaction in 20 subjects to violation of face, space (inherited), and artifact (acquired) concepts by presenting them with deformed faces, impossible figures (i.e., impossible chairs), and deformed planes, respectively, as well as their normal counterparts. Violation of the inherited concepts of face and space led to significant activation in frontoparietal cortex, whereas artifacts did not, thus distinguishing neurologically between the two categories. Participants were further exposed to these deformities daily for 1 month to test the supposition that inherited concepts are not modifiable, hence that prolonged exposure would not change the brain circuits that are engaged when viewing them. Consistent with this supposition, our results showed no significant change in activation for both categories, suggesting that such concepts are stable at the neural level at least within a time frame of 1 month. Finally, we investigated the regions of the brain that are critical for object representation. Our results show distinct and overlapping areas in the ventral visual cortex for all three categories, with faces activating the ventral visual cortex inferiorly, especially centered on right fusiform gyrus, and chairs and planes activating more diffuse regions, overlapping with the superior part of face region and mainly located in middle occipital cortex and parietal areas. PMID:21254806

Alternative aircraft fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Longwell, J. P.; Grobman, J.

1978-01-01

In connection with the anticipated impossibility to provide on a long-term basis liquid fuels derived from petroleum, an investigation has been conducted with the objective to assess the suitability of jet fuels made from oil shale and coal and to develop a data base which will allow optimization of future fuel characteristics, taking energy efficiency of manufacture and the tradeoffs in aircraft and engine design into account. The properties of future aviation fuels are examined and proposed solutions to problems of alternative fuels are discussed. Attention is given to the refining of jet fuel to current specifications, the control of fuel thermal stability, and combustor technology for use of broad specification fuels. The first solution is to continue to develop the necessary technology at the refinery to produce specification jet fuels regardless of the crude source.

Low Energy Nuclear Reactions: A Millennium Status Report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallove, Eugene F.

2000-03-01

This talk will summarize some of the more convincing recent experiments that show that helium-4, nuclear scale excess energy, tritium, low-level neutron production, and the transmutation of heavy elements can occur near room temperature in relatively simple systems. Despite inappropriate theory-based arguments against it and unethical attacks by people unfamiliar with the supporting experiments, the new field of solid state nuclear reactions is progressing. The physical theory behind the associated phenomena continues to be debated among theorists. The facts of the history of this scientific controversy suggest that it is inadvisable to rush to judgment against allegedly ``impossible" new phenomena when increasingly careful experiments have revealed new vistas in physics. Detailed discussion of evidence for solid state nuclear reactions is available elsewhere (http://www.infinite-energy.com). abstract document

Health care, human worth and the limits of the particular.

PubMed Central

Cherry, C

1997-01-01

An ethics concerned with health care developments and systems must be historically continuous, especially as it concerns the application to managed structures of key moral-epistemic concepts such as care, love and empathy. These concepts are traditionally most at home in the personal, individual domain. Human beings have non-instrumental worth just because they are human beings and not by virtue of their capacities. Managed health care systems tend to abstract from this worth in respect of both individuals' distinctness and individual identity. The first, a common feature of quantitative approaches to health care assessment and delivery, is avoidable. The second, by contrast, is necessarily sacrificed in impersonally managed structures. Failure to distinguish the two encourages confusion and distress, and the demand for impossible medico-moral relationships. PMID:9358352

Creating double negative index materials using the Babinet principle with one metasurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Koschny, Thomas; Soukoulis, C. M.

2013-01-01

Metamaterials are patterned metallic structures which permit access to a novel electromagnetic response, negative index of refraction, impossible to achieve with naturally occurring materials. Using the Babinet principle, the complementary split ring resonator (SRR) is etched in a metallic plate to provide negative ɛ, with perpendicular direction. Here we propose a new design, etched in a metallic plate to provide negative magnetic permeability μ, with perpendicular direction. The combined electromagnetic response of this planar metamaterial, where the negative μ comes from the aperture and the negative ɛ from the remainder of the continuous metallic plate, allows achievement of a double negative index metamaterial (NIM) with only one metasurface and strong transmission. These designs can be used to fabricate NIMs at microwave and optical wavelengths and three-dimensional metamaterials.

Modeling plasticity by non-continuous deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ben-Shmuel, Yaron; Altus, Eli

2017-10-01

Plasticity and failure theories are still subjects of intense research. Engineering constitutive models on the macroscale which are based on micro characteristics are very much in need. This study is motivated by the observation that continuum assumptions in plasticity in which neighbour material elements are inseparable at all-time are physically impossible, since local detachments, slips and neighbour switching must operate, i.e. non-continuous deformation. Material microstructure is modelled herein by a set of point elements (particles) interacting with their neighbours. Each particle can detach from and/or attach with its neighbours during deformation. Simulations on two- dimensional configurations subjected to uniaxial compression cycle are conducted. Stochastic heterogeneity is controlled by a single "disorder" parameter. It was found that (a) macro response resembles typical elasto-plastic behaviour; (b) plastic energy is proportional to the number of detachments; (c) residual plastic strain is proportional to the number of attachments, and (d) volume is preserved, which is consistent with macro plastic deformation. Rigid body displacements of local groups of elements are also observed. Higher disorder decreases the macro elastic moduli and increases plastic energy. Evolution of anisotropic effects is obtained with no additional parameters.

High-yield, in vitro protein expression using a continuous-exchange, coupled transcription/ translation system.

PubMed

Martin, G A; Kawaguchi, R; Lam, Y; DeGiovanni, A; Fukushima, M; Mutter, W

2001-10-01

The Rapid Translation System (RTS 500) (Roche Molecular Biochemicals) is a high-yield protein expression system that utilizes an enhanced E. coli lysate for an in vitro transcription/translation reaction. In contrast to conventional transcription/translation, this system allows protein expression to continue for more than 24 h. We demonstrated the utility of the RTS 500 by expressing different soluble and active proteins that generally pose problems in cell-based expression systems. We first expressed GFP-lunasin, a fusion protein that, because of its toxicity, has been impossible to produce in whole cells. The second protein we expressed, human interleukin-2 (IL-2), is generally difficult to produce, either as the native molecule or as a GSTfusion protein, in a soluble form in bacteria. Finally, we demonstrated the capacity of the RTS 500 to co-express proteins, by the simultaneous production of GFP and CAT in a single reaction. This new technology appears to be particularly usefulfor the convenient production of preparative amounts (100-900 microg) of proteins that are toxic or insoluble in cell-based systems.

Resource demand growth and sustainability due to increased world consumption

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

Balatsky, Alexander V.; Balatsky, Galina I.; Borysov, Stanislav S.

The paper aims at continuing the discussion on sustainability and attempts to forecast the impossibility of the expanding consumption worldwide due to the planet’s limited resources. As the population of China, India and other developing countries continue to increase, they would also require more natural and financial resources to sustain their growth. We coarsely estimate the volumes of these resources (energy, food, freshwater) and the gross domestic product (GDP) that would need to be achieved to bring the population of India and China to the current levels of consumption in the United States. We also provide estimations for potentially neededmore » immediate growth of the world resource consumption to meet this equality requirement. Given the tight historical correlation between GDP and energy consumption, the needed increase of GDP per capita in the developing world to the levels of the U.S. would deplete explored fossil fuel reserves in less than two decades. These estimates predict that the world economy would need to find a development model where growth would be achieved without heavy dependence on fossil fuels.« less

Query-based learning for aerospace applications.

PubMed

Saad, E W; Choi, J J; Vian, J L; Wunsch, D C Ii

2003-01-01

Models of real-world applications often include a large number of parameters with a wide dynamic range, which contributes to the difficulties of neural network training. Creating the training data set for such applications becomes costly, if not impossible. In order to overcome the challenge, one can employ an active learning technique known as query-based learning (QBL) to add performance-critical data to the training set during the learning phase, thereby efficiently improving the overall learning/generalization. The performance-critical data can be obtained using an inverse mapping called network inversion (discrete network inversion and continuous network inversion) followed by oracle query. This paper investigates the use of both inversion techniques for QBL learning, and introduces an original heuristic to select the inversion target values for continuous network inversion method. Efficiency and generalization was further enhanced by employing node decoupled extended Kalman filter (NDEKF) training and a causality index (CI) as a means to reduce the input search dimensionality. The benefits of the overall QBL approach are experimentally demonstrated in two aerospace applications: a classification problem with large input space and a control distribution problem.

Resource demand growth and sustainability due to increased world consumption

DOE PAGES

Balatsky, Alexander V.; Balatsky, Galina I.; Borysov, Stanislav S.

2015-03-20

The paper aims at continuing the discussion on sustainability and attempts to forecast the impossibility of the expanding consumption worldwide due to the planet’s limited resources. As the population of China, India and other developing countries continue to increase, they would also require more natural and financial resources to sustain their growth. We coarsely estimate the volumes of these resources (energy, food, freshwater) and the gross domestic product (GDP) that would need to be achieved to bring the population of India and China to the current levels of consumption in the United States. We also provide estimations for potentially neededmore » immediate growth of the world resource consumption to meet this equality requirement. Given the tight historical correlation between GDP and energy consumption, the needed increase of GDP per capita in the developing world to the levels of the U.S. would deplete explored fossil fuel reserves in less than two decades. These estimates predict that the world economy would need to find a development model where growth would be achieved without heavy dependence on fossil fuels.« less

Rapid coupling between ice volume and polar temperature over the past 150,000 years.

PubMed

Grant, K M; Rohling, E J; Bar-Matthews, M; Ayalon, A; Medina-Elizalde, M; Ramsey, C Bronk; Satow, C; Roberts, A P

2012-11-29

Current global warming necessitates a detailed understanding of the relationships between climate and global ice volume. Highly resolved and continuous sea-level records are essential for quantifying ice-volume changes. However, an unbiased study of the timing of past ice-volume changes, relative to polar climate change, has so far been impossible because available sea-level records either were dated by using orbital tuning or ice-core timescales, or were discontinuous in time. Here we present an independent dating of a continuous, high-resolution sea-level record in millennial-scale detail throughout the past 150,000 years. We find that the timing of ice-volume fluctuations agrees well with that of variations in Antarctic climate and especially Greenland climate. Amplitudes of ice-volume fluctuations more closely match Antarctic (rather than Greenland) climate changes. Polar climate and ice-volume changes, and their rates of change, are found to covary within centennial response times. Finally, rates of sea-level rise reached at least 1.2 m per century during all major episodes of ice-volume reduction.

Continuing medical education.

PubMed

Todd, D

1987-04-01

With the rapid advances in medical science and increasing complexities of patient care, the need for continuing medical education (CME) is widely accepted by the profession. CME follows general and higher professional training, and should be a life long process. Teaching hospitals and postgraduate professional institutions play vital roles in organising, promoting, and monitoring this activity. CME directorates should be established. University authorities must recognise the important role of medical teachers in postgraduate and continuing medical education, and the staff establishment and terms of service should be held regularly. Medical libraries should have easy borrowing facilities. Self-assessment and audio-visual material are particularly helpful to the busy practitioner and inexpensive local or regional journals of quality can provide pertinent and up-to-date information. All charges for attending scientific meetings and educational material should be tax deductible or subsidized. The effectiveness of CME is difficult to assess and participation is almost impossible to enforce. Much depends on the standard of medical practice wanted by society. Recertification of general practitioners or specialists poses many problems. On the other hand, completion of self-assessment programmes, active participation at medical meetings, contributions to scientific literature, and membership of medical societies with built-in peer review could be monitored and regularly used to evaluate professional status.

Continuous Timescale Long-Short Term Memory Neural Network for Human Intent Understanding

PubMed Central

Yu, Zhibin; Moirangthem, Dennis S.; Lee, Minho

2017-01-01

Understanding of human intention by observing a series of human actions has been a challenging task. In order to do so, we need to analyze longer sequences of human actions related with intentions and extract the context from the dynamic features. The multiple timescales recurrent neural network (MTRNN) model, which is believed to be a kind of solution, is a useful tool for recording and regenerating a continuous signal for dynamic tasks. However, the conventional MTRNN suffers from the vanishing gradient problem which renders it impossible to be used for longer sequence understanding. To address this problem, we propose a new model named Continuous Timescale Long-Short Term Memory (CTLSTM) in which we inherit the multiple timescales concept into the Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network (RNN) that addresses the vanishing gradient problem. We design an additional recurrent connection in the LSTM cell outputs to produce a time-delay in order to capture the slow context. Our experiments show that the proposed model exhibits better context modeling ability and captures the dynamic features on multiple large dataset classification tasks. The results illustrate that the multiple timescales concept enhances the ability of our model to handle longer sequences related with human intentions and hence proving to be more suitable for complex tasks, such as intention recognition. PMID:28878646

The Generation of Novel MR Imaging Techniques to Visualize Inflammatory/Degenerative Mechanisms and the Correlation of MR Data with 3D Microscopic Changes

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

existing MR scanning systems providing the ability to visualize structures that are impossible with current methods . Using techniques to concurrently...and unique system for analysis of affected brain regions and coupled with other imaging techniques and molecular measurements holds significant...scanning systems providing the ability to visualize structures that are impossible with current methods . Using techniques to concurrently stain

Maintaining a Distinction Between Possible and Impossible Topics of Conversation in the Outpatient Respiratory Medical Clinic

PubMed Central

Jensen, Lone Birgitte Skov; Larsen, Kristian; Konradsen, Hanne

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to generate a grounded theory explaining patterns of behavior among health care professionals (HCPs) during interactions with patients in outpatient respiratory medical clinics. The findings suggest that the HCPs managed contradictory expectations to the interaction by maintaining a distinction between possible and impossible topics to counseling. Three subcategories explaining the effort that maintain the impossible and possible topics separated were identified: (a) an effort to maintain the diseased lungs as the main task in counseling, (b) navigating interactions to avoid strong emotions of suffering in patients to reveal, (c) avoiding the appearance of the non-alterable life circumstances of the patients. The HCPs’ attitudes toward what patients could be offered generated a distance and a difficulty during counseling and created further suffering in the patients but likewise a discomfort and frustration among the HCPs. PMID:28462333

Maintaining a Distinction Between Possible and Impossible Topics of Conversation in the Outpatient Respiratory Medical Clinic.

PubMed

Jensen, Lone Birgitte Skov; Larsen, Kristian; Konradsen, Hanne

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to generate a grounded theory explaining patterns of behavior among health care professionals (HCPs) during interactions with patients in outpatient respiratory medical clinics. The findings suggest that the HCPs managed contradictory expectations to the interaction by maintaining a distinction between possible and impossible topics to counseling. Three subcategories explaining the effort that maintain the impossible and possible topics separated were identified: (a) an effort to maintain the diseased lungs as the main task in counseling, (b) navigating interactions to avoid strong emotions of suffering in patients to reveal, (c) avoiding the appearance of the non-alterable life circumstances of the patients. The HCPs' attitudes toward what patients could be offered generated a distance and a difficulty during counseling and created further suffering in the patients but likewise a discomfort and frustration among the HCPs.

A description of heterosexual couples' sexual adjustment to androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

PubMed

Walker, Lauren M; Robinson, John W

2011-08-01

It is estimated that 600,000 men are currently living in North America with castrate levels of testosterone as a result of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. The goal of this study was to explore how patients and their partners adjust to changes associated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Eighteen couples were interviewed regarding their adjustment to ADT side effects. Three distinct patterns of adjustment were observed. One group of couples had assumed sex to be impossible after commencing ADT, and quickly accepted the loss of sex in exchange for a life extending treatment (four couples). Another group was found to be struggling to either maintain satisfying sex or adapt to the loss of their sexual relationship (five couples). The third group had struggled, but found that they were satisfied with their sexual outcome (nine couples). A subset of these couples successfully adjusted to changes in the man's sexual function and found satisfying ways to be sexually active (five couples). The finding that some couples are able to enjoy satisfying sex, despite castrate levels of testosterone, raised questions about how patients are prepared to undergo ADT and how they are managed. It is possible that both the couples who gave up on sex because they believed that satisfying sex was impossible, and the couples who continued to struggle to adjust, may have faired better if they had known how other couples are able to maintain satisfying sex while the man is androgen-deprived. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Backache and its prevention.

PubMed

Dwyer, A P

1987-09-01

Low back pain (LBP) is a symptom produced by disorders of the lumbar spine. It may be impossible to prevent all LBP, and while most episodes of acute LBP are self-limiting, the disorders producing recurrent and chronic LBP are usually incurable. The difficulties in diagnosing the disorders complicate effective management and prevention; however, prevention of spinal trauma reduces the incidence and prevalence of LBP. Effective preventive measures include the reduction of road trauma and smoking, improved vehicle seating, the control of vehicle vibrations, careful worker selection, job redesign, improved physical fitness, and the proper use of the spine in the home, at school, at work, and in sports. Frymoyer includes these and other measures in his tips to prevent LBP. Medical and paramedical professionals must be sure their investigations and treatments do not contribute to making the disorder chronic and more complex. The inappropriate use and interpretation of spinal investigations and the overzealous use of surgical procedures certainly add to the problem. An agreement on an acceptable "glossary" of lumbar terms and clinical syndromes is needed together with a new research emphasis on prevention and a continuation of research efforts in epidemiology, etiology, and management of LBP. Effective public education is vital, so that everyone is aware of the causes and methods of prevention of LBP. Discussion on the "20th-century epidemic of LBP" may be concluded on an optimistic note by citing White, who considers most LBP to be preventable and controllable with simple measures, reinforcable through public education, which can do for LBP what has been done in the field of dental hygiene.

Evolution of Aging Theories: Why Modern Programmed Aging Concepts Are Transforming Medical Research.

PubMed

Goldsmith, Theodore C

2016-12-01

Programmed aging refers to the idea that senescence in humans and other organisms is purposely caused by evolved biological mechanisms to obtain an evolutionary advantage. Until recently, programmed aging was considered theoretically impossible because of the mechanics of the evolution process, and medical research was based on the idea that aging was not programmed. Theorists struggled for more than a century in efforts to develop non-programmed theories that fit observations, without obtaining a consensus supporting any non-programmed theory. Empirical evidence of programmed lifespan limitations continued to accumulate. More recently, developments, especially in our understanding of biological inheritance, have exposed major issues and complexities regarding the process of evolution, some of which explicitly enable programmed aging of mammals. Consequently, science-based opposition to programmed aging has dramatically declined. This progression has major implications for medical research, because the theories suggest that very different biological mechanisms are ultimately responsible for highly age-related diseases that now represent most research efforts and health costs. Most particularly, programmed theories suggest that aging per se is a treatable condition and suggest a second path toward treating and preventing age-related diseases that can be exploited in addition to the traditional disease-specific approaches. The theories also make predictions regarding the nature of biological aging mechanisms and therefore suggest research directions. This article discusses developments of evolutionary mechanics, the consequent programmed aging theories, and logical inferences concerning biological aging mechanisms. It concludes that major medical research organizations cannot afford to ignore programmed aging concepts in assigning research resources and directions.

Analysing water use patterns for demand management: the case of the city of Masvingo, Zimbabwe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dube, Emmanuel; van der Zaag, Pieter

Water use in urban centres is dynamic, fluctuates, differs between high and low-income users, and tends to increase over time. Supply infrastructure can often hardly keep pace with increased water consumption. Given (a) the high cost of infrastructure development, (b) the recent emphasis on demand management, and (c) the social obligation to provide water services to the poor, urban water providers are faced with an important choice: whether to go the demand management route, or to continue constructing new infrastructure. This paper sheds light on some of the possibilities and constraints of both choices by providing a case study of the city of Masvingo in Zimbabwe. The paper analyses water use patterns in this city with a population of 70,000, located in a drought prone region of average rainfall of 600 mm/a. Water consumption has reached the limits of the water supply capacity. The paper first looks at the long-term water use pattern of the city as a whole and the factors that have caused the observed pattern using multiple linear regression. The paper then analyses the patterns of water use of rich and poor households, and attempts to assess the (im)possibilities of influencing these by means of an appropriate tariff structure. In projecting future demand, the paper then considers a number of interventions that could influence demand, which include leakage control, pressure management, awareness campaigns, free technical advice to water users, as well as a new tariff structure. It also discusses when new supply infrastructure should be available, depending on the various demand management measures taken.

Can the possibility of transverse iliosacral screw fixation for first sacral segment be predicted preoperatively? Results of a computational cadaveric study.

PubMed

Jeong, Jin-Hoon; Jin, Jin Woo; Kang, Byoung Youl; Jung, Gu-Hee

2017-10-01

The purpose of this study was to predict the possibility of transverse iliosacral (TIS) screw fixation into the first sacral segment (S 1 ) and introduce practical anatomical variables using conventional computed tomography (CT) scans. A total of 82 cadaveric sacra (42 males and 40 females) were used for continuous 1.0-mm slice CT scans, which were imported into Mimics ® software to produce a three-dimensional pelvis model. The anterior height (BH) and superior width (BW) of the elevated sacral segment was measured, followed by verification of the safe zone (SZ S1 and SZ S2 ) in a true lateral view. Their vertical (VD S1 and VD S2 ) and horizontal (HD S1 and HD S2 ) distances were measured. VD S1 less than 7mm was classified as impossible sacrum, since the transverse fixation of 7.0 mm-sized IS screw could not be done safely. Fourteen models (16.7%; six females, eight males) were assigned as the impossible sacrum. There was no statistical significance regarding gender (p=0.626) and height (p=0.419). The average values were as follows: BW, 31.4mm (SD 2.9); BH, 16.7mm (SD 6.8); VD S1 , 13.4mm (SD 6.1); HD S1 , 22.5mm (SD 4.5); SZ S1 , 239.5mm 2 (SD 137.1); VD S2 , 15.5mm (SD 3.0); HD S2 , 18.3mm (SD 2.9); and SZ S2 , 221.1mm 2 (SD 68.5). Logistic regression analysis identified BH (p=0.001) and HD S1 (p=0.02) as the only statistically significant variables to predict the possibility. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis established a cut-off value for BH and HD S1 of impossible sacrum of 20.6mm and 18.6mm, respectively. BH and HD S1 could be used to predict the possibility of TIS screw fixation. If the BH exceeds 20.6mm or HD S1 is less than 18.6mm, TIS screw fixation for S 1 should not be undertaken because of narrowed SZ. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantum error correction assisted by two-way noisy communication

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhuo; Yu, Sixia; Fan, Heng; Oh, C. H.

2014-01-01

Pre-shared non-local entanglement dramatically simplifies and improves the performance of quantum error correction via entanglement-assisted quantum error-correcting codes (EAQECCs). However, even considering the noise in quantum communication only, the non-local sharing of a perfectly entangled pair is technically impossible unless additional resources are consumed, such as entanglement distillation, which actually compromises the efficiency of the codes. Here we propose an error-correcting protocol assisted by two-way noisy communication that is more easily realisable: all quantum communication is subjected to general noise and all entanglement is created locally without additional resources consumed. In our protocol the pre-shared noisy entangled pairs are purified simultaneously by the decoding process. For demonstration, we first present an easier implementation of the well-known EAQECC [[4, 1, 3; 1

Quantum error correction assisted by two-way noisy communication.

PubMed

Wang, Zhuo; Yu, Sixia; Fan, Heng; Oh, C H

2014-11-26

Pre-shared non-local entanglement dramatically simplifies and improves the performance of quantum error correction via entanglement-assisted quantum error-correcting codes (EAQECCs). However, even considering the noise in quantum communication only, the non-local sharing of a perfectly entangled pair is technically impossible unless additional resources are consumed, such as entanglement distillation, which actually compromises the efficiency of the codes. Here we propose an error-correcting protocol assisted by two-way noisy communication that is more easily realisable: all quantum communication is subjected to general noise and all entanglement is created locally without additional resources consumed. In our protocol the pre-shared noisy entangled pairs are purified simultaneously by the decoding process. For demonstration, we first present an easier implementation of the well-known EAQECC [[4, 1, 3; 1

A method for phenomenological analysis of ecological data.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, H.-W.; Morowitz, H. J.

1972-01-01

The experimental meaning of the phenomenological differential equations for a competing population is reviewed. It is concluded that it is virtually impossible to construct the differential equations precise enough for studying stability. We consider instead a method of phenomenological analysis which can be applied to a set of population curves. We suggest an ecological index calculated from the population curves, which indicates a group property of the entire system. As a function of time, the index is presumably insensitive to Volterra type fluctuations. A marked increase of the index's value however indicates a marked change of the environmental conditions. It is not easy to deduce the group property from the population curves alone, because a change in population is in general due to the superposition of external disturbances and Volterra fluctuations.

[Between the exaggerated and the exasperated clinic. Bridges, differences and rupture in child and youth mental care].

PubMed

Armus, Marcela; Costa, Juan J

2014-01-01

This article intends to approach a series of contrasting concepts regarding different relevant issues for the Child and Youth Mental Health. Diagnosis as a temporary and unstable assessment method. Early detection and treatment as opposed to the possibility of premature diagnoses. The possible or impossible dialogues between psychoanalysis, neuroscience and cognitive sciences. The problems associated with autism and its different theoretical approach models. The development of each of these complex aspects of the practice considers the risk of treating the child as a mere "pathological entity" and dehumanizing him and his condition from the different perspectives, disciplines and discourses, which intend to address the child and his condition. Finally this proposal aims at building bridges of dialogue, overcoming differences in order to avoid rupture.

The development of CPR.

PubMed

McLennan, Stuart

2008-10-17

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is now the standard treatment for someone having a cardiac arrest. It is, however, a procedure that has emerged only relatively recently. For a number of scientific and religious reasons, it was long considered impossible, even blasphemous, to attempt to reverse 'death'. Because of these factors, the area of resuscitation failed to progress until the Enlightenment in the 18th Century. The main elements of resuscitation were then developed over the next 200 years, and eventually brought together to create CPR in the early 1960s. The increased demands that morality was seen to place on the medical profession to combat sudden cardiac death subsequent to this development may have been an important factor in why CPR has come to be used in the widespread manner it currently is.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with accidental diagnosis of persistence of the left superior vena cava.

PubMed

Petridis, Ioannis; Miraglia, Roberto; Marrone, Gianluca; Gruttadauria, Salvatore; Luca, Angelo; Vizzini, Giovanni Battista; Gridelli, Bruno

2010-03-07

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) is considered a valid therapeutic option for the treatment of portal hypertension and its complications. The guidelines for this procedure have already been established on the basis of the normal vascular anatomy and of various technical radiological aspects. In some few rare cases, diagnosis of a congenital vascular anomaly can be made accidentally by interventional radiologists, making the procedure of the TIPSS placement extremely difficult or in some cases technically impossible. This report describes a rare vascular malformation characterized by the absence of the right superior vena cava and persistence of the left superior vena cava in a patient with a diagnosis of advanced liver cirrhosis who needed a TIPSS placement in order to control refractory ascites.

Observational exclusion of a consistent loop quantum cosmology scenario

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolliet, Boris; Barrau, Aurélien; Grain, Julien; Schander, Susanne

2016-06-01

It is often argued that inflation erases all the information about what took place before it started. Quantum gravity, relevant in the Planck era, seems therefore mostly impossible to probe with cosmological observations. In general, only very ad hoc scenarios or hyper fine-tuned initial conditions can lead to observationally testable theories. Here we consider a well-defined and well-motivated candidate quantum cosmology model that predicts inflation. Using the most recent observational constraints on the cosmic microwave background B-modes, we show that the model is excluded for all its parameter space, without any tuning. Some important consequences are drawn for the deformed algebra approach to loop quantum cosmology. We emphasize that neither loop quantum cosmology in general nor loop quantum gravity are disfavored by this study but their falsifiability is established.

A perceptual metric for photo retouching.

PubMed

Kee, Eric; Farid, Hany

2011-12-13

In recent years, advertisers and magazine editors have been widely criticized for taking digital photo retouching to an extreme. Impossibly thin, tall, and wrinkle- and blemish-free models are routinely splashed onto billboards, advertisements, and magazine covers. The ubiquity of these unrealistic and highly idealized images has been linked to eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction in men, women, and children. In response, several countries have considered legislating the labeling of retouched photos. We describe a quantitative and perceptually meaningful metric of photo retouching. Photographs are rated on the degree to which they have been digitally altered by explicitly modeling and estimating geometric and photometric changes. This metric correlates well with perceptual judgments of photo retouching and can be used to objectively judge by how much a retouched photo has strayed from reality.

[Biologically active food supplements. Report 1].

PubMed

Sukhanov, B P; Kerimova, M G

2004-01-01

In article we would like to remind once of what each of the food supplement consumer should know. Food supplement is not a medicine, you can treat no illness with it. But at the same time we should understand, that it is impossible to live without them, as well as it impossible to live without food or the air. It is important to deepen one's knowledge of food supplements: what they consist of, which of them are health-giving and which are not.

Twelve years before the quantum no-cloning theorem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortigoso, Juan

2018-03-01

The celebrated quantum no-cloning theorem establishes the impossibility of making a perfect copy of an unknown quantum state. The discovery of this important theorem for the field of quantum information is currently dated 1982. I show here that an article published in 1970 [J. L. Park, Found. Phys. 1, 23-33 (1970)] contained an explicit mathematical proof of the impossibility of cloning quantum states. I analyze Park's demonstration in the light of published explanations concerning the genesis of the better-known papers on no-cloning.

Conceptualizing Military Acceptance of Civilian Control: Ideological Cohesion, Military Responsibilities, and the Military’s Propensity for Subordination in Brazil and Venezuela

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

that it is virtually impossible for the armed forces even to contemplate opposition to their civilian masters. This would likely result in a...exhibit elements of two or more of the four levels of involvement. Therefore, exact placement on Colton’s scale is a virtual impossibility. However...According to Huntington’s definition of professionalism, virtually all Latin militaries are professional to the extent that they exhibit expertness

An Analysis of an R&D Program Selection Process at the Aeronautical Systems Division.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

Without the help of the Defense Wide Management and Support panel members, this research effort would have been impossible. They provided valuable personal ...decision packages. Next, the DWMS panel members were interviewed in order to obtain their personal interpretation of the evaluation cri- teria used by...packages (McCandless, 1978:46). The state of Georgia had over 11,000 packages to evaluate, and it would be impossible for one person to evaluate all the

Comparison of the class and individual characteristics of Turkish 7.65 mm Browning/.32 Automatic caliber self-loading pistols with consecutive serial numbers.

PubMed

Sarıbey, Aylin Yalçin; Hannam, Abigail Grace

2013-01-01

Firearms identification is based on the fundamental principle that it is impossible to manufacture two identical items at the microscopic level. As firearm manufacturing technologies and quality assurance are improving, it is necessary to continually challenge this principle. In this study, two different makes of 7.65 mm Browning/.32 Automatic caliber self-loading pistols of Turkish manufacture were selected and examined. Ten pistols with consecutive serial numbers were examined and each fired 10 times. The fired cartridge cases were recovered for comparison purposes. It was found that for each make of pistol, the individual characteristics within the firing pin impression, ejector, and breech face marks of all 10 pistols were found to be significantly different. © 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Dial-in flow cytometry data analysis.

PubMed

Battye, Francis L

2002-02-01

As listmode data files continue to grow larger, access via any kind of network connections becomes more and more trouble because of the enormous traffic generated. The limited speed of transmission via modem makes analysis almost impossible. This unit presents a solution to these problems, one that involves installation at the central storage facility of a small computer program called a Web servlet. Operating in concert with a Web server, the servlet assists the analysis by extracting the display array from the data file and organizing its transmission over the network to a remote client program that creates the data display. The author discusses a recent implementation of this solution and the results for model transmission of two typical data files. The system greatly speeds access to remotely stored data yet retains the flexibility of manipulation expected with local access.

Special report on labor and employment. The Department of Labor issues final regulations for the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

PubMed

Parrish, S W; Ison, E R

1995-03-01

The FMLA is a complicated and comprehensive regulatory scheme, and it is impossible to review any but the most basic provisions in this article. The final regulations provide very detailed guidance on such issues as benefits continuation, reinstatement rights, notice requirements, and enforcement measures. Personnel policies and practices must be revised to be consistent with these final regulations, and care must be taken that leave policies do not restrict rights under the FMLA or unintentionally create expanded leave rights. In complying with the FMLA, employers must also keep in mind that there are complex interplays between the federal FMLA, state laws that provide family and medical leave, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and state workers' compensation laws, that can require expert advice depending on the particular circumstances.

Life-threatening urethral hemorrhage after placement of a Foley catheter in a patient with uroseptic disseminated intravascular coagulation due to chronic urinary retention induced by untreated benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PubMed

Ikegami, Yukihiro; Yoshida, Keisuke; Imaizumi, Tsuyoshi; Isosu, Tsuyoshi; Kurosawa, Shin; Murakawa, Masahiro

2016-10-01

A 77-year-old man with severe septic disseminated intravascular coagulation following urinary infection was transported to our hospital. He had developed urinary retention induced by untreated prostatic hyperplasia. Immediate drainage with a Foley catheter was successfully carried out, but the hematuria progressed to life-threatening hemorrhage. Complete hemostasis was impossible by surgical treatment because the tissue around the prostatic urethra was very fragile and hemorrhagic. Organized treatments (continuous hemodiafiltration combined with polymyxin-B immobilized fiber column hemoperfusion and systemic treatment with antibiotics and coagulation factors) were commenced soon after the operation. The patient eventually recovered from the septic disseminated intravascular coagulation. This case report illustrates the risk of placement of Foley catheters in patients with severe septic disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Innovating aging: promises and pitfalls on the road to life extension

PubMed Central

Vijg, Jan; de Grey, Aubrey D.N.J.

2014-01-01

One of the main benefits from the dramatic technological progress over the last two centuries is the enormous increase in human life expectancy, which has now reached record highs. After conquering most childhood diseases and a fair fraction of the diseases that plague adulthood, medical technology is now mainly pre-occupied by age-related disorders. Further progress is dependent on circumventing the traditional medical focus on individual diseases and instead targeting aging as a whole as the ultimate cause of the health problems that affect humankind at old age. In principle, a major effort to control the gradual accumulation of molecular and cellular damage – considered by many as the ultimate cause of intrinsic aging – may rapidly lead to interventions for regenerating aged and worn-out tissues and organs. While considered impossible by many, there really is no reason to reject this as scientifically implausible. However, as we discuss, it is not only scientific progress that is currently a limiting factor, but societal factors that hinder and may ultimately prevent further progress in testing and adopting the many possible interventions to cure aging. PMID:24732067

Globalisation and science education: the case of Sustainability by the Bay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, Lyn; Dediwalage, Ranjith

2010-06-01

It is impossible to consider contemporary science education in isolation from globalisation as the dominant logic, rethinking and reconfiguring social and cultural life in which it is located. Carter (J Res Sci Teach 42, 561-580, 2005) calls for a close reading of policy documents, curriculum projects, research studies and a range of other science education texts using key concepts from globalisation theory to elucidate the ways in which globalisation shapes and is expressed within science education. In this paper, we consider an example from our own practice of a school-based curriculum project, Sustainable Living by the Bay, as one such instance. The first section reviews neoliberalism and neoconservativism necessary to understand how globalisation penetrates education, while the second outlines aspects of the curriculum project itself. As there were many different facets to the development and implementation of a project like Sustainable Living by the Bay, there is space only to elaborate two examples of the globalisation discourse. The first example concerns the government policy initiative that funded the project while the second example focuses on learner- centred pedagogies as globalisation's pedagogies of choice.

Making the Impossible Possible: Strategies for Fast POMDP Monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Washington, Richard; Lau, Sonie (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

Systems modeled as partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) can be tracked quickly with three restrictions: all actions are grouped together, the out-degree of each system state is bounded by a constant, and the number of non-zero elements in the belief state is bounded by a (different) constant. With these restrictions, the tracking algorithm operates in constant time and linear space. The first restriction assumes that the action itself is unobservable. The second restriction defines a subclass of POMDPs that covers however a wide range of problems. The third restriction is an approximation technique that can lead to a potentially vexing problem: an observation may be received that has probability according to the restricted belief state. This problem of impossibility will cause the belief state to collapse. In this paper we discuss the tradeoffs between the constant bound on the belief state and the quality of the solution. We concentrate on strategies for overcoming the impossibility problem and demonstrate initial experimental results that indicate promising directions.

Evaluating models of object-decision priming: evidence from event-related potential repetition effects.

PubMed

Soldan, Anja; Mangels, Jennifer A; Cooper, Lynn A

2006-03-01

This study was designed to differentiate between structural description and bias accounts of performance in the possible/impossible object-decision test. Two event-related potential (ERP) studies examined how the visual system processes structurally possible and impossible objects. Specifically, the authors investigated the effects of object repetition on a series of early posterior components during structural (Experiment 1) and functional (Experiment 2) encoding and the relationship of these effects to behavioral measures of priming. In both experiments, the authors found repetition enhancement of the posterior N1 and N2 for possible objects only. In addition, the magnitude of the N1 repetition effect for possible objects was correlated with priming for possible objects. Although the behavioral results were more ambiguous, these ERP results fail to support bias models that hold that both possible and impossible objects are processed similarly in the visual system. Instead, they support the view that priming is supported by a structural description system that encodes the global 3-dimensional structure of an object.

Modeling of clover detector in addback mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kshetri, R.

2012-07-01

Based on absorption and scattering of gamma-rays, a formalism has been presented for modeling the clover germanium detector in addback mode and to predict its response for high energy γ-rays. In the present formalism, the operation of a bare clover detector could be described in terms of three quantities only. Considering an additional parameter, the formalism could be extended for suppressed clover. Using experimental data on relative single crystal efficiency and addback factor as input, the peak-to-total ratio has been calculated for three energies (Eγ = 3.401, 5.324 and 10.430 MeV) where direct measurement of peak-to-total ratio is impossible due to absence of a radioactive source having single monoenergetic gamma-ray of that energy. The experimental validation and consistency of the formalism have been shown considering data for TIGRESS clover detector. In a recent work (R. Kshetri, JINST 2012 7 P04008), we showed that for a given γ-ray energy, the formalism could be used to predict the peak-to-total ratio as a function of number of detector modules. In the present paper, we have shown that for a given composite detector (clover detector is considered here), the formalism could be used to predict the peak-to-total ratio as a function of γ-ray energy.

Universe creation on a computer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCabe, Gordon

The purpose of this paper is to provide an account of the epistemology and metaphysics of universe creation on a computer. The paper begins with F.J. Tipler's argument that our experience is indistinguishable from the experience of someone embedded in a perfect computer simulation of our own universe, hence we cannot know whether or not we are part of such a computer program ourselves. Tipler's argument is treated as a special case of epistemological scepticism, in a similar vein to 'brain-in-a-vat' arguments. It is argued that Tipler's hypothesis that our universe is a program running on a digital computer in another universe, generates empirical predictions, and is therefore a falsifiable hypothesis. The computer program hypothesis is also treated as a hypothesis about what exists beyond the physical world, and is compared with Kant's metaphysics of noumena. It is argued that if our universe is a program running on a digital computer, then our universe must have compact spatial topology, and the possibilities of observationally testing this prediction are considered. The possibility of testing the computer program hypothesis with the value of the density parameter Ω0 is also analysed. The informational requirements for a computer to represent a universe exactly and completely are considered. Consequent doubt is thrown upon Tipler's claim that if a hierarchy of computer universes exists, we would not be able to know which 'level of implementation' our universe exists at. It is then argued that a digital computer simulation of a universe, or any other physical system, does not provide a realisation of that universe or system. It is argued that a digital computer simulation of a physical system is not objectively related to that physical system, and therefore cannot exist as anything else other than a physical process occurring upon the components of the computer. It is concluded that Tipler's sceptical hypothesis, and a related hypothesis from Bostrom, cannot be true: it is impossible that our own experience is indistinguishable from the experience of somebody embedded in a digital computer simulation because it is impossible for anybody to be embedded in a digital computer simulation.

Deciding what is possible and impossible following hippocampal damage in humans.

PubMed

McCormick, Cornelia; Rosenthal, Clive R; Miller, Thomas D; Maguire, Eleanor A

2017-03-01

There is currently much debate about whether the precise role of the hippocampus in scene processing is predominantly constructive, perceptual, or mnemonic. Here, we developed a novel experimental paradigm designed to control for general perceptual and mnemonic demands, thus enabling us to specifically vary the requirement for constructive processing. We tested the ability of patients with selective bilateral hippocampal damage and matched control participants to detect either semantic (e.g., an elephant with butterflies for ears) or constructive (e.g., an endless staircase) violations in realistic images of scenes. Thus, scenes could be semantically or constructively 'possible' or 'impossible'. Importantly, general perceptual and memory requirements were similar for both types of scene. We found that the patients performed comparably to control participants when deciding whether scenes were semantically possible or impossible, but were selectively impaired at judging if scenes were constructively possible or impossible. Post-task debriefing indicated that control participants constructed flexible mental representations of the scenes in order to make constructive judgements, whereas the patients were more constrained and typically focused on specific fragments of the scenes, with little indication of having constructed internal scene models. These results suggest that one contribution the hippocampus makes to scene processing is to construct internal representations of spatially coherent scenes, which may be vital for modelling the world during both perception and memory recall. © 2016 The Authors. Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 The Authors. Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The probability of object-scene co-occurrence influences object identification processes.

PubMed

Sauvé, Geneviève; Harmand, Mariane; Vanni, Léa; Brodeur, Mathieu B

2017-07-01

Contextual information allows the human brain to make predictions about the identity of objects that might be seen and irregularities between an object and its background slow down perception and identification processes. Bar and colleagues modeled the mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect suggesting that the brain stocks information about the statistical regularities of object and scene co-occurrence. Their model suggests that these recurring regularities could be conceptualized along a continuum in which the probability of seeing an object within a given scene can be high (probable condition), moderate (improbable condition) or null (impossible condition). In the present experiment, we propose to disentangle the electrophysiological correlates of these context effects by directly comparing object-scene pairs found along this continuum. We recorded the event-related potentials of 30 healthy participants (18-34 years old) and analyzed their brain activity in three time windows associated with context effects. We observed anterior negativities between 250 and 500 ms after object onset for the improbable and impossible conditions (improbable more negative than impossible) compared to the probable condition as well as a parieto-occipital positivity (improbable more positive than impossible). The brain may use different processing pathways to identify objects depending on whether the probability of co-occurrence with the scene is moderate (rely more on top-down effects) or null (rely more on bottom-up influences). The posterior positivity could index error monitoring aimed to ensure that no false information is integrated into mental representations of the world.

Performance of a continuous glucose monitoring system during controlled hypoglycaemia in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Cheyne, E H; Cavan, D A; Kerr, D

2002-01-01

It has been suggested that the continuous glucose monitoring system may be a useful tool for detecting unrecognised hypoglycaemia, especially at times when finger prick testing is difficult or impossible (e.g., at night). Studies suggest that subcutaneous glucose levels closely mimic blood glucose levels with a lag time of only a few minutes. However, no studies have been published to show how well the sensor performs during sustained or in recovery from hypoglycaemia. This study involved using a hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp (60 mU/m2) in nine healthy volunteers. Each subject had two sensors inserted the day before the study. Blood glucose levels were maintained at euglycaemia for the first 60 min, then decreased to 45 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L) for 60 min, and finally restored to euglycaemia. Blood glucose measurements were compared with interstitial values recorded by the sensor. Sensor profiles showed acceptable agreement with blood glucose levels at each of the three plateaus with a correlation coefficient of 0.79, slope of 0.85, and mean absolute error of 7%. The sensor drop closely matched the drop in blood glucose, but the recovery from hypoglycaemia was delayed by an average of 26 min. Continuous glucose sensing provides a useful means of detecting unrecognised hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes, although the duration of hypoglycaemia may be overestimated.

Broadband achromatic optical metasurface devices.

PubMed

Wang, Shuming; Wu, Pin Chieh; Su, Vin-Cent; Lai, Yi-Chieh; Hung Chu, Cheng; Chen, Jia-Wern; Lu, Shen-Hung; Chen, Ji; Xu, Beibei; Kuan, Chieh-Hsiung; Li, Tao; Zhu, Shining; Tsai, Din Ping

2017-08-04

Among various flat optical devices, metasurfaces have presented their great ability in efficient manipulation of light fields and have been proposed for variety of devices with specific functionalities. However, due to the high phase dispersion of their building blocks, metasurfaces significantly suffer from large chromatic aberration. Here we propose a design principle to realize achromatic metasurface devices which successfully eliminate the chromatic aberration over a continuous wavelength region from 1200 to 1680 nm for circularly-polarized incidences in a reflection scheme. For this proof-of-concept, we demonstrate broadband achromatic metalenses (with the efficiency on the order of ∼12%) which are capable of focusing light with arbitrary wavelength at the same focal plane. A broadband achromatic gradient metasurface is also implemented, which is able to deflect wide-band light by the same angle. Through this approach, various flat achromatic devices that were previously impossible can be realized, which will allow innovation in full-color detection and imaging.Metasurfaces suffer from large chromatic aberration due to the high phase dispersion of their building blocks, limiting their applications. Here, Wang et al. design achromatic metasurface devices which eliminate the chromatic aberration over a continuous region from 1200 to 1680 nm in a reflection schleme.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy after a failed or impossible ERCP.

PubMed

Mora Soler, Ana María; Álvarez Delgado, Alberto; Piñero Pérez, María Concepción; Velasco-Guardado, Antonio; Marcos Prieto, Héctor; Rodríguez Pérez, Antonio

2018-05-01

endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is an alternative to percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in cases of failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). this is a retrospective description of six cases of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage via choledochoduodenostomy (EUCD), as well as the clinical characteristics, endoscopic procedure, complications and monitoring. all cases had malignant distal biliary obstruction. The procedure was concluded with good drainage in four out of six patients. Two late complications were recorded that were caused by stent migration and there were no deaths related with the procedure. The average monitoring period was six months. EUCD can be considered as a valid therapeutic choice in some selected cases and when performed by a team of expert endoscopists in cases of failed ERCP drainage or as an alternative to PTBD. However, the procedure has some associated complications.

A CHEMO-BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONS OF PEPSIN TO SO-CALLED ANTI-PEPSIN

PubMed Central

Hamburger, Walter W.

1911-01-01

1. Fresh and inactivated animal serum under proper conditions will bind pepsin quantitatively in weak acid solution and will prevent it from digesting proteid even after the addition of free hydrochloric acid in excess. 2. This binding and inactivation of pepsin cannot be considered as due to a specific anti-pepsin. 3. The phenomenon has been named pepsin deviation in analogy with the deviation described for other ferments, notably trypsin. 4. The ability of animal serum to deviate pepsin has been responsible for most, if not all, of the published accounts of anti-pepsin. 5. By the use of a technique elaborated to control pepsin deviation, it has been found impossible to demonstrate normal anti-pepsin in the blood serum of the dog, cat, guinea pig, beef, horse, rabbit, and of man. PMID:19867495

Comparing the Palmer Drought Index and the Standardized Precipitation Index for Zagreb-Gric Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandzic, Kreso

2014-05-01

Conventional Palmer Drought Index (PDSI) and recent Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) are compared for Zagreb-Gric weather station. Historical time series of PDSI and SPI are compared. For that purpose monthly precipitation, air temperature and air humidity data for Zagreb-Gric Observatory and period 1862-2010 are used. The results indicate that SPI is simpler for interpretation than PDI. On the other side, lack of temperature within SPI, make impossible use of it on climate change applications. Further development of both indices is required. Possible applications of them in irrigation scheduling system is considered as well for drought risk assessment. In addition, a comparison of PDSI and SPI for the periods from 1 to 24 months indicate the best agreement between PDSI and SPI for the periods from 6 to 12 months.

Quality in applied science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sten, T.

1993-12-01

Science is in many senses a special kind of craft and only skilled craftsmen are able to distinguish good work from bad. Due to the variation in approaches, methods and even philosophical basis, it is nearly impossible to derive a general set of quality criteria for scientific work outside specific research traditions. Applied science introduces a new set of quality criteria having to do with the application of results in practical situations and policy making. A scientist doing basic research relates mainly to the scientific community of which he is a member, while in applied contract research the scientist has to consider the impact of his results both for the immediate users and upon interest groups possibly being affected. Application thus raises a whole new set of requirements having to do with business ethics, policy consequences and societal ethics in general.

Defining Research Risk in Standard of Care Trials: Lessons from SUPPORT.

PubMed

Press, Joel K; Rogers, Caryn J

2017-04-01

Recent controversy surrounding the Surfactant Positive Airway Pressure and Pulse Oximetry Trial (SUPPORT) and the Office for Human Resource Protection's (OHRP) judgment that its informed consent procedures were inadequate has unmasked considerable confusion about OHRP's definition of research risks. The controversy concerns application of that definition to trials comparing multiple treatments within the existing standard of care. Some have argued that it is impossible for such trials to pose research risks on the grounds that all risks associated with a standard-of-care treatment should instead be considered risks of treatment. However, analysis of OHRP's definition demonstrates that some risks in such trials can be research risks. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy Inc. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Last night I had the strangest dream: Varieties of rational thought processes in dream reports.

PubMed

Wolman, Richard N; Kozmová, Miloslava

2007-12-01

From the neurophysiological perspective, thinking in dreaming and the quality of dream thought have been considered hallucinatory, bizarre, illogical, improbable, or even impossible. This empirical phenomenological research concentrates on testing whether dream thought can be defined as rational in the sense of an intervening mental process between sensory perception and the creation of meaning, leading to a conclusion or to taking action. From 10 individual dream journals of male participants aged 22-59 years and female participants aged 25-49 years, we delimited four dreams per journal and randomly selected five thought units from each dream for scoring. The units provided a base for testing a hypothesis that the thought processes of dream construction are rational. The results support the hypothesis and demonstrate that eight fundamental rational thought processes can be applied to the dreaming process.

Difficult macromolecular structures determined using X-ray diffraction techniques.

PubMed

Hernández-Santoyo, Alejandra

2012-07-01

Macromolecular crystallography has been, for the last few decades, the main source of structural information of biological macromolecular systems and it is one of the most powerful techniques for the analysis of enzyme mechanisms and macromolecular interactions at the atomic level. In addition, it is also an extremely powerful tool for drug design. Recent technological and methodological developments in macromolecular X-ray crystallography have allowed solving structures that until recently were considered difficult or even impossible, such as structures at atomic or subatomic resolution or large macromolecular complexes and assemblies at low resolution. These developments have also helped to solve the 3D-structure of macromolecules from twin crystals. Recently, this technique complemented with cryo-electron microscopy and neutron crystallography has provided the structure of large macromolecular machines with great precision allowing understanding of the mechanisms of their function.

Room-Temperature-Cured Copolymers for Lithium Battery Gel Electrolytes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meador, Mary Ann B.; Tigelaar, Dean M.

2009-01-01

Polyimide-PEO copolymers (PEO signifies polyethylene oxide) that have branched rod-coil molecular structures and that can be cured into film form at room temperature have been invented for use as gel electrolytes for lithium-ion electric-power cells. These copolymers offer an alternative to previously patented branched rod-coil polyimides that have been considered for use as polymer electrolytes and that must be cured at a temperature of 200 C. In order to obtain sufficient conductivity for lithium ions in practical applications at and below room temperature, it is necessary to imbibe such a polymer with a suitable carbonate solvent or ionic liquid, but the high-temperature cure makes it impossible to incorporate and retain such a liquid within the polymer molecular framework. By eliminating the high-temperature cure, the present invention makes it possible to incorporate the required liquid.

Anomaly constraints on deconfinement and chiral phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimizu, Hiroyuki; Yonekura, Kazuya

2018-05-01

We study the constraints on thermal phase transitions of SU (Nc) gauge theories by using the 't Hooft anomaly involving the center symmetry and chiral symmetry. We consider two cases of massless fermions: (i) adjoint fermions and (ii) Nf flavors of fundamental fermions with a nontrivial greatest common divisor, gcd (Nc,Nf)≠1 . For the first case (i), we show that the chiral symmetry restoration in terms of the standard Landau-Ginzburg effective action is impossible at a temperature lower than that of deconfinement. For the second case (ii), we introduce a modified version of the center symmetry, which we call center-flavor symmetry, and draw similar conclusions under a certain definition of confinement. Moreover, at zero temperature, our results give a partial explanation of the appearance of dual magnetic gauge groups in (supersymmetric) QCD when gcd (Nc,Nf)≠1 .

The effect of selective tibial neurotomy and rehabilitation in a quadriplegic patient with ankle spasticity following traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Jang, Sung Ho; Park, Sung-Min; Kim, Seong Ho; Ahn, Sang Ho; Cho, Yun Woo; Ahn, Mi Ok

2004-08-31

Ankle spasticity following brain injury leads to abnormal posture and joint contracture; making standing or walking impossible. This study investigates the efficacy of selective tibial neurotomy (STN) and intensive rehabilitation in a patient who suffered ankle spasticity after brain injury. This case describes a 37-year-old man whose traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulted in severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. He was unable to stand due to severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. Intensive rehabilitation and STN allowed him to walk without brace at 6 months and run at 12 months after STN. STN is an effective procedure to resolve localized spasticity of the ankle and it may be considered as a management strategy after local injection to alleviate ankle spasticity and/or contracture prior to orthopaedic surgery.

Characterization of DUT impedance in immunity test setups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassanpour Razavi, Seyyed Ali; Frei, Stephan

2016-09-01

Several immunity test procedures for narrowband radiated electromagnetic energy are available for automotive components. The ISO 11452 series describes the most commonly used test methods. The absorber line shielded enclosure (ALSE) is often considered as the most reliable method. However, testing with the bulk current injection (BCI) can be done with less efforts and is often preferred. As the test setup in both procedures is quite similar, there were several trials for finding appropriate modifications to the BCI in order to increase the matching to the ALSE. However, the lack of knowledge regarding the impedance of the tested component, makes it impossible to find the equivalent current to be injected by the BCI and a good match cannot be achieved. In this paper, three approaches are proposed to estimate the termination impedance indirectly by using different current probes.

Multi-Robot, Multi-Target Particle Swarm Optimization Search in Noisy Wireless Environments

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

Kurt Derr; Milos Manic

Multiple small robots (swarms) can work together using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to perform tasks that are difficult or impossible for a single robot to accomplish. The problem considered in this paper is exploration of an unknown environment with the goal of finding a target(s) at an unknown location(s) using multiple small mobile robots. This work demonstrates the use of a distributed PSO algorithm with a novel adaptive RSS weighting factor to guide robots for locating target(s) in high risk environments. The approach was developed and analyzed on multiple robot single and multiple target search. The approach was further enhancedmore » by the multi-robot-multi-target search in noisy environments. The experimental results demonstrated how the availability of radio frequency signal can significantly affect robot search time to reach a target.« less

Methods for the calculation of axial wave numbers in lined ducts with mean flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eversman, W.

1981-01-01

A survey is made of the methods available for the calculation of axial wave numbers in lined ducts. Rectangular and circular ducts with both uniform and non-uniform flow are considered as are ducts with peripherally varying liners. A historical perspective is provided by a discussion of the classical methods for computing attenuation when no mean flow is present. When flow is present these techniques become either impractical or impossible. A number of direct eigenvalue determination schemes which have been used when flow is present are discussed. Methods described are extensions of the classical no-flow technique, perturbation methods based on the no-flow technique, direct integration methods for solution of the eigenvalue equation, an integration-iteration method based on the governing differential equation for acoustic transmission, Galerkin methods, finite difference methods, and finite element methods.

Modeling and research of a space-based spacecraft infrared detection system.

PubMed

Li, Wenhao; Liu, Zhaohui; Mu, You; Yang, Rui; Zhang, Xing

2017-03-20

When a spacecraft is in orbit, it is almost impossible to check its working condition. Almost all payload would generate waste heat when working, which is usually ejected by a radiator. By observing the radiator, we can catch a glimpse of a spacecraft's inner information. A thorough model of a space-based infrared detection system is analyzed, taking the radiator into account, which, to the best of our knowledge, has seldom been considered. The calculation result shows that infrared radiation reflected by spacecraft is weak compared with the spacecraft's self-radiation in 8-12 μm, and the contrast ratio between the radiator and surrounding area could be the criterion for judging the working condition of a spacecraft. The limit of detection distance is also increased due the higher temperature of the radiator.

Edited course of biomedical research: leaping forward with CRISPR.

PubMed

Collins, Patrick J; Hale, Christopher M; Xu, Han

2017-11-01

Within the short few years since the report of its application in precise genome editing, CRISPR technology has become the method of choice to modify and modulate gene expression in biomedical research and therapeutic development. Subsequently, a variety of research, diagnostic, and therapeutic tools have been developed based upon CRISPR's mechanism of action. Such tools have helped to deepen the understanding of fundamental biology and broaden the horizon in the search for treatments for diseases that have been considered hard or impossible to cure. As CRISPR technology advances closer to clinical applications, its short comings are becoming more apparent, thus creating opportunities to improve the technology's efficacy, specificity, and safety profile in this setting. We will summarize the current status of CRISPR technology and discuss its future impact in this review. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rotordynamic Feasibility of a Conceptual Variable-Speed Power Turbine Propulsion System for Large Civil Tilt-Rotor Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howard, Samuel

2012-01-01

A variable-speed power turbine concept is analyzed for rotordynamic feasibility in a Large Civil Tilt-Rotor (LCTR) class engine. Implementation of a variable-speed power turbine in a rotorcraft engine would enable high efficiency propulsion at the high forward velocities anticipated of large tilt-rotor vehicles. Therefore, rotordynamics is a critical issue for this engine concept. A preliminary feasibility study is presented herein to address this concern and identify if variable-speed is possible in a conceptual engine sized for the LCTR. The analysis considers critical speed placement in the operating speed envelope, stability analysis up to the maximum anticipated operating speed, and potential unbalance response amplitudes to determine that a variable-speed power turbine is likely to be challenging, but not impossible to achieve in a tilt-rotor propulsion engine.

Miniature Blimps for Surveillance and Collection of Samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Jack

2004-01-01

Miniature blimps are under development as robots for use in exploring the thick, cold, nitrogen atmosphere of Saturn's moon, Titan. Similar blimps can also be used for surveillance and collection of biochemical samples in buildings, caves, subways, and other, similar structures on Earth. The widely perceived need for means to thwart attacks on buildings and to mitigate the effects of such attacks has prompted consideration of the use of robots. Relative to rover-type (wheeled) robots that have been considered for such uses, miniature blimps offer the advantage of ability to move through the air in any direction and, hence, to perform tasks that are difficult or impossible for wheeled robots, including climbing stairs and looking through windows. In addition, miniature blimps are expected to have greater range and to cost less, relative to wheeled robots.

Space biology initiative program definition review. Trade study 2: Prototype utilization in the development of space biology hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, L. Neal; Crenshaw, John, Sr.; Schulze, Arthur E.; Wood, H. J., Jr.

1989-01-01

The objective was to define the factors which space flight hardware developers and planners should consider when determining: (1) the number of hardware units required to support program; (2) design level of the units; and (3) most efficient means of utilization of the units. The analysis considered technology risk, maintainability, reliability, and safety design requirements for achieving the delivery of highest quality flight hardware. Relative cost impacts of the utilization of prototyping were identified. The development of Space Biology Initiative research hardware will involve intertwined hardware/software activities. Experience has shown that software development can be an expensive portion of a system design program. While software prototyping could imply the development of a significantly different end item, an operational system prototype must be considered to be a combination of software and hardware. Hundreds of factors were identified that could be considered in determining the quantity and types of prototypes that should be constructed. In developing the decision models, these factors were combined and reduced by approximately ten-to-one in order to develop a manageable structure based on the major determining factors. The Baseline SBI hardware list of Appendix D was examined and reviewed in detail; however, from the facts available it was impossible to identify the exact types and quantities of prototypes required for each of these items. Although the factors that must be considered could be enumerated for each of these pieces of equipment, the exact status and state of development of the equipment is variable and uncertain at this time.

About the discrete-continuous nature of a hematopoiesis model for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

PubMed

Gaudiano, Marcos E; Lenaerts, Tom; Pacheco, Jorge M

2016-12-01

Blood of mammals is composed of a variety of cells suspended in a fluid medium known as plasma. Hematopoiesis is the biological process of birth, replication and differentiation of blood cells. Despite of being essentially a stochastic phenomenon followed by a huge number of discrete entities, blood formation has naturally an associated continuous dynamics, because the cellular populations can - on average - easily be described by (e.g.) differential equations. This deterministic dynamics by no means contemplates some important stochastic aspects related to abnormal hematopoiesis, that are especially significant for studying certain blood cancer deceases. For instance, by mere stochastic competition against the normal cells, leukemic cells sometimes do not reach the population thereshold needed to kill the organism. Of course, a pure discrete model able to follow the stochastic paths of billons of cells is computationally impossible. In order to avoid this difficulty, we seek a trade-off between the computationally feasible and the biologically realistic, deriving an equation able to size conveniently both the discrete and continuous parts of a model for hematopoiesis in terrestrial mammals, in the context of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Assuming the cancer is originated from a single stem cell inside of the bone marrow, we also deduce a theoretical formula for the probability of non-diagnosis as a function of the mammal average adult mass. In addition, this work cellular dynamics analysis may shed light on understanding Peto's paradox, which is shown here as an emergent property of the discrete-continuous nature of the system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New records of Bodotriidae (Crustacea: Cumacea) from Puerto Rico with descriptions of three new species.

PubMed

Petrescu, Iorgu; Chatterjee, Tapas; Schizas, Nikolaos V

2014-10-20

In a continuing effort to describe the cumacean fauna of Puerto Rico we describe three new species of Bodotriidae, a family that has never been reported from Puerto Rico before.  While finding and describing new microcrustacean species may not be an impossible task, if there is available taxonomic expertise, the currently described species were found in large numbers within a short distance from the Marine Laboratories of the University of Puerto Rico where the local reefs have been studied for over half a century, highlighting the large gaps that exist in our estimates of Caribbean marine diversity.  The three new species, Cyclaspis gurui sp. nov., Cyclaspis mariae sp. nov. and Vaunthompsonia budaii sp. nov. are reported from a fringing reef off La Parguera, southwest coast of Puerto Rico and Vaunthompsonia cristata Bate, 1858 represents a new record for Puerto Rico from the mesophotic reefs.

Brillouin spectroscopy of fluid inclusions proposed as a paleothermometer for subsurface rocks.

PubMed

El Mekki-Azouzi, Mouna; Tripathi, Chandra Shekhar Pati; Pallares, Gaël; Gardien, Véronique; Caupin, Frédéric

2015-08-28

As widespread, continuous instrumental Earth surface air temperature records are available only for the last hundred fifty years, indirect reconstructions of past temperatures are obtained by analyzing "proxies". Fluid inclusions (FIs) present in virtually all rock minerals including exogenous rocks are routinely used to constrain formation temperature of crystals. The method relies on the presence of a vapour bubble in the FI. However, measurements are sometimes biased by surface tension effects. They are even impossible when the bubble is absent (monophasic FI) for kinetic or thermodynamic reasons. These limitations are common for surface or subsurface rocks. Here we use FIs in hydrothermal or geodic quartz crystals to demonstrate the potential of Brillouin spectroscopy in determining the formation temperature of monophasic FIs without the need for a bubble. Hence, this novel method offers a promising way to overcome the above limitations.

Concepts, requirements, and design approaches for building successful planning and scheduling systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hornstein, Rhoda Shaller; Willoughby, John K.

1991-01-01

Traditional practice of systems engineering management assumes requirements can be precisely determined and unambiguously defined prior to system design and implementation; practice further assumes requirements are held static during implementation. Human-computer decision support systems for service planning and scheduling applications do not conform well to these assumptions. Adaptation to the traditional practice of systems engineering management are required. Basic technology exists to support these adaptations. Additional innovations must be encouraged and nutured. Continued partnership between the programmatic and technical perspective assures proper balance of the impossible with the possible. Past problems have the following origins: not recognizing the unusual and perverse nature of the requirements for planning and scheduling; not recognizing the best starting point assumptions for the design; not understanding the type of system that being built; and not understanding the design consequences of the operations concept selected.

Anomalous structural transition of confined hard squares.

PubMed

Gurin, Péter; Varga, Szabolcs; Odriozola, Gerardo

2016-11-01

Structural transitions are examined in quasi-one-dimensional systems of freely rotating hard squares, which are confined between two parallel walls. We find two competing phases: one is a fluid where the squares have two sides parallel to the walls, while the second one is a solidlike structure with a zigzag arrangement of the squares. Using transfer matrix method we show that the configuration space consists of subspaces of fluidlike and solidlike phases, which are connected with low probability microstates of mixed structures. The existence of these connecting states makes the thermodynamic quantities continuous and precludes the possibility of a true phase transition. However, thermodynamic functions indicate strong tendency for the phase transition and our replica exchange Monte Carlo simulation study detects several important markers of the first order phase transition. The distinction of a phase transition from a structural change is practically impossible with simulations and experiments in such systems like the confined hard squares.

A highly sensitive underwater video system for use in turbid aquaculture ponds.

PubMed

Hung, Chin-Chang; Tsao, Shih-Chieh; Huang, Kuo-Hao; Jang, Jia-Pu; Chang, Hsu-Kuang; Dobbs, Fred C

2016-08-24

The turbid, low-light waters characteristic of aquaculture ponds have made it difficult or impossible for previous video cameras to provide clear imagery of the ponds' benthic habitat. We developed a highly sensitive, underwater video system (UVS) for this particular application and tested it in shrimp ponds having turbidities typical of those in southern Taiwan. The system's high-quality video stream and images, together with its camera capacity (up to nine cameras), permit in situ observations of shrimp feeding behavior, shrimp size and internal anatomy, and organic matter residues on pond sediments. The UVS can operate continuously and be focused remotely, a convenience to shrimp farmers. The observations possible with the UVS provide aquaculturists with information critical to provision of feed with minimal waste; determining whether the accumulation of organic-matter residues dictates exchange of pond water; and management decisions concerning shrimp health.

A highly sensitive underwater video system for use in turbid aquaculture ponds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hung, Chin-Chang; Tsao, Shih-Chieh; Huang, Kuo-Hao; Jang, Jia-Pu; Chang, Hsu-Kuang; Dobbs, Fred C.

2016-08-01

The turbid, low-light waters characteristic of aquaculture ponds have made it difficult or impossible for previous video cameras to provide clear imagery of the ponds’ benthic habitat. We developed a highly sensitive, underwater video system (UVS) for this particular application and tested it in shrimp ponds having turbidities typical of those in southern Taiwan. The system’s high-quality video stream and images, together with its camera capacity (up to nine cameras), permit in situ observations of shrimp feeding behavior, shrimp size and internal anatomy, and organic matter residues on pond sediments. The UVS can operate continuously and be focused remotely, a convenience to shrimp farmers. The observations possible with the UVS provide aquaculturists with information critical to provision of feed with minimal waste; determining whether the accumulation of organic-matter residues dictates exchange of pond water; and management decisions concerning shrimp health.

Predictability and preparedness in influenza control.

PubMed

Smith, Derek J

2006-04-21

The threat of pandemic human influenza looms as we survey the ongoing avian influenza pandemic and wonder if and when it will jump species. What are the risks and how can we plan? The nub of the problem lies in the inherent variability of the virus, which makes prediction difficult. However, it is not impossible; mathematical models can help determine and quantify critical parameters and thresholds in the relationships of those parameters, even if the relationships are nonlinear and obscure to simple reasoning. Mathematical models can derive estimates for the levels of drug stockpiles needed to buy time, how and when to modify vaccines, whom to target with vaccines and drugs, and when to enforce quarantine measures. Regardless, the models used for pandemic planning must be tested, and for this we must continue to gather data, not just for exceptional scenarios but also for seasonal influenza.

Catenary optics for achromatic generation of perfect optical angular momentum

PubMed Central

Pu, Mingbo; Li, Xiong; Ma, Xiaoliang; Wang, Yanqin; Zhao, Zeyu; Wang, Changtao; Hu, Chenggang; Gao, Ping; Huang, Cheng; Ren, Haoran; Li, Xiangping; Qin, Fei; Yang, Jing; Gu, Min; Hong, Minghui; Luo, Xiangang

2015-01-01

The catenary is the curve that a free-hanging chain assumes under its own weight, and thought to be a “true mathematical and mechanical form” in architecture by Robert Hooke in the 1670s, with nevertheless no significant phenomena observed in optics. We show that the optical catenary can serve as a unique building block of metasurfaces to produce continuous and linear phase shift covering [0, 2π], a mission that is extremely difficult if not impossible for state-of-the-art technology. Via catenary arrays, planar optical devices are designed and experimentally characterized to generate various kinds of beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). These devices can operate in an ultra-broadband spectrum because the anisotropic modes associated with the spin-orbit interaction are almost independent of the incident light frequency. By combining the optical and topological characteristics, our approach would allow the complete control of photons within a single nanometric layer. PMID:26601283

Landau-de Gennes theory of surface-enhanced ordering in smectic films.

PubMed

Shalaginov, A N; Sullivan, D E

2001-03-01

A Landau theory for surface-enhanced ordering in smectic-A free-standing films is described, based on a generalization of de Gennes' model for a "presmectic" fluid confined between two walls. According to the theory, smectic ordering in free-standing films heated above the bulk smectic melting temperature is due to an intrinsic surface contribution rather than an external field. The theory yields a persistent finite-size effect, in that the film melting temperatures do not tend to the bulk transition temperature in the limit of infinite film thickness. It also predicts that a continuous transition from (N+1)- to N-layer films is impossible without an external field. The theory closely fits existing experimental data on layer-thinning transitions in compounds which exhibit a bulk smectic-A to nematic phase transition. Possible origins of the intrinsic surface contribution are discussed.

Medical aspects of power generation, present and future.

PubMed

Linnemann, R E

1979-01-01

It can be seen that the radiation emissions of nuclear power plants are small indeed, compared to natural background radiation and other man-made sources of radiation. For example, the poulation is exposed to 100 times more radiation from television sets than from nuclear power reactors. The assumed risks to the people in this country from nuclear power reactors are also small compared to the normal risks which are tolerated in this society. The complete elimination of all hazards is a most difficult if not impossible task. If we need and desire a certain level of electrical energy, if we must choose between alternative sourves of the energy, then it is apparent that the total impact on our health from nuclear power generation of electricity, under normal operations and in consideration of catastrophic accident probabilities, is significantly less than that of continuing or increasing use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

Towards responsible system development in health services: a discourse analysis study of design conflict resolution tactics.

PubMed

Irestig, Magnus; Timpka, Toomas

2010-02-01

We set out to examine design conflict resolution tactics used in development of large information systems for health services and to outline the design consequences for these tactics. Discourse analysis methods were applied to data collected from meetings conducted during the development of a web-based system in a public health context. We found that low risk tactics were characterized by design issues being managed within the formal mandate and competences of the design group. In comparison, high risk tactics were associated with irresponsible compromises, i.e. decisions being passed on to others or to later phases of the design process. The consequence of this collective disregard of issues such as responsibility and legitimacy is that the system design will be impossible to implement in factual health service contexts. The results imply that downstream responsibility issues have to be continuously dealt with in system development in health services.

Extending and expanding the life of older current meters

USGS Publications Warehouse

Strahle, W.J.; Martini, Marinna A.

1995-01-01

The EG&G Model 610 VACM and Model 630 VMCM are standards for ocean current measurements. It is simple to add peripheral sensors to the data stream of the VACM by use of add-on CMOS circuitry. The firmware control of the VMCM makes it virtually impossible to add sampling of additional sensors. Most of the electronic components used in the VACM are obsolete or difficult to replace and the VMCM will soon follow suit. As a result, the USGS joined WHOI in the development of a PCMCIA data storage system to replace the cassette recording system in the VACM. Using the same PCMCIA recording package as the controller and recorder for the VMCM, a user-friendly VMCM is being designed. PCMCIA cards are rapidly becoming an industry standard with a wide range of storage capacities. By upgrading the VACM and VMCM to PCMCIA storage systems with a flexible microprocessor, they will continue to be viable instruments.

A highly sensitive underwater video system for use in turbid aquaculture ponds

PubMed Central

Hung, Chin-Chang; Tsao, Shih-Chieh; Huang, Kuo-Hao; Jang, Jia-Pu; Chang, Hsu-Kuang; Dobbs, Fred C.

2016-01-01

The turbid, low-light waters characteristic of aquaculture ponds have made it difficult or impossible for previous video cameras to provide clear imagery of the ponds’ benthic habitat. We developed a highly sensitive, underwater video system (UVS) for this particular application and tested it in shrimp ponds having turbidities typical of those in southern Taiwan. The system’s high-quality video stream and images, together with its camera capacity (up to nine cameras), permit in situ observations of shrimp feeding behavior, shrimp size and internal anatomy, and organic matter residues on pond sediments. The UVS can operate continuously and be focused remotely, a convenience to shrimp farmers. The observations possible with the UVS provide aquaculturists with information critical to provision of feed with minimal waste; determining whether the accumulation of organic-matter residues dictates exchange of pond water; and management decisions concerning shrimp health. PMID:27554201

How did Archimedes discover the law of buoyancy by experiment?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuroki, Hidetaka

2016-03-01

After Archimedes and Vitruvius era, for more than 2000 years, it has been believed that the displaced water measurement of golden crown is impossible, and at his Eureka moment, Archimedes discovered the law of buoyancy (Proposition 7 of his principles) and proved the theft of a goldsmith by weighing the golden crown in water. A previous study showed that a small amount of displaced water was able to be measured with enough accuracy by the introduced method. Archimedes measured the weight of displaced water. He did not find the law of buoyancy but rather specific gravity of things at the moment. After which, Archimedes continued to measure the specific gravity of various solids and fluids. Through these measurements, he reached the discovery of the law of buoyancy directly by experiment. In this paper, the process to the discovery of Archimedes' principle (Proposition 5) is presented.

Brillouin spectroscopy of fluid inclusions proposed as a paleothermometer for subsurface rocks

PubMed Central

Mekki-Azouzi, Mouna El; Tripathi, Chandra Shekhar Pati; Pallares, Gaël; Gardien, Véronique; Caupin, Frédéric

2015-01-01

As widespread, continuous instrumental Earth surface air temperature records are available only for the last hundred fifty years, indirect reconstructions of past temperatures are obtained by analyzing “proxies”. Fluid inclusions (FIs) present in virtually all rock minerals including exogenous rocks are routinely used to constrain formation temperature of crystals. The method relies on the presence of a vapour bubble in the FI. However, measurements are sometimes biased by surface tension effects. They are even impossible when the bubble is absent (monophasic FI) for kinetic or thermodynamic reasons. These limitations are common for surface or subsurface rocks. Here we use FIs in hydrothermal or geodic quartz crystals to demonstrate the potential of Brillouin spectroscopy in determining the formation temperature of monophasic FIs without the need for a bubble. Hence, this novel method offers a promising way to overcome the above limitations. PMID:26316328

Inefficiencies in water project design and operation in the third world: An economic perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howe, Charles W.; Dixon, John A.

1993-07-01

Water projects in less developed countries (LDCs) frequently are poorly operated and maintained. As a result, project benefits and development impacts fall short of plans. The problems begin in the project identification, design, and construction stages: donor and host country biases lead to inappropriate projects, unsustainable technologies, and shoddy construction. Later operation and maintenance are then difficult or impossible. Causal factors include donor desire to build monuments and sell technology, provision of excessive capital to favored sectors or institutions, and an unwillingness to require a reasonable quid pro quo from the host country. Host country factors include excessive administrative centralization, lack of rewards for good operation and maintenance, and widespread corruption in forms that seriously distort allocative efficiency. Until individual actors on both sides can be motivated to pursue the long-run good of the LDC, Third World water projects will continue to have low or negative net payoffs.

Frédéric Chopin and his neuropsychiatric problems.

PubMed

Karenberg, Axel

2015-01-01

Few musicians who suffered from any kind of serious neuropsychiatric problems were able to create works that are still admired today. This new research will show that Frédéric Chopin, who reinvented piano music in the first half of the nineteenth century, was one of those few. He died in Paris aged only 39. While the somatic illness that killed him continues to generate speculation, his recurrent depressive mood swings have remained largely unexamined. A few neuropsychiatric publications make a simplistic effort to assign his emotional condition to a modern diagnostic category, e.g., temporal lobe epilepsy. Because it is impossible to prove such hypotheses, these studies are nothing more than erudite speculation. This chapter will instead incorporate the cultural and medical context of the first half of the nineteenth century in order to explore new possibilities for medical biographies of musicians. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Catenary optics for achromatic generation of perfect optical angular momentum.

PubMed

Pu, Mingbo; Li, Xiong; Ma, Xiaoliang; Wang, Yanqin; Zhao, Zeyu; Wang, Changtao; Hu, Chenggang; Gao, Ping; Huang, Cheng; Ren, Haoran; Li, Xiangping; Qin, Fei; Yang, Jing; Gu, Min; Hong, Minghui; Luo, Xiangang

2015-10-01

The catenary is the curve that a free-hanging chain assumes under its own weight, and thought to be a "true mathematical and mechanical form" in architecture by Robert Hooke in the 1670s, with nevertheless no significant phenomena observed in optics. We show that the optical catenary can serve as a unique building block of metasurfaces to produce continuous and linear phase shift covering [0, 2π], a mission that is extremely difficult if not impossible for state-of-the-art technology. Via catenary arrays, planar optical devices are designed and experimentally characterized to generate various kinds of beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). These devices can operate in an ultra-broadband spectrum because the anisotropic modes associated with the spin-orbit interaction are almost independent of the incident light frequency. By combining the optical and topological characteristics, our approach would allow the complete control of photons within a single nanometric layer.

Dissipative discrete breathers: periodic, quasiperiodic, chaotic, and mobile.

PubMed

Martínez, P J; Meister, M; Floría, L M; Falo, F

2003-06-01

The properties of discrete breathers in dissipative one-dimensional lattices of nonlinear oscillators subject to periodic driving forces are reviewed. We focus on oscillobreathers in the Frenkel-Kontorova chain and rotobreathers in a ladder of Josephson junctions. Both types of exponentially localized solutions are easily obtained numerically using adiabatic continuation from the anticontinuous limit. Linear stability (Floquet) analysis allows the characterization of different types of bifurcations experienced by periodic discrete breathers. Some of these bifurcations produce nonperiodic localized solutions, namely, quasiperiodic and chaotic discrete breathers, which are generally impossible as exact solutions in Hamiltonian systems. Within a certain range of parameters, propagating breathers occur as attractors of the dissipative dynamics. General features of these excitations are discussed and the Peierls-Nabarro barrier is addressed. Numerical scattering experiments with mobile breathers reveal the existence of two-breather bound states and allow a first glimpse at the intricate phenomenology of these special multibreather configurations. (c) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

Sustainability and shared smart and mutual--green growth (SSaM-GG) in Korean medical waste management.

PubMed

Koo, Ja-Kong; Jeong, Seung-Ik

2015-05-01

Since medical insurance was introduced in the Republic of Korea, there have been several increases concerning medical waste. In order to solve these problems, we have applied life cycle assessment and life cycle cost. But these methods cannot be a perfect decision-making tool because they can only evaluate environmental and economic burdens. Thus, as one of many practical methods the shared smart and mutual - green growth considers economic growth, environmental protection, social justice, science technology and art, and mutual voluntarism when applied to medical waste management in the Republic of Korea. Four systems were considered: incineration, incineration with heat recovery, steam sterilisation, and microwave disinfection. This research study aimed to assess pollutant emissions from treatment, transport, and disposal. Global warming potential, photochemical oxidant creation potential, acidifications potential, and human toxicity are considered to be environmental impacts. Total investment cost, transport cost, operation, and maintenance cost for the medical waste are considered in the economy evaluations though life cycle cost. The social development, science technology and art, and mutual voluntarism are analysed through the Delphi-method conducted by expert groups related to medical waste. The result is that incineration with heat recovery is the best solution. However, when heat recovery is impossible, incineration without heat recovery becomes the next best choice. That is why 95% of medical waste is currently treated by both incineration and incineration with heat recovery within the Republic of Korea. © The Author(s) 2015.

Adult venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe respiratory failure: Current status and future perspectives.

PubMed

Sen, Ayan; Callisen, Hannelisa E; Alwardt, Cory M; Larson, Joel S; Lowell, Amelia A; Libricz, Stacy L; Tarwade, Pritee; Patel, Bhavesh M; Ramakrishna, Harish

2016-01-01

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe acute respiratory failure was proposed more than 40 years ago. Despite the publication of the ARDSNet study and adoption of lung protective ventilation, the mortality for acute respiratory failure due to acute respiratory distress syndrome has continued to remain high. This technology has evolved over the past couple of decades and has been noted to be safe and successful, especially during the worldwide H1N1 influenza pandemic with good survival rates. The primary indications for ECMO in acute respiratory failure include severe refractory hypoxemic and hypercarbic respiratory failure in spite of maximum lung protective ventilatory support. Various triage criteria have been described and published. Contraindications exist when application of ECMO may be futile or technically impossible. Knowledge and appreciation of the circuit, cannulae, and the physiology of gas exchange with ECMO are necessary to ensure lung rest, efficiency of oxygenation, and ventilation as well as troubleshooting problems. Anticoagulation is a major concern with ECMO, and the evidence is evolving with respect to diagnostic testing and use of anticoagulants. Clinical management of the patient includes comprehensive critical care addressing sedation and neurologic issues, ensuring lung recruitment, diuresis, early enteral nutrition, treatment and surveillance of infections, and multisystem organ support. Newer technology that delinks oxygenation and ventilation by extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal may lead to ultra-lung protective ventilation, avoidance of endotracheal intubation in some situations, and ambulatory therapies as a bridge to lung transplantation. Risks, complications, and long-term outcomes and resources need to be considered and weighed in before widespread application. Ethical challenges are a reality and a multidisciplinary approach that should be adopted for every case in consideration.

Different types of interactions of links in artificial and natural ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Somova, Lydia; Pisman, Tamara; Mikheeva, Galina; Pechurkin, Nickolay

The life of organisms in an ecosystem depends not only on abiotic factors, but also on the interaction of organisms in which they come with each other. The study of mechanisms of the bioregulation based on ecological - biochemical interactions of ecosystem links is necessary to know the ecosystem development, its stability, survival of ecosystem organisms. It is of high importance as for the creation of artificial ecosystems, and also for the study of natural ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure on them. To create well-functioning ecosystems is necessary to study and consider the basic types of relationships between organisms. The basic types of interactions between organisms have been studied with simple terrestrial and water ecosystems. 1. The interaction of microbiocenoses and plants were studied in experiments with agrocenoses. Microbiocenosis proposed for increase of productivity of plants and for obtaining ecologically pure production of plants has been created taking into account mutual relationships between species of microorganisms. 2. The experimental model of the atmosphere closed «autotroph - heterotroph» system in which heterotrophic link was the mixed population of yeasts (Candida utilis and Candida guilliermondii) was studied. The algae Chlorella vulgaris was used as an autotroph link. It was shown, that the competition result for heterotrophic link depended on strategy of populations of yeast in relation to a substrate and oxygen utilization. 3. As a result of experimental and theoretical modelling of a competition of algae Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus quadricauda at continuous cultivation, the impossibility of their coexistence in the conditions of limitation on nitrogen was shown. 4. Pray-predator interactions between algae (Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus quadricauda) and invertebrates (Paramecium caudatum, Brachionus plicatilis) were studied in experimental closed ecosystem. This work was partly supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No.13-06-00060

Hyphenating size‐exclusion chromatography with electrospray mass spectrometry; using on‐line liquid‐liquid extraction to study the lipid composition of lipoprotein particles

PubMed Central

Osei, Michael; Griffin, Julian L.

2015-01-01

Rationale Lipoproteins belong to the most commonly measured clinical biochemical parameters. Lipidomics is an orthogonal approach and aims to profile the individual lipid molecules that jointly form the lipoprotein particles. However, in the first step of the extraction of lipid molecules from serum, an organic solvent is used leading to dissociation of the lipoproteins. Thus far it has been impossible to combine lipidomics and lipoprotein analysis in one analytical system. Methods Human plasma was diluted in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) and injected onto a Superose 6 PC 3.2 column with PBS as a mobile phase to separate lipoproteins. The eluent was led to a Syrris FLLEX module, which also received CHCl3/MeOH (3:1). The two phases were mixed and subsequently separated using a Teflon membrane in an especially designed pressurized flow chamber. The organic phase was led to a standard electrospray source of an Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Results Size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) has been commonly applied to separate lipoproteins and is considered a practical alternative to ultracentrifugation. Through the on‐line liquid‐liquid extraction method it becomes possible to obtained detailed mass spectra of lipids across different lipoprotein fractions. The extracted ion chromatograms of specific lipid signals showed their distribution against the size of lipoprotein particles. Conclusions The application of on‐line liquid‐liquid extraction allows for the continuous electrospray‐based mass spectral analysis of SEC eluent, providing the detailed lipid composition of lipoprotein particles separated by size. This approach provides new possibilities for the study of the biochemistry of lipoproteins. © 2015 The Authors. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. PMID:26443395

Empirical Study of Horizontal and Vertical Resolution of Teleseismic Receiver Function Data for Shallow Crustal Imagery.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subasic, S.; Piana Agostinetti, N.; Bean, C. J.

2017-12-01

Passive seismic methods as a tool in exploration geophysics are relatively cheap, and offer the prospect of 3D imagery at a fraction of the cost of an active survey. Outputs from passive seismic surveys can also be used as a test and guide for subsequent targeted higher resolution studies, and they offer a strategic alternative in areas where an active survey would be a difficult or impossible task. In order to test the horizontal and vertical resolution of teleseismic receiver functions, we perform a complete receiver function analysis and inversion of the teleseismic data from the La Barge array. The La Barge Passive Seismic Experiment is composed of 55 instruments deployed in western Wyoming, recording continuously between November 2008 and June 2009. The close interstation distance used during the deployment (250m, up to two orders of magnitude smaller than in typical receiver function studies) makes this open-access data set a perfect test-case for the aim of this study. Receiver functions (RF) are calculated for earthquakes with Mw ≥ 5.5, at epicentral distances ranging from 30° to 100°. We use the frequency domain deconvolution method proposed by Di Bona (1998). This method includes estimations of variances for individual receiver functions, and considers both the pre-signal noise, as well as the noise involved in the deconvolution itself. We perform harmonic decomposition of the receiver function dataset. The zero-order harmonic, representing the bulk isotropic variation of seismic velocities with depth, is used in the inversion. The RF inversion scheme follows a reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm, developed by Piana Agostinetti and Malinverno (2010). The results can be compared with the measurements from nearby wells.

Silicon Integrated Optics: Fabrication and Characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shearn, Michael Joseph, II

For decades, the microelectronics industry has sought integration and miniaturization as canonized in Moore's Law, and has continued doubling transistor density about every two years. However, further miniaturization of circuit elements is creating a bandwidth problem as chip interconnect wires shrink as well. A potential solution is the creation of an on-chip optical network with low delays that would be impossible to achieve using metal buses. However, this technology requires integrating optics with silicon microelectronics. The lack of efficient silicon optical sources has stymied efforts of an all-Si optical platform. Instead, the integration of efficient emitter materials, such as III-V semiconductors, with Si photonic structures is a low-cost, CMOS-compatible alternative platform. This thesis focuses on making and measuring on-chip photonic structures suitable for on-chip optical networking. The first part of the thesis assesses processing techniques of silicon and other semiconductor materials. Plasmas for etching and surface modification are described and used to make bonded, hybrid Si/III-V structures. Additionally, a novel masking method using gallium implantation into silicon for pattern definition is characterized. The second part of the thesis focuses on demonstrations of fabricated optical structures. A dense array of silicon devices is measured, consisting of fully-etched grating couplers, low-loss waveguides and ring resonators. Finally, recent progress in the Si/III-V hybrid system is discussed. Supermode control of devices is described, which uses changing Si waveguide width to control modal overlap with the gain material. Hybrid Si/III-V, Fabry-Perot evanescent lasers are demonstrated, utilizing a CMOS-compatible process suitable for integration on in electronics platforms. Future prospects and ultimate limits of Si devices and the hybrid Si/III-V system are also considered.

Efficacy of a novel strategy for poststernotomy deep sternal infection after thoracic aorta replacement using a prosthetic graft.

PubMed

Kuriyama, Motone; Yoshida, Yukitaka; Ninomiya, Hitoshi; Yamamoto, Shin; Sasaguri, Shiro; Akita, Shinsuke; Mitsukawa, Nobuyuki

2018-05-01

Poststernotomy deep sternal wound infections are persistent and occasionally fatal, especially in cases involving prosthetic grafts, because of their complicated structure and virtual impossibility of removal. We aimed to verify the influence of cooperation with plastic surgeons and our novel strategy for treating deep sternal wound infection after aortic replacement on cardiovascular surgery outcomes. Nine hundred eighty-three consecutive patients were divided into two groups: an early group (2012-2013) and a late group (2014-2015). The late group had received cooperatively improved perioperative wound management: our novel strategy of deep sternal infection based on radical debridement and immediate reconstruction decided by reference to severities of the patient's general condition and widespread infection by early intervention of plastic surgeons. The groups were analysed retrospectively. Binary variables were analysed statistically with the Fisher exact test and continuous variables with the Mann-Whitney U test. Inter-group differences were assessed with the chi-square test. Twenty of 390 cases in the early group and 13 of 593 cases in the late group were associated with deep sternal infection. Morbidity rates of deep sternal wound infection and associated mortality rates 1 year after reconstruction surgery were significantly less (p <0.05 for both) in the late group. Intervention by plastic surgeons improved perioperative wound management outcomes. Our treatment strategy for deep sternal wound infection also reduced associated mortality rates. Facilities should consider the early inclusion of plastic surgeons in the treatment of patients undergoing aortic replacement to facilitate better outcomes. Copyright © 2018 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A comparison of methods to predict historical daily streamflow time series in the southeastern United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Farmer, William H.; Archfield, Stacey A.; Over, Thomas M.; Hay, Lauren E.; LaFontaine, Jacob H.; Kiang, Julie E.

2015-01-01

Effective and responsible management of water resources relies on a thorough understanding of the quantity and quality of available water. Streamgages cannot be installed at every location where streamflow information is needed. As part of its National Water Census, the U.S. Geological Survey is planning to provide streamflow predictions for ungaged locations. In order to predict streamflow at a useful spatial and temporal resolution throughout the Nation, efficient methods need to be selected. This report examines several methods used for streamflow prediction in ungaged basins to determine the best methods for regional and national implementation. A pilot area in the southeastern United States was selected to apply 19 different streamflow prediction methods and evaluate each method by a wide set of performance metrics. Through these comparisons, two methods emerged as the most generally accurate streamflow prediction methods: the nearest-neighbor implementations of nonlinear spatial interpolation using flow duration curves (NN-QPPQ) and standardizing logarithms of streamflow by monthly means and standard deviations (NN-SMS12L). It was nearly impossible to distinguish between these two methods in terms of performance. Furthermore, neither of these methods requires significantly more parameterization in order to be applied: NN-SMS12L requires 24 regional regressions—12 for monthly means and 12 for monthly standard deviations. NN-QPPQ, in the application described in this study, required 27 regressions of particular quantiles along the flow duration curve. Despite this finding, the results suggest that an optimal streamflow prediction method depends on the intended application. Some methods are stronger overall, while some methods may be better at predicting particular statistics. The methods of analysis presented here reflect a possible framework for continued analysis and comprehensive multiple comparisons of methods of prediction in ungaged basins (PUB). Additional metrics of comparison can easily be incorporated into this type of analysis. By considering such a multifaceted approach, the top-performing models can easily be identified and considered for further research. The top-performing models can then provide a basis for future applications and explorations by scientists, engineers, managers, and practitioners to suit their own needs.

Oil and Gas Data Infrastructure Project: Project Accomplishments Summary CRADA No. TO-1111-95

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

Wagoner, Jeff; Paul, Robert; Chesser, Joe

2000-11-14

Obtaining a substantially complete set of the relevant data for an oil or gas producing property is a very time-consuming and nearly impossible task which limits the producer's effectiveness in making sound business and engineering decisions. The data are located in a variety of places, some of which are completely inaccessible to the average user. Access to information on existing wells is a crucial component of a producer's ability to assess the feasibility of purchasing and operating a well. The more effective the access the producer has to the information, the greater the likelihood that a wider suite of choicesmore » can be considered and a profitable business decision reached. California, like a number of other states, provides public access to oil and gas production data, and other types of supplemental well information. However, access mechanisms are often ineffective, tedious, and expensive to maintain as much of the data is centrally located and in a format that is difficult to search, retrieve, and refile. The California Division of Oil and Gas and Geothermal Resources (CADOGGR) regulates California's oil and gas drilling and production operations. The CADOGGR administers the state laws for the conservation of oil and gas resources to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources. The principal mandated objectives in regulating oil and gas exploratory, development, and production operations are to prevent conditions that may be hazardous to health or damaging to the environment. As part of the regulatory program, well records are maintained on each well. There is information for each well consisting of applications to do work, permits issued, drilling and exploration histories, geophysical logs, production data, maps, reports, test results, well logs, abandonment and other types of information which the producers are required to provide to the states on an on-going basis. These well records are also considered vital to the industry because they are the only complete source of public information needed for continued exploration and development work. Making copies of the well records available to the industry and the public is an important function.« less

In-flight thoracic ultrasound detection of pneumothorax in combat.

PubMed

Madill, Justin J

2010-08-01

Ultrasonography is the only portable imaging modality available in the helicopter medical evacuation environment where physical examination is limited, auscultation is impossible, long transport times may occur, and altitude variations are frequent. Although the use of ultrasonography by aviation medical personnel has been documented, minimal literature exists on the contribution of in-flight ultrasonography to patient management. This case demonstrates an indication for the use of in-flight ultrasonography. It shows how it can affect in-flight management and direct lifesaving intervention. A patient with blast injury developed hemodynamic instability of unclear etiology during transport in the combat aviation environment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case where in-flight thoracic ultrasonography augmented physical examination and diagnosed an untreated pneumothorax when auscultation was impossible. It directed the decision to perform in-flight procedural intervention with tube thoracostomy. This rapidly improved the patient's hemodynamic stability in a remote and hostile setting. In-flight thoracic ultrasonography is a portable imaging tool that can be used by aviation medical personnel to detect pneumothorax in environments where physical examination is limited and auscultation is impossible. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Wild rhesus monkeys generate causal inferences about possible and impossible physical transformations in the absence of experience

PubMed Central

Hauser, Marc; Spaulding, Bailey

2006-01-01

Human infants and adults generate causal inferences about the physical world from observations of single, novel events, thereby violating Hume's thesis that spatiotemporal cooccurrence from prior experience drives causal perception in our species. Is this capacity unique or shared with other animals? We address this question by presenting the results of three experiments on free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), focusing specifically on their capacity to generate expectations about the nature of completely unfamiliar physical transformations. By using an expectancy violation looking-time method, each experiment presented subjects with either physically possible or impossible transformations of objects (e.g., a knife, as opposed to a glass of water, appears to cut an apple in half). In both experiments, subjects looked longer when the transformation was impossible than when it was possible. Follow up experiments ruled out that these patterns could be explained by association. These results show that in the absence of training or direct prior experience, rhesus monkeys generate causal inferences from single, novel events, using their knowledge of the physical world to guide such expectations. PMID:16641097

Modeling Collective Animal Behavior with a Cognitive Perspective: A Methodological Framework

PubMed Central

Weitz, Sebastian; Blanco, Stéphane; Fournier, Richard; Gautrais, Jacques; Jost, Christian; Theraulaz, Guy

2012-01-01

The last decades have seen an increasing interest in modeling collective animal behavior. Some studies try to reproduce as accurately as possible the collective dynamics and patterns observed in several animal groups with biologically plausible, individual behavioral rules. The objective is then essentially to demonstrate that the observed collective features may be the result of self-organizing processes involving quite simple individual behaviors. Other studies concentrate on the objective of establishing or enriching links between collective behavior researches and cognitive or physiological ones, which then requires that each individual rule be carefully validated. Here we discuss the methodological consequences of this additional requirement. Using the example of corpse clustering in ants, we first illustrate that it may be impossible to discriminate among alternative individual rules by considering only observational data collected at the group level. Six individual behavioral models are described: They are clearly distinct in terms of individual behaviors, they all reproduce satisfactorily the collective dynamics and distribution patterns observed in experiments, and we show theoretically that it is strictly impossible to discriminate two of these models even in the limit of an infinite amount of data whatever the accuracy level. A set of methodological steps are then listed and discussed as practical ways to partially overcome this problem. They involve complementary experimental protocols specifically designed to address the behavioral rules successively, conserving group-level data for the overall model validation. In this context, we highlight the importance of maintaining a sharp distinction between model enunciation, with explicit references to validated biological concepts, and formal translation of these concepts in terms of quantitative state variables and fittable functional dependences. Illustrative examples are provided of the benefits expected during the often long and difficult process of refining a behavioral model, designing adapted experimental protocols and inversing model parameters. PMID:22761685

Modeling collective animal behavior with a cognitive perspective: a methodological framework.

PubMed

Weitz, Sebastian; Blanco, Stéphane; Fournier, Richard; Gautrais, Jacques; Jost, Christian; Theraulaz, Guy

2012-01-01

The last decades have seen an increasing interest in modeling collective animal behavior. Some studies try to reproduce as accurately as possible the collective dynamics and patterns observed in several animal groups with biologically plausible, individual behavioral rules. The objective is then essentially to demonstrate that the observed collective features may be the result of self-organizing processes involving quite simple individual behaviors. Other studies concentrate on the objective of establishing or enriching links between collective behavior researches and cognitive or physiological ones, which then requires that each individual rule be carefully validated. Here we discuss the methodological consequences of this additional requirement. Using the example of corpse clustering in ants, we first illustrate that it may be impossible to discriminate among alternative individual rules by considering only observational data collected at the group level. Six individual behavioral models are described: They are clearly distinct in terms of individual behaviors, they all reproduce satisfactorily the collective dynamics and distribution patterns observed in experiments, and we show theoretically that it is strictly impossible to discriminate two of these models even in the limit of an infinite amount of data whatever the accuracy level. A set of methodological steps are then listed and discussed as practical ways to partially overcome this problem. They involve complementary experimental protocols specifically designed to address the behavioral rules successively, conserving group-level data for the overall model validation. In this context, we highlight the importance of maintaining a sharp distinction between model enunciation, with explicit references to validated biological concepts, and formal translation of these concepts in terms of quantitative state variables and fittable functional dependences. Illustrative examples are provided of the benefits expected during the often long and difficult process of refining a behavioral model, designing adapted experimental protocols and inversing model parameters.

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox and quantum steering in a three-mode optomechanical system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Qiongyi; Ficek, Zbigniew

2014-02-01

We study multipartite entanglement, the generation of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) states, and quantum steering in a three-mode optomechanical system composed of an atomic ensemble located inside a single-mode cavity with a movable mirror. The cavity mode is driven by a short laser pulse, has a nonlinear parametric-type interaction with the mirror and a linear beam-splitter-type interaction with the atomic ensemble. There is no direct interaction of the mirror with the atomic ensemble. A threshold effect for the dynamics of the system is found, above which the system works as an amplifier and below which as an attenuator of the output fields. The threshold is determined by the ratio of the coupling strengths of the cavity mode to the mirror and to the atomic ensemble. It is shown that above the threshold, the system effectively behaves as a two-mode system in which a perfect bipartite EPR state can be generated, while it is impossible below the threshold. Furthermore, a fully inseparable tripartite entanglement and even further a genuine tripartite entanglement can be produced above and below the threshold. In addition, we consider quantum steering and examine the monogamy relations that quantify the amount of bipartite steering that can be shared between different modes. It is found that the mirror is more capable for steering of entanglement than the cavity mode. The two-way steering is found between the mirror and the atomic ensemble despite the fact that they are not directly coupled to each other, while it is impossible between the output of cavity mode and the ensemble which are directly coupled to each other.

Natural history matters: how biological constraints shape diversified interactions in pollination networks.

PubMed

Jordano, Pedro

2016-11-01

Species-specific traits constrain the ways organisms interact in nature. Some pairwise interactions among coexisting species simply do not occur; they are impossible to observe despite the fact that partners coexist in the same place. The author discusses these 'forbidden links' of species interaction networks. Photo: a sphingid moth, Manduca sexta visiting a flower of Tocoyena formosa (Rubiaceae) in the Brazilian Cerrado; tongue and corolla tube lengths approximately 100 mm. Courtesy of Felipe Amorim. Sazatornil, F.D., Moré, M., Benitez-Vieyra, S., Cocucci, A.A., Kitching, I.J., Schlumpberger, B.O., Oliveira, P.E., Sazima, M. & Amorim, F.W. (2016) Beyond neutral and forbidden links: morphological matches and the assembly of mutualistic hawkmoth-plant networks. Journal of Animal Ecology, 85, 1586-1594. Species-specific traits and life-history characteristics constrain the ways organisms interact in nature. For example, gape-limited predators are constrained in the sizes of prey they can handle and efficiently consume. When we consider the ubiquity of such constrains, it is evident how hard it can be to be a generalist partner in ecological interactions: a free-living animal or plant cannot simply interact with every available partner it encounters. Some pairwise interactions among coexisting species simply do not occur; they are impossible to observe despite the fact that partners coexist in the same place. Sazatornil et al. () explore the nature of such constraints in the mutualisms among hawkmoths and the plants they pollinate. In this iconic interaction, used by Darwin and Wallace to vividly illustrate the power of natural selection in shaping evolutionary change, both pollinators and plants are sharply constrained in their interaction modes and outcomes. © 2016 The Author. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2016 British Ecological Society.

[A practical method of numerical evaluation applicable to miniaturized technics of plaque assay].

PubMed

Beytout, D; Laveran, H; Reynaud, M P

1975-01-01

When one wishes to titrate viruses by counting the number of infective foci on small surfaces of observation, one is rapidly limited by confluences which render counting impossible. Between the use of an all or nothing system which is not accurate and a total field of count, often impossible, there is an intermediate method already described and studied by Tippett, which is very little used in practice. We have performed the calculations again, drawn up reference values and given rules for choice of the field. Two examples show their practical use.

An Architecture for Real-Time Interpretation and Visualization of Structural Sensor Data in a Laboratory Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doggett, William; Vazquez, Sixto

2000-01-01

A visualization system is being developed out of the need to monitor, interpret, and make decisions based on the information from several thousand sensors during experimental testing to facilitate development and validation of structural health monitoring algorithms. As an added benefit the system will enable complete real-time sensor assessment of complex test specimens. Complex structural specimens are routinely tested that have hundreds or thousands of sensors. During a test, it is impossible for a single researcher to effectively monitor all the sensors and subsequently interesting phenomena occur that are not recognized until post-test analysis. The ability to detect and alert the researcher to these unexpected phenomena as the test progresses will significantly enhance the understanding and utilization of complex test articles. Utilization is increased by the ability to halt a test when the health monitoring algorithm response is not satisfactory or when an unexpected phenomenon occurs, enabling focused investigation potentially through the installation of additional sensors. Often if the test continues, structural changes make it impossible to reproduce the conditions that exhibited the phenomena. The prohibitive time and costs associated with fabrication, sensoring, and subsequent testing of additional test articles generally makes it impossible to further investigate the phenomena. A scalable architecture is described to address the complex computational demands of structural health monitoring algorithm development and laboratory experimental test monitoring. The researcher monitors the test using a photographic quality 3D graphical model with actual sensor locations identified. In addition, researchers can quickly activate plots displaying time or load versus selected sensor response along with the expected values and predefined limits. The architecture has several key features. First, distributed dissimilar computers may be seamlessly integrated into the information flow. Second, virtual sensors may be defined that are complex functions of existing sensors or other virtual sensors. Virtual sensors represent a calculated value not directly measured by particular physical instrument. They can be used, for example, to represent the maximum difference in a range of sensors or the calculated buckling load based on the current strains. Third, the architecture enables autonomous response to preconceived events, where by the system can be configured to suspend or abort a test if a failure is detected in the load introduction system. Fourth, the architecture is designed to allow cooperative monitoring and control of the test progression from multiple stations both remote and local to the test system. To illustrate the architecture, a preliminary implementation is described monitoring the Stitched Composite Wing recently tested at LaRC.

40 CFR 141.542 - What must my system do if we are considering a significant change to disinfection practices?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... considering a significant change to disinfection practices? 141.542 Section 141.542 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER... Benchmark § 141.542 What must my system do if we are considering a significant change to disinfection...

40 CFR 141.542 - What must my system do if we are considering a significant change to disinfection practices?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... considering a significant change to disinfection practices? 141.542 Section 141.542 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER... Benchmark § 141.542 What must my system do if we are considering a significant change to disinfection...

Design and optimal control of on-orbit servicing trajectory for target vehicle in non-coplanar elliptical orbit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Wenyong; Yuan, Jianping; Luo, Jianjun

2005-11-01

Autonomous on-orbit servicing provides flexibility to space systems and has great value both in civil and in military. When a satellite performs on-orbit servicing tasks, flying around is the basic type of motion. This paper is concerned with the design and control problems of a chaser satellite flying around a target spacecraft in non-coplanar elliptical orbit for a long time. At first, a mathematical model used to design a long-term flying around trajectory is presented, which is applicable to the situation that the target spacecraft flies in an elliptical orbit. The conditions of the target at the centre of the flying around path are deduced. Considering the safety and task requirements, a long-term flying around trajectory is designed. Taking into account perturbations and navigation errors which can cause the trajectory unstable and mission impossible, a two-impulse control method is put forward. Genetic algorithm is used to minimize the cost function which considers fuel consumption and bias simultaneously. Some simulation works are carried out and the results indicate the flying around mathematical model and the trajectory control method can be used in the design and control of a long-term flying around trajectory.

A Multi-Agent Approach to the Simulation of Robotized Manufacturing Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foit, K.; Gwiazda, A.; Banaś, W.

2016-08-01

The recent years of eventful industry development, brought many competing products, addressed to the same market segment. The shortening of a development cycle became a necessity if the company would like to be competitive. Because of switching to the Intelligent Manufacturing model the industry search for new scheduling algorithms, while the traditional ones do not meet the current requirements. The agent-based approach has been considered by many researchers as an important way of evolution of modern manufacturing systems. Due to the properties of the multi-agent systems, this methodology is very helpful during creation of the model of production system, allowing depicting both processing and informational part. The complexity of such approach makes the analysis impossible without the computer assistance. Computer simulation still uses a mathematical model to recreate a real situation, but nowadays the 2D or 3D virtual environments or even virtual reality have been used for realistic illustration of the considered systems. This paper will focus on robotized manufacturing system and will present the one of possible approaches to the simulation of such systems. The selection of multi-agent approach is motivated by the flexibility of this solution that offers the modularity, robustness and autonomy.

Design of partially supervised classifiers for multispectral image data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jeon, Byeungwoo; Landgrebe, David

1993-01-01

A partially supervised classification problem is addressed, especially when the class definition and corresponding training samples are provided a priori only for just one particular class. In practical applications of pattern classification techniques, a frequently observed characteristic is the heavy, often nearly impossible requirements on representative prior statistical class characteristics of all classes in a given data set. Considering the effort in both time and man-power required to have a well-defined, exhaustive list of classes with a corresponding representative set of training samples, this 'partially' supervised capability would be very desirable, assuming adequate classifier performance can be obtained. Two different classification algorithms are developed to achieve simplicity in classifier design by reducing the requirement of prior statistical information without sacrificing significant classifying capability. The first one is based on optimal significance testing, where the optimal acceptance probability is estimated directly from the data set. In the second approach, the partially supervised classification is considered as a problem of unsupervised clustering with initially one known cluster or class. A weighted unsupervised clustering procedure is developed to automatically define other classes and estimate their class statistics. The operational simplicity thus realized should make these partially supervised classification schemes very viable tools in pattern classification.

Structure of force networks in tapped particulate systems of disks and pentagons. II. Persistence analysis.

PubMed

Kondic, L; Kramár, M; Pugnaloni, Luis A; Carlevaro, C Manuel; Mischaikow, K

2016-06-01

In the companion paper [Pugnaloni et al., Phys. Rev. E 93, 062902 (2016)10.1103/PhysRevE.93.062902], we use classical measures based on force probability density functions (PDFs), as well as Betti numbers (quantifying the number of components, related to force chains, and loops), to describe the force networks in tapped systems of disks and pentagons. In the present work, we focus on the use of persistence analysis, which allows us to describe these networks in much more detail. This approach allows us not only to describe but also to quantify the differences between the force networks in different realizations of a system, in different parts of the considered domain, or in different systems. We show that persistence analysis clearly distinguishes the systems that are very difficult or impossible to differentiate using other means. One important finding is that the differences in force networks between disks and pentagons are most apparent when loops are considered: the quantities describing properties of the loops may differ significantly even if other measures (properties of components, Betti numbers, force PDFs, or the stress tensor) do not distinguish clearly or at all the investigated systems.

[The shutdown point and the output volume limit (OVL) in the present situation of healthcare in Hungary (or a little economics for practicing physicians)].

PubMed

Gresz, Miklós

2008-09-07

In the present situation of health care, financing has become so complicated that the treating doctor has to know not only his profession but also has to consider the different regulations, laws and book of rules. The work of the physician cannot be carried out only through the fact that he is a master of his art, that is healing. All healing practice, diagnostic abilities, intuition, empathy and other things are in vain: if he is not familiar with the basics of financing he can lead his institution to insolvency. This article tries to give a view of a small part of financing, the output volume limit (OVL) from another aspect. According to the basics of economy and general rules of leadership it tries to show up the practical difficulties of the output volume limit. The study enlightens that by defining the output volume limit one has to consider the shutdown point of the hospital and knowing this, the actual output volume limit should be defined in the way that it does not make the proper activity of the hospital completely impossible.

Bivelocity hydrodynamics. Diffuse mass flux vs. diffuse volume flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brenner, Howard

2013-02-01

An intimate physical connection exists between a fluid’s mass and its volume, with the density ρ serving as a proportionality factor relating these two extensive thermodynamic properties when the fluid is homogeneous. This linkage has led to the erroneous belief among many researchers that a fluid’s diffusive (dissipative) mass flux and its diffusive volume flux counterpart, both occurring in inhomogeneous fluids undergoing transport are, in fact, synonymous. However, the existence of a truly dissipative mass flux (that is, a mass flux that is physically dissipative) has recently and convincingly been shown to be a physical impossibility [H.C. Öttinger, H. Struchtrup, M. Liu, On the impossibility of a dissipative contribution to the mass flux in hydrodynamics, Phys. Rev. E 80 (2009) 056303], owing, among other things, to its violation of the principle of angular momentum conservation. Unfortunately, as a consequence of the erroneous belief in the equality of the diffuse volume and mass fluxes (sans an algebraic sign), this has led many researchers to wrongly conclude that a diffuse volume flux is equally impossible. As a consequence, owing to the fundamental role played by the diffuse volume flux in the theory of bivelocity hydrodynamics [H. Brenner, Beyond Navier-Stokes, Int. J. Eng. Sci. 54 (2012) 67-98], many researchers have been led to falsely dismiss, without due consideration, the possibility of bivelocity hydrodynamics constituting a potentially viable physical theory, which it is believed to be. The present paper corrects this misconception by using a simple concrete example involving an isothermal rotating rigid-body fluid motion to clearly confirm that whereas a diffuse mass flux is indeed impossible, this fact does not exclude the possible existence of a diffuse volume flux and, concomitantly, the possibility that bivelocity hydrodynamics is indeed a potentially viable branch of fluid mechanics.

The Helioviewer Project: Solar Data Visualization and Exploration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughitt, V. Keith; Ireland, J.; Müller, D.; García Ortiz, J.; Dimitoglou, G.; Fleck, B.

2011-05-01

SDO has only been operating a little over a year, but in that short time it has already transmitted hundreds of terabytes of data, making it impossible for data providers to maintain a complete archive of data online. By storing an extremely efficiently compressed subset of the data, however, the Helioviewer project has been able to maintain a continuous record of high-quality SDO images starting from soon after the commissioning phase. The Helioviewer project was not designed to deal with SDO alone, however, and continues to add support for new types of data, the most recent of which are STEREO EUVI and COR1/COR2 images. In addition to adding support for new types of data, improvements have been made to both the server-side and client-side products that are part of the project. A new open-source JPEG2000 (JPIP) streaming server has been developed offering a vastly more flexible and reliable backend for the Java/OpenGL application JHelioviewer. Meanwhile the web front-end, Helioviewer.org, has also made great strides both in improving reliability, and also in adding new features such as the ability to create and share movies on YouTube. Helioviewer users are creating nearly two thousand movies a day from the over six million images that are available to them, and that number continues to grow each day. We provide an overview of recent progress with the various Helioviewer Project components and discuss plans for future development.

The symbol-grounding problem in numerical cognition: A review of theory, evidence, and outstanding questions.

PubMed

Leibovich, Tali; Ansari, Daniel

2016-03-01

How do numerical symbols, such as number words, acquire semantic meaning? This question, also referred to as the "symbol-grounding problem," is a central problem in the field of numerical cognition. Present theories suggest that symbols acquire their meaning by being mapped onto an approximate system for the nonsymbolic representation of number (Approximate Number System or ANS). In the present literature review, we first asked to which extent current behavioural and neuroimaging data support this theory, and second, to which extent the ANS, upon which symbolic numbers are assumed to be grounded, is numerical in nature. We conclude that (a) current evidence that has examined the association between the ANS and number symbols does not support the notion that number symbols are grounded in the ANS and (b) given the strong correlation between numerosity and continuous variables in nonsymbolic number processing tasks, it is next to impossible to measure the pure association between symbolic and nonsymbolic numerosity. Instead, it is clear that significant cognitive control resources are required to disambiguate numerical from continuous variables during nonsymbolic number processing. Thus, if there exists any mapping between the ANS and symbolic number, then this process of association must be mediated by cognitive control. Taken together, we suggest that studying the role of both cognitive control and continuous variables in numerosity comparison tasks will provide a more complete picture of the symbol-grounding problem. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

An object-oriented approach to risk and reliability analysis : methodology and aviation safety applications.

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

Dandini, Vincent John; Duran, Felicia Angelica; Wyss, Gregory Dane

2003-09-01

This article describes how features of event tree analysis and Monte Carlo-based discrete event simulation can be combined with concepts from object-oriented analysis to develop a new risk assessment methodology, with some of the best features of each. The resultant object-based event scenario tree (OBEST) methodology enables an analyst to rapidly construct realistic models for scenarios for which an a priori discovery of event ordering is either cumbersome or impossible. Each scenario produced by OBEST is automatically associated with a likelihood estimate because probabilistic branching is integral to the object model definition. The OBEST methodology is then applied to anmore » aviation safety problem that considers mechanisms by which an aircraft might become involved in a runway incursion incident. The resulting OBEST model demonstrates how a close link between human reliability analysis and probabilistic risk assessment methods can provide important insights into aviation safety phenomenology.« less

The effects of scattering on the relative LPI performance of optical and mm-wave systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oetting, John; Hampton, Jerry

1988-01-01

Previous results comparing the LPI performance of optical and millimeter-wave satellite systems is extended to include the effects of scattering on optical LPI performance. The LPI figure of merit used to compare the two media is the circular equivalent vulnerability radius (CEVR). The CEVR is calculated for typical optical and spread spectrum millimeter-wave systems, and the LPI performance tradeoffs available with each medium are compared. Attention is given to the possibility that light will be scattered into the interceptor's FOV and thereby enable detection in geometries in which interception of the main beam is impossible. The effects of daytime vs. nighttime operation of the optical LPI system are also considered. Some illustrative results for the case of a ground-to-space uplink to a low earth orbit satellite are presented, along with some conclusions and unresolved issues for further study.

Quantum-like model for the adaptive dynamics of the genetic regulation of E. coli's metabolism of glucose/lactose.

PubMed

Asano, Masanari; Basieva, Irina; Khrennikov, Andrei; Ohya, Masanori; Tanaka, Yoshiharu; Yamato, Ichiro

2012-06-01

We developed a quantum-like model describing the gene regulation of glucose/lactose metabolism in a bacterium, Escherichia coli. Our quantum-like model can be considered as a kind of the operational formalism for microbiology and genetics. Instead of trying to describe processes in a cell in the very detail, we propose a formal operator description. Such a description may be very useful in situation in which the detailed description of processes is impossible or extremely complicated. We analyze statistical data obtained from experiments, and we compute the degree of E. coli's preference within adaptive dynamics. It is known that there are several types of E. coli characterized by the metabolic system. We demonstrate that the same type of E. coli can be described by the well determined operators; we find invariant operator quantities characterizing each type. Such invariant quantities can be calculated from the obtained statistical data.

Time reversal and charge conjugation in an embedding quantum simulator.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiang; Shen, Yangchao; Zhang, Junhua; Casanova, Jorge; Lamata, Lucas; Solano, Enrique; Yung, Man-Hong; Zhang, Jing-Ning; Kim, Kihwan

2015-08-04

A quantum simulator is an important device that may soon outperform current classical computations. A basic arithmetic operation, the complex conjugate, however, is considered to be impossible to be implemented in such a quantum system due to the linear character of quantum mechanics. Here, we present the experimental quantum simulation of such an unphysical operation beyond the regime of unitary and dissipative evolutions through the embedding of a quantum dynamics in the electronic multilevels of a (171)Yb(+) ion. We perform time reversal and charge conjugation, which are paradigmatic examples of antiunitary symmetry operators, in the evolution of a Majorana equation without the tomographic knowledge of the evolving state. Thus, these operations can be applied regardless of the system size. Our approach offers the possibility to add unphysical operations to the toolbox of quantum simulation, and provides a route to efficiently compute otherwise intractable quantities, such as entanglement monotones.

Multicriteria decision analysis applied to Glen Canyon Dam

USGS Publications Warehouse

Flug, M.; Seitz, H.L.H.; Scott, J.F.

2000-01-01

Conflicts in water resources exist because river-reservoir systems are managed to optimize traditional benefits (e.g., hydropower and flood control), which are historically quantified in economic terms, whereas natural and environmental resources, including in-stream and riparian resources, are more difficult or impossible to quantify in economic terms. Multicriteria decision analysis provides a quantitative approach to evaluate resources subject to river basin management alternatives. This objective quantification method includes inputs from special interest groups, the general public, and concerned individuals, as well as professionals for each resource considered in a trade-off analysis. Multicriteria decision analysis is applied to resources and flow alternatives presented in the environmental impact statement for Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. A numeric rating and priority-weighting scheme is used to evaluate 29 specific natural resource attributes, grouped into seven main resource objectives, for nine flow alternatives enumerated in the environmental impact statement.

A Conserving Discretization for the Free Boundary in a Two-Dimensional Stefan Problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segal, Guus; Vuik, Kees; Vermolen, Fred

1998-03-01

The dissolution of a disk-likeAl2Cuparticle is considered. A characteristic property is that initially the particle has a nonsmooth boundary. The mathematical model of this dissolution process contains a description of the particle interface, of which the position varies in time. Such a model is called a Stefan problem. It is impossible to obtain an analytical solution for a general two-dimensional Stefan problem, so we use the finite element method to solve this problem numerically. First, we apply a classical moving mesh method. Computations show that after some time steps the predicted particle interface becomes very unrealistic. Therefore, we derive a new method for the displacement of the free boundary based on the balance of atoms. This method leads to good results, also, for nonsmooth boundaries. Some numerical experiments are given for the dissolution of anAl2Cuparticle in anAl-Cualloy.

Path Flow Estimation Using Time Varying Coefficient State Space Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jou, Yow-Jen; Lan, Chien-Lun

2009-08-01

The dynamic path flow information is very crucial in the field of transportation operation and management, i.e., dynamic traffic assignment, scheduling plan, and signal timing. Time-dependent path information, which is important in many aspects, is nearly impossible to be obtained. Consequently, researchers have been seeking estimation methods for deriving valuable path flow information from less expensive traffic data, primarily link traffic counts of surveillance systems. This investigation considers a path flow estimation problem involving the time varying coefficient state space model, Gibbs sampler, and Kalman filter. Numerical examples with part of a real network of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit with real O-D matrices is demonstrated to address the accuracy of proposed model. Results of this study show that this time-varying coefficient state space model is very effective in the estimation of path flow compared to time-invariant model.

Evaluating the aquatic toxicity of complex organic chemical mixtures: lessons learned from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and petroleum hydrocarbon case studies.

PubMed

Landrum, Peter F; Chapman, Peter M; Neff, Jerry; Page, David S

2012-04-01

Experimental designs for evaluating complex mixture toxicity in aquatic environments can be highly variable and, if not appropriate, can produce and have produced data that are difficult or impossible to interpret accurately. We build on and synthesize recent critical reviews of mixture toxicity using lessons learned from 4 case studies, ranging from binary to more complex mixtures of primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons, to provide guidance for evaluating the aquatic toxicity of complex mixtures of organic chemicals. Two fundamental requirements include establishing a dose-response relationship and determining the causative agent (or agents) of any observed toxicity. Meeting these 2 requirements involves ensuring appropriate exposure conditions and measurement endpoints, considering modifying factors (e.g., test conditions, test organism life stages and feeding behavior, chemical transformations, mixture dilutions, sorbing phases), and correctly interpreting dose-response relationships. Specific recommendations are provided. Copyright © 2011 SETAC.

Understanding Pennsylvania living wills: the 5 Ws.

PubMed

Pina, Linda L

2009-12-01

The working world of nurses is often filled with deep-running emotions and physical exhaustion as we care for our dying patients. We feel the need to step back and gain perspective when faced with a dying patient, or more appropriately, a dying person. We must also keep in mind the family of the dying who may have similar feelings. It is nearly impossible to be a nurse and not have to care for a dying patient; thus, we often find ourselves dealing with living wills. The living will is the more common of the two forms of an advance directive; the other is the durable power of attorney for healthcare. Since living wills are so common, and laws about them vary from state-to-state, it is important for the professional nurse in Pennsylvania to understand how living wills work in our state. This may best be approached by considering the 5 Ws related to living wills.

["What is a bipolar disorder?" Results of a representative survey of the German population].

PubMed

Angermeyer, Matthias C; Matschinger, Herbert

2005-09-01

To explore to what extent the lay public knows that the term bipolar disorder denotes a mental disorder. In January 2005, a telephone survey was conducted among a random sample of the German population (n = 1006). Out of four options given, respondents were asked to select the one they considered to be the correct explanation of what is meant by bipolar disorder. Most of the respondents (61%) believed that bipolar disorder is just another term for the melting of the polar ice caps, only 4.6 % associated it with mental illness. The question arises as to whether it makes sense to use a diagnosis which the lay public associates with everything but a mental illness. Since it is impossible to erase the term bipolar disorder from the psychiatric terminology, it seems necessary to increasingly propagate this term among the lay public.

Emerging importance of holobionts in evolution and in probiotics

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

The existence of microbe free animals or plants in nature is virtually impossible as they and plants have a certain degree of symbiotic association with microbes. This symbiotic association leads to the formation of holobiont (host and its symbionts). This mutual coexistence is not merely at the physical or chemical level but also at the genetic level leading to the emergence of the concept of hologenome (gene pool of host and its associated symbionts). The abundance of symbionts with the associated gene diversity contributes to the fitness of the holobiont under varying environmental conditions. The hologenome theory of evolution considers the dynamic holobiont as a single unit for natural selection and provides a more accommodating view of evolution blending Darwinism and Lamarkism. Additionally, holobionts are providing scientific basis to our understanding of the growing importance of probiotics in human health and in disease management. PMID:23694677

Digital Core Modelling for Clastic Oil and Gas Reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belozerov, I.; Berezovsky, V.; Gubaydullin, M.; Yur’ev, A.

2018-05-01

"Digital core" is a multi-purpose tool for solving a variety of tasks in the field of geological exploration and production of hydrocarbons at various stages, designed to improve the accuracy of geological study of subsurface resources, the efficiency of reproduction and use of mineral resources, as well as applying the results obtained in production practice. The actuality of the development of the "Digital core" software is that even a partial replacement of natural laboratory experiments with mathematical modelling can be used in the operative calculation of reserves in exploratory drilling, as well as in the absence of core material from wells. Or impossibility of its research by existing laboratory methods (weakly cemented, loose, etc. rocks). 3D-reconstruction of the core microstructure can be considered as a cheap and least time-consuming method for obtaining petrophysical information about the main filtration-capacitive properties and fluid motion in reservoir rocks.

Stable elastic knots with no self-contact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moulton, Derek E.; Grandgeorge, Paul; Neukirch, Sébastien

2018-07-01

We study an elastic rod bent into an open trefoil knot and clamped at both ends. The question we consider is whether there are stable configurations for which there are no points of self-contact. This idea can be fairly easily replicated with a thin strip of paper, but is more difficult or even impossible with a flexible wire. We search for such configurations within the space of three tuning parameters related to the degrees of freedom in a simple experiment. Mathematically, we show, both within standard Kirchhoff theory as well within an elastic strip theory, that stable and contact-free knotted configurations can be found, and we classify the corresponding parametric regions. Numerical results are complemented with an asymptotic analysis that demonstrates the presence of knots near the doubly-covered ring. In the case of the strip model, quantitative experiments of the region of good knots are also provided to validate the theory.

Shape of primary proton spectrum in multi-TeV region from data on vertical muon flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yushkov, A. V.; Lagutin, A. A.

2008-12-01

It is shown that the primary proton spectrum, reconstructed from sea-level and underground data on muon spectrum with the use of QGSJET 01, QGSJET II, NEXUS 3.97, and SIBYLL 2.1 interaction models, demonstrates not only model-dependent intensity, but also a model-dependent form. For correct reproduction of muon spectrum shape the primary proton flux should have a nonconstant power index for all considered models, except SIBYLL 2.1, with break at energies around 10 15 TeV and a value of exponent before break close to that obtained in the ATIC-2 experiment. To validate the presence of this break, understanding of inclusive spectra behavior in the fragmentation region in p-air collisions should be improved, but we show that is impossible to do on the basis of the existing experimental data on primary nuclei, atmospheric muon, and hadron fluxes.

Information Filtering via Heterogeneous Diffusion in Online Bipartite Networks

PubMed Central

Zhang, Fu-Guo; Zeng, An

2015-01-01

The rapid expansion of Internet brings us overwhelming online information, which is impossible for an individual to go through all of it. Therefore, recommender systems were created to help people dig through this abundance of information. In networks composed by users and objects, recommender algorithms based on diffusion have been proven to be one of the best performing methods. Previous works considered the diffusion process from user to object, and from object to user to be equivalent. We show in this work that it is not the case and we improve the quality of the recommendation by taking into account the asymmetrical nature of this process. We apply this idea to modify the state-of-the-art recommendation methods. The simulation results show that the new methods can outperform these existing methods in both recommendation accuracy and diversity. Finally, this modification is checked to be able to improve the recommendation in a realistic case. PMID:26125631

Dancing Protein Clouds: The Strange Biology and Chaotic Physics of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins*

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Biologically active but floppy proteins represent a new reality of modern protein science. These intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and hybrid proteins containing ordered and intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs) constitute a noticeable part of any given proteome. Functionally, they complement ordered proteins, and their conformational flexibility and structural plasticity allow them to perform impossible tricks and be engaged in biological activities that are inaccessible to well folded proteins with their unique structures. The major goals of this minireview are to show that, despite their simplified amino acid sequences, IDPs/IDPRs are complex entities often resembling chaotic systems, are structurally and functionally heterogeneous, and can be considered an important part of the structure-function continuum. Furthermore, IDPs/IDPRs are everywhere, and are ubiquitously engaged in various interactions characterized by a wide spectrum of binding scenarios and an even wider spectrum of structural and functional outputs. PMID:26851286

Earthquake prediction with electromagnetic phenomena

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

Hayakawa, Masashi, E-mail: hayakawa@hi-seismo-em.jp; Advanced Wireless & Communications Research Center, UEC, Chofu Tokyo; Earthquake Analysis Laboratory, Information Systems Inc., 4-8-15, Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0062

Short-term earthquake (EQ) prediction is defined as prospective prediction with the time scale of about one week, which is considered to be one of the most important and urgent topics for the human beings. If this short-term prediction is realized, casualty will be drastically reduced. Unlike the conventional seismic measurement, we proposed the use of electromagnetic phenomena as precursors to EQs in the prediction, and an extensive amount of progress has been achieved in the field of seismo-electromagnetics during the last two decades. This paper deals with the review on this short-term EQ prediction, including the impossibility myth of EQsmore » prediction by seismometers, the reason why we are interested in electromagnetics, the history of seismo-electromagnetics, the ionospheric perturbation as the most promising candidate of EQ prediction, then the future of EQ predictology from two standpoints of a practical science and a pure science, and finally a brief summary.« less

Quantum random number generation

DOE PAGES

Ma, Xiongfeng; Yuan, Xiao; Cao, Zhu; ...

2016-06-28

Quantum physics can be exploited to generate true random numbers, which play important roles in many applications, especially in cryptography. Genuine randomness from the measurement of a quantum system reveals the inherent nature of quantumness -- coherence, an important feature that differentiates quantum mechanics from classical physics. The generation of genuine randomness is generally considered impossible with only classical means. Based on the degree of trustworthiness on devices, quantum random number generators (QRNGs) can be grouped into three categories. The first category, practical QRNG, is built on fully trusted and calibrated devices and typically can generate randomness at a highmore » speed by properly modeling the devices. The second category is self-testing QRNG, where verifiable randomness can be generated without trusting the actual implementation. The third category, semi-self-testing QRNG, is an intermediate category which provides a tradeoff between the trustworthiness on the device and the random number generation speed.« less

Some considerations on measuring the Newtonian gravitational constant G in an orbiting laboratory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, Stephen D.

1986-01-01

A common suggestion for measuring the Newtonian gravitational constant G in a near-earth orbiting laboratory is simply to put two balls in orbit around each other and observe the resulting motion, thereby determining G. However, the radial variation with distance of the gravitational field of the earth is so large that tidal forces on the balls in near-earth orbit can be several times greater than the gravitational attraction between the two masses, leading some writers to assume that two objects will not stably orbit about each other and that this method of measuring G in low-earth is impossible, or at least impractical. Certain orbits were identified which are stable (at least over many periods of the spacecraft about the earth). In this case, the objects experience their gravitational interaction for a long time, and it becomes reasonable to consider such orbits as candidates for measurements of G.

Advances in the development of an imaging device for plaque measurement in the area of the carotid artery.

PubMed

Ličev, Lačezar; Krumnikl, Michal; Škuta, Jaromír; Babiuch, Marek; Farana, Radim

2014-03-04

This paper describes the advances in the development and subsequent testing of an imaging device for three-dimensional ultrasound measurement of atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery. The embolization from the atherosclerotic carotid plaque is one of the most common causes of ischemic stroke and, therefore, we consider the measurement of the plaque as extremely important. The paper describes the proposed hardware for enhancing the standard ultrasonic probe to provide a possibility of accurate probe positioning and synchronization with the cardiac activity, allowing the precise plaque measurements that were impossible with the standard equipment. The synchronization signal is derived from the output signal of the patient monitor (electrocardiogram (ECG)), processed by a microcontroller-based system, generating the control commands for the linear motion moving the probe. The controlling algorithm synchronizes the movement with the ECG waveform to obtain clear images not disturbed by the heart activity.

Quantum Information: an invitation for mathematicians

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

Perez-Garcia, David

2009-05-06

Quantum Information is the science that aims to use the unusual behavior of the microscopic world, governed by the laws of Quantum Mechanics, in order to improve the way in which we compute or communicate information. Though the first ideas in this direction come from the early 80's, it is in the last decade when Quantum Information has suffered an spectacular development. It is impossible to resume in a paper like this one the importance and complexity of the field. Therefore, I will limit to briefly explain some of the initial ideas (considered classical by now), and to briefly suggestmore » some of the modern lines of research. By the nature of this exposition, I have decided to avoid rigor and to concentrate more in ideas and intuitions. Anyhow, I have tried to provide with enough references, in such a way that an interested reader could find there proper theorems and proofs.« less

A low carbon economy and society.

PubMed

Urry, John

2013-03-13

This paper examines various aspects of moving from high carbon economies and societies to a cluster of low carbon systems. First, some historical material is considered from the Second World War and the 1970s, periods with some lessons for the contemporary 'powering down' of whole societies. Second, analysis is provided of some green shoots of a powering down of existing systems identifiable in the contemporary developed world. Third, analysis is provided of the array of systems, social practices and innovations that would have to develop in order to effect powering down on a sufficient scale and within an appropriate time period. Most examples are drawn from transport and mobility. Finally, the paper demonstrates just why developing new systems is so hard, especially as this must involve a transformed cluster of systems. The forces that make a new cluster unlikely are exceptionally powerful and make this a very difficult but not impossible outcome.

Language and the (im)possibilities of articulating spirituality.

PubMed

Bruce, Anne; Sheilds, Laurene; Molzahn, Anita

2011-03-01

Despite growing interest in spiritual matters throughout society, definitions and descriptions of spirituality seem incomplete or otherwise unsatisfactory. In this article, the authors consider the possibility that such incompleteness is perhaps necessary and welcomed in addressing spirituality. In particular, they investigate the challenges of using metaphor and metonymic approaches to "languaging" spirituality. By exploring these figures of speech they hope to diversify how nurses articulate deeply personal and perhaps enigmatic human phenomena such as spirituality. Metaphoric language uses everyday structures to help make sense of complex, emotional, and abstract experience. Whereas metaphor creates substitutive relationships between things and provides insights into conceptualizing spirituality, metonymy and metonymic writing establish relationships of contiguity. Whereas metaphor functions to represent and facilitates understanding and feelings about spirituality, metonymy disrupts while opening possibilities of moving beyond binary thinking. Attending to language and its various ontological assumptions opens diverse and potentially more inclusive possibilities.

Social Welfare Policy and Inequalities in Health. Preconceived Truths in Scientific Research.

PubMed

Regidor, Enrique

2016-08-02

At the end of the first decade of the present century debates arose in social epidemiology. These debates set those who defend the existence of a relation between the political and/or welfare stage regime and the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in health against those who maintain the facts do not support such a relation. These debates are similar to other debates in epidemiology in the 1990s related with theories of how diseases are produced and the factors that determine their distribution in the population. Whereas some authors find it impossible to separate ethical and political aspects and professional values from scientific arguments, others consider that epidemiologists and other scientists should make an effort to distinguish between scientific and unscientific considerations. In this paper the author reflects about the harmony that keep science, politics and ethics in the scientific practice on health inequalities, although the empirical evidence is contrary to that harmonious effect.

Review of Research On Guidance for Recovery from Pitch Axis Upsets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, Stephanie J.

2016-01-01

A literature review was conducted to identify past efforts in providing control guidance for aircraft upset recovery including stall recovery. Because guidance is integrally linked to the intended function of aircraft attitude awareness and upset recognition, it is difficult, if not impossible, to consider these issues separately. This literature review covered the aspects of instrumentation and display symbologies for attitude awareness, aircraft upset recognition, upset and stall alerting, and control guidance. Many different forms of symbology have been investigated including, but not limited to, pitch scale depictions, attitude indicator icons, horizon symbology, attitude recovery arrows, and pitch trim indicators. Past research on different visual and alerting strategies that provide advisories, cautions, and warnings to pilots before entering an unusual attitude (UA) are also discussed. Finally, potential control guidance for recovery from upset or unusual attitudes, including approach-to-stall and stall conditions, are reviewed. Recommendations for future research are made.

Physics of crypto-nonlocality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navascués, Miguel

2014-02-01

In 2003, Leggett introduced his model of crypto-nonlocality based on considerations on the reality of photon polarization [A. J. Leggett, Found. Phys. 33, 1469 (2003), 10.1023/A:1026096313729]. In this paper, we prove that, contrary to hints in subsequent literature, crypto-nonlocality does not follow naturally from the postulate that polarization is a realistic variable. More explicitly, consider physical theories where (a) faster-than-light communication is impossible, (b) all physical photon states have a definite polarization, and (c) given two separate photons, if we measure one of them and post-select on the result, the measurement statistics of the remaining system correspond to a photon state. We show that the outcomes of any two-photon polarization experiment in these theories must follow the statistics generated by measuring a separable two-qubit quantum state. Consequently, in such experiments any instance of entanglement detection—and not necessarily a Leggett inequality violation—can be regarded as a refutation of this class of theories.

3D laser scanning in civil engineering - measurements of volume of earth masses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawłowicz, J. A.; Szafranko, E.; Harasymiuk, J.

2018-03-01

Considering the constant drive to improve and accelerate building processes as well as possible applications of the latest technological achievements in civil engineering practice, the author has proposed to use 3D laser scanning in the construction industry. For example, data achieved through a 3D laser scanning process will facilitate making inventories of parameters of buildings in a very short time, will enable one to check irregularly shaped masses of earth, heavy and practically impossible to calculate precisely using traditional techniques. The other part of the research, performed in the laboratory, consisted of measurements of a model mound of earth. All the measurements were made with a 3D SkanStation C10 laser scanner manufactured by Leica. The data were analyzed. The results suggest that there are great opportunities for using the laser scanning technology in civil engineering

A technology program for the development of the large deployable reflector for space based astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kiya, M. K.; Gilbreath, W. P.; Swanson, P. N.

1982-01-01

Technologies for the development of the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR), a NASA project for the 1990's, for infrared and submillimeter astronomy are presented. The proposed LDR is a 10-30 diameter spaceborne observatory operating in the spectral region from 30 microns to one millimeter, where ground observations are nearly impossible. Scientific rationales for such a system include the study of ancient signals from galaxies at the edge of the universe, the study of star formation, and the observation of fluctuations in the cosmic background radiation. System requirements include the ability to observe faint objects at large distances and to map molecular clouds and H II regions. From these requirements, mass, photon noise, and tolerance budgets are developed. A strawman concept is established, and some alternate concepts are considered, but research is still necessary in the areas of segment, optical control, and instrument technologies.

Technologies for Large Data Management in Scientific Computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pace, Alberto

2014-01-01

In recent years, intense usage of computing has been the main strategy of investigations in several scientific research projects. The progress in computing technology has opened unprecedented opportunities for systematic collection of experimental data and the associated analysis that were considered impossible only few years ago. This paper focuses on the strategies in use: it reviews the various components that are necessary for an effective solution that ensures the storage, the long term preservation, and the worldwide distribution of large quantities of data that are necessary in a large scientific research project. The paper also mentions several examples of data management solutions used in High Energy Physics for the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments in Geneva, Switzerland which generate more than 30,000 terabytes of data every year that need to be preserved, analyzed, and made available to a community of several tenth of thousands scientists worldwide.

On the formation of runaway stars BN and x in the Orion Nebula Cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farias, J. P.; Tan, J. C.

2018-05-01

We explore scenarios for the dynamical ejection of stars BN and x from source I in the Kleinmann-Low nebula of the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC), which is important because it is the closest region of massive star formation. This ejection would cause source I to become a close binary or a merger product of two stars. We thus consider binary-binary encounters as the mechanism to produce this event. By running a large suite of N-body simulations, we find that it is nearly impossible to match the observations when using the commonly adopted masses for the participants, especially a source I mass of 7 M⊙. The only way to recreate the event is if source I is more massive, that is, 20 M⊙. However, even in this case, the likelihood of reproducing the observed system is low. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding this important star-forming region.

Drug-resistant human Staphylococcus aureus in sanctuary apes pose a threat to endangered wild ape populations.

PubMed

Schaumburg, Frieder; Mugisha, Lawrence; Peck, Bruce; Becker, Karsten; Gillespie, Thomas R; Peters, Georg; Leendertz, Fabian H

2012-12-01

Reintroduction of sanctuary apes to natural habitat is considered an important tool for conservation; however, reintroduction has the potential to endanger resident wild apes through the introduction of human pathogens. We found a high prevalence of drug-resistant, human-associated lineages of Staphylococcus aureus in sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) from Zambia and Uganda. This pathogen is associated with skin and soft tissue diseases and severe invasive infections (i.e. pneumonia and septicemia). Colonization by this bacterium is difficult to clear due to frequent recolonization. In addition to its pathogenic potential, human-related S. aureus can serve as an indicator organism for the transmission of other potential pathogens like pneumococci or mycobacteria. Plans to reintroduce sanctuary apes should be reevaluated in light of the high risk of introducing human-adapted S. aureus into wild ape populations where treatment is impossible. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Time reversal and charge conjugation in an embedding quantum simulator

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiang; Shen, Yangchao; Zhang, Junhua; Casanova, Jorge; Lamata, Lucas; Solano, Enrique; Yung, Man-Hong; Zhang, Jing-Ning; Kim, Kihwan

2015-01-01

A quantum simulator is an important device that may soon outperform current classical computations. A basic arithmetic operation, the complex conjugate, however, is considered to be impossible to be implemented in such a quantum system due to the linear character of quantum mechanics. Here, we present the experimental quantum simulation of such an unphysical operation beyond the regime of unitary and dissipative evolutions through the embedding of a quantum dynamics in the electronic multilevels of a 171Yb+ ion. We perform time reversal and charge conjugation, which are paradigmatic examples of antiunitary symmetry operators, in the evolution of a Majorana equation without the tomographic knowledge of the evolving state. Thus, these operations can be applied regardless of the system size. Our approach offers the possibility to add unphysical operations to the toolbox of quantum simulation, and provides a route to efficiently compute otherwise intractable quantities, such as entanglement monotones. PMID:26239028

Information Filtering via Heterogeneous Diffusion in Online Bipartite Networks.

PubMed

Zhang, Fu-Guo; Zeng, An

2015-01-01

The rapid expansion of Internet brings us overwhelming online information, which is impossible for an individual to go through all of it. Therefore, recommender systems were created to help people dig through this abundance of information. In networks composed by users and objects, recommender algorithms based on diffusion have been proven to be one of the best performing methods. Previous works considered the diffusion process from user to object, and from object to user to be equivalent. We show in this work that it is not the case and we improve the quality of the recommendation by taking into account the asymmetrical nature of this process. We apply this idea to modify the state-of-the-art recommendation methods. The simulation results show that the new methods can outperform these existing methods in both recommendation accuracy and diversity. Finally, this modification is checked to be able to improve the recommendation in a realistic case.

[Legal aspects of Web 2.0 in the health field].

PubMed

Beslay, Nathalie; Jeunehomme, Marie

2009-10-01

Web 2.0 sites are considered to be hosting providers and not publishers of user-generated content. The liability of hosting providers' liability is defined by the law enacted on June 21, 2004, on confidence in the digital economy. Hosting providers must promptly remove the information they host or make its access impossible once they are informed of its illegality. They are required to obtain and retain data to enable identification of any person who has contributed to content hosted by them. The liability of hosting providers has arisen in numerous disputes about user-produced content in various situations (discussion lists, blogs, etc.). The National Board of Physicians has developed specific ethical guidelines for web sites devoted to health issues and specifically for physician-authored content. The National Board of Physicians acknowledges that physicians can present themselves, their office, and their specific practice on their web site, notwithstanding any restrictions otherwise applicable to advertising.

Ebola Virus Disease Candidate Vaccines Under Evaluation in Clinical Trials

PubMed Central

Martins, Karen A.; Jahrling, Peter B.; Bavari, Sina; Kuhn, Jens H.

2016-01-01

Summary Filoviruses are the etiological agents of two human illnesses: Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease. Until 2013, medical countermeasure development against these afflictions was limited to only a few research institutes worldwide as both infections were considered exotic due to very low case numbers. Together with the high case-fatality rate of both diseases, evaluation of any candidate countermeasure in properly controlled clinical trials seemed impossible. However, in 2013, Ebola virus was identified as the etiological agent of a large disease outbreak in Western Africa including almost 30,000 infections and more than 11,000 deaths, including case exportations to Europe and North America. These large case numbers resulted in medical countermeasure development against Ebola virus disease becoming a global public-health priority. This review summarizes the status quo of candidate vaccines against Ebola virus disease, with a focus on those that are currently under evaluation in clinical trials. PMID:27160784

The common use of improper control diets in diet-induced metabolic disease research confounds data interpretation: the fiber factor.

PubMed

Pellizzon, Michael A; Ricci, Matthew R

2018-01-01

Diets used to induce metabolic disease are generally high in fat and refined carbohydrates and importantly, are usually made with refined, purified ingredients. However, researchers will often use a low fat grain-based (GB) diet containing unrefined ingredients as the control diet. Such a comparison between two completely different diet types makes it impossible to draw conclusions regarding the phenotypic differences driven by diet. While many compositional differences can account for this, one major difference that could have the greatest impact between GB and purified diets is the fiber content, both in terms of the level and composition. We will review recent data showing how fiber differences between GB diets and purified diets can significantly influence gut health and microbiota, which itself can affect metabolic disease development. Researchers need to consider the control diet carefully in order to make the best use of precious experimental resources.

Nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics with Fundamental Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gevorkyan, Ashot S.

2011-03-01

Spontaneous transitions between bound states of an atomic system, "Lamb Shift" of energy levels and many other phenomena in real nonrelativistic quantum systems are connected within the influence of the quantum vacuum fluctuations ( fundamental environment (FE)) which are impossible to consider in the limits of standard quantum-mechanical approaches. The joint system "quantum system (QS) + FE" is described in the framework of the stochastic differential equation (SDE) of Langevin-Schrödinger (L-Sch) type, and is defined on the extended space R 3 ⊗ R { ξ}, where R 3 and R { ξ} are the Euclidean and functional spaces, respectively. The density matrix for single QS in FE is defined. The entropy of QS entangled with FE is defined and investigated in detail. It is proved that as a result of interaction of QS with environment there arise structures of various topologies which are a new quantum property of the system.

Experimental bit commitment based on quantum communication and special relativity.

PubMed

Lunghi, T; Kaniewski, J; Bussières, F; Houlmann, R; Tomamichel, M; Kent, A; Gisin, N; Wehner, S; Zbinden, H

2013-11-01

Bit commitment is a fundamental cryptographic primitive in which Bob wishes to commit a secret bit to Alice. Perfectly secure bit commitment between two mistrustful parties is impossible through asynchronous exchange of quantum information. Perfect security is however possible when Alice and Bob split into several agents exchanging classical and quantum information at times and locations suitably chosen to satisfy specific relativistic constraints. Here we report on an implementation of a bit commitment protocol using quantum communication and special relativity. Our protocol is based on [A. Kent, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 130501 (2012)] and has the advantage that it is practically feasible with arbitrary large separations between the agents in order to maximize the commitment time. By positioning agents in Geneva and Singapore, we obtain a commitment time of 15 ms. A security analysis considering experimental imperfections and finite statistics is presented.

Probing spontaneous wave-function collapse with entangled levitating nanospheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jing; Zhang, Tiancai; Li, Jie

2017-01-01

Wave-function collapse models are considered to be the modified theories of standard quantum mechanics at the macroscopic level. By introducing nonlinear stochastic terms in the Schrödinger equation, these models (different from standard quantum mechanics) predict that it is fundamentally impossible to prepare macroscopic systems in macroscopic superpositions. The validity of these models can only be examined by experiments, and hence efficient protocols for these kinds of experiments are greatly needed. Here we provide a protocol that is able to probe the postulated collapse effect by means of the entanglement of the center-of-mass motion of two nanospheres optically trapped in a Fabry-Pérot cavity. We show that the collapse noise results in a large reduction of the steady-state entanglement, and the entanglement, with and without the collapse effect, shows distinguishable scalings with certain system parameters, which can be used to determine unambiguously the effect of these models.

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

Ma, Xiongfeng; Yuan, Xiao; Cao, Zhu

Quantum physics can be exploited to generate true random numbers, which play important roles in many applications, especially in cryptography. Genuine randomness from the measurement of a quantum system reveals the inherent nature of quantumness -- coherence, an important feature that differentiates quantum mechanics from classical physics. The generation of genuine randomness is generally considered impossible with only classical means. Based on the degree of trustworthiness on devices, quantum random number generators (QRNGs) can be grouped into three categories. The first category, practical QRNG, is built on fully trusted and calibrated devices and typically can generate randomness at a highmore » speed by properly modeling the devices. The second category is self-testing QRNG, where verifiable randomness can be generated without trusting the actual implementation. The third category, semi-self-testing QRNG, is an intermediate category which provides a tradeoff between the trustworthiness on the device and the random number generation speed.« less

Aspects concerning verification methods and rigidity increment of complex technological systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casian, M.

2016-11-01

Any technological process and technology aims a quality and precise product, something almost impossible without high rigidity machine tools, equipment and components. Therefore, from the design phase, it is very important to create structures and machines with high stiffness characteristics. At the same time, increasing the stiffness should not raise the material costs. Searching this midpoint between high rigidity and minimum expenses leads to investigations and checks in structural components through various methods and techniques and sometimes quite advanced methods. In order to highlight some aspects concerning the significance of the mechanical equipment rigidity, the finite element method and an analytical method based on the use Mathcad software were used, by taking into consideration a subassembly of a grinding machine. Graphical representations were elaborated, offering a more complete image about the stresses and deformations able to affect the considered mechanical subassembly.

[Medical use of fetal cells and tissue: ethical aspects].

PubMed

Wolff, H P

1992-04-01

After considering the moral status of the living and of the dead human fetus, the article examines various ethical arguments connected with the use of fetal remains following elective abortion: financial or humanitarian incentives for the termination of pregnancy, conflicts of interest between mother and user, authority over fetal remains and modality of donation and utilization of the fetus. To prevent improper use of fetal remains it is recommended: to separate completely the decisions relating to abortion (first) and to the subsequent use of fetal tissues (second); to obtain explicit informed consent from the mother, making it impossible for her to direct any specific use of the fetal tissues; to base decisions on the method and timing of an abortion on the mother's health care needs alone; to exclude those involved in the process of abortion from any use of the fetus; to protect the anonymity of donor and recipient through an intermediary (tissue bank).

Analogue Transformations in Physics and their Application to Acoustics

PubMed Central

García-Meca, C.; Carloni, S.; Barceló, C.; Jannes, G.; Sánchez-Dehesa, J.; Martínez, A.

2013-01-01

Transformation optics has shaped up a revolutionary electromagnetic design paradigm, enabling scientists to build astonishing devices such as invisibility cloaks. Unfortunately, the application of transformation techniques to other branches of physics is often constrained by the structure of the field equations. We develop here a complete transformation method using the idea of analogue spacetimes. The method is general and could be considered as a new paradigm for controlling waves in different branches of physics, from acoustics in quantum fluids to graphene electronics. As an application, we derive an “analogue transformation acoustics” formalism that naturally allows the use of transformations mixing space and time or involving moving fluids, both of which were impossible with the standard approach. To demonstrate the power of our method, we give explicit designs of a dynamic compressor, a spacetime cloak for acoustic waves and a carpet cloak for a moving aircraft. PMID:23774575

Generic Feature Selection with Short Fat Data

PubMed Central

Clarke, B.; Chu, J.-H.

2014-01-01

SUMMARY Consider a regression problem in which there are many more explanatory variables than data points, i.e., p ≫ n. Essentially, without reducing the number of variables inference is impossible. So, we group the p explanatory variables into blocks by clustering, evaluate statistics on the blocks and then regress the response on these statistics under a penalized error criterion to obtain estimates of the regression coefficients. We examine the performance of this approach for a variety of choices of n, p, classes of statistics, clustering algorithms, penalty terms, and data types. When n is not large, the discrimination over number of statistics is weak, but computations suggest regressing on approximately [n/K] statistics where K is the number of blocks formed by a clustering algorithm. Small deviations from this are observed when the blocks of variables are of very different sizes. Larger deviations are observed when the penalty term is an Lq norm with high enough q. PMID:25346546

The impossibility of bearing witness: wartime rape and the promise of justice.

PubMed

Henry, Nicola

2010-10-01

Testimonies of wartime sexual violence contribute to the recognition of rape as a serious human rights violation. Although acknowledgement and justice are imperative to ending silence and impunity, this article critiques some commonly held therapeutic assumptions about disclosure through examining the way so-called "unspeakable" events are communicated through legal discourse. In this article, the author explores the inherent limitations of language for bearing witness to wartime rape, specifically focusing on international war crimes tribunals. The author argues that trials contribute to the impossibility of bearing witness through both the appropriation of trauma and the failure of law to accommodate traumatic experiences.

Quantum voting and violation of Arrow's impossibility theorem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Ning; Yunger Halpern, Nicole

2017-06-01

We propose a quantum voting system in the spirit of quantum games such as the quantum prisoner's dilemma. Our scheme enables a constitution to violate a quantum analog of Arrow's impossibility theorem. Arrow's theorem is a claim proved deductively in economics: Every (classical) constitution endowed with three innocuous-seeming properties is a dictatorship. We construct quantum analogs of constitutions, of the properties, and of Arrow's theorem. A quantum version of majority rule, we show, violates this quantum Arrow conjecture. Our voting system allows for tactical-voting strategies reliant on entanglement, interference, and superpositions. This contribution to quantum game theory helps elucidate how quantum phenomena can be harnessed for strategic advantage.

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

Horodecki, Michal; Sen, Aditi; Sen, Ujjwal

The impossibility of cloning and deleting of unknown states constitute important restrictions on processing of information in the quantum world. On the other hand, a known quantum state can always be cloned or deleted. However, if we restrict the class of allowed operations, there will arise restrictions on the ability of cloning and deleting machines. We have shown that cloning and deleting of known states is in general not possible by local operations. This impossibility hints at quantum correlation in the state. We propose dual measures of quantum correlation based on the dual restrictions of no local cloning and nomore » local deleting. The measures are relative entropy distances of the desired states in a (generally impossible) perfect local cloning or local deleting process from the best approximate state that is actually obtained by imperfect local cloning or deleting machines. Just like the dual measures of entanglement cost and distillable entanglement, the proposed measures are based on important processes in quantum information. We discuss their properties. For the case of pure states, estimations of these two measures are also provided. Interestingly, the entanglement of cloning for a maximally entangled state of two two-level systems is not unity.« less

The hyperoxic switch: assessing respiratory water loss rates in tracheate arthropods with continuous gas exchange.

PubMed

Lighton, John R B; Schilman, Pablo E; Holway, David A

2004-12-01

Partitioning the relative contributions of cuticular and respiratory water loss in a tracheate arthropod is relatively easy if it undergoes discontinuous gas exchange cycles or DGCs, leaving its rate of cuticular water loss in primary evidence while its spiracles are closed. Many arthropods are not so obliging and emit CO(2) continuously, making cuticular and respiratory water losses difficult or impossible to partition. We report here that by switching ambient air from 21 to 100% O(2), marked spiracular constriction takes place, causing a transient but substantial - up to 90% - reduction in CO(2) output. A reduction in water loss rate occurs at the same time. Using this approach, we investigated respiratory water loss in Drosophila melanogaster and in two ant species, Forelius mccooki and Pogonomyrmex californicus. Our results - respiratory water loss estimates of 23%, 7.6% and 5.6% of total water loss rates, respectively - are reasonable in light of literature estimates, and suggest that the 'hyperoxic switch' may allow straightforward estimation of respiratory water loss rates in arthropods lacking discontinuous gas exchange. In P. californicus, which we were able to measure with and without a DGC, presence or absence of a DGC did not affect respiratory vs total water loss rates.

Validation of Remote Sensing Retrieval Products using Data from a Wireless Sensor-Based Online Monitoring in Antarctica

PubMed Central

Li, Xiuhong; Cheng, Xiao; Yang, Rongjin; Liu, Qiang; Qiu, Yubao; Zhang, Jialin; Cai, Erli; Zhao, Long

2016-01-01

Of the modern technologies in polar-region monitoring, the remote sensing technology that can instantaneously form large-scale images has become much more important in helping acquire parameters such as the freezing and melting of ice as well as the surface temperature, which can be used in the research of global climate change, Antarctic ice sheet responses, and cap formation and evolution. However, the acquirement of those parameters is impacted remarkably by the climate and satellite transit time which makes it almost impossible to have timely and continuous observation data. In this research, a wireless sensor-based online monitoring platform (WSOOP) for the extreme polar environment is applied to obtain a long-term series of data which is site-specific and continuous in time. Those data are compared and validated with the data from a weather station at Zhongshan Station Antarctica and the result shows an obvious correlation. Then those data are used to validate the remote sensing products of the freezing and melting of ice and the surface temperature and the result also indicated a similar correlation. The experiment in Antarctica has proven that WSOOP is an effective system to validate remotely sensed data in the polar region. PMID:27869668

Validation of Remote Sensing Retrieval Products using Data from a Wireless Sensor-Based Online Monitoring in Antarctica.

PubMed

Li, Xiuhong; Cheng, Xiao; Yang, Rongjin; Liu, Qiang; Qiu, Yubao; Zhang, Jialin; Cai, Erli; Zhao, Long

2016-11-17

Of the modern technologies in polar-region monitoring, the remote sensing technology that can instantaneously form large-scale images has become much more important in helping acquire parameters such as the freezing and melting of ice as well as the surface temperature, which can be used in the research of global climate change, Antarctic ice sheet responses, and cap formation and evolution. However, the acquirement of those parameters is impacted remarkably by the climate and satellite transit time which makes it almost impossible to have timely and continuous observation data. In this research, a wireless sensor-based online monitoring platform (WSOOP) for the extreme polar environment is applied to obtain a long-term series of data which is site-specific and continuous in time. Those data are compared and validated with the data from a weather station at Zhongshan Station Antarctica and the result shows an obvious correlation. Then those data are used to validate the remote sensing products of the freezing and melting of ice and the surface temperature and the result also indicated a similar correlation. The experiment in Antarctica has proven that WSOOP is an effective system to validate remotely sensed data in the polar region.

Visual Short-Term Memory Compared in Rhesus Monkeys and Humans

PubMed Central

Elmore, L. Caitlin; Ma, Wei Ji; Magnotti, John F.; Leising, Kenneth J.; Passaro, Antony D.; Katz, Jeffrey S.; Wright, Anthony A.

2011-01-01

Summary Change detection is a popular task to study visual short-term memory (STM) in humans [1–4]. Much of this work suggests that STM has a fixed capacity of 4 ± 1 items [1–6]. Here we report the first comparison of change detection memory between humans and a species closely related to humans, the rhesus monkey. Monkeys and humans were tested in nearly identical procedures with overlapping display sizes. Although the monkeys’ STM was well fit by a 1-item fixed-capacity memory model, other monkey memory tests with 4-item lists have shown performance impossible to obtain with a 1-item capacity [7]. We suggest that this contradiction can be resolved using a continuous-resource approach more closely tied to the neural basis of memory [8,9]. In this view, items have a noisy memory representation whose noise level depends on display size due to distributed allocation of a continuous resource. In accord with this theory, we show that performance depends on the perceptual distance between items before and after the change, and d′ depends on display size in an approximately power law fashion. Our results open the door to combining the power of psychophysics, computation, and physiology to better understand the neural basis of STM. PMID:21596568

A process-based standard for the Solar Energetic Particle Event Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabriel, Stephen

For 10 years or more, there has been a lack of concensus on what the ISO standard model for the Solar Energetic Particle Event (SEPE) environment should be. Despite many technical discussions between the world experts in this field, it has been impossible to agree on which of the several models available should be selected as the standard. Most of these discussions at the ISO WG4 meetings and conferences, etc have centred around the differences in modelling approach between the MSU model and the several remaining models from elsewhere worldwide (mainly the USA and Europe). The topic is considered timely given the inclusion of a session on reference data sets at the Space Weather Workshop in Boulder in April 2014. The original idea of a ‘process-based’ standard was conceived by Dr Kent Tobiska as a way of getting round the problems associated with not only the presence of different models, which in themselves could have quite distinct modelling approaches but could also be based on different data sets. In essence, a process based standard approach overcomes these issues by allowing there to be more than one model and not necessarily a single standard model; however, any such model has to be completely transparent in that the data set and the modelling techniques used have to be not only to be clearly and unambiguously defined but also subject to peer review. If the model meets all of these requirements then it should be acceptable as a standard model. So how does this process-based approach resolve the differences between the existing modelling approaches for the SEPE environment and remove the impasse? In a sense, it does not remove all of the differences but only some of them; however, most importantly it will allow something which so far has been impossible without ambiguities and disagreement and that is a comparison of the results of the various models. To date one of the problems (if not the major one) in comparing the results of the various different SEPE statistical models has been caused by two things: 1) the data set and 2) the definition of an event Because unravelling the dependencies of the outputs of different statistical models on these two parameters is extremely difficult if not impossible, currently comparison of the results from the different models is also extremely difficult and can lead to controversies, especially over which model is the correct one; hence, when it comes to using these models for engineering purposes to calculate, for example, the radiation dose for a particular mission, the user, who is in all likelihood not an expert in this field, could be given two( or even more) very different environments and find it impossible to know how to select one ( or even how to compare them). What is proposed then, is a process-based standard, which in common with nearly all of the current models is composed of 3 elements, a standard data set, a standard event definition and a resulting standard event list. A standard event list is the output of this standard and can then be used with any of the existing (or indeed future) models that are based on events. This standard event list is completely traceable and transparent and represents a reference event list for all the community. When coupled with a statistical model, the results when compared will only be dependent on the statistical model and not on the data set or event definition.

Decision theory and the evaluation of risks and benefits of clinical trials.

PubMed

Bernabe, Rosemarie D C; van Thiel, Ghislaine J M W; Raaijmakers, Jan A M; van Delden, Johannes J M

2012-12-01

Research ethics committees (RECs) are tasked to assess the risks and the benefits of a clinical trial. In previous studies, it was shown that RECs find this task difficult, if not impossible, to do. The current approaches to benefit-risk assessment (i.e. Component Analysis and the Net Risk Test) confound the various risk-benefit tasks, and as such, make balancing impossible. In this article, we show that decision theory, specifically through the expected utility theory and multiattribute utility theory, enable for an explicit and ethically weighted risk-benefit evaluation. This makes a balanced ethical justification possible, and thus a more rationally defensible decision making. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Can business impact analysis play a meaningful role in planning a cost-saving programme?

PubMed

Wright, Trevor

2011-02-01

Business continuity as it exists today would appear to have reached something of a plateau. Considering the history of the discipline, and how it has developed from 'simple' disaster recovery to its present position, it is clear that the trend has been to move from a reactive discipline to a proactive process. Following on from this broadly-accepted point, it is perhaps time to consider how the discipline may develop and what wider and deeper contribution the business continuity profession may make to add further value for our clients. In the present climate, it seems appropriate to consider how (and if) business continuity practice can make a meaningful contribution to a cost saving exercise. The public and private sectors are considered and the differences are compared.

A computer simulation experiment of supervisory control of remote manipulation. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccandlish, S. G.

1966-01-01

A computer simulation of a remote manipulation task and a rate-controlled manipulator is described. Some low-level automatic decision making ability which could be used at the operator's discretion to augment his direct continuous control was built into the manipulator. Experiments were made on the effect of transmission delay, dynamic lag, and intermittent vision on human manipulative ability. Delay does not make remote manipulation impossible. Intermittent visual feedback, and the absence of rate information in the display presented to the operator do not seem to impair the operator's performance. A small-capacity visual feedback channel may be sufficient for remote manipulation tasks, or one channel might be time-shared between several operators. In other experiments the operator called in sequence various on-site automatic control programs of the machine, and thereby acted as a supervisor. The supervisory mode of operation has some advantages when the task to be performed is difficult for a human controlling directly.

The continuing risk of nuclear war.

PubMed

McCoy, Ronald

2007-01-01

Climate change and nuclear war are currently the most dangerous challenges to human civilisation and survival. The effects of climate change are now sufficient to persuade many governments to take effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Today there are about 27,000 nuclear warheads, many at least ten times more powerful than the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, and a meaningful medical response to a nuclear attack is impossible. Nevertheless, the threat of nuclear war does not raise public concern, and indeed the nuclear-weapon states are upgrading their capability. The only effective preventive measure is the abolition of nuclear weapons. Steps towards this include: a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, for the nuclear weapon states to observe their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to enter into force. The ultimate need is for a Nuclear Weapons Convention; International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War have launched an International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN) to promote a NWC.

A portable molecular-sieve-based CO2 sampling system for radiocarbon measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palonen, V.

2015-12-01

We have developed a field-capable sampling system for the collection of CO2 samples for radiocarbon-concentration measurements. Most target systems in environmental research are limited in volume and CO2 concentration, making conventional flask sampling hard or impossible for radiocarbon studies. The present system captures the CO2 selectively to cartridges containing 13X molecular sieve material. The sampling does not introduce significant under-pressures or significant losses of moisture to the target system, making it suitable for most environmental targets. The system also incorporates a significantly larger sieve container for the removal of CO2 from chambers prior to the CO2 build-up phase and sampling. In addition, both the CO2 and H2O content of the sample gas are measured continuously. This enables in situ estimation of the amount of collected CO2 and the determination of CO2 flux to a chamber. The portable sampling system is described in detail and tests for the reliability of the method are presented.

An independent shopping experience for wheelchair users through augmented reality and RFID.

PubMed

Rashid, Zulqarnain; Pous, Rafael; Norrie, Christopher S

2017-06-23

People with physical and mobility impairments continue to struggle to attain independence in the performance of routine activities and tasks. For example, browsing in a store and interacting with products located beyond an arm's length may be impossible without the enabling intervention of a human assistant. This research article describes a study undertaken to design, develop, and evaluate potential interaction methods for motor-impaired individuals, specifically those who use wheelchairs. Our study includes a user-centered approach, and a categorization of wheelchair users based upon the severity of their disability and their individual needs. We designed and developed access solutions that utilize radio frequency identification (RFID), augmented reality (AR), and touchscreen technologies in order to help people who use wheelchairs to carry out certain tasks autonomously. In this way, they have been empowered to go shopping independently, free from reliance upon the assistance of others. A total of 18 wheelchair users participated in the completed study.

KSC01pd1820

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-12-07

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches successfully with the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite aboard. Liftoff from Launch Complex 2W occurred at 7:07 a.m. PST (10:07 a.m. EST or 15:07 GMT). Jason 1 joins the orbiting Topex/Poseidon satellite to continue observations of the global climate interaction occurring between the sea and the atmosphere as a result of stored solar energy. Instruments on Jason 1 will map variations in ocean surface topography to monitor world ocean circulation, study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve climate predictions and observe events like El Nino. The mission is expected to last three years. The TIMED satellite will study a little-known region above the atmosphere, some 40 to 110 miles from the Earth's surface. Studying this region has been nearly impossible until now because conventional airplanes and balloons cannot reach this high altitude, and it is too low for direct satellite measurements

KSC01pd1822

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-12-07

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.. -- A Delta rocket leaps off Launch Complex 2W carrying the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite aboard. Liftoff occurred at 7:07 a.m. PST (10:07 a.m. EST or 15:07 GMT). Jason 1 joins the orbiting Topex/Poseidon satellite to continue observations of the global climate interaction occurring between the sea and the atmosphere as a result of stored solar energy. Instruments on Jason 1 will map variations in ocean surface topography to monitor world ocean circulation, study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve climate predictions and observe events like El Nino. The mission is expected to last three years. The TIMED satellite will study a little-known region above the atmosphere, some 40 to 110 miles from the Earth's surface. Studying this region has been nearly impossible until now because conventional airplanes and balloons cannot reach this high altitude, and it is too low for direct satellite measurements

A portable molecular-sieve-based CO2 sampling system for radiocarbon measurements.

PubMed

Palonen, V

2015-12-01

We have developed a field-capable sampling system for the collection of CO2 samples for radiocarbon-concentration measurements. Most target systems in environmental research are limited in volume and CO2 concentration, making conventional flask sampling hard or impossible for radiocarbon studies. The present system captures the CO2 selectively to cartridges containing 13X molecular sieve material. The sampling does not introduce significant under-pressures or significant losses of moisture to the target system, making it suitable for most environmental targets. The system also incorporates a significantly larger sieve container for the removal of CO2 from chambers prior to the CO2 build-up phase and sampling. In addition, both the CO2 and H2O content of the sample gas are measured continuously. This enables in situ estimation of the amount of collected CO2 and the determination of CO2 flux to a chamber. The portable sampling system is described in detail and tests for the reliability of the method are presented.

Establishing the credibility of qualitative research findings: the plot thickens.

PubMed

Cutcliffe, J R; McKenna, H P

1999-08-01

Qualitative research is increasingly recognized and valued and its unique place in nursing research is highlighted by many. Despite this, some nurse researchers continue to raise epistemological issues about the problems of objectivity and the validity of qualitative research findings. This paper explores the issues relating to the representativeness or credibility of qualitative research findings. It therefore critiques the existing distinct philosophical and methodological positions concerning the trustworthiness of qualitative research findings, which are described as follows: quantitative studies should be judged using the same criteria and terminology as quantitative studies; it is impossible, in a meaningful way, for any criteria to be used to judge qualitative studies; qualitative studies should be judged using criteria that are developed for and fit the qualitative paradigm; and the credibility of qualitative research findings could be established by testing out the emerging theory by means of conducting a deductive quantitative study. The authors conclude by providing some guidelines for establishing the credibility of qualitative research findings.

Undefined cellulase formulations hinder scientific reproducibility

DOE PAGES

Himmel, Michael E.; Abbas, Charles A.; Baker, John O.; ...

2017-11-28

In the shadow of a burgeoning biomass-to-fuels industry, biological conversion of lignocellulose to fermentable sugars in a cost-effective manner is key to the success of second-generation and advanced biofuel production. For the effective comparison of one cellulase preparation to another, cellulase assays are typically carried out with one or more engineered cellulase formulations or natural exoproteomes of known performance serving as positive controls. When these formulations have unknown composition, as is the case with several widely used commercial products, it becomes impossible to compare or reproduce work done today to work done in the future, where, for example, such preparationsmore » may not be available. Therefore, being a critical tenet of science publishing, experimental reproducibility is endangered by the continued use of these undisclosed products. We propose the introduction of standard procedures and materials to produce specific and reproducible cellulase formulations. These formulations are to serve as yardsticks to measure improvements and performance of new cellulase formulations.« less

Tracheoesophageal fistula--a complication of prolonged tracheal intubation.

PubMed

Paraschiv, M

2014-01-01

Tracheoesophageal fistula most commonly occurs as a complication of prolonged tracheal intubation. The incidence decreased after the use of low pressure and high volume endotracheal cuffs, but the intensive care units continue to provide such cases. The abnormal tracheoesophageal communication causes pulmonary contamination (with severe suppuration) and impossibility to feed the patient. The prognosis is reserved, because most patients are debilitated and ventilator dependent, with severe neurological and cardiovascular diseases. The therapeutic options are elected based on respiratory, neurological and nutritional status. The aim of conservative treatment is to stop the contamination (drainage gastrostomy, feeding jejunostomy) and to treat the pulmonary infection and biological deficits. Endoscopic therapies can be tried in cases with surgical contraindication. Operation is addressed to selected cases and consists in the dissolution of the fistula, esophageal suture with or without segmental tracheal resection associated. Esophageal diversion is rarely required. The correct indication and timing of surgery, proper surgical technique and postoperative care are prerequisites for adequate results.

Tracheoesophageal fistula - a complication of prolonged tracheal intubation

PubMed Central

Paraschiv, M

2014-01-01

Tracheoesophageal fistula most commonly occurs as a complication of prolonged tracheal intubation. The incidence decreased after the use of low pressure and high volume endotracheal cuffs, but the intensive care units continue to provide such cases. The abnormal tracheoesophageal communication causes pulmonary contamination (with severe suppuration) and impossibility to feed the patient. The prognosis is reserved, because most patients are debilitated and ventilator dependent, with severe neurological and cardiovascular diseases. The therapeutic options are elected based on respiratory, neurological and nutritional status. The aim of conservative treatment is to stop the contamination (drainage gastrostomy, feeding jejunostomy) and to treat the pulmonary infection and biological deficits. Endoscopic therapies can be tried in cases with surgical contraindication. Operation is addressed to selected cases and consists in the dissolution of the fistula, esophageal suture with or without segmental tracheal resection associated. Esophageal diversion is rarely required. The correct indication and timing of surgery, proper surgical technique and postoperative care are prerequisites for adequate results. PMID:25713612

Techniques and instrumentation for the measurement of transient sound energy flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watkinson, P. S.; Fahy, F. J.

1983-12-01

The evaluation of sound intensity distributions, and sound powers, of essentially continuous sources such as automotive engines, electric motors, production line machinery, furnaces, earth moving machinery and various types of process plants were studied. Although such systems are important sources of community disturbance and, to a lesser extent, of industrial health hazard, the most serious sources of hearing hazard in industry are machines operating on an impact principle, such as drop forges, hammers and punches. Controlled experiments to identify major noise source regions and mechanisms are difficult because it is normally impossible to install them in quiet, anechoic environments. The potential for sound intensity measurement to provide a means of overcoming these difficulties has given promising results, indicating the possibility of separation of directly radiated and reverberant sound fields. However, because of the complexity of transient sound fields, a fundamental investigation is necessary to establish the practicability of intensity field decomposition, which is basic to source characterization techniques.

[Microsurgery, a 'small' surgical revolution in the medical history of the 20th century].

PubMed

Haeseker, B

1999-04-17

Microsurgery in the twentieth century enabled surgeons to operate on very fine structures, which was impossible before the advent of the microscope. Since 1860 loupe magnification was employed in rare cases. In 1921 Nylén from Sweden transformed an ordinary laboratory microscope into an operation microscope for ear interventions. The eye specialists were the second group of doctors who employed the microscope in the operating theatre during the years 40-50 of this century. Since 1953 Zeiss in Germany has produced highly professional operation microscopes. In the sixties experimental laboratory studies were taken up to develop microsurgical techniques, microinstruments and suture material. Both plastic and reconstructive surgeons and neurosurgeons continued to develop microsurgery and indeed transformed their disciplines a great deal. Microsurgery is here to stay and still experiments are going on with video-assisted systems in order to further miniaturize the instruments for magnification and to gain a more comfortable working position for the surgeon.

Vigilance impossible: Diligence, distraction, and daydreaming all lead to failures in a practical monitoring task.

PubMed

Casner, Stephen M; Schooler, Jonathan W

2015-09-01

In laboratory studies of vigilance, participants watch for unusual events in a "sit and stare" fashion as their performance typically declines over time. But watch keepers in practical settings seldom approach monitoring in such simplistic ways and controlled environments. We observed airline pilots performing routine monitoring duties in the cockpit. Unlike laboratory studies, pilots' monitoring did not deteriorate amidst prolonged vigils. Monitoring was frequently interrupted by other pop-up tasks and misses followed. However, when free from these distractions, pilots reported copious mind wandering. Pilots often confined their mind wandering to times in which their monitoring performance would not conspicuously suffer. But when no convenient times were available, pilots mind wandered anyway and misses ensued. Real-world monitors may be caught between a continuous vigilance approach that is doomed to fail, a dynamic environment that cannot be fully controlled, and what may be an irresistible urge to let one's thoughts drift. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Development of thermal model to analyze thermal flux distribution in thermally enhanced machining of high chrome white cast iron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravi, A. M.; Murigendrappa, S. M.

2018-04-01

In recent times, thermally enhanced machining (TEM) slowly gearing up to cut hard metals like high chrome white cast iron (HCWCI) which were impossible in conventional procedures. Also setting up of suitable cutting parameters and positioning of the heat source against the work appears to be critical in order to enhance the machinability characteristics of the work material. In this research work, the Oxy - LPG flame was used as the heat source and HCWCI as the workpiece. ANSYS-CFD-Flow software was used to develop the transient thermal model to analyze the thermal flux distribution on the work surface during TEM of HCWCI using Cubic boron nitride (CBN) tools. Non-contact type Infrared thermo sensor was used to measure the surface temperature continuously at different positions, and is validated with the thermal model results. The result confirms thermal model is a better predictive tool for thermal flux distribution analysis in TEM process.

Stigma in science: the case of earthquake prediction.

PubMed

Joffe, Helene; Rossetto, Tiziana; Bradley, Caroline; O'Connor, Cliodhna

2018-01-01

This paper explores how earthquake scientists conceptualise earthquake prediction, particularly given the conviction of six earthquake scientists for manslaughter (subsequently overturned) on 22 October 2012 for having given inappropriate advice to the public prior to the L'Aquila earthquake of 6 April 2009. In the first study of its kind, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 earthquake scientists and the transcribed interviews were analysed thematically. The scientists primarily denigrated earthquake prediction, showing strong emotive responses and distancing themselves from earthquake 'prediction' in favour of 'forecasting'. Earthquake prediction was regarded as impossible and harmful. The stigmatisation of the subject is discussed in the light of research on boundary work and stigma in science. The evaluation reveals how mitigation becomes the more favoured endeavour, creating a normative environment that disadvantages those who continue to pursue earthquake prediction research. Recommendations are made for communication with the public on earthquake risk, with a focus on how scientists portray uncertainty. © 2018 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2018.

Osteoarthritis. A continuing challenge.

PubMed Central

Sack, K E

1995-01-01

Osteoarthritis is a disorder of cartilage that affects almost 85% of the population by age 75. A lack of rigorous clinical and radiographic criteria for defining the disorder makes precise determination of its prevalence impossible. The process of wear and tear explains many manifestations of osteoarthritis, but it does not account for some of the clinical findings or the biochemical changes in osteoarthritic cartilage. Thus, other factors such as heredity, hormones, and diet may play a role. Treatment consists of teaching patients about their disease, alleviating pain, and preserving joint function. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be no more effective than simple analgesics in relieving the pain of this disorder. Moreover, some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can adversely affect cartilage metabolism, and most are possibly dangerous in elderly patients. Drugs that inhibit the production or activity of chondrolytic enzymes can slow the degeneration of cartilage in some animals, but their effects on humans with osteoarthritis are unproved. The surgical repair of severely damaged joints can have gratifying results. Images Figure 2. PMID:8553653

Remote monitoring of the earthquake cycle using satellite radar interferometry.

PubMed

Wright, Tim J

2002-12-15

The earthquake cycle is poorly understood. Earthquakes continue to occur on previously unrecognized faults. Earthquake prediction seems impossible. These remain the facts despite nearly 100 years of intensive study since the earthquake cycle was first conceptualized. Using data acquired from satellites in orbit 800 km above the Earth, a new technique, radar interferometry (InSAR), has the potential to solve these problems. For the first time, detailed maps of the warping of the Earth's surface during the earthquake cycle can be obtained with a spatial resolution of a few tens of metres and a precision of a few millimetres. InSAR does not need equipment on the ground or expensive field campaigns, so it can gather crucial data on earthquakes and the seismic cycle from some of the remotest areas of the planet. In this article, I review some of the remarkable observations of the earthquake cycle already made using radar interferometry and speculate on breakthroughs that are tantalizingly close.

Practical secure quantum communications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diamanti, Eleni

2015-05-01

We review recent advances in the field of quantum cryptography, focusing in particular on practical implementations of two central protocols for quantum network applications, namely key distribution and coin flipping. The former allows two parties to share secret messages with information-theoretic security, even in the presence of a malicious eavesdropper in the communication channel, which is impossible with classical resources alone. The latter enables two distrustful parties to agree on a random bit, again with information-theoretic security, and with a cheating probability lower than the one that can be reached in a classical scenario. Our implementations rely on continuous-variable technology for quantum key distribution and on a plug and play discrete-variable system for coin flipping, and necessitate a rigorous security analysis adapted to the experimental schemes and their imperfections. In both cases, we demonstrate the protocols with provable security over record long distances in optical fibers and assess the performance of our systems as well as their limitations. The reported advances offer a powerful toolbox for practical applications of secure communications within future quantum networks.

Undefined cellulase formulations hinder scientific reproducibility

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

Himmel, Michael E.; Abbas, Charles A.; Baker, John O.

In the shadow of a burgeoning biomass-to-fuels industry, biological conversion of lignocellulose to fermentable sugars in a cost-effective manner is key to the success of second-generation and advanced biofuel production. For the effective comparison of one cellulase preparation to another, cellulase assays are typically carried out with one or more engineered cellulase formulations or natural exoproteomes of known performance serving as positive controls. When these formulations have unknown composition, as is the case with several widely used commercial products, it becomes impossible to compare or reproduce work done today to work done in the future, where, for example, such preparationsmore » may not be available. Therefore, being a critical tenet of science publishing, experimental reproducibility is endangered by the continued use of these undisclosed products. We propose the introduction of standard procedures and materials to produce specific and reproducible cellulase formulations. These formulations are to serve as yardsticks to measure improvements and performance of new cellulase formulations.« less

Monte Carlo simulation for coherent backscattering with diverging illumination (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Wenli; Radosevich, Andrew J.; Eshein, Adam; Nguyen, The-Quyen; Backman, Vadim

2016-03-01

Diverging beam illumination is widely used in many optical techniques especially in fiber optic applications and coherence phenomenon is one of the most important properties to consider for these applications. Until now, people have used Monte Carlo simulations to study the backscattering coherence phenomenon in collimated beam illumination only. We are the first one to study the coherence phenomenon under the exact diverging beam geometry by taking into account the impossibility of the existence for the exact time-reversed path pairs of photons, which is the main contribution to the backscattering coherence pattern in collimated beam. In this work, we present a Monte Carlo simulation that considers the influence of the illumination numerical aperture. The simulation tracks the electric field for the unique paths of forward path and reverse path in time-reversed pairs of photons as well as the same path shared by them. With this approach, we can model the coherence pattern formed between the pairs by considering their phase difference at the collection plane directly. To validate this model, we use the Low-coherence Enhanced Backscattering Spectroscopy, one of the instruments looking at the coherence pattern using diverging beam illumination, as the benchmark to compare with. In the end, we show how this diverging configuration would significantly change the coherent pattern under coherent light source and incoherent light source. This Monte Carlo model we developed can be used to study the backscattering phenomenon in both coherence and non-coherence situation with both collimated beam and diverging beam setups.

Current status of pregnancy-related maternal mortality in Japan: a report from the Maternal Death Exploratory Committee in Japan.

PubMed

Hasegawa, Junichi; Sekizawa, Akihiko; Tanaka, Hiroaki; Katsuragi, Shinji; Osato, Kazuhiro; Murakoshi, Takeshi; Nakata, Masahiko; Nakamura, Masamitsu; Yoshimatsu, Jun; Sadahiro, Tomohito; Kanayama, Naohiro; Ishiwata, Isamu; Kinoshita, Katsuyuki; Ikeda, Tomoaki

2016-03-21

To clarify the problems related to maternal deaths in Japan, including the diseases themselves, causes, treatments and the hospital or regional systems. Descriptive study. Maternal death registration system established by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG). Women who died during pregnancy or within a year after delivery, from 2010 to 2014, throughout Japan (N=213). The preventability and problems in each maternal death. Maternal deaths were frequently caused by obstetric haemorrhage (23%), brain disease (16%), amniotic fluid embolism (12%), cardiovascular disease (8%) and pulmonary disease (8%). The Committee considered that it was impossible to prevent death in 51% of the cases, whereas they considered prevention in 26%, 15% and 7% of the cases to be slightly, moderately and highly possible, respectively. It was difficult to prevent maternal deaths due to amniotic fluid embolism and brain disease. In contrast, half of the deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage were considered preventable, because the peak duration between the initial symptoms and initial cardiopulmonary arrest was 1-3 h. A range of measures, including individual education and the construction of good relationships among regional hospitals, should be established in the near future, to improve primary care for patients with maternal haemorrhage and to save the lives of mothers in Japan. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

UAS-enabled assessment of geohazards on coastal cliffs at Dawlish, UK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dabson, Oliver; Bellis, Alex; Moore, Roger

2017-04-01

The last few years have seen the widespread availability of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) - remotely-operated aerial vehicles which are being developed for use in a variety of commercial and recreational applications. The combination of these systems with off-the-shelf digital cameras and image processing software using well-established Structure-from-Motion techniques can produce 3D models with centimetric resolution and accuracy for sites covering several square kilometres. The geo-engineering community has been exploring the use of these systems for collecting data in environments where it may be hazardous or impossible to use more conventional means. Advantages of deployment of UAS have already been identified, which include cost, ease of survey in terms of access, rapid acquisition of data and repeatability, and reduction in the number of personnel directly exposed to geological hazards during site visits. As such, the technology continues to be an exciting tool to explore. At Dawlish, UK, weathering and erosion of the sea cliffs has resulted in numerous serious slope failures, with some notable examples over the last decade that were the focus of national media attention. This poses significant risk to Network Rail's Western Route: a stretch of rail built by Brunel in 1840, situated at the foot of these cliffs. CH2M was commissioned by Network Rail to explore options for improving the resilience of the line, but access constraints meant that sections of the cliff were difficult or impossible to access during site visits. As such, this paper describes the use of UAS to capture and assess this system. We find that the UAS technology offers new insight to the site, allowing for finer-resolution mapping and interpretation of sub-vertical cliffs. This has been an important study within a wider assessment of the site, and the survey has supplemented recommendations on how to best manage the coastal asset in order to ensure the operation of a safe and reliable railway.

3-D Printing as a Tool to Investigate the Effects of Changes in Rock Microstructures on Permeability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Head, D. A.; Vanorio, T.

2016-12-01

Rocks are naturally heterogeneous; two rock samples with identical bulk properties can vary widely in microstructure. Understanding the evolutionary trends of rock properties requires the ability to connect time-lapse measurements of properties at different scales: the macro- scale used in the laboratory and field analyses capturing the bulk scale changes and the micro- scale used in imaging and digital techniques capturing the changes to the pore space. However, measuring those properties at different scales is very challenging, and sometimes impossible. The advent of modern 3D printing has provided an unprecedented opportunity to link those scales by combining the strengths of digital and experimental rock physics. To determine the feasibility of this technique we characterized the resolution capabilities of two different 3D printers. To calibrate our digital models with our printed models, we created a sample with an analytically solvable permeability. This allowed us to directly compare analytic calculation, numerical simulation, and laboratory measurement of permeability of the exact same sample. Next we took a CT-scanned model of a natural carbonate pore space, then iteratively digitally manipulated, 3D printed, and measured the flow properties in the laboratory. This approach allowed us to access multiple scales digitally and experimentally, to test hypotheses about how changes in rock microstructure due to compaction and dissolution affect bulk transport properties, and to connect laboratory measurements of porosity and permeability to quantities that are traditionally impossible to measure in the laboratory such as changes in surface area and tortuosity. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, we expect this technique to contribute to our ability to characterize the properties of remote and/or delicate samples as well as to test the impact of microstructural alteration on bulk physical properties in the lab in a highly consistent, repeatable manner.

Detecting Dewatering of Peatland Pastures Using Sentinel-1 Satellite Radar Interferometry.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heuff, F.; Samiei-Esfahany, S.; van Leijen, F. J.; Hanssen, R. F.

2017-12-01

The Netherlands are famous for their polders and the draining of soils to be used as pastures. Around 30% of the pastures are situated on peat soils, mostly in the western part of the Netherlands. Peat is composed of organic materials that oxidize and emit greenhouse gases when exposed to air. Oxidation of peat soils results in volume reduction and subsequent subsidence. As a result, the groundwater level rises relative to the surface. Consequently, the soil needs to be dewatered to keep it sufficiently dry for farming, resulting in more oxidation, and therefore more subsidence. This process is bound to continue until the peat soils have disappeared completely. The societal cost of land subsidence due to peat soils are estimated to be 5200 million euro for urban areas and 200 million euro for peatland pastures, for a period until 2050. Measuring the subsidence is not straightforward, if not impossible, with conventional geodetic means as soft soils make it impossible to install fixed benchmarks for repeated surveying. Also, due to the very fast temporal decorrelation over pastures, conventional InSAR approaches cannot measure a signal due to loss of coherence. Here we deploy a complete set of available SAR data from Sentinel-1, Radarsat-2 and TerraSAR-X to estimate the spatio-temporally varying subsidence signal due to the dewatering of peatland pastures over the western part of the Netherlands. We compute the InSAR coherence matrix for all possible interferometric combination, and compute an equivalent single-master stack to estimate the subsidence. Using terrain and land-use defined coherence estimation areas we optimize the phase estimation over areas severely affected by temporal decorrelation. This leads to a first estimate of deformation signals correlated with ancient shallow soil structures due to fluviatile structures. We use the methodology to investigate the effect of advanced local drainage schemes to slow down the subsidence phenomena.

The explanatory structure of unexplainable events: Causal constraints on magical reasoning.

PubMed

Shtulman, Andrew; Morgan, Caitlin

2017-10-01

A common intuition, often captured in fiction, is that some impossible events (e.g., levitating a stone) are "more impossible" than others (e.g., levitating a feather). We investigated the source of this intuition, hypothesizing that graded notions of impossibility arise from explanatory considerations logically precluded by the violation at hand but still taken into account. Studies 1-4 involved college undergraduates (n = 357), and Study 5 involved preschool-aged children (n = 32). In Studies 1 and 2, participants saw pairs of magical spells that violated one of 18 causal principles-six physical, six biological, and six psychological-and were asked to indicate which spell would be more difficult to learn. Both spells violated the same causal principle but differed in their relation to a subsidiary principle. Participants' judgments of spell difficulty honored the subsidiary principle, even when participants were given the option of judging the two spells equally difficult. Study 3 replicated those effects with Likert-type ratings; Study 4 replicated them in an open-ended version of the task in which participants generated their own causal violations; and Study 5 replicated them with children. Taken together, these findings suggest that events that defy causal explanation are interpreted in terms of explanatory considerations that hold in the absence of such violations.

Age Differences in Self-Continuity: Converging Evidence and Directions for Future Research

PubMed Central

Rutt, Joshua L.

2017-01-01

Abstract Life-span development is inherently linked to the perception of time and associated temporal construals. Such concepts are multi-faceted in nature and have important practical implications in areas such as time management, financial planning, or medical choices. A large body of research has documented age-related limitations in global time horizons, but age differences in other aspects of temporal construal are comparatively poorly understood. The present article draws attention to developmental trajectories of self-continuity, defined as perceived associations of one’s present self with past and future selves. After considering historical roots and contemporary views on self-continuity, we turn to the life-span developmental literature and review several convergent streams of research that provide indirect evidence for age-related increases in self-continuity. We then consider a small body of recent studies which have directly assessed age differences in self-continuity and summarize our current understanding of this phenomenon including associations between explicit and implicit measures, symmetry between past and future self-continuity, and differentiation from other aspects of time perception. We conclude by highlighting open theoretical questions and considering the practical implications of an increased sense of self-continuity with advancing age. PMID:28520940

5 CFR 890.1107 - Length of temporary continuation of coverage.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... the requirements for being considered a child who is a covered family member, unless it is terminated... the day before ceasing to meet the requirements for being considered children who are covered family members, were covered family members of a former employee receiving continued coverage under this subpart...

40 CFR 141.542 - What must my system do if we are considering a significant change to disinfection practices?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... considering a significant change to disinfection practices? 141.542 Section 141.542 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS Enhanced Filtration and Disinfection-Systems Serving Fewer Than 10,000 People Disinfection...

The use of virtual reality to reimagine two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fath, Elaine

2015-03-01

A familiar realm in the world of two-dimensional art is the craft of taking a flat canvas and creating, through color, size, and perspective, the illusion of a three-dimensional space. Using well-explored tricks of logic and sight, impossible landscapes such as those by surrealists de Chirico or Salvador Dalí seem to be windows into new and incredible spaces which appear to be simultaneously feasible and utterly nonsensical. As real-time 3D imaging becomes increasingly prevalent as an artistic medium, this process takes on an additional layer of depth: no longer is two-dimensional space restricted to strategies of light, color, line and geometry to create the impression of a three-dimensional space. A digital interactive environment is a space laid out in three dimensions, allowing the user to explore impossible environments in a way that feels very real. In this project, surrealist two-dimensional art was researched and reimagined: what would stepping into a de Chirico or a Magritte look and feel like, if the depth and distance created by light and geometry were not simply single-perspective illusions, but fully formed and explorable spaces? 3D environment-building software is allowing us to step into these impossible spaces in ways that 2D representations leave us yearning for. This art project explores what we gain--and what gets left behind--when these impossible spaces become doors, rather than windows. Using sketching, Maya 3D rendering software, and the Unity Engine, surrealist art was reimagined as a fully navigable real-time digital environment. The surrealist movement and its key artists were researched for their use of color, geometry, texture, and space and how these elements contributed to their work as a whole, which often conveys feelings of unexpectedness or uneasiness. The end goal was to preserve these feelings while allowing the viewer to actively engage with the space.

Constitutively active follicle-stimulating hormone receptor enables androgen-independent spermatogenesis.

PubMed

Oduwole, Olayiwola O; Peltoketo, Hellevi; Poliandri, Ariel; Vengadabady, Laura; Chrusciel, Marcin; Doroszko, Milena; Samanta, Luna; Owen, Laura; Keevil, Brian; Rahman, Nafis A; Huhtaniemi, Ilpo T

2018-05-01

Spermatogenesis is regulated by the 2 pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This process is considered impossible without the absolute requirement of LH-stimulated testicular testosterone (T) production. The role of FSH remains unclear because men and mice with inactivating FSH receptor (FSHR) mutations are fertile. We revisited the role of FSH in spermatogenesis using transgenic mice expressing a constitutively strongly active FSHR mutant in a LH receptor-null (LHR-null) background. The mutant FSHR reversed the azoospermia and partially restored fertility of Lhr-/- mice. The finding was initially ascribed to the residual Leydig cell T production. However, when T action was completely blocked with the potent antiandrogen flutamide, spermatogenesis persisted. Hence, completely T-independent spermatogenesis is possible through strong FSHR activation, and the dogma of T being a sine qua non for spermatogenesis may need modification. The mechanism for the finding appeared to be that FSHR activation maintained the expression of Sertoli cell genes considered androgen dependent. The translational message of our findings is the possibility of developing a new strategy of high-dose FSH treatment for spermatogenic failure. Our findings also provide an explanation of molecular pathogenesis for Pasqualini syndrome (fertile eunuchs; LH/T deficiency with persistent spermatogenesis) and explain how the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis has shifted from FSH to T dominance during evolution.

Countering resistance to protected-area extension.

PubMed

Lindenmayer, David; Thorn, Simon; Noss, Reed

2018-04-01

The establishment of protected areas is a critical strategy for conserving biodiversity. Key policy directives like the Aichi targets seek to expand protected areas to 17% of Earth's land surface, with calls by some conservation biologists for much more. However, in places such as the United States, Germany, and Australia, attempts to increase protected areas are meeting strong resistance from communities, industry groups, and governments. We examined case studies of such resistance in Victoria, Australia, Bavaria, Germany, and Florida, United States. We considered 4 ways to tackle this problem. First, broaden the case for protected areas beyond nature conservation to include economic, human health, and other benefits, and translate these into a persuasive business case for protected areas. Second, better communicate the conservation values of protected areas. This should include highlighting how many species, communities, and ecosystems have been conserved by protected areas and the counterfactual (i.e., what would have been lost without protected area establishment). Third, consider zoning of activities to ensure the maintenance of effective management. Finally, remind citizens to think about conservation when they vote, including holding politicians accountable for their environmental promises. Without tackling resistance to expanding the protected estate, it will be impossible to reach conservation targets, and this will undermine attempts to stem the global extinction crisis. © 2017 Society for Conservation Biology.

Analyzing self-controlled case series data when case confirmation rates are estimated from an internal validation sample.

PubMed

Xu, Stanley; Clarke, Christina L; Newcomer, Sophia R; Daley, Matthew F; Glanz, Jason M

2018-05-16

Vaccine safety studies are often electronic health record (EHR)-based observational studies. These studies often face significant methodological challenges, including confounding and misclassification of adverse event. Vaccine safety researchers use self-controlled case series (SCCS) study design to handle confounding effect and employ medical chart review to ascertain cases that are identified using EHR data. However, for common adverse events, limited resources often make it impossible to adjudicate all adverse events observed in electronic data. In this paper, we considered four approaches for analyzing SCCS data with confirmation rates estimated from an internal validation sample: (1) observed cases, (2) confirmed cases only, (3) known confirmation rate, and (4) multiple imputation (MI). We conducted a simulation study to evaluate these four approaches using type I error rates, percent bias, and empirical power. Our simulation results suggest that when misclassification of adverse events is present, approaches such as observed cases, confirmed case only, and known confirmation rate may inflate the type I error, yield biased point estimates, and affect statistical power. The multiple imputation approach considers the uncertainty of estimated confirmation rates from an internal validation sample, yields a proper type I error rate, largely unbiased point estimate, proper variance estimate, and statistical power. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The Orbital and Planetary Phase Variations of Jupiter-sized Planets: Characterizing Present and Future Giants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayorga, Laura C.; Jackiewicz, Jason; Rages, Kathy; West, Robert; Knowles, Ben; Lewis, Nikole K.; Marley, Mark S.

2018-01-01

Knowledge of how the brightness and color of a planet varies with viewing angle is essential for the design of future direct imaging missions and deriving constraints on atmospheric properties. However, measuring the phase curves for the solar system gas giants is impossible from the ground. Using data Cassini/ISS obtained during its flyby of Jupiter, I measured Jupiter's phase curve in six bands spanning 400-1000 nm. I found that Jupiter's brightness is less than that of a Lambertian scatterer and that its color varies more with phase angle than predicted by theoretical models. For hot Jupiters, the light from the planet cannot be spatially isolated from that of the star. As a result, determining the planetary phase curve requires removing the phase-dependent contributions from the host star. I consider the effect of varying the stellar model and present a parameterization of the Doppler beaming amplitude that depends upon the planetary mass, orbital period, and the stellar temperature. I consider the detectability of Doppler beaming amplitudes with data from TESS and find that TESS will be less sensitive to this signal than Kepler. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the New Mexico Higher Education Department Graduate Scholarship Program.

LUCAS(™)2 in Danish Search and Rescue Helicopters.

PubMed

Winther, Kasper; Bleeg, René Christian

2016-01-01

Prehospital resuscitation is often challenging. Giving uninterrupted and effective compressions is relatively impossible during transportation. In 2012, The Royal Danish Air Force received a donation of 8 mechanical chest compression devices (LUCAS(™)2; Physio-Control/Jolife AB, Lund, Sweden) to be used onboard the Danish search and rescue (SAR) helicopters. The scope of this investigation was to establish whether or not mechanical chest compression devices should be considered a necessity onboard the Danish SAR helicopters. Data were compiled from SAR medical journals. From the data collected, observations were made as to when LUCAS(™)2 was used and what diagnosis the SAR physician made. One thousand ninety missions were registered in the 24-month research period, and LUCAS(™)2 was used in 25 missions. Cardiac emergencies amounted for 25% of the missions. The Danish SAR helicopters retrieved 33 drowned/hypothermic patients during the research period, and the LUCAS(™)2 was used in 11 of the patients requiring resuscitation. The LUCAS(™)2 was frequently used during other emergencies like sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac emergencies were the predominant type of mission. LUCAS(™)2 is now considered mandatory on Danish SAR helicopters. Copyright © 2016 Air Medical Journal Associates. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pre-biotic stage of life origin under non-photosynthetic conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartsev, S. I.; Mezhevikin, V. V.

2005-01-01

Spontaneous assembling of a simplest bacterial cell even if all necessary molecules are present in a solution seems to be extremely rare event and from the scientific standpoint has to be considered as impossible. Therefore, a predecessor of a living cell has to be very simple for providing its self-assembling and at the same time it should be able of progressive increase in complexity. Now phase-separated particles, first of all micelles, are put forward as possible predecessors of living cell. According to the offered working concept only phase-separated particles possessing autocatalytic properties can be considered as predecessors of living cells. The first stage of evolution of these phase-separated autocatalytic systems is the appearance of pre-biotic metabolism providing synthesis of amphiphiles for formation of capsules of these systems. This synthesis is maintained by the energy of a base reaction being a component of a planet-chemical cycle. Catalytic system providing functioning of pre-biotic metabolism is based on multivariate oligomeric autocatalyst, which reproduces itself from monomers, penetrating the particles from the outside. Since the autocatalyst realizes random polymerization then a collection of other oligomers possessing different catalytic functions is produced. In the paper the functioning of multivariate oligomeric autocatalyst in flow reactor is analyzed. c2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of COSPAR.

Overall Quality of Fruits and Vegetables Products Affected by the Drying Processes with the Assistance of Vacuum-Microwaves.

PubMed

Figiel, Adam; Michalska, Anna

2016-12-30

The seasonality of fruits and vegetables makes it impossible to consume and use them throughout the year, thus numerous processing efforts have been made to offer an alternative to their fresh consumption and application. To prolong their availability on the market, drying has received special attention as currently this method is considered one of the most common ways for obtaining food and pharmaceutical products from natural sources. This paper demonstrates the weakness of common drying methods applied for fruits and vegetables and the possible ways to improve the quality using different drying techniques or their combination with an emphasis on the microwave energy. Particular attention has been drawn to the combined drying with the assistance of vacuum-microwaves. The quality of the dried products was ascribed by chemical properties including the content of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity and volatiles as well as physical parameters such as color, shrinkage, porosity and texture. Both these fields of quality classification were considered taking into account sensory attributes and energy aspects in the perspective of possible industrial applications. In conclusion, the most promising way for improving the quality of dried fruit and vegetable products is hybrid drying consisting of osmotic dehydration in concentrated fruit juices followed by heat pump drying and vacuum-microwave finish drying.

Overall Quality of Fruits and Vegetables Products Affected by the Drying Processes with the Assistance of Vacuum-Microwaves

PubMed Central

Figiel, Adam; Michalska, Anna

2016-01-01

The seasonality of fruits and vegetables makes it impossible to consume and use them throughout the year, thus numerous processing efforts have been made to offer an alternative to their fresh consumption and application. To prolong their availability on the market, drying has received special attention as currently this method is considered one of the most common ways for obtaining food and pharmaceutical products from natural sources. This paper demonstrates the weakness of common drying methods applied for fruits and vegetables and the possible ways to improve the quality using different drying techniques or their combination with an emphasis on the microwave energy. Particular attention has been drawn to the combined drying with the assistance of vacuum-microwaves. The quality of the dried products was ascribed by chemical properties including the content of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity and volatiles as well as physical parameters such as color, shrinkage, porosity and texture. Both these fields of quality classification were considered taking into account sensory attributes and energy aspects in the perspective of possible industrial applications. In conclusion, the most promising way for improving the quality of dried fruit and vegetable products is hybrid drying consisting of osmotic dehydration in concentrated fruit juices followed by heat pump drying and vacuum-microwave finish drying. PMID:28042845

Identifiability of PBPK Models with Applications to ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Any statistical model should be identifiable in order for estimates and tests using it to be meaningful. We consider statistical analysis of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models in which parameters cannot be estimated precisely from available data, and discuss different types of identifiability that occur in PBPK models and give reasons why they occur. We particularly focus on how the mathematical structure of a PBPK model and lack of appropriate data can lead to statistical models in which it is impossible to estimate at least some parameters precisely. Methods are reviewed which can determine whether a purely linear PBPK model is globally identifiable. We propose a theorem which determines when identifiability at a set of finite and specific values of the mathematical PBPK model (global discrete identifiability) implies identifiability of the statistical model. However, we are unable to establish conditions that imply global discrete identifiability, and conclude that the only safe approach to analysis of PBPK models involves Bayesian analysis with truncated priors. Finally, computational issues regarding posterior simulations of PBPK models are discussed. The methodology is very general and can be applied to numerous PBPK models which can be expressed as linear time-invariant systems. A real data set of a PBPK model for exposure to dimethyl arsinic acid (DMA(V)) is presented to illustrate the proposed methodology. We consider statistical analy

A simulation study on the mode conversion process from slow Z-mode to LO mode by the tunneling effect and variations of beaming angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalaee, Mohammad Javad; Katoh, Yuto

2014-12-01

For a particular angle of incidence wave, it is possible for a slow Z-mode wave incident on an inhomogeneous plasma slab to be converted into an LO mode wave. But for another wave normal angle of the incident wave, it has been considered impossible, since an evanescence region exists between two mode branches. In this case we expect that the mode conversion takes place through the tunneling effect. We investigate the effect of the spatial scale of the density gradient on the mode conversion efficiency in an inhomogeneous plasma where the mode conversion can occur only by the tunneling effect. We use the computer simulation solving Maxwell's equations and the motion of a cold electron fluid. By considering the steepness of the density gradient, the simulation results show the efficient mode conversion could be expected even in the case that the mismatch of the refractive indexes prevents the close coupling of plasma waves. Also, we show for these cases the beaming angle does not correspond to Jones' formula. This effect leads to the angles larger and smaller than the angle estimated by the formula. This type of mode conversion process becomes important in a case where the different plasmas form a discontinuity at their contact boundary.

Urinary PCR as an increasingly useful tool for an accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis in livestock.

PubMed

Hamond, C; Martins, G; Loureiro, A P; Pestana, C; Lawson-Ferreira, R; Medeiros, M A; Lilenbaum, W

2014-03-01

The aim of the present study was to consider the wide usage of urinary PCR as an increasingly useful tool for an accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis in livestock. A total of 512 adult animals (300 cattle, 138 horses, 59 goats and 15 pigs), from herds/flocks with reproductive problems in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was studied by serology and urinary PCR. From the 512 serum samples tested, 223 (43.5 %) were seroreactive (cattle: 45.6 %, horses: 41.3 %, goats: 34%and pigs: 60 %). PCR detected leptospiral DNA in 32.4 % (cattle: 21.6 %, horses: 36.2 %, goats: 77.4 % and pigs: 33.3 %. To our knowledge there is no another study including such a large number of samples (512) from different species, providing a comprehensive analysis of the usage of PCR for detecting leptospiral carriers in livestock. Serological and molecular results were discrepant, regardless the titre, what was an expected outcome. Nevertheless, it is impossible to establish agreement between these tests, since the two methodologies are conducted on different samples (MAT - serum; PCR - urine). Additionally, the MAT is an indirect method and PCR is a direct one. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that urinary PCR should be considered and encouraged as an increasingly useful tool for an accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis in livestock.

Ancient Living Organisms Escaping from, or Imprisoned in, the Vents?

PubMed Central

Jackson, J. Baz

2017-01-01

We have recently criticised the natural pH gradient hypothesis which purports to explain how the difference in pH between fluid issuing from ancient alkali vents and the more acidic Hadean ocean could have driven molecular machines that catalyse reactions that are useful in prebiotic and autotrophic chemistry. In this article, we temporarily suspend our earlier criticism while we consider difficulties for primitive organisms to have managed their energy supply and to have left the vents and become free-living. We point out that it may have been impossible for organisms to have acquired membrane-located proton (or sodium ion) pumps to replace the natural pH gradient, and independently to have driven essential molecular machines such as the ATP synthase. The volumes of the ocean and of the vent fluids were too large for a membrane-located pump to have generated a significant ion concentration gradient. Our arguments apply to three of the four concurrent models employed by the proponents of the natural pH gradient hypothesis. A fourth model is exempt from these arguments but has other intrinsic difficulties that we briefly consider. We conclude that ancient organisms utilising a natural pH gradient would have been imprisoned in the vents, unable to escape and become free-living. PMID:28914790

Non-dispersive carrier transport in molecularly doped polymers and the convection-diffusion equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tyutnev, A. P.; Parris, P. E.; Saenko, V. S.

2015-08-01

We reinvestigate the applicability of the concept of trap-free carrier transport in molecularly doped polymers and the possibility of realistically describing time-of-flight (TOF) current transients in these materials using the classical convection-diffusion equation (CDE). The problem is treated as rigorously as possible using boundary conditions appropriate to conventional time of flight experiments. Two types of pulsed carrier generation are considered. In addition to the traditional case of surface excitation, we also consider the case where carrier generation is spatially uniform. In our analysis, the front electrode is treated as a reflecting boundary, while the counter electrode is assumed to act either as a neutral contact (not disturbing the current flow) or as an absorbing boundary at which the carrier concentration vanishes. As expected, at low fields transient currents exhibit unusual behavior, as diffusion currents overwhelm drift currents to such an extent that it becomes impossible to determine transit times (and hence, carrier mobilities). At high fields, computed transients are more like those typically observed, with well-defined plateaus and sharp transit times. Careful analysis, however, reveals that the non-dispersive picture, and predictions of the CDE contradict both experiment and existing disorder-based theories in important ways, and that the CDE should be applied rather cautiously, and even then only for engineering purposes.

Can Coulomb repulsion for charged particle beams be overcome?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Retsky, Michael W.

2004-01-01

Mutual repulsion of discrete charged particles or Coulomb repulsion is widely considered to be an ultimate hard limit in charged particle optics. It prevents the ability to finely focus high current beams into a small spots at large distances from the defining apertures. A classic example is the 1970s era "Star Wars" study of an electron beam directed energy weapon as an orbiting antiballistic missile device. After much analysis, it was considered physically impossible to focus a 1000-amp 1-GeV beam into a 1-cm diameter spot 1000-km from the beam generator. The main reason was that a 1-cm diameter beam would spread to 5-m diameter at 1000-km due to Coulomb repulsion. Since this could not be overcome, the idea was abandoned. But is this true? What if the rays were reversed? That is, start with a 5-m beam converging slightly with the same nonuniform angular and energy distribution as the electrons from the original problem were spreading at 1000-km distance. Could Coulomb repulsion be overcome? Looking at the terms in computational studies, some are reversible while others are not. Since the nonreversible terms should be small, it might be possible to construct an electron beam directed energy weapon.

[Factors causing stress in patients in intensive care units].

PubMed

Pérez de Ciriza, A; Otamendi, S; Ezenarro, A; Asiain, M C

1996-01-01

Intensive care units have been considered stress generating areas. Knowing the causes why this happens will allow us to take specific measures to prevent or minimize it. This study has been performed with the aim to identify stress raising factors, as they are perceived by intensive care patients. The study has been performed in 49 patients most of whom were being attended in postoperatory control. The valuation of the degree of stress was performed using the "Scale of Environmental Stressors in Intensive Care" by Ballard in 1981, modified and adapted to our environment, with a result of 43 items distributed in six groups; Immobilization, Isolation, Deprivation of sleep, Time-spacial disorientation, Sensorial deprivation and overestimulation, and depersonalization and loss of autocontrol. The level of stress perceived by patients was low. The factors considered as most stressing were those related to physical aspects; presence of tubes in nose and mouth, impossibility to sleep and presence of noise, whereas those less stressing referred to Nursing attention. We conclude that patients perceive ICU as a little stressing place in spite of the excessive noise, remark the presence of invasive tubes and the difficulty to sleep as the most stressing factors, and in the same way, express a high degree of satisfaction about the attention received.

"Not a good look": Impossible Dilemmas for Young Women Negotiating the Culture of Intoxication in the United Kingdom.

PubMed

Bailey, Lin; Griffin, Christine; Shankar, Avi

2015-05-01

This paper investigates young women's alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom within a widespread culture of intoxication in relation to recent debates about postfeminism and contemporary femininity. Young women are faced with an "impossible dilemma," arising from the contradiction between a hedonistic discourse of alcohol consumption and postfeminist discourse around attaining and maintaining the "right" form of hypersexual heterosexual femininity. Drawing on a recent interview study with 24 young white working-class and middle-class women in the South-West of England, we explore how young women inhabit the dilemmas of contemporary femininity in youth drinking cultures, striving to achieve the "right" form of hypersexual femininity and an "optimum" level of drunkenness.

Simulating Open Quantum Systems with Hamiltonian Ensembles and the Nonclassicality of the Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hong-Bin; Gneiting, Clemens; Lo, Ping-Yuan; Chen, Yueh-Nan; Nori, Franco

2018-01-01

The incoherent dynamical properties of open quantum systems are generically attributed to an ongoing correlation between the system and its environment. Here, we propose a novel way to assess the nature of these system-environment correlations by examining the system dynamics alone. Our approach is based on the possibility or impossibility to simulate open-system dynamics with Hamiltonian ensembles. As we show, such (im)possibility to simulate is closely linked to the system-environment correlations. We thus define the nonclassicality of open-system dynamics in terms of the nonexistence of a Hamiltonian-ensemble simulation. This classifies any nonunital open-system dynamics as nonclassical. We give examples for open-system dynamics that are unital and classical, as well as unital and nonclassical.

[Euthanasia in advanced dementia: directive is useful].

PubMed

Wijsbek, Henri

2013-01-01

The Dutch Euthanasia Act states that an advance directive can replace an actual request for euthanasia in cases in which a patient has become unable to make autonomous decisions. In Euthanasia and the Severely Demented, I agree with Keizer that the severely demented can suffer unbearably, but contrary to Keizer I do not believe that it is impossible to state in advance the conditions under which one would not wish to go on living any longer. Consequently, euthanasia can be permissible even in patients with late-stage dementia, provided that the other due-care criteria are met. Permissibility by itself, however, will not settle disputes about borderline cases. Due to the erratic course of the disease, the right moment for euthanasia may very well be impossible to determine.

Nature inspired capacitive sensor with unique and unclonable characteristic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karuthedath, C. B.; Schwesinger, N.

2018-02-01

Background of this paper is the development of sensors showing a nature like characteristic. The sensor is able to detect excitations on inertia bases and operates capacitive. It consists of a miniaturized interdigitated electrode structure on a printed circuit board, a flexible and conductive membrane of PDMS located in a certain distance above and a certain number of steel balls fixed on top of the membrane. The steel ball distribution is random and the conductivity of the membrane is not homogeneous across the membrane. Due to this double random distribution, no sensor equals the other, although the external geometry is equal. The overall size of the sensor is 4.7mm x 4.7mm x 1.7mm. Tilt, acceleration or magnetic fields are capable of causing forces on the steel balls and therefore relative movements between the membrane and the electrode structures. Due to this movement, capacity changes of the arrangement are measurable. This paper describes besides the fabrication of conductive membranes the preparation of regarding sensors. Process technology makes cloning of the sensors impossible. Although all process steps are suited for mass production, no sensor equals the other. Measurements with these sensors prove that each sensor reacts differently to the same excitation. Calculations of the Intra-Concordance-Coefficient show the similarity of the sensors for equal excitations. On the other hand, the maximum Inter-Concordance-Coefficient reveals the differences of such sensors very clearly. Such a characteristic, i.e. equal reaction to equal excitation and an output of significantly different signals allows considering each sensor as a unique device. The sensors obviously behave like receptors in natural organisms. These unusual properties of uniqueness and impossibility to clone make the sensors very interesting for highly secure identification demands. In combination with a very simple measurement procedure, the sensors are an attractive hardware base for technical security solutions.

Measuring Two Key Parameters of H3 Color Centers in Diamond

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, W. Thomas

2005-01-01

A method of measuring two key parameters of H3 color centers in diamond has been created as part of a continuing effort to develop tunable, continuous-wave, visible lasers that would utilize diamond as the lasing medium. (An H3 color center in a diamond crystal lattice comprises two nitrogen atoms substituted for two carbon atoms bonded to a third carbon atom. H3 color centers can be induced artificially; they also occur naturally. If present in sufficient density, they impart a yellow hue.) The method may also be applicable to the corresponding parameters of other candidate lasing media. One of the parameters is the number density of color centers, which is needed for designing an efficient laser. The other parameter is an optical-absorption cross section, which, as explained below, is needed for determining the number density. The present method represents an improvement over prior methods in which optical-absorption measurements have been used to determine absorption cross sections or number densities. Heretofore, in order to determine a number density from such measurements, it has been necessary to know the applicable absorption cross section; alternatively, to determine the absorption cross section from such measurements, it has been necessary to know the number density. If, as in this case, both the number density and the absorption cross section are initially unknown, then it is impossible to determine either parameter in the absence of additional information.

Multi-blocking strategies for the INS3D incompressible Navier-Stokes code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gatlin, Boyd

1990-01-01

With the continuing development of bigger and faster supercomputers, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a useful tool for real-world engineering design and analysis. However, the number of grid points necessary to resolve realistic flow fields numerically can easily exceed the memory capacity of available computers. In addition, geometric shapes of flow fields, such as those in the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) power head, may be impossible to fill with continuous grids upon which to obtain numerical solutions to the equations of fluid motion. The solution to this dilemma is simply to decompose the computational domain into subblocks of manageable size. Computer codes that are single-block by construction can be modified to handle multiple blocks, but ad-hoc changes in the FORTRAN have to be made for each geometry treated. For engineering design and analysis, what is needed is generalization so that the blocking arrangement can be specified by the user. INS3D is a computer program for the solution of steady, incompressible flow problems. It is used frequently to solve engineering problems in the CFD Branch at Marshall Space Flight Center. INS3D uses an implicit solution algorithm and the concept of artificial compressibility to provide the necessary coupling between the pressure field and the velocity field. The development of generalized multi-block capability in INS3D is described.

Statistical learning from nonrecurrent experience with discrete input variables and recursive-error-minimization equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, Jeffrey R.; Simon, Wayne E.

1990-08-01

Neural networks are trained using Recursive Error Minimization (REM) equations to perform statistical classification. Using REM equations with continuous input variables reduces the required number of training experiences by factors of one to two orders of magnitude over standard back propagation. Replacing the continuous input variables with discrete binary representations reduces the number of connections by a factor proportional to the number of variables reducing the required number of experiences by another order of magnitude. Undesirable effects of using recurrent experience to train neural networks for statistical classification problems are demonstrated and nonrecurrent experience used to avoid these undesirable effects. 1. THE 1-41 PROBLEM The statistical classification problem which we address is is that of assigning points in ddimensional space to one of two classes. The first class has a covariance matrix of I (the identity matrix) the covariance matrix of the second class is 41. For this reason the problem is known as the 1-41 problem. Both classes have equal probability of occurrence and samples from both classes may appear anywhere throughout the ddimensional space. Most samples near the origin of the coordinate system will be from the first class while most samples away from the origin will be from the second class. Since the two classes completely overlap it is impossible to have a classifier with zero error. The minimum possible error is known as the Bayes error and

Deficits in inhibitory force control in young adults with ADHD.

PubMed

Neely, Kristina A; Wang, Peiyuan; Chennavasin, Amanda P; Samimy, Shaadee; Tucker, Jacqueline; Merida, Andrea; Perez-Edgar, Koraly; Huang-Pollock, Cynthia

2017-05-01

Poor inhibitory control is a well-established cognitive correlate of adults with ADHD. However, the simple reaction time (RT) task used in a majority of studies records performance errors only via the presence or absence of a single key press. This all-or-nothing response makes it impossible to capture subtle differences in underlying processes that shape performance. Subsequently, all-or-nothing tasks may underestimate the prevalence of executive function deficits in ADHD. The current study measured inhibitory control using a standard Go/No-Go RT task and a more sensitive continuous grip force task among adults with (N=51, 22 female) and without (N=51, 29 female) ADHD. Compared to adults without ADHD, adults with ADHD made more failed inhibits in the classic Go/No-Go paradigm and produced greater and more variable force during motor inhibition. The amount of force produced on failed inhibits was a stronger predictor of ADHD-related symptoms than the number of commissions in the standard RT task. Adults with ADHD did not differ from those without ADHD on the mean force and variability of force produced in Go trials. These findings suggest that the use of a precise and continuous motor task, such as the force task used here, provides additional information about the nature of inhibitory motor control in adults with ADHD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A fast method for the detection of vascular structure in images, based on the continuous wavelet transform with the Morlet wavelet having a low central frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Postnikov, Eugene B.; Tsoy, Maria O.; Kurochkin, Maxim A.; Postnov, Dmitry E.

2017-04-01

A manual measurement of blood vessels diameter is a conventional component of routine visual assessment of microcirculation, say, during optical capillaroscopy. However, many modern optical methods for blood flow measurements demand the reliable procedure for a fully automated detection of vessels and estimation of their diameter that is a challenging task. Specifically, if one measure the velocity of red blood cells by means of laser speckle imaging, then visual measurements become impossible, while the velocity-based estimation has their own limitations. One of promising approaches is based on fast switching of illumination type, but it drastically reduces the observation time, and hence, the achievable quality of images. In the present work we address this problem proposing an alternative method for the processing of noisy images of vascular structure, which extracts the mask denoting locations of vessels, based on the application of the continuous wavelet transform with the Morlet wavelet having small central frequencies. Such a method combines a reasonable accuracy with the possibility of fast direct implementation to images. Discussing the latter, we describe in details a new MATLAB program code realization for the CWT with the Morlet wavelet, which does not use loops completely replaced with element-by-element operations that drastically reduces the computation time.

Monitoring of hearing and language in primary health care: project pilot.

PubMed

Wagner, Julianne; Bonamigo, Andrea Wander; Oliveira, Fabiana de; Machado, Márcia Salgado

2017-11-01

This article analyzes the feasibility of implementing a program that monitors the hearing and language development in the first year of life. It is a prospective longitudinal study, in which 41 community health workers were invited to monitor, on a monthly basis, by means of a questionnaire validated earlier, the hearing and language of children born in their micro areas of expertise. Thirty-nine community health workers agreed to participate, with only two refusals. Five gave up participating. Twenty-six (66.66%) did not perform monitoring, seven (17.94%) monitored improperly and only six (15.38%) monitored properly. Just one child failed the quiz, who was forwarded to the hospital that conducted the auditory screening for retesting. These professionals' high activity demand was considered the main reason for the difficulties encountered in this project. In addition, there is the difficulty to have contact with the Family Health Strategy teams, as well as the impossibility of permanent face-to-face discussions and the influence of the community health agents' supervisors.

Dancing Protein Clouds: The Strange Biology and Chaotic Physics of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins.

PubMed

Uversky, Vladimir N

2016-03-25

Biologically active but floppy proteins represent a new reality of modern protein science. These intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and hybrid proteins containing ordered and intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs) constitute a noticeable part of any given proteome. Functionally, they complement ordered proteins, and their conformational flexibility and structural plasticity allow them to perform impossible tricks and be engaged in biological activities that are inaccessible to well folded proteins with their unique structures. The major goals of this minireview are to show that, despite their simplified amino acid sequences, IDPs/IDPRs are complex entities often resembling chaotic systems, are structurally and functionally heterogeneous, and can be considered an important part of the structure-function continuum. Furthermore, IDPs/IDPRs are everywhere, and are ubiquitously engaged in various interactions characterized by a wide spectrum of binding scenarios and an even wider spectrum of structural and functional outputs. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Elaboration of a complex GIS application in a catchment area.

PubMed

Németh, T; Szabó, J; Pásztor, L; Bakacsi, Zs

2002-01-01

Rearrangement of land resources after political changes has not yet been finished in Hungary. It is almost impossible to collect information necessary for planning activities on outer areas of settlements. The data are distributed among various organizations and can be found in diverse forms or there are no available data at all. However water quality protection has become legally ordered concerning municipal activities around Lake Balaton which is considered as the most important recreation area and tourist target in Hungary and is also affected by a number of factors providing sources of environmental conflicts. Settlements in a catchment area (Tetves Creek) on the southern shoreline of Lake Balaton in Central Hungary tendered a complex project for collecting sources of authentic data of the Hungarian rural areas along with systematizing and saving these data in a uniform GIS. An application using Autodesk MapGuide Program for Internet realization was developed. The implemented web-based system can be used in Internet and Intranet environments.

The Catastrophe Revisited

PubMed Central

Ratner, Buddy D.

2007-01-01

The biomaterials community has been unable to accurately assign the term “blood compatible” to a biomaterial in spite of 50 years of intensive research on the subject. There is no clear consensus as to which materials are “blood compatible.” There are no standardized methods to assess blood compatibility. Since we use millions of devices in contact with blood each year, it is imperative we give serious thought to this intellectual catastrophe. In this perspective, I consider five hypotheses as to why progress has been slow in evolving a clear understanding of blood compatibility: Hypothesis 1 -- It is impossible to make a blood compatible material. Hypothesis 2 -- We do not understand the biology behind blood compatibility. Hypothesis 3 -- We do not understand how to test for or evaluate blood compatibility. Hypothesis 4 -- Certain materials of natural origin seem to show better blood compatibility but we do not know how to exploit this concept. Hypothesis 5 -- We now have better blood compatible materials but the regulatory and economic climate prevent adoption in clinical practice. PMID:17689608