Intellectual Property: a powerful tool to develop biotech research.

PubMed

Giugni, Diego; Giugni, Valter

2010-09-01

Today biotechnology is perhaps the most important technology field because of the strong health and food implications. However, due to the nature of said technology, there is the need of a huge amount of investments to sustain the experimentation costs. Consequently, investors aim to safeguard as much as possible their investments. Intellectual Property, and in particular patents, has been demonstrated to actually constitute a powerful tool to help them. Moreover, patents represent an extremely important means to disclose biotechnology inventions. Patentable biotechnology inventions involve products as nucleotide and amino acid sequences, microorganisms, processes or methods for modifying said products, uses for the manufacture of medicaments, etc. There are several ways to protect inventions, but all follow the three main patentability requirements: novelty, inventive step and industrial application. © 2010 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2010 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

SRS modeling in high power CW fiber lasers for component optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brochu, G.; Villeneuve, A.; Faucher, M.; Morin, M.; Trépanier, F.; Dionne, R.

2017-02-01

A CW kilowatt fiber laser numerical model has been developed taking into account intracavity stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). It uses the split-step Fourier method which is applied iteratively over several cavity round trips. The gain distribution is re-evaluated after each iteration with a standard CW model using an effective FBG reflectivity that quantifies the non-linear spectral leakage. This model explains why spectrally narrow output couplers produce more SRS than wider FBGs, as recently reported by other authors, and constitute a powerful tool to design optimized and innovative fiber components to push back the onset of SRS for a given fiber core diameter.

The Enduring Grand Strategy of the United States Represented as a Mirror Strategy

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-06

International Law Journal: “the Constitution in North Korea exists not for the protection of the citizens’ rights and interests, but merely as a tool...1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington. VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law , no...presidential messaging! US law , and US treaties. It will then tie elements of national power to these individual liberties. 15. SUBJECT TERMS U.S. Grand Strategy

Presidential Signing Statements: Constitutional and Institutional Implications

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-13

Association (ABA) recently publishing a report declaring that these instruments are “contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional separation of powers ” when...Force on Presidential Signing Statements and the Separation of Powers Doctrine at p. 5 (August 2006). Presidential Signing Statements: Constitutional...constitutional separation of powers ” when they “claim the authority or state the intention to disregard or decline to enforce all or part of a law...or to

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of essential oils isolated from Thymbra capitata L. (Cav.) andOriganum vulgare L.

PubMed

Faleiro, Leonor; Miguel, Graça; Gomes, Sónia; Costa, Ludmila; Venâncio, Florencia; Teixeira, Adriano; Figueiredo, A Cristina; Barroso, José G; Pedro, Luis G

2005-10-19

Antilisterial activities of Thymbra capitata and Origanum vulgare essential oils were tested against 41 strains of Listeria monocytogenes. The oil of T. capitata was mainly constituted by one component, carvacrol (79%), whereas for O. vulgare three components constituted 70% of the oil, namely, thymol (33%), gamma-terpinene (26%), and p-cymene (11%). T. capitata essential oil had a significantly higher antilisterial activity in comparison to O. vulgare oil and chloramphenicol. No significant differences in L. monocytogenes susceptibilities to the essential oils tested were registered. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of T. capitata essential oil and of carvacrol were quite similar, ranging between 0.05 and 0.2 microL/mL. Antioxidant activity was also tested, the essential oil of T. capitata showing significantly higher antioxidant activity than that of O. vulgare. Use of T. capitata and O. vulgare essential oils can constitute a powerful tool in the control of L. monocytogenes in food and other industries.

The U.S. Constitution Power Grab Game. Grade 12--Principles of American Democracy Lesson. Schools of California Online Resources for Education (SCORE): Connecting California's Classrooms to the World.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlson, Don M.

This activity for students in grade 12 aims to increase their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and its fundamental ideas: checks and balances, separation of powers, Bill of Rights, and the amendments. Students judge the constitutional powers of each brand of government by participating in the power game. The activity explains how the game is…

Congress’s Contempt Power: Law, History, Practice, and Procedure

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-24

obstruction (civil contempt). Although arguably any action that directly obstructs the effort of Congress to exercise its constitutional powers may constitute...remove the obstruction.1 Although arguably any action that directly obstructs the effort of Congress to exercise its constitutional powers may...resolution ordering their arrest and detention by the Sergeant-at-Arms, pending further action by the House.23 The matter was then referred to a

Generation of a new Gateway-compatible inducible lentiviral vector platform allowing easy derivation of co-transduced cells.

PubMed

De Groote, Philippe; Grootjans, Sasker; Lippens, Saskia; Eichperger, Chantal; Leurs, Kirsten; Kahr, Irene; Tanghe, Giel; Bruggeman, Inge; De Schamphelaire, Wouter; Urwyler, Corinne; Vandenabeele, Peter; Haustraete, Jurgen; Declercq, Wim

2016-01-01

In contrast to most common gene delivery techniques, lentiviral vectors allow targeting of almost any mammalian cell type, even non-dividing cells, and they stably integrate in the genome. Therefore, these vectors are a very powerful tool for biomedical research. Here we report the generation of a versatile new set of 22 lentiviral vectors with broad applicability in multiple research areas. In contrast to previous systems, our platform provides a choice between constitutive and/or conditional expression and six different C-terminal fusions. Furthermore, two compatible selection markers enable the easy derivation of stable cell lines co-expressing differently tagged transgenes in a constitutive or inducible manner. We show that all of the vector features are functional and that they contribute to transgene overexpression in proof-of-principle experiments.

CRISPR/Cas9 Immune System as a Tool for Genome Engineering.

PubMed

Hryhorowicz, Magdalena; Lipiński, Daniel; Zeyland, Joanna; Słomski, Ryszard

2017-06-01

CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated) adaptive immune systems constitute a bacterial defence against invading nucleic acids derived from bacteriophages or plasmids. This prokaryotic system was adapted in molecular biology and became one of the most powerful and versatile platforms for genome engineering. CRISPR/Cas9 is a simple and rapid tool which enables the efficient modification of endogenous genes in various species and cell types. Moreover, a modified version of the CRISPR/Cas9 system with transcriptional repressors or activators allows robust transcription repression or activation of target genes. The simplicity of CRISPR/Cas9 has resulted in the widespread use of this technology in many fields, including basic research, biotechnology and biomedicine.

Experimenter's laboratory for visualized interactive science

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hansen, Elaine R.; Klemp, Marjorie K.; Lasater, Sally W.; Szczur, Marti R.; Klemp, Joseph B.

1992-01-01

The science activities of the 1990's will require the analysis of complex phenomena and large diverse sets of data. In order to meet these needs, we must take advantage of advanced user interaction techniques: modern user interface tools; visualization capabilities; affordable, high performance graphics workstations; and interoperable data standards and translator. To meet these needs, we propose to adopt and upgrade several existing tools and systems to create an experimenter's laboratory for visualized interactive science. Intuitive human-computer interaction techniques have already been developed and demonstrated at the University of Colorado. A Transportable Applications Executive (TAE+), developed at GSFC, is a powerful user interface tool for general purpose applications. A 3D visualization package developed by NCAR provides both color shaded surface displays and volumetric rendering in either index or true color. The Network Common Data Form (NetCDF) data access library developed by Unidata supports creation, access and sharing of scientific data in a form that is self-describing and network transparent. The combination and enhancement of these packages constitutes a powerful experimenter's laboratory capable of meeting key science needs of the 1990's. This proposal encompasses the work required to build and demonstrate this capability.

Experimenter's laboratory for visualized interactive science

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hansen, Elaine R.; Klemp, Marjorie K.; Lasater, Sally W.; Szczur, Marti R.; Klemp, Joseph B.

1993-01-01

The science activities of the 1990's will require the analysis of complex phenomena and large diverse sets of data. In order to meet these needs, we must take advantage of advanced user interaction techniques: modern user interface tools; visualization capabilities; affordable, high performance graphics workstations; and interoperatable data standards and translator. To meet these needs, we propose to adopt and upgrade several existing tools and systems to create an experimenter's laboratory for visualized interactive science. Intuitive human-computer interaction techniques have already been developed and demonstrated at the University of Colorado. A Transportable Applications Executive (TAE+), developed at GSFC, is a powerful user interface tool for general purpose applications. A 3D visualization package developed by NCAR provides both color-shaded surface displays and volumetric rendering in either index or true color. The Network Common Data Form (NetCDF) data access library developed by Unidata supports creation, access and sharing of scientific data in a form that is self-describing and network transparent. The combination and enhancement of these packages constitutes a powerful experimenter's laboratory capable of meeting key science needs of the 1990's. This proposal encompasses the work required to build and demonstrate this capability.

The Air Force Officer and the Constitution

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-17

2. Enumerated Powers 3. Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances C. Ways to amend the U.S. Constitution D. The elements of the U.S...the courts ▪ judicial 14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? ▪ checks and balances ▪ separation of powers 15. Who

A path integral approach to asset-liability management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decamps, Marc; De Schepper, Ann; Goovaerts, Marc

2006-05-01

Functional integrals constitute a powerful tool in the investigation of financial models. In the recent econophysics literature, this technique was successfully used for the pricing of a number of derivative securities. In the present contribution, we introduce this approach to the field of asset-liability management. We work with a representation of cash flows by means of a two-dimensional delta-function perturbation, in the case of a Brownian model and a geometric Brownian model. We derive closed-form solutions for a finite horizon ALM policy. The results are numerically and graphically illustrated.

The American Civil-Military Relationship: A Delicate Balance

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

important Constitutional safeguards consistent with the separation of powers . The power to control appropriations to the national military...existence of a functional Constitution system prevented the emerging standing army from wresting control of the United States through the separation of powers . A

Liberty, Power, and the American Constitutional Heritage.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madison, James H.

The principles, values, and issues of our constitutional heritage that should be emphasized in citizenship education are based on the concepts of liberty and power. The Constitution is not a sacred icon formulated by immortals, but rather a changing and controversial framework guided by a diverse group of practical politicians, sensitive to their…

Proconsuls and CINCs from the Roman Republic to the Republic of the United States of America: Lessons for the Pax Americana

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-05-01

find the best that foreign lands had to offer in constitutional theory. They found separation of powers within a mixed constitution. 60 The Greek...many of the Founding Fathers indeed knew Polybius, especially his passages on the Roman Constitution, and the separation of powers .”61 The separation ...lead 60 Marshall D. Lloyd, "Polybius and the Founding Fathers: the separation of powers ." Database on

Great Decisions 1987.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoepli, Nancy L., Ed.

The Constitutional division of responsibility between the President and Congress for making foreign policy is the first of eight topics discussed in this magazine-style booklet. Major constitutional powers of Congress in foreign policy include the "power of the purse", and the power "to declare war". Major foreign policy powers…

Pinning down the Constitution: Interactively Teaching Congress's Power, Federalism, and Constitutional Interpretation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emenaker, Ryan

2014-01-01

"Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Constitution" is an engaged-learning activity that has been conducted in 26 classes over the past four years. The activity teaches multiple themes commonly included in a variety of courses on American politics such as federalism, congressional powers, the role of the federal courts, and the relevance of the commerce…

Improving Communication Between Senior Air Force Leadership and Troops in the Field

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-04-01

Leadership................................................................................................12 Constitutional Separation of Powers .....................................................................12...transform its organizational characteristics. Constitutional Separation of Powers The Department of Defense falls within the executive branch of the

Subject to empowerment: the constitution of power in an educational program for health professionals.

PubMed

Juritzen, Truls I; Engebretsen, Eivind; Heggen, Kristin

2013-08-01

Empowerment and user participation represents an ideal of power with a strong position in the health sector. In this article we use text analysis to investigate notions of power in a program plan for health workers focusing on empowerment. Issues addressed include: How are relationships of power between users and helpers described in the program plan? Which notions of user participation are embedded in the plan? The analysis is based on Foucault's idea that power which is made subject to attempts of redistribution will re-emerge in other forms. How this happens, and with what consequences, is our analytical concern. The analysis is contrasted with 'snapshots' from everyday life in a nursing home. The program plan communicates empowerment as a democracy-building instrument that the users need. It is a tool for providing expert assistance to the user's self-help. User participation is made into a tool which is external to the user him-/herself. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the plan's image of empowerment presupposes an 'élite user' able to articulate personal needs and desires. This is not very applicable to the most vulnerable user groups, who thereby may end up in an even weaker position. By way of conclusion, we argue that an exchange of undesirable dominating paternalism for a desirable empowerment will not abolish power, but may result in more covert and subtle forms of power that are less open to criticism. The paper offers insights that will facilitate reflections on the premises for practising empowerment-oriented health care.

SIMILARITY PROPERTIES AND SCALING LAWS OF RADIATION HYDRODYNAMIC FLOWS IN LABORATORY ASTROPHYSICS

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

Falize, E.; Bouquet, S.; Michaut, C., E-mail: emeric.falize@cea.fr

The spectacular recent development of modern high-energy density laboratory facilities which concentrate more and more energy in millimetric volumes allows the astrophysical community to reproduce and to explore, in millimeter-scale targets and during very short times, astrophysical phenomena where radiation and matter are strongly coupled. The astrophysical relevance of these experiments can be checked from the similarity properties and especially scaling law establishment, which constitutes the keystone of laboratory astrophysics. From the radiating optically thin regime to the so-called optically thick radiative pressure regime, we present in this paper, for the first time, a complete analysis of the main radiatingmore » regimes that we encountered in laboratory astrophysics with the same formalism based on Lie group theory. The use of the Lie group method appears to be a systematic method which allows us to construct easily and systematically the scaling laws of a given problem. This powerful tool permits us to unify the recent major advances on scaling laws and to identify new similarity concepts that we discuss in this paper, and suggests important applications for present and future laboratory astrophysics experiments. All these results enable us to demonstrate theoretically that astrophysical phenomena in such radiating regimes can be explored experimentally thanks to powerful facilities. Consequently, the results presented here are a fundamental tool for the high-energy density laboratory astrophysics community in order to quantify the astrophysics relevance and justify laser experiments. Moreover, relying on Lie group theory, this paper constitutes the starting point of any analysis of the self-similar dynamics of radiating fluids.« less

Public health and the Australian Constitution.

PubMed

Reynolds, C

1995-06-01

The powers vested in the Commonwealth Government by the Constitution contain the basis of much public health law in Australia. Yet this is not often recognised; public health law is generally, and historically, seen as the states' responsibility. This article surveys the broad range of constitutional powers that the Commonwealth Government can rely upon to make public health laws. It considers areas of power specified in the Constitution, such as those with respect to external affairs and corporations. Decisions of the High Court have interpreted the various heads of power very broadly and have significantly enhanced the potential of the Commonwealth to pass detailed and far-reaching public health law. To this fact must be added the taxation arrangements in Australia and, with these, the very extensive control that the Commonwealth can exercise through its monopoly of major taxation sources. Its power to make financial arrangements can tie dependent states into specific policies (including public health policies) as a condition of the grants made to them. However, these broad powers may be limited in some important respects: the High Court is increasingly identifying rights and freedoms in the Constitution that may increasingly bring both state and Commonwealth public health law under challenge. Despite this possibility, the Commonwealth may prove to be our most significant source of public health law, and public health policy makers should recognise the full potential of its power to make such laws.

South African court rejects country's new constitution.

PubMed

1996-09-20

Fundamental principles designed to ensure that South Africa's new constitution upholds a wide range of individual rights and freedoms and establishes a responsive government with a balanced separation of powers, including recognition of the role of traditional tribal leadership, were adopted into the current interim constitution shortly before the 1994 free elections which brought Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress to power. In a judgement issued on September 6, 1996, South Africa's Constitutional Court rejected the country's new draft constitution, arguing that it failed to meet the standards of nine of the 34 principles established at the Kempton Park negotiations. The Constitutional Assembly is comprised of a joint meeting of the National Assembly and Senate. One of the court's major objections to the constitution concerned the proposed structure of rule, which was seen to give inadequate power to South Africa's nine provinces as compared with the national government. However, the bill of rights was almost entirely upheld. The bill would create a favorable environment for legalized abortion and guarantee a universal right of access to health care, including reproductive health services

The Proposed 2009 War Powers Consultation Act

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-19

both political branches of government participate in matters of national security. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Separation of Powers , National Security Law...Strategy Research Project DATE: 19 March 2009 WORD COUNT: 8,090 PAGES: 46 KEY TERMS: Separation of Powers , National Security Law, Constitution...Arthur Bestor, “ Separation of Powers in the Domain of Foreign Affairs: The Intent of the Constitution Historically Examined,” Seton Hall L. Rev. 5 (1974

Parallel Implementation of MAFFT on CUDA-Enabled Graphics Hardware.

PubMed

Zhu, Xiangyuan; Li, Kenli; Salah, Ahmad; Shi, Lin; Li, Keqin

2015-01-01

Multiple sequence alignment (MSA) constitutes an extremely powerful tool for many biological applications including phylogenetic tree estimation, secondary structure prediction, and critical residue identification. However, aligning large biological sequences with popular tools such as MAFFT requires long runtimes on sequential architectures. Due to the ever increasing sizes of sequence databases, there is increasing demand to accelerate this task. In this paper, we demonstrate how graphic processing units (GPUs), powered by the compute unified device architecture (CUDA), can be used as an efficient computational platform to accelerate the MAFFT algorithm. To fully exploit the GPU's capabilities for accelerating MAFFT, we have optimized the sequence data organization to eliminate the bandwidth bottleneck of memory access, designed a memory allocation and reuse strategy to make full use of limited memory of GPUs, proposed a new modified-run-length encoding (MRLE) scheme to reduce memory consumption, and used high-performance shared memory to speed up I/O operations. Our implementation tested in three NVIDIA GPUs achieves speedup up to 11.28 on a Tesla K20m GPU compared to the sequential MAFFT 7.015.

A challenging issue: Detection of white matter hyperintensities in neonatal brain MRI.

PubMed

Morel, Baptiste; Yongchao Xu; Virzi, Alessio; Geraud, Thierry; Adamsbaum, Catherine; Bloch, Isabelle

2016-08-01

The progress of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for a precise exploration of the brain of premature infants at term equivalent age. The so-called DEHSI (diffuse excessive high signal intensity) of the white matter of premature brains remains a challenging issue in terms of definition, and thus of interpretation. We propose a semi-automatic detection and quantification method of white matter hyperintensities in MRI relying on morphological operators and max-tree representations, which constitutes a powerful tool to help radiologists to improve their interpretation. Results show better reproducibility and robustness than interactive segmentation.

Heteromultimetallic catalysis for sustainable organic syntheses.

PubMed

Lorion, Mélanie M; Maindan, Karan; Kapdi, Anant R; Ackermann, Lutz

2017-12-07

Fully complementary bimetallic catalysis has been identified as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular transformations, which was largely inspired by early examples of sequential catalytic transformations. Thus, energy-efficient one-pot reactions involving different metal catalysts orchestrated in concert constitute an attractive alternative to multi-step protocols, with major recent progress through the elegant ligand design in heterobimetallic catalysis as well as sustainable photo-induced C-H transformations, among others. This review provides a critical assessment of the state of the art in heterobimetallic catalysis for sustainable organic syntheses (SOS), highlighting key advances and representative examples until summer 2017.

Spotlight on Fluorescent Biosensors—Tools for Diagnostics and Drug Discovery

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Fluorescent biosensors constitute potent tools for probing biomolecules in their natural environment and for visualizing dynamic processes in complex biological samples, living cells, and organisms. They are well suited for highlighting molecular alterations associated with pathological disorders, thereby offering means of implementing sensitive and alternative technologies for diagnostic purposes. They constitute attractive tools for drug discovery programs, from high throughput screening assays to preclinical studies. PMID:24900780

Carter, Reagan, and Congress: The Changing Dynamics of Security Assistance and Arms Sales

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-01

only enumerated power given to the President in the Constitution is the title of Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. As part of the separation of powers , Congress...constitutional separation of powers and the law was struck down on the grounds that this type of resolution fails the test of presentment to the

Establishing public health security in a postwar Iraq: constitutional obstacles and lessons for other federalizing states.

PubMed

Wilson, Kumanan; Fidler, David P; McDougall, Christopher W; Lazar, Harvey

2009-06-01

The public health consequences of the conflict in Iraq will likely continue after the violence has subsided. Reestablishing public health security will require large investments in infrastructure and the creation of effective systems of governance. On the question of governance, the allocation of powers in the new constitution of Iraq is critical. Given the ease with which public health threats cross borders, the constitution needs to grant to the federal government the legal authority to manage such threats and simultaneously meet international requirements. Unfortunately, the draft constitution does not accomplish this objective. If politically possible, the constitution should be amended to provide the federal government with this authority. If not possible, the Iraqi federal government would have two options. It could attempt to use alternative constitutional powers, such as national security powers. This option would be contentious and the results uncertain. Alternatively, the federal government could attempt to establish collaborative relationships with regional governments. Residual sectarian tensions create potential problems for this option, however. Reflecting on the Iraqi situation, we conclude that other federalizing countries emerging from conflict should ensure that their constitutions provide the federal government with the necessary authority to manage threats to public health security effectively.

Current conceptual challenges in the study of rhythm processing deficits.

PubMed

Tranchant, Pauline; Vuvan, Dominique T

2015-01-01

Interest in the study of rhythm processing deficits (RPD) is currently growing in the cognitive neuroscience community, as this type of investigation constitutes a powerful tool for the understanding of normal rhythm processing. Because this field is in its infancy, it still lacks a common conceptual vocabulary to facilitate effective communication between different researchers and research groups. In this commentary, we provide a brief review of recent reports of RPD through the lens of one important empirical issue: the method by which beat perception is measured, and the consequences of method selection for the researcher's ability to specify which mechanisms are impaired in RPD. This critical reading advocates for the importance of matching measurement tools to the putative neurocognitive mechanisms under study, and reveals the need for effective and specific assessments of the different aspects of rhythm perception and synchronization.

Exploring the influence of constitutive models and associated parameters for the orthogonal machining of Ti6Al4V

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pervaiz, S.; Anwar, S.; Kannan, S.; Almarfadi, A.

2018-04-01

Ti6Al4V is known as difficult-to-cut material due to its inherent properties such as high hot hardness, low thermal conductivity and high chemical reactivity. Though, Ti6Al4V is utilized by industrial sectors such as aeronautics, energy generation, petrochemical and bio-medical etc. For the metal cutting community, competent and cost-effective machining of Ti6Al4V is a challenging task. To optimize cost and machining performance for the machining of Ti6Al4V, finite element based cutting simulation can be a very useful tool. The aim of this paper is to develop a finite element machining model for the simulation of Ti6Al4V machining process. The study incorporates material constitutive models namely Power Law (PL) and Johnson – Cook (JC) material models to mimic the mechanical behaviour of Ti6Al4V. The study investigates cutting temperatures, cutting forces, stresses, and plastic strains with respect to different PL and JC material models with associated parameters. In addition, the numerical study also integrates different cutting tool rake angles in the machining simulations. The simulated results will be beneficial to draw conclusions for improving the overall machining performance of Ti6Al4V.

[The pharmaceutical market in Mexico: size, value, and concentration].

PubMed

Torres Guerra, Sandra; Gutiérrez, Juan Pablo

2009-07-01

To describe the pharmaceutical drug market in Mexico in terms of its size, structure, business' market power, and consumer negotiating power. A descriptive study based on data from the 2004 Economics Census and the reports of IMS Health, Inc. (Norwalk, Connecticut, United States of America). Sales amounts and volumes of Mexico's pharmaceutical companies from 2002-2005 were obtained and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and its inverse were calculated as indicators of the market's degree of concentration; also, price elasticity was determined by a product index. The total value of the products manufactured by the pharmaceutical sector was 115 billion in 2006 Mexican pesos, of which 99% pertained to companies categorized as large. This amount constituted 1.2% of the national gross domestic product that year (20.0% of the health sector's portion, estimated to be 6.0%) and 3.9% of the total value of manufactured goods. The HHI of Mexico's pharmaceutical market during the study period was about 0.04, albeit with a steady decline, and its inverse decreased from 23 to 26. The price elasticity of pharmaceutical products was minimal (0.007, 0.003, and -0.002). This study constitutes a preliminary description of Mexico's pharmaceutical market, one of the country's most dynamic economic sectors. It confirmed that the market is a rigid oligopoly, and thus supports enactment of firmer regulatory tools to reduce the power of the manufacturers in favor of that of the consumers.

T.R.I.C.K.-Tire/Road Interaction Characterization & Knowledge - A tool for the evaluation of tire and vehicle performances in outdoor test sessions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farroni, Flavio

2016-05-01

The most powerful engine, the most sophisticated aerodynamic devices or the most complex control systems will not improve vehicle performances if the forces exchanged with the road are not optimized by proper employment and knowledge of tires. The vehicle interface with the ground is constituted by the sum of small surfaces, wide about as one of our palms, in which tire/road interaction forces are exchanged. From this it is clear to see how the optimization of tire behavior represents a key-factor in the definition of the best setup of the whole vehicle. Nowadays, people and companies playing a role in automotive sector are looking for the optimal solution to model and understand tire's behavior both in experimental and simulation environments. The studies carried out and the tool developed herein demonstrate a new approach in tire characterization and in vehicle simulation procedures. This enables the reproduction of the dynamic response of a tire through the use of specific track sessions, carried out with the aim to employ the vehicle as a moving lab. The final product, named TRICK tool (Tire/Road Interaction Characterization and Knowledge), comprises of a vehicle model which processes experimental signals acquired from vehicle CAN bus and from sideslip angle estimation additional instrumentation. The output of the tool is several extra "virtual telemetry" channels, based on the time history of the acquired signals and containing force and slip estimations, useful to provide tire interaction characteristics. TRICK results can be integrated with the physical models developed by the Vehicle Dynamics UniNa research group, providing a multitude of working solutions and constituting an ideal instrument for the prediction and the simulation of the real tire dynamics.

Does the Separation of Powers Still Work?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, James Q.

1987-01-01

The constitutional mandate of separation of powers preserves liberty and slows the pace of political change. Defects in this system are discussed. Remedies for the defects must be found in the "unwritten constitution," comprised of customs and arrangements that allow the government to work. (PS)

Constitutional War Powers: The Functional Relevance of the War Powers Debate

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

other mutual security organizations on Constitutional war powers? Congressman Vito Marcantonio (American Labor Party-New York...John F . Kennedy, President of the United States, News Conference 43 at State Department Auditorium, Washington, D.C., September 13, 1962, <http...its pursuit of legitimization would come from that of the next five Presidents. 51 Mitchell v. Laird, 488 F .2d 611 (1973

Civilian Control of the Military Establishment

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-04-02

distinctive features of this Constitution was its incorporation of two doctrines that sees incompatible: separation of powers , and checks and balances.1...apparent tensions inherent in this Constitutional separation of powers . As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, I began my service by taking an oath of

An inverse method for determining the spatially resolved properties of viscoelastic–viscoplastic three-dimensional printed materials

PubMed Central

Chen, X.; Ashcroft, I. A.; Wildman, R. D.; Tuck, C. J.

2015-01-01

A method using experimental nanoindentation and inverse finite-element analysis (FEA) has been developed that enables the spatial variation of material constitutive properties to be accurately determined. The method was used to measure property variation in a three-dimensional printed (3DP) polymeric material. The accuracy of the method is dependent on the applicability of the constitutive model used in the inverse FEA, hence four potential material models: viscoelastic, viscoelastic–viscoplastic, nonlinear viscoelastic and nonlinear viscoelastic–viscoplastic were evaluated, with the latter enabling the best fit to experimental data. Significant changes in material properties were seen in the depth direction of the 3DP sample, which could be linked to the degree of cross-linking within the material, a feature inherent in a UV-cured layer-by-layer construction method. It is proposed that the method is a powerful tool in the analysis of manufacturing processes with potential spatial property variation that will also enable the accurate prediction of final manufactured part performance. PMID:26730216

An inverse method for determining the spatially resolved properties of viscoelastic-viscoplastic three-dimensional printed materials.

PubMed

Chen, X; Ashcroft, I A; Wildman, R D; Tuck, C J

2015-11-08

A method using experimental nanoindentation and inverse finite-element analysis (FEA) has been developed that enables the spatial variation of material constitutive properties to be accurately determined. The method was used to measure property variation in a three-dimensional printed (3DP) polymeric material. The accuracy of the method is dependent on the applicability of the constitutive model used in the inverse FEA, hence four potential material models: viscoelastic, viscoelastic-viscoplastic, nonlinear viscoelastic and nonlinear viscoelastic-viscoplastic were evaluated, with the latter enabling the best fit to experimental data. Significant changes in material properties were seen in the depth direction of the 3DP sample, which could be linked to the degree of cross-linking within the material, a feature inherent in a UV-cured layer-by-layer construction method. It is proposed that the method is a powerful tool in the analysis of manufacturing processes with potential spatial property variation that will also enable the accurate prediction of final manufactured part performance.

Fractal ladder models and power law wave equations

PubMed Central

Kelly, James F.; McGough, Robert J.

2009-01-01

The ultrasonic attenuation coefficient in mammalian tissue is approximated by a frequency-dependent power law for frequencies less than 100 MHz. To describe this power law behavior in soft tissue, a hierarchical fractal network model is proposed. The viscoelastic and self-similar properties of tissue are captured by a constitutive equation based on a lumped parameter infinite-ladder topology involving alternating springs and dashpots. In the low-frequency limit, this ladder network yields a stress-strain constitutive equation with a time-fractional derivative. By combining this constitutive equation with linearized conservation principles and an adiabatic equation of state, a fractional partial differential equation that describes power law attenuation is derived. The resulting attenuation coefficient is a power law with exponent ranging between 1 and 2, while the phase velocity is in agreement with the Kramers–Kronig relations. The fractal ladder model is compared to published attenuation coefficient data, thus providing equivalent lumped parameters. PMID:19813816

3D inelastic analysis methods for hot section components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dame, L. T.; Chen, P. C.; Hartle, M. S.; Huang, H. T.

1985-01-01

The objective is to develop analytical tools capable of economically evaluating the cyclic time dependent plasticity which occurs in hot section engine components in areas of strain concentration resulting from the combination of both mechanical and thermal stresses. Three models were developed. A simple model performs time dependent inelastic analysis using the power law creep equation. The second model is the classical model of Professors Walter Haisler and David Allen of Texas A and M University. The third model is the unified model of Bodner, Partom, et al. All models were customized for linear variation of loads and temperatures with all material properties and constitutive models being temperature dependent.

Multi-Spacecraft 3D differential emission measure tomography of the solar corona: STEREO results.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vásquez, A. M.; Frazin, R. A.

We have recently developed a novel technique (called DEMT) for the em- pirical determination of the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the so- lar corona differential emission measure through multi-spacecraft solar ro- tational tomography of extreme-ultaviolet (EUV) image time series (like those provided by EIT/SOHO and EUVI/STEREO). The technique allows, for the first time, to develop global 3D empirical maps of the coronal elec- tron temperature and density, in the height range 1.0 to 1.25 RS . DEMT constitutes a simple and powerful 3D analysis tool that obviates the need for structure specific modeling.

To Control the Abuses of Government: The Veto and the Separation of Powers. A Guide for Discussion of Proposals to Institute Item and Legislative Veto Powers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Connor, Alice; Henze, Mary L.

A discussion guide, one of a series on constitutional reform issues by The Jefferson Foundation as part of The Jefferson Meeting on the Constitution project, examines proposals to institute item and legislative veto power. The first section discusses the historical background surrounding the formative debate on veto legislation. The separation of…

Assessment of Joystick control during the performance of powered wheelchair driving tasks

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Powered wheelchairs are essential for many individuals who have mobility impairments. Nevertheless, if operated improperly, the powered wheelchair poses dangers to both the user and to those in its vicinity. Thus, operating a powered wheelchair with some degree of proficiency is important for safety, and measuring driving skills becomes an important issue to address. The objective of this study was to explore the discriminate validity of outcome measures of driving skills based on joystick control strategies and performance recorded using a data logging system. Methods We compared joystick control strategies and performance during standardized driving tasks between a group of 10 expert and 13 novice powered wheelchair users. Driving tasks were drawn from the Wheelchair Skills Test (v. 4.1). Data from the joystick controller were collected on a data logging system. Joystick control strategies and performance outcome measures included the mean number of joystick movements, time required to complete tasks, as well as variability of joystick direction. Results In simpler tasks, the expert group's driving skills were comparable to those of the novice group. Yet, in more difficult and spatially confined tasks, the expert group required fewer joystick movements for task completion. In some cases, experts also completed tasks in approximately half the time with respect to the novice group. Conclusions The analysis of joystick control made it possible to discriminate between novice and expert powered wheelchair users in a variety of driving tasks. These results imply that in spatially confined areas, a greater powered wheelchair driving skill level is required to complete tasks efficiently. Based on these findings, it would appear that the use of joystick signal analysis constitutes an objective tool for the measurement of powered wheelchair driving skills. This tool may be useful for the clinical assessment and training of powered wheelchair skills. PMID:21609435

A legal primer for the obesity prevention movement.

PubMed

Mermin, Seth E; Graff, Samantha K

2009-10-01

Public health advocates and scientists working on obesity prevention policy face challenges in balancing legal rights, individual freedom, and societal health goals. In particular, the US Constitution and the 50 state constitutions place limits on the ability of government to act, even in the best interests of the public. To help policymakers avoid crossing constitutional boundaries, we distilled the legal concepts most relevant to formulating policies aimed at preventing obesity: police power; allocation of power among federal, state, and local governments; freedom of speech; property rights; privacy; equal protection; and contract rights. The goal is to allow policymakers to avoid potential constitutional problems in the formation of obesity prevention policy.

Facebook as a research tool for the social sciences: Opportunities, challenges, ethical considerations, and practical guidelines.

PubMed

Kosinski, Michal; Matz, Sandra C; Gosling, Samuel D; Popov, Vesselin; Stillwell, David

2015-09-01

Facebook is rapidly gaining recognition as a powerful research tool for the social sciences. It constitutes a large and diverse pool of participants, who can be selectively recruited for both online and offline studies. Additionally, it facilitates data collection by storing detailed records of its users' demographic profiles, social interactions, and behaviors. With participants' consent, these data can be recorded retrospectively in a convenient, accurate, and inexpensive way. Based on our experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining multiple Facebook-based psychological studies that attracted over 10 million participants, we demonstrate how to recruit participants using Facebook, incentivize them effectively, and maximize their engagement. We also outline the most important opportunities and challenges associated with using Facebook for research, provide several practical guidelines on how to successfully implement studies on Facebook, and finally, discuss ethical considerations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Proteomics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi

PubMed Central

González-Fernández, Raquel; Prats, Elena; Jorrín-Novo, Jesús V.

2010-01-01

Plant pathogenic fungi cause important yield losses in crops. In order to develop efficient and environmental friendly crop protection strategies, molecular studies of the fungal biological cycle, virulence factors, and interaction with its host are necessary. For that reason, several approaches have been performed using both classical genetic, cell biology, and biochemistry and the modern, holistic, and high-throughput, omic techniques. This work briefly overviews the tools available for studying Plant Pathogenic Fungi and is amply focused on MS-based Proteomics analysis, based on original papers published up to December 2009. At a methodological level, different steps in a proteomic workflow experiment are discussed. Separate sections are devoted to fungal descriptive (intracellular, subcellular, extracellular) and differential expression proteomics and interactomics. From the work published we can conclude that Proteomics, in combination with other techniques, constitutes a powerful tool for providing important information about pathogenicity and virulence factors, thus opening up new possibilities for crop disease diagnosis and crop protection. PMID:20589070

Proteomics of plant pathogenic fungi.

PubMed

González-Fernández, Raquel; Prats, Elena; Jorrín-Novo, Jesús V

2010-01-01

Plant pathogenic fungi cause important yield losses in crops. In order to develop efficient and environmental friendly crop protection strategies, molecular studies of the fungal biological cycle, virulence factors, and interaction with its host are necessary. For that reason, several approaches have been performed using both classical genetic, cell biology, and biochemistry and the modern, holistic, and high-throughput, omic techniques. This work briefly overviews the tools available for studying Plant Pathogenic Fungi and is amply focused on MS-based Proteomics analysis, based on original papers published up to December 2009. At a methodological level, different steps in a proteomic workflow experiment are discussed. Separate sections are devoted to fungal descriptive (intracellular, subcellular, extracellular) and differential expression proteomics and interactomics. From the work published we can conclude that Proteomics, in combination with other techniques, constitutes a powerful tool for providing important information about pathogenicity and virulence factors, thus opening up new possibilities for crop disease diagnosis and crop protection.

Regional Interagency Commands: A Whole of Government Structure for Complex Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

testimony/- 111thCongress/04_30_2009.asp (accessed 21 Mar 2010). 51 Charles R. Kesler, “What Separation of Powers Means for Constitutional Government”, 17...Dec 2007, http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2007/12/What- Separation - of - Powers -Means-for-Constitutional-Government#_ftnref13 (accessed 29 Dec

A Legal Primer for the Obesity Prevention Movement

PubMed Central

Mermin, Seth E.

2009-01-01

Public health advocates and scientists working on obesity prevention policy face challenges in balancing legal rights, individual freedom, and societal health goals. In particular, the US Constitution and the 50 state constitutions place limits on the ability of government to act, even in the best interests of the public. To help policymakers avoid crossing constitutional boundaries, we distilled the legal concepts most relevant to formulating policies aimed at preventing obesity: police power; allocation of power among federal, state, and local governments; freedom of speech; property rights; privacy; equal protection; and contract rights. The goal is to allow policymakers to avoid potential constitutional problems in the formation of obesity prevention policy. PMID:19696384

The mediation of environmental assessment's influence: What role for power?

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

Cashmore, Matthew, E-mail: cashmore@plan.aau.dk; Axelsson, Anna

2013-02-15

Considerable empirical research has been conducted on why policy tools such as environmental assessment (EA) often appear to have 'little effect' (after Weiss) on policy decisions. This article revisits this debate but looks at a mediating factor that has received limited attention to-date in the context of EA - political power. Using a tripartite analytical framework, a comparative analysis of the influence and significance of power in mediating environmental policy integration is undertaken. Power is analysed, albeit partially, through an exploration of institutions that underpin social order. Empirically, the research examines the case of a new approach to policy-level EAmore » (essentially a form of Strategic Environmental Assessment) developed by the World Bank and its trial application to urban environmental governance and planning in Dhaka mega-city, Bangladesh. The research results demonstrate that power was intimately involved in mediating the influence of the policy EA approach, in both positive (enabling) and negative (constraining) ways. It is suggested that the policy EA approach was ultimately a manifestation of a corporate strategy to maintain the powerful position of the World Bank as a leading authority on international development which focuses on knowledge generation. Furthermore, as constitutive of an institution and reflecting the worldviews of its proponents, the development of a new approach to EA also represents a significant power play. This leads us to, firstly, emphasise the concepts of strategy and intentionality in theorising how and why EA tools are employed, succeed and fail; and secondly, reflect on the reasons why power has received such limited attention to-date in EA scholarship. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Conducts empirical research on the neglected issue of power. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Employs an interpretation of power in which it is viewed as a productive phenomenon. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Analyses the influence of power in the trial application of a new approach to policy environmental assessment. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Demonstrates the importance of power dynamics in understanding the successes and failures of environmental assessment.« less

Observation of a rainbow of visible colors in a near infrared cascaded Raman fiber laser and its novel application as a diagnostic tool for length resolved spectral analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aparanji, Santosh; Balaswamy, V.; Arun, S.; Supradeepa, V. R.

2018-02-01

In this work, we report and analyse the surprising observation of a rainbow of visible colors, spanning 390nm to 620nm, in silica-based, Near Infrared, continuous-wave, cascaded Raman fiber lasers. The cascaded Raman laser is pumped at 1117nm at around 200W and at full power we obtain 100 W at 1480nm. With increasing pump power at 1117nm, the fiber constituting the Raman laser glows in various hues along its length. From spectroscopic analysis of the emitted visible light, it was identified to be harmonic and sum-frequency components of various locally propagating wavelength components. In addition to third harmonic components, surprisingly, even 2nd harmonic components were observed. Despite being a continuous-wave laser, we expect the phase-matching occurring between the core-propagating NIR light with the cladding-propagating visible wavelengths and the intensity fluctuations characteristic of Raman lasers to have played a major role in generation of visible light. In addition, this surprising generation of visible light provides us a powerful non-contact method to deduce the spectrum of light propagating in the fiber. Using static images of the fiber captured by a standard visible camera such as a DSLR, we demonstrate novel, image-processing based techniques to deduce the wavelength component propagating in the fiber at any given spatial location. This provides a powerful diagnostic tool for both length and power resolved spectral analysis in Raman fiber lasers. This helps accurate prediction of the optimal length of fiber required for complete and efficient conversion to a given Stokes wavelength.

The Consitituion as a Bill of Rights: Separation of Powers and Individual Liberty.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meese, Edwin, III

One of the basic principles of the Constitution--the separation of powers--and its contribution to the preservation and perpetuation of individual liberty is discussed. To renew public appreciation of the Constitution, our fundamental law and the philosophical foundation of our political order, is the most fitting bicentennial celebration U.S.…

Public health law and disaster medicine: understanding the legal environment.

PubMed

Gionis, Thomas A; Wecht, Cyril; Marshall, Lewis W

2007-01-01

Disaster medicine specialists, policy makers, and the public often feel frustrated when they encounter the complex legal framework that surrounds public health emergencies and disasters. Such a framework is particularly difficult to understand when one considers that the federal government has no express powers over public health or disaster management. In fact, under the US Constitution, the states, rather than the federal government, possess public health governance. Although public health sovereignty formally resides within the states, and notwithstanding the federal government's lack of express constitutional powers over public health crises and disaster management, the federal government has gradually taken on a greater leadership role in managing public health emergencies. In order to clarify the state and federal responsibilities surrounding public health emergencies and disasters, this article explores necessary and pertinent legal topics. These topics include public health duties, public health disasters, state sovereignty, governmental coercion, de facto constitutional empowerment, separation of powers, limited powers, federalism, state police powers, general and federal declarations of emergencies, the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (MSEHPA), and public health and national security.

Global constitutionalism, applied to global health governance: uncovering legitimacy deficits and suggesting remedies.

PubMed

Ooms, Gorik; Hammonds, Rachel

2016-12-03

Global constitutionalism is a way of looking at the world, at global rules and how they are made, as if there was a global constitution, empowering global institutions to act as a global government, setting rules which bind all states and people. This essay employs global constitutionalism to examine how and why global health governance, as currently structured, has struggled to advance the right to health, a fundamental human rights obligation enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It first examines the core structure of the global health governance architecture, and its evolution since the Second World War. Second, it identifies the main constitutionalist principles that are relevant for a global constitutionalism assessment of the core structure of the global health governance architecture. Finally, it applies these constitutionalist principles to assess the core structure of the global health governance architecture. Leading global health institutions are structurally skewed to preserve high incomes countries' disproportionate influence on transnational rule-making authority, and tend to prioritise infectious disease control over the comprehensive realisation of the right to health. A Framework Convention on Global Health could create a classic division of powers in global health governance, with WHO as the law-making power in global health governance, a global fund for health as the executive power, and the International Court of Justice as the judiciary power.

Hypergeometric continuation of divergent perturbation series: II. Comparison with Shanks transformation and Padé approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanders, Sören; Holthaus, Martin

2017-11-01

We explore in detail how analytic continuation of divergent perturbation series by generalized hypergeometric functions is achieved in practice. Using the example of strong-coupling perturbation series provided by the two-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model, we compare hypergeometric continuation to Shanks and Padé techniques, and demonstrate that the former yields a powerful, efficient and reliable alternative for computing the phase diagram of the Mott insulator-to-superfluid transition. In contrast to Shanks transformations and Padé approximations, hypergeometric continuation also allows us to determine the exponents which characterize the divergence of correlation functions at the transition points. Therefore, hypergeometric continuation constitutes a promising tool for the study of quantum phase transitions.

A New, Simple and Versatile Strategy for the Synthesis of Short Segments of Zigzag-Type Carbon Nanotubes.

PubMed

André, Etienne; Boutonnet, Baptiste; Charles, Pauline; Martini, Cyril; Aguiar-Hualde, Juan-Manuel; Latil, Sylvain; Guérineau, Vincent; Hammad, Karim; Ray, Priyanka; Guillot, Régis; Huc, Vincent

2016-02-24

Short segments of zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were obtained from a calixarene scaffold by using a completely new, simple and expedited strategy that allowed fine-tuning of their diameters. This new approach also allows for functionalised short segments of zigzag SWCNTs to be obtained; a prerequisite towards their lengthening. These new SWCNT short segments/calixarene composites show interesting behaviour in solution. DFT analysis of these new compounds also suggests interesting photophysical behaviour. Along with the synthesis of various SWCNTs segments, this approach also constitutes a powerful tool for the construction of new, radially oriented π systems. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A six-parameter Iwan model and its application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yikun; Hao, Zhiming

2016-02-01

Iwan model is a practical tool to describe the constitutive behaviors of joints. In this paper, a six-parameter Iwan model based on a truncated power-law distribution with two Dirac delta functions is proposed, which gives a more comprehensive description of joints than the previous Iwan models. Its analytical expressions including backbone curve, unloading curves and energy dissipation are deduced. Parameter identification procedures and the discretization method are also provided. A model application based on Segalman et al.'s experiment works with bolted joints is carried out. Simulation effects of different numbers of Jenkins elements are discussed. The results indicate that the six-parameter Iwan model can be used to accurately reproduce the experimental phenomena of joints.

"Our own limited role in policing those boundaries": taking small steps on health care.

PubMed

Whittington, Keith E

2013-04-01

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ignited a political firestorm and raised intriguing new questions of constitutional law. Cutting a path between the liberals and conservatives on the US Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts made small adjustments in established constitutional law to uphold key features of the act. In doing so, he not only upheld the statute but also left the landscape of constitutional law much as he had found it. He did, however, suggest that the federal courts should take a more active role in monitoring how Congress uses its constitutional powers and should not shy away from making specific determinations of whether Congress had abused its power in particular cases.

Constitutional Principles and E-Government: An Opinion about Possible Effects of Federalism and the Separation of Powers on E-Government Policies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jaeger, Paul T.

2002-01-01

Examines how Constitutional principles, specifically the doctrines of Federalism and the separation of powers, relate to e-government policies and practices. Suggests that the move toward e-government, with emphasis on the simplification of access to government information and services, must be considered with regard to Federalism and separation…

Constitutional Issues: Separation of Powers. Teaching with Documents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC.

The United States subscribes to the original premise of the framers of the Constitution that the way to safeguard against tyranny is to separate the powers of government among three branches so that each branch checks the other two. At no time in the 20th century was the devotion to that principle more vigorously evoked than in 1937, when…

Applying the Equal Pay Act to State and Local Governments: The Effect of National League of Cities v. Usery

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1977

1977-01-01

The constitutionality of the Equal Pay Act is examined as an exercise of Congress' power under the enforcement clause of the fourteenth amendment and it is concluded that application of the Act to public employees in both traditional and nontraditional governmental functions is a constitutional exercise of that congressional power. (LBH)

Knowledge and Power in the Technology Classroom: A Framework for Studying Teachers and Students in Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Danielsson, Anna T.; Berge, Maria; Lidar, Malena

2018-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to develop and illustrate an analytical framework for exploring how relations between knowledge and power are constituted in science and technology classrooms. In addition, the empirical purpose of this paper is to explore how disciplinary knowledge and knowledge-making are constituted in teacher-student interactions.…

MAGMA: Generalized Gene-Set Analysis of GWAS Data

PubMed Central

de Leeuw, Christiaan A.; Mooij, Joris M.; Heskes, Tom; Posthuma, Danielle

2015-01-01

By aggregating data for complex traits in a biologically meaningful way, gene and gene-set analysis constitute a valuable addition to single-marker analysis. However, although various methods for gene and gene-set analysis currently exist, they generally suffer from a number of issues. Statistical power for most methods is strongly affected by linkage disequilibrium between markers, multi-marker associations are often hard to detect, and the reliance on permutation to compute p-values tends to make the analysis computationally very expensive. To address these issues we have developed MAGMA, a novel tool for gene and gene-set analysis. The gene analysis is based on a multiple regression model, to provide better statistical performance. The gene-set analysis is built as a separate layer around the gene analysis for additional flexibility. This gene-set analysis also uses a regression structure to allow generalization to analysis of continuous properties of genes and simultaneous analysis of multiple gene sets and other gene properties. Simulations and an analysis of Crohn’s Disease data are used to evaluate the performance of MAGMA and to compare it to a number of other gene and gene-set analysis tools. The results show that MAGMA has significantly more power than other tools for both the gene and the gene-set analysis, identifying more genes and gene sets associated with Crohn’s Disease while maintaining a correct type 1 error rate. Moreover, the MAGMA analysis of the Crohn’s Disease data was found to be considerably faster as well. PMID:25885710

MAGMA: generalized gene-set analysis of GWAS data.

PubMed

de Leeuw, Christiaan A; Mooij, Joris M; Heskes, Tom; Posthuma, Danielle

2015-04-01

By aggregating data for complex traits in a biologically meaningful way, gene and gene-set analysis constitute a valuable addition to single-marker analysis. However, although various methods for gene and gene-set analysis currently exist, they generally suffer from a number of issues. Statistical power for most methods is strongly affected by linkage disequilibrium between markers, multi-marker associations are often hard to detect, and the reliance on permutation to compute p-values tends to make the analysis computationally very expensive. To address these issues we have developed MAGMA, a novel tool for gene and gene-set analysis. The gene analysis is based on a multiple regression model, to provide better statistical performance. The gene-set analysis is built as a separate layer around the gene analysis for additional flexibility. This gene-set analysis also uses a regression structure to allow generalization to analysis of continuous properties of genes and simultaneous analysis of multiple gene sets and other gene properties. Simulations and an analysis of Crohn's Disease data are used to evaluate the performance of MAGMA and to compare it to a number of other gene and gene-set analysis tools. The results show that MAGMA has significantly more power than other tools for both the gene and the gene-set analysis, identifying more genes and gene sets associated with Crohn's Disease while maintaining a correct type 1 error rate. Moreover, the MAGMA analysis of the Crohn's Disease data was found to be considerably faster as well.

EpiBasket: how e-commerce tools can improve epidemiological preparedness.

PubMed

Xing, Weijia; Hejblum, Gilles; Valleron, Alain-Jacques

2013-10-31

Should an emerging infectious disease outbreak or an environmental disaster occur, the collection of epidemiological data must start as soon as possible after the event's onset. Questionnaires are usually built de novo for each event, resulting in substantially delayed epidemiological responses that are detrimental to the understanding and control of the event considered. Moreover, the public health and/or academic institution databases constructed with responses to different questionnaires are usually difficult to merge, impairing necessary collaborations. We aimed to show that e-commerce concepts and software tools can be readily adapted to enable rapid collection of data after an infectious disease outbreak or environmental disaster. Here, the 'customers' are the epidemiologists, who fill their shopping 'baskets' with standardised questions. For each epidemiological field, a catalogue of questions is constituted by identifying the relevant variables based on a review of the published literature on similar circumstances. Each question is tagged with information on its source papers. Epidemiologists can then tailor their own questionnaires by choosing appropriate questions from this catalogue. The software immediately provides them with ready-to-use forms and online questionnaires. All databases constituted by the different EpiBasket users are interoperable, because the corresponding questionnaires are derived from the same corpus of questions. A proof-of-concept prototype was developed for Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) surveys, which is one of the fields of the epidemiological investigation frequently explored during, or after, an outbreak or environmental disaster. The catalogue of questions was initiated from a review of the KAP studies conducted during or after the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. Rapid collection of standardised data after an outbreak or environmental disaster can be facilitated by transposing the e-commerce paradigm to epidemiology, taking advantage of the powerful software tools already available.

Assessment of the microstructure evolution of an austempered ductile iron during austempering process through strain hardening analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnini, Riccardo; Fabrizi, Alberto; Bonollo, Franco; Zanardi, Franco; Angella, Giuliano

2017-09-01

The aim of this investigation was to determine a procedure based on tensile testing to assess the critical range of austempering times for having the best ausferrite produced through austempering. The austempered ductile iron (ADI) 1050 was quenched at different times during austempering and the quenched samples were tested in tension. The dislocation-density-related constitutive equation proposed by Estrin for materials having high density of geometrical obstacles to dislocation motion, was used to model the flow curves of the tensile tested samples. On the basis of strain hardening theory, the equation parameters were related to the microstructure of the quenched samples and were used to assess the ADI microstructure evolution during austempering. The microstructure evolution was also analysed through conventional optical microscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction technique and transmission electron microscopy. The microstructure observations resulted to be consistent with the assessment based on tensile testing, so the dislocation-density-related constitutive equation was found to be a powerful tool to characterise the evolution of the solid state transformations of austempering.

An Overview of Mechanical Properties and Material Modeling of Polylactide (PLA) for Medical Applications.

PubMed

Bergström, Jörgen S; Hayman, Danika

2016-02-01

This article provides an overview of the connection between the microstructural state and the mechanical response of various bioresorbable polylactide (PLA) devices for medical applications. PLLA is currently the most commonly used material for bioresorbable stents and sutures, and its use is increasing in many other medical applications. The non-linear mechanical response of PLLA, due in part to its low glass transition temperature (T g ≈ 60 °C), is highly sensitive to the molecular weight and molecular orientation field, the degree of crystallinity, and the physical aging time. These microstructural parameters can be tailored for specific applications using different resin formulations and processing conditions. The stress-strain, deformation, and degradation response of a bioresorbable medical device is also strongly dependent on the time history of applied loads and boundary conditions. All of these factors can be incorporated into a suitable constitutive model that captures the multiple physics that are involved in the device response. Currently developed constitutive models already provide powerful computations simulation tools, and more progress in this area is expected to occur in the coming years.

Bioethics, biolaw, (bio)constitutional interpretation and biopatents under the light of Brazilian law.

PubMed

Myszczuk, Ana Paula; de Meirelles, Jussara Maria Leal

2010-01-01

The article briefly analyzes the concepts of the Bioethics, the Biolaw, the Bio-Constitution and the Biopatent. In order to do so, we will check some principles of the Bioethics, the newly added term the Biolaw, the concept of the Bio-Constitution or the Constitutional Biolaw, all used as means to solve conflicts of bio-juridical norms. Besides it formulates some questions about biopatents. It is here understood that the 1988 Brazilian Federal Constitution chose the human dignity principle as the core to be used in any Biomedicine related matter and this Law acts to bring some tools into a bio-constitutional interpretation. Among those tools are the fundamental rights and the protection of the environment. Some juridical limits to the private appropriation of the human genome, via patenting, are examined. The article considers the requirements imposed by the Law Act no 9279/96 (novelty, invention and industrial use), as well as some Brazilian constitutional dispositions concerning biopatents. In the conclusion, we argue that the Bioethics and the Biolaw principles are valuable instruments to support juridical decisions and to guide the establishment of possible limits on the use and/or development of the Biomedicine. Consequently when interpreting a concrete case, besides having a multidisciplinary analysis, we have refreshed classic juridical concepts. This is achieved by rethinking juridical fundamentals and opening up the space for the conceptualization of a Bio-Constitution interpretation.

Spark Plasma Sintering of Commercial Zirconium Carbide Powders: Densification Behavior and Mechanical Properties

PubMed Central

Wei, Xialu; Back, Christina; Izhvanov, Oleg; Khasanov, Oleg L.; Haines, Christopher D.; Olevsky, Eugene A.

2015-01-01

Commercial zirconium carbide (ZrC) powder is consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). Processing temperatures range from 1650 to 2100 °C. Specimens with various density levels are obtained when performing single-die SPS at different temperatures. Besides the single-die tooling setup, a double-die tooling setup is employed to largely increase the actual applied pressure to achieve higher densification in a shorter processing time. In order to describe the densification mechanism of ZrC powder under SPS conditions, a power-law creep constitutive equation is utilized, whose coefficients are determined by the inverse regression of the obtained experimental data. The densification of the selected ZrC powder is shown to be likely associated with grain boundary sliding and dislocation glide controlled creep. Transverse rupture strength and microhardness of sintered specimens are measured to be up to 380 MPa and 24 GPa, respectively. Mechanical properties are correlated with specimens’ average grain size and relative density to elucidate the co-factor dependencies. PMID:28793550

Public health law: the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

PubMed

De Ville, Kenneth

2011-01-01

Congress of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was immediately challenged by lawsuits attacking the constitutionality of the legislation. The lawsuits, joined by over 2 dozen state's attorney generals, contend that PPACA is an unconstitutional exercise of federal power. Specifically, the suits argue that the individual insurance mandate portion of the law is justified by neither the "Commerce Power" nor Congress' authority to "tax" and provide for "the general welfare." This essay outlines and analyzes the constitutional arguments for, and against, PPACA forecasting the likely resolution of the debate if the suits reach the US Supreme Court.

Black Gold Revolution: What New Oil Means for American Security Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

States will keep most or all discovered oil for domestic uses. Incidentally, current laws forbid the export of American oil for this reason. Oil...three prevalent international orders are balance-of-power, hegemonic and constitutional .5 Each of these differs in the distribution of power...peaceful transition, it must consider Gilpin’s concept of prestige to retain influence. This consideration leads to the final order, a constitutional

A neural network-based approach to noise identification of interferometric GW antennas: the case of the 40 m Caltech laser interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acernese, F.; Barone, F.; de Rosa, M.; De Rosa, R.; Eleuteri, A.; Milano, L.; Tagliaferri, R.

2002-06-01

In this paper, a neural network-based approach is presented for the real time noise identification of a GW laser interferometric antenna. The 40 m Caltech laser interferometer output data provide a realistic test bed for noise identification algorithms because of the presence of many relevant effects: violin resonances in the suspensions, main power harmonics, ring-down noise from servo control systems, electronic noises, glitches and so on. These effects can be assumed to be present in all the first interferometric long baseline GW antennas such as VIRGO, LIGO, GEO and TAMA. For noise identification, we used the Caltech-40 m laser interferometer data. The results we obtained are pretty good notwithstanding the high initial computational cost. The algorithm we propose is general and robust, taking into account that it does not require a priori information on the data, nor a precise model, and it constitutes a powerful tool for time series data analysis.

Nanodiscs in Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics.

PubMed

Denisov, Ilia G; Sligar, Stephen G

2017-03-22

Membrane proteins play a most important part in metabolism, signaling, cell motility, transport, development, and many other biochemical and biophysical processes which constitute fundamentals of life on the molecular level. Detailed understanding of these processes is necessary for the progress of life sciences and biomedical applications. Nanodiscs provide a new and powerful tool for a broad spectrum of biochemical and biophysical studies of membrane proteins and are commonly acknowledged as an optimal membrane mimetic system that provides control over size, composition, and specific functional modifications on the nanometer scale. In this review we attempted to combine a comprehensive list of various applications of nanodisc technology with systematic analysis of the most attractive features of this system and advantages provided by nanodiscs for structural and mechanistic studies of membrane proteins.

Folding and unfolding single RNA molecules under tension

PubMed Central

Woodside, Michael T; García-García, Cuauhtémoc; Block, Steven M

2010-01-01

Single-molecule force spectroscopy constitutes a powerful method for probing RNA folding: it allows the kinetic, energetic, and structural properties of intermediate and transition states to be determined quantitatively, yielding new insights into folding pathways and energy landscapes. Recent advances in experimental and theoretical methods, including fluctuation theorems, kinetic theories, novel force clamps, and ultrastable instruments, have opened new avenues for study. These tools have been used to probe folding in simple model systems, for example, RNA and DNA hairpins. Knowledge gained from such systems is helping to build our understanding of more complex RNA structures composed of multiple elements, as well as how nucleic acids interact with proteins involved in key cellular activities, such as transcription and translation. PMID:18786653

Flexible CRISPR library construction using parallel oligonucleotide retrieval

PubMed Central

Read, Abigail; Gao, Shaojian; Batchelor, Eric

2017-01-01

Abstract CRISPR/Cas9-based gene knockout libraries have emerged as a powerful tool for functional screens. We present here a set of pre-designed human and mouse sgRNA sequences that are optimized for both high on-target potency and low off-target effect. To maximize the chance of target gene inactivation, sgRNAs were curated to target both 5΄ constitutive exons and exons that encode conserved protein domains. We describe here a robust and cost-effective method to construct multiple small sized CRISPR library from a single oligo pool generated by array synthesis using parallel oligonucleotide retrieval. Together, these resources provide a convenient means for individual labs to generate customized CRISPR libraries of variable size and coverage depth for functional genomics application. PMID:28334828

Guided Socialization: Using U.S. Influence to Establish an Inter Elite Culture of Cooperation in East Asia

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

the use of bilateral agreements and alliances to isolate and power balance in East Asia constitutes a schizophrenic presentation of strategy...military posture, despite prohibitions in the Japanese constitution .17 Importantly, this process is not limited to Japan. Nationalist and anti- Great...though some motivation exists to create an effective East Asian economic order, similar in structure to NAFTA , powerful East Asian actors

Constitutional Reform and Violent Conflict: Lessons from Africa, for Africa

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-07-01

gradual reform of Africa’s existing, centralized constitutional designs by counter-balancing them with liberal institutions, especially the separation of powers , which could foster both peace and democracy on the continent.

Constitution. Signed and delivered--the rules in writing.

PubMed

Walshe, Kieran

2008-07-24

The proposal tucked away in the Darzi report for an NHS constitution could be one of the most historic elements of the next stage review, limiting the health secretary's power and guaranteeing patient rights.

Predicting Sasang Constitution Using Body-Shape Information

PubMed Central

Jang, Eunsu; Do, Jun-Hyeong; Jin, HeeJeong; Park, KiHyun; Ku, Boncho; Lee, Siwoo; Kim, Jong Yeol

2012-01-01

Objectives. Body measurement plays a pivotal role not only in the diagnosis of disease but also in the classification of typology. Sasang constitutional medicine, which is one of the forms of Traditional Korean Medicine, is considered to be strongly associated with body shape. We attempted to determine whether a Sasang constitutional analytic tool based on body shape information (SCAT-B) could predict Sasang constitution (SC). Methods. After surveying 23 Oriental medical clinics, 2,677 subjects were recruited and body shape information was collected. The SCAT-Bs for males and females were developed using multinomial logistic regression. Stepwise forward-variable selection was applied using the score statistic and Wald's test. Results. The predictive rates of the SCAT-B for Tae-eumin (TE), Soeumin (SE), and Soyangin (SY) types in males and females were 80.2%, 56.9%, and 37.7% (males) and 69.3%, 38.9%, and 50.0% (females) in the training set and were 74%, 70.1%, and 35% (males), and 67.4%, 66.3%, and 53.7% (females) in the test set, respectively. Higher constitutional probability scores showed a trend for association with higher predictability. Conclusions. This study shows that the Sasang constitutional analytic tool, which is based on body shape information, may be relatively highly predictive of TE type but may be less predictive when used for SY type. PMID:22792124

The Constitution's Prescription for Freedom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peach, Lucinda

1986-01-01

Examines how the framers of the Constitution came to choose our system of government, how that system was designed to function, and how the separation of powers has served to maintain our democracy despite attempts to violate it. (JDH)

Efficient generation of twin photons at telecom wavelengths with 2.5 GHz repetition-rate-tunable comb laser.

PubMed

Jin, Rui-Bo; Shimizu, Ryosuke; Morohashi, Isao; Wakui, Kentaro; Takeoka, Masahiro; Izumi, Shuro; Sakamoto, Takahide; Fujiwara, Mikio; Yamashita, Taro; Miki, Shigehito; Terai, Hirotaka; Wang, Zhen; Sasaki, Masahide

2014-12-19

Efficient generation and detection of indistinguishable twin photons are at the core of quantum information and communications technology (Q-ICT). These photons are conventionally generated by spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), which is a probabilistic process, and hence occurs at a limited rate, which restricts wider applications of Q-ICT. To increase the rate, one had to excite SPDC by higher pump power, while it inevitably produced more unwanted multi-photon components, harmfully degrading quantum interference visibility. Here we solve this problem by using recently developed 10 GHz repetition-rate-tunable comb laser, combined with a group-velocity-matched nonlinear crystal, and superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. They operate at telecom wavelengths more efficiently with less noises than conventional schemes, those typically operate at visible and near infrared wavelengths generated by a 76 MHz Ti Sapphire laser and detected by Si detectors. We could show high interference visibilities, which are free from the pump-power induced degradation. Our laser, nonlinear crystal, and detectors constitute a powerful tool box, which will pave a way to implementing quantum photonics circuits with variety of good and low-cost telecom components, and will eventually realize scalable Q-ICT in optical infra-structures.

A Nano-indentation Identification Technique for Viscoelastic Constitutive Characteristics of Periodontal Ligaments.

PubMed

Ashrafi, H; Shariyat, M

2016-06-01

Nano-indentation has recently been employed as a powerful tool for determining the mechanical properties of biological tissues on nano and micro scales. A majority of soft biological tissues such as ligaments and tendons exhibit viscoelastic or time-dependent behaviors. The constitutive characterization of soft tissues is among very important subjects in clinical medicine and especially, biomechanics fields. Periodontal ligament plays an important role in initiating tooth movement when loads are applied to teeth with orthodontic appliances. It is also the most accessible ligament in human body as it can be directly manipulated without any surgical intervention. From a mechanical point of view, this ligament can be considered as a thin interface made by a solid phase, consisting mainly of collagen fibers, which is immersed into a so-called ground substance. However, the viscoelastic constitutive effects of biological tissues are seldom considered rigorous during Nano-indentation tests. In the present paper, a mathematical contact approach is developed to enable determining creep compliance and relaxation modulus of distinct periodontal ligaments, using constant-rate indentation and loading time histories, respectively. An adequate curve-fitting method is presented to determine these characteristics based on the Nano-indentation of rigid Berkovich tips. Generalized Voigt-Kelvin and Wiechert models are used to model constitutive equations of periodontal ligaments, in which the relaxation and creep functions are represented by series of decaying exponential functions of time. Time-dependent creep compliance and relaxation function have been obtained for tissue specimens of periodontal ligaments. To improve accuracy, relaxation and creep moduli are measured from two tests separately. Stress relaxation effects appear more rapidly than creep in the periodontal ligaments.

A Nano-indentation Identification Technique for Viscoelastic Constitutive Characteristics of Periodontal Ligaments

PubMed Central

Ashrafi, H.; Shariyat, M.

2016-01-01

Introduction Nano-indentation has recently been employed as a powerful tool for determining the mechanical properties of biological tissues on nano and micro scales. A majority of soft biological tissues such as ligaments and tendons exhibit viscoelastic or time-dependent behaviors. The constitutive characterization of soft tissues is among very important subjects in clinical medicine and especially, biomechanics fields. Periodontal ligament plays an important role in initiating tooth movement when loads are applied to teeth with orthodontic appliances. It is also the most accessible ligament in human body as it can be directly manipulated without any surgical intervention. From a mechanical point of view, this ligament can be considered as a thin interface made by a solid phase, consisting mainly of collagen fibers, which is immersed into a so-called ground substance. However, the viscoelastic constitutive effects of biological tissues are seldom considered rigorous during Nano-indentation tests. Methods In the present paper, a mathematical contact approach is developed to enable determining creep compliance and relaxation modulus of distinct periodontal ligaments, using constant–rate indentation and loading time histories, respectively. An adequate curve-fitting method is presented to determine these characteristics based on the Nano-indentation of rigid Berkovich tips. Generalized Voigt-Kelvin and Wiechert models are used to model constitutive equations of periodontal ligaments, in which the relaxation and creep functions are represented by series of decaying exponential functions of time. Results Time-dependent creep compliance and relaxation function have been obtained for tissue specimens of periodontal ligaments. Conclusion To improve accuracy, relaxation and creep moduli are measured from two tests separately. Stress relaxation effects appear more rapidly than creep in the periodontal ligaments. PMID:27672630

ITEP: an integrated toolkit for exploration of microbial pan-genomes.

PubMed

Benedict, Matthew N; Henriksen, James R; Metcalf, William W; Whitaker, Rachel J; Price, Nathan D

2014-01-03

Comparative genomics is a powerful approach for studying variation in physiological traits as well as the evolution and ecology of microorganisms. Recent technological advances have enabled sequencing large numbers of related genomes in a single project, requiring computational tools for their integrated analysis. In particular, accurate annotations and identification of gene presence and absence are critical for understanding and modeling the cellular physiology of newly sequenced genomes. Although many tools are available to compare the gene contents of related genomes, new tools are necessary to enable close examination and curation of protein families from large numbers of closely related organisms, to integrate curation with the analysis of gain and loss, and to generate metabolic networks linking the annotations to observed phenotypes. We have developed ITEP, an Integrated Toolkit for Exploration of microbial Pan-genomes, to curate protein families, compute similarities to externally-defined domains, analyze gene gain and loss, and generate draft metabolic networks from one or more curated reference network reconstructions in groups of related microbial species among which the combination of core and variable genes constitute the their "pan-genomes". The ITEP toolkit consists of: (1) a series of modular command-line scripts for identification, comparison, curation, and analysis of protein families and their distribution across many genomes; (2) a set of Python libraries for programmatic access to the same data; and (3) pre-packaged scripts to perform common analysis workflows on a collection of genomes. ITEP's capabilities include de novo protein family prediction, ortholog detection, analysis of functional domains, identification of core and variable genes and gene regions, sequence alignments and tree generation, annotation curation, and the integration of cross-genome analysis and metabolic networks for study of metabolic network evolution. ITEP is a powerful, flexible toolkit for generation and curation of protein families. ITEP's modular design allows for straightforward extension as analysis methods and tools evolve. By integrating comparative genomics with the development of draft metabolic networks, ITEP harnesses the power of comparative genomics to build confidence in links between genotype and phenotype and helps disambiguate gene annotations when they are evaluated in both evolutionary and metabolic network contexts.

Safety mechanism assisted by the repressor of tetracycline (SMART) vaccinia virus vectors for vaccines and therapeutics.

PubMed

Grigg, Patricia; Titong, Allison; Jones, Leslie A; Yilma, Tilahun D; Verardi, Paulo H

2013-09-17

Replication-competent viruses, such as Vaccinia virus (VACV), are powerful tools for the development of oncolytic viral therapies and elicit superior immune responses when used as vaccine and immunotherapeutic vectors. However, severe complications from uncontrolled viral replication can occur, particularly in immunocompromised individuals or in those with other predisposing conditions. VACVs constitutively expressing interferon-γ (IFN-γ) replicate in cell culture indistinguishably from control viruses; however, they replicate in vivo to low or undetectable levels, and are rapidly cleared even in immunodeficient animals. In an effort to develop safe and highly effective replication-competent VACV vectors, we established a system to inducibly express IFN-γ. Our SMART (safety mechanism assisted by the repressor of tetracycline) vectors are designed to express the tetracycline repressor under a constitutive VACV promoter and IFN-γ under engineered tetracycline-inducible promoters. Immunodeficient SCID mice inoculated with VACVs not expressing IFN-γ demonstrated severe weight loss, whereas those given VACVs expressing IFN-γ under constitutive VACV promoters showed no signs of infection. Most importantly, mice inoculated with a VACV expressing the IFN-γ gene under an inducible promoter remained healthy in the presence of doxycycline, but exhibited severe weight loss in the absence of doxycycline. In this study, we developed a safety mechanism for VACV based on the conditional expression of IFN-γ under a tightly controlled tetracycline-inducible VACV promoter for use in vaccines and oncolytic cancer therapies.

The Essence of Powerful Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brookfield, Stephen

2013-01-01

Empowering learners and using powerful techniques are prominent elements in the discourse of adult and vocational education. But what constitutes the elements of what might be considered as powerful teaching? This paper begins by examining the way educators talk about power and then proposes four elements that lie at the heart of powerful…

Oh dear, what can the matter be? A commentary on Pratto's 'On power and empowerment'.

PubMed

Reicher, Stephen

2016-03-01

In this response, I welcome Pratto's wide ranging and innovative contribution on the social psychology of power. It fulfils an important role in opening up debate around an issue of key importance for our discipline. At the same time (and to further that debate), I take issue with both of her core arguments: First, that power should not be seen as relational but rather about one's ability to reach one's desired ends and, second, that these ends are ultimately about survival. More fundamentally, though, I argue that Pratto's analysis is limited by the fact that she takes the subject of power for granted. This ignores a wealth of research which shows, on the one hand, how power constitutes the nature of subjects and, on the other, how subjects (especially collective subjects - groups) constitute power. It is through exploring these dynamics that we can understand power and its relevance to social life. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

Quarantine in times of emergency: the scope of s 51(ix) of the Constitution.

PubMed

Reynolds, Christopher

2004-11-01

This article explores the scope of s 51(ix) of the Constitution, the power of the Commonwealth to make laws with respect to "quarantine". While this power has sustained the Quarantine Act without a challenge since 1908, it may be that future national public health emergencies, such as epidemics or bioterrorism, will (as has happened in other countries) demand a level of federal preparedness that requires augmented public health powers at a national level. If so, will the scope of the quarantine power, as determined by the High Court, be wide enough allow the Commonwealth to implement these powers? While there is some advantage in a national approach, there is also some authority suggesting that the quarantine power could not extend to domestic public health controls. If there is uncertainty about the scope of the power, what are the options? Should there be another approach, with the States, Territories and the Commonwealth moving towards uniform legislation and co-operative arrangements?

Terahertz spectroscopy for the study of paraffin-embedded gastric cancer samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahaia, Faustino; Kasalynas, Irmantas; Seliuta, Dalius; Molis, Gediminas; Urbanowicz, Andrzej; Carvalho Silva, Catia D.; Carneiro, Fatima; Valusis, Gintaras; Granja, Pedro L.

2015-01-01

Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy constitute promising technique for biomedical applications as a complementary and powerful tool for diseases screening specially for early cancer diagnostic. The THz radiation is not harmful to biological tissues. As increased blood supply in cancer-affected tissues and consequent local increase in tissue water content makes THz technology a potentially attractive. In the present work, samples of healthy and adenocarcinoma-affected gastric tissue were analyzed using transmission time-domain THz spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The work shows the capability of the technique to distinguish between normal and cancerous regions in dried and paraffin-embedded samples. Plots of absorption coefficient α and refractive index n of normal and cancer affected tissues, are presented and the conditions for discrimination between normal and affected tissues are discussed.

Development of a component design tool for metal hydride heat pumps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waters, Essene L.

Given current demands for more efficient and environmentally friendly energy sources, hydrogen based energy systems are an increasingly popular field of interest. Within the field, metal hydrides have become a prominent focus of research due to their large hydrogen storage capacity and relative system simplicity and safety. Metal hydride heat pumps constitute one such application, in which heat and hydrogen are transferred to and from metal hydrides. While a significant amount of work has been done to study such systems, the scope of materials selection has been quite limited. Typical studies compare only a few metal hydride materials and provide limited justification for the choice of those few. In this work, a metal hydride component design tool has been developed to enable the targeted down-selection of an extensive database of metal hydrides to identify the most promising materials for use in metal hydride thermal systems. The material database contains over 300 metal hydrides with various physical and thermodynamic properties included for each material. Sub-models for equilibrium pressure, thermophysical data, and default properties are used to predict the behavior of each material within the given system. For a given thermal system, this tool can be used to identify optimal materials out of over 100,000 possible hydride combinations. The selection tool described herein has been applied to a stationary combined heat and power system containing a high-temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, a hot water tank, and two metal hydride beds used as a heat pump. A variety of factors can be used to select materials including efficiency, maximum and minimum system pressures, pressure difference, coefficient of performance (COP), and COP sensitivity. The targeted down-selection of metal hydrides for this system focuses on the system's COP for each potential pair. The values of COP and COP sensitivity have been used to identify pairs of highest interest for use in this application. The metal hydride component design tool developed in this work selects between metal hydride materials on an unprecedented scale. It can be easily applied to other hydrogen-based thermal systems, making it a powerful and versatile tool.

Electrical safety device

DOEpatents

White, David B.

1991-01-01

An electrical safety device for use in power tools that is designed to automatically discontinue operation of the power tool upon physical contact of the tool with a concealed conductive material. A step down transformer is used to supply the operating power for a disconnect relay and a reset relay. When physical contact is made between the power tool and the conductive material, an electrical circuit through the disconnect relay is completed and the operation of the power tool is automatically interrupted. Once the contact between the tool and conductive material is broken, the power tool can be quickly and easily reactivated by a reset push button activating the reset relay. A remote reset is provided for convenience and efficiency of operation.

Analysis of Facial Injuries Caused by Power Tools.

PubMed

Kim, Jiye; Choi, Jin-Hee; Hyun Kim, Oh; Won Kim, Sug

2016-06-01

The number of injuries caused by power tools is steadily increasing as more domestic woodwork is undertaken and more power tools are used recreationally. The injuries caused by the different power tools as a consequence of accidents are an issue, because they can lead to substantial costs for patients and the national insurance system. The increase in hand surgery as a consequence of the use of power tools and its economic impact, and the characteristics of the hand injuries caused by power saws have been described. In recent years, the authors have noticed that, in addition to hand injuries, facial injuries caused by power tools commonly present to the emergency room. This study aimed to review the data in relation to facial injuries caused by power saws that were gathered from patients who visited the trauma center at our hospital over the last 4 years, and to analyze the incidence and epidemiology of the facial injuries caused by power saws. The authors found that facial injuries caused by power tools have risen continually. Facial injuries caused by power tools are accidental, and they cause permanent facial disfigurements and functional disabilities. Accidents are almost inevitable in particular workplaces; however, most facial injuries could be avoided by providing sufficient operator training and by tool operators wearing suitable protective devices. The evaluation of the epidemiology and patterns of facial injuries caused by power tools in this study should provide the information required to reduce the number of accidental injuries.

Voxels in the Brain: Neuroscience, Informatics and Changing Notions of Objectivity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beaulieu, Anne

2001-01-01

Examines a subset of tools (atlases of the brain) developed in the Human Brain Project (HBP) in order to understand how the use of these tools changes the practice of science. Discusses the redefinition of what constitutes 'objective' neuroscientific knowledge according to both technological possibilities built into these tools and the constraints…

Chewing as a forming application: A viscoplastic damage law in modelling food oral breakdown

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skamniotis, C. G.; Charalambides, M. N.; Elliott, M.

2017-10-01

The first bite mechanical response of a food item resembles compressive forming processes, where a tool is pressed into a workpiece. The present study addresses ongoing interests in the deformations and damage of food products, particularly during the first bite, in relation to their mechanical properties. Uniaxial tension, compression and shear tests on a starch based food reveal stress-strain response and fracture strains strongly dependent on strain rate and stress triaxiality, while damage mechanisms are identified in the form of stress softening. A pressure dependent viscoplastic constitutive law reproduces the behavior with the aid of ABAQUS subroutines, while a ductile damage initiation and evolution framework based on fracture toughness data enables accurate predictions of the product breakdown. The material model is implemented in a Finite Element (FE) chewing model based on digital pet teeth geometry where the first bite of molar teeth against a food item is simulated. The FE force displacement results match the experimental data obtained by a physical replicate of the bite model, lending weight to the approach as a powerful tool in understanding of food breakdown and product development.

Raf Kinase Inhibitory Protein (RKIP) as a Metastasis Suppressor: Regulation of Signaling Networks in Cancer

PubMed Central

Yesilkanal, Ali E.; Rosner, Marsha R.

2015-01-01

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide, accounting for about 8 million deaths a year. For solid tumors, cancer patients die as a result of the metastatic spread of the tumor to the rest of the body. Therefore, there is a clinical need for understanding the molecular and cellular basis of metastasis, identifying patients whose tumors are more likely to metastasize, and developing effective therapies against metastatic progression. Over the years, Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) has emerged as a natural suppressor of the metastatic process, constituting a tool for studying metastasis and its clinical outcomes. Here, we review RKIP’s role as a metastasis suppressor and the signaling networks and genes regulated by RKIP in metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer. We also highlight the clinical implications and power of building gene signatures based on RKIP-regulated signaling modules in identifying cancer patients that are at higher risk for metastases. Finally, we highlight the potential of RKIP as a tool for developing new therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment. PMID:25597354

EpiBasket: how e-commerce tools can improve epidemiological preparedness

PubMed Central

Xing, Weijia; Hejblum, Gilles; Valleron, Alain-Jacques

2013-01-01

Background Should an emerging infectious disease outbreak or an environmental disaster occur, the collection of epidemiological data must start as soon as possible after the event's onset. Questionnaires are usually built de novo for each event, resulting in substantially delayed epidemiological responses that are detrimental to the understanding and control of the event considered. Moreover, the public health and/or academic institution databases constructed with responses to different questionnaires are usually difficult to merge, impairing necessary collaborations. We aimed to show that e-commerce concepts and software tools can be readily adapted to enable rapid collection of data after an infectious disease outbreak or environmental disaster. Here, the ‘customers’ are the epidemiologists, who fill their shopping ‘baskets’ with standardised questions. Methods For each epidemiological field, a catalogue of questions is constituted by identifying the relevant variables based on a review of the published literature on similar circumstances. Each question is tagged with information on its source papers. Epidemiologists can then tailor their own questionnaires by choosing appropriate questions from this catalogue. The software immediately provides them with ready-to-use forms and online questionnaires. All databases constituted by the different EpiBasket users are interoperable, because the corresponding questionnaires are derived from the same corpus of questions. Results A proof-of-concept prototype was developed for Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) surveys, which is one of the fields of the epidemiological investigation frequently explored during, or after, an outbreak or environmental disaster. The catalogue of questions was initiated from a review of the KAP studies conducted during or after the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. Conclusion Rapid collection of standardised data after an outbreak or environmental disaster can be facilitated by transposing the e-commerce paradigm to epidemiology, taking advantage of the powerful software tools already available. PMID:24183326

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to regulate campaign contributions for Federal elections.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5

2010-05-13

House - 06/15/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

The surgical ensemble: choreography as a simulation and training tool.

PubMed

Satava, Richard M; Hunter, Anne Marie

2011-09-01

Team training and interprofessional training have recently emerged as critical new simulations that enhance performance by coordinating communication, leadership, professional, and, to a certain extent, technical skills. In describing these new training tools, the term choreography has been loosely used, but no critical appraisal of the role of the science of choreography has been applied to a surgical procedure. By analogy, the surgical team, including anesthetists, surgeons, nurses, and technicians, constitutes a complete ensemble, whose physical actions and interactions constitute the "performance of surgery." There are very specific "elements" (tools) that are basic to choreography, such as space, timing, rhythm, energy, cues, transitions, and especially rehearsal. This review explores whether such a metaphor is appropriate and the possibility of applying the science of choreography to the surgical team in the operating theater.

[Technical improvement of cohort constitution in administrative health databases: Providing a tool for integration and standardization of data applicable in the French National Health Insurance Database (SNIIRAM)].

PubMed

Ferdynus, C; Huiart, L

2016-09-01

Administrative health databases such as the French National Heath Insurance Database - SNIIRAM - are a major tool to answer numerous public health research questions. However the use of such data requires complex and time-consuming data management. Our objective was to develop and make available a tool to optimize cohort constitution within administrative health databases. We developed a process to extract, transform and load (ETL) data from various heterogeneous sources in a standardized data warehouse. This data warehouse is architected as a star schema corresponding to an i2b2 star schema model. We then evaluated the performance of this ETL using data from a pharmacoepidemiology research project conducted in the SNIIRAM database. The ETL we developed comprises a set of functionalities for creating SAS scripts. Data can be integrated into a standardized data warehouse. As part of the performance assessment of this ETL, we achieved integration of a dataset from the SNIIRAM comprising more than 900 million lines in less than three hours using a desktop computer. This enables patient selection from the standardized data warehouse within seconds of the request. The ETL described in this paper provides a tool which is effective and compatible with all administrative health databases, without requiring complex database servers. This tool should simplify cohort constitution in health databases; the standardization of warehouse data facilitates collaborative work between research teams. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Afghanistan’s Constitutions: A Comparative Study and their Implications for Afghan Democratic Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

33 4. Relationship Between the Institutions of the State .........................34 a. Separation of Powers ..............................................................34...46 a. Separation of Powers ..............................................................46 b. Lines of Accountability...Institutions of the State .........................55 a. Separation of Powers ..............................................................55 b. Lines of

Kenya Promulgates a New Constitution

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-10

envisaged separation of powers between the three arms of government was slowly lost and power became concentrated in the Executive. The Legislative and...changes in the separation of powers between the three arms of government, major matters of citizenship, the Bill of Rights, the devolution of government

International Solar-Terrestrial Program Key Parameter Visualization Tool Data: USA_NASA_DDF_ISTP_IM_KP_0161

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ocuna, M. H.; Ogilvie, K. W.; Baker, D. N.; Curtis, S. A.; Fairfield, D. H.; Mish, W. H.

2000-01-01

The Global Geospace Science Program (GGS) is designed to improve greatly the understanding of the flow of energy, mass and momentum in the solar-terrestrial environment with particular emphasis on "Geospace". The Global Geospace Science Program is the US contribution to the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. This CD-ROM issue describes the WIND and POLAR spacecraft, the scientific experiments carried onboard, the Theoretical and Ground Based investigations which constitute the US Global Geospace Science Program and the ISTP Data Systems which support the data acquisition and analysis effort. The International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program (ISTP) Key Parameter Visualization Tool (KPVT), provided on the CD-ROM, was developed at the ISTP Science Planning and Operations Facility (SPOF). The KPVT is a generic software package for visualizing the key parameter data produced from all ISTP missions, interactively and simultaneously. The tool is designed to facilitate correlative displays of ISTP data from multiple spacecraft and instruments, and thus the selection of candidate events and data quality control. The software, written in IDL, includes a graphical/widget user interface, and runs on many platforms, including various UNIX workstations, Alpha/Open VMS, Macintosh (680x0 and PowerPC), and PC/Windows NT, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95.

International Solar-Terrestrial Program Key Parameter Visualization Tool Data: USA_NASA_DDF_ISTP_KP_0192

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ocuna, M. H.; Ogilvie, K. W.; Baker, D. N.; Curtis, S. A.; Fairfield, D. H.; Mish, W. H.

2001-01-01

The Global Geospace Science Program (GGS) is designed to improve greatly the understanding of the flow of energy, mass and momentum in the solar-terrestrial environment with particular emphasis on "Geospace". The Global Geospace Science Program is the US contribution to the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. This CD-ROM issue describes the WIND and POLAR spacecraft, the scientific experiments carried onboard, the Theoretical and Ground Based investigations which constitute the US Global Geospace Science Program and the ISTP Data Systems which support the data acquisition and analysis effort. The International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program (ISTP) Key Parameter Visualization Tool (KPVT), provided on the CD-ROM, was developed at the ISTP Science Planning and Operations Facility (SPOF). The KPVT is a generic software package for visualizing the key parameter data produced from all ISTP missions, interactively and simultaneously. The tool is designed to facilitate correlative displays of ISTP data from multiple spacecraft and instruments, and thus the selection of candidate events and data quality control. The software, written in IDL, includes a graphical/widget user interface, and runs on many platforms, including various UNIX workstations, Alpha/Open VMS, Macintosh (680x0 and PowerPC), and PC/Windows NT, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95.

International Solar-Terrestrial Program Key Parameter Visualization Tool Data: USA_NASA_DDF_ISTP_KP_0139

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ocuna, M. H.; Ogilvie, K. W.; Baker, D. N.; Curtis, S. A.; Fairfield, D. H.; Mish, W. H.

1999-01-01

The Global Geospace Science Program (GGS) is designed to improve greatly the understanding of the flow of energy, mass and momentum in the solar-terrestrial environment with particular emphasis on "Geospace". The Global Geospace Science Program is the US contribution to the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. This CD-ROM issue describes the WIND and POLAR spacecraft, the scientific experiments carried onboard, the Theoretical and Ground Based investigations which constitute the US Global Geospace Science Program and the ISTP Data Systems which support the data acquisition and analysis effort. The International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program (ISTP) Key Parameter Visualization Tool (KPVT), provided on the CD-ROM, was developed at the ISTP Science Planning and Operations Facility (SPOF). The KPVT is a generic software package for visualizing the key parameter data produced from all ISTP missions, interactively and simultaneously. The tool is designed to facilitate correlative displays of ISTP data from multiple spacecraft and instruments, and thus the selection of candidate events and data quality control. The software, written in IDL, includes a graphical/widget user interface, and runs on many platforms, including various UNIX workstations, Alpha/Open VMS, Macintosh (680x0 and PowerPC), and PC/Windows NT, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95.

International Solar-Terrestrial Program Key Parameter Visualization Tool Data: USA_NASA_DDF_ISTP_IM_KP_0185

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ocuna, M. H.; Ogilvie, K. W.; Baker, D. N.; Curtis, S. A.; Fairfield, D. H.; Mish, W. H.

2000-01-01

The Global Geospace Science Program (GGS) is designed to improve greatly the understanding of the flow of energy, mass and momentum in the solar-terrestrial environment with particular emphasis on "Geospace". The Global Geospace Science Program is the US contribution to the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. This CD-ROM issue describes the WIND and POLAR spacecraft, the scientific experiments carried onboard, the Theoretical and Ground Based investigations which constitute the US Global Geospace Science Program and the ISTP Data Systems which support the data acquisition and analysis effort. The International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program (ISTP) Key Parameter Visualization Tool (KPVT), provided on the CD-ROM, was developed at the ISTP Science Planning and Operations Facility (SPOF). The KPVT is a generic software package for visualizing the key parameter data produced from all ISTP missions, interactively and simultaneously. The tool is designed to facilitate correlative displays of ISTP data from multiple spacecraft and instruments, and thus the selection of candidate events and data quality control. The software, written in IDL, includes a graphical/widget user interface, and runs on many platforms, including various UNIX workstations, Alpha/Open VMS, Macintosh (680x0 and PowerPC), and PC/Windows NT, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95.

Separation of Powers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Margaret

1987-01-01

Describes a lesson which has students examine the limits of judicial power when executive branch decisions violate constitutional guarantees. The lesson is based on a hypothetical case involving living conditions in a run-down jail. (JDH)

So You Want to Become a Supreme Court Justice?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nicholanco, Edward

1989-01-01

Using a simulation of the constitutional procedures on appointment of U.S. Supreme Court justices, illustrates how the separation of powers established by the Constitution affects all three branches of government. Provides an outline of the simulation procedure, a lesson plan, and a brief bibliography. (LS)

Can policy analysis theories predict and inform policy change? Reflections on the battle for legal abortion in Indonesia

PubMed Central

Surjadjaja, Claudia; Mayhew, Susannah H

2011-01-01

The relevance and importance of research for understanding policy processes and influencing policies has been much debated, but studies on the effectiveness of policy theories for predicting and informing opportunities for policy change (i.e. prospective policy analysis) are rare. The case study presented in this paper is drawn from a policy analysis of a contemporary process of policy debate on legalization of abortion in Indonesia, which was in flux at the time of the research and provided a unique opportunity for prospective analysis. Applying a combination of policy analysis theories, this case study provides an analysis of processes, power and relationships between actors involved in the amendment of the Health Law in Indonesia. It uses a series of practical stakeholder mapping tools to identify power relations between key actors and what strategic approaches should be employed to manage these to enhance the possibility of policy change. The findings show how the moves to legalize abortion have been supported or constrained according to the balance of political and religious powers operating in a macro-political context defined increasingly by a polarized Islamic-authoritarian—Western-liberal agenda. The issue of reproductive health constituted a battlefield where these two ideologies met and the debate on the current health law amendment became a contest, which still continues, for the larger future of Indonesia. The findings confirm the utility of policy analysis theories and stakeholder mapping tools for predicting the likelihood of policy change and informing the strategic approaches for achieving such change. They also highlight opportunities and dilemmas in prospective policy analysis and raise questions about whether research on policy processes and actors can or should be used to inform, or even influence, policies in ‘real-time’. PMID:21183461

Can policy analysis theories predict and inform policy change? Reflections on the battle for legal abortion in Indonesia.

PubMed

Surjadjaja, Claudia; Mayhew, Susannah H

2011-09-01

The relevance and importance of research for understanding policy processes and influencing policies has been much debated, but studies on the effectiveness of policy theories for predicting and informing opportunities for policy change (i.e. prospective policy analysis) are rare. The case study presented in this paper is drawn from a policy analysis of a contemporary process of policy debate on legalization of abortion in Indonesia, which was in flux at the time of the research and provided a unique opportunity for prospective analysis. Applying a combination of policy analysis theories, this case study provides an analysis of processes, power and relationships between actors involved in the amendment of the Health Law in Indonesia. It uses a series of practical stakeholder mapping tools to identify power relations between key actors and what strategic approaches should be employed to manage these to enhance the possibility of policy change. The findings show how the moves to legalize abortion have been supported or constrained according to the balance of political and religious powers operating in a macro-political context defined increasingly by a polarized Islamic-authoritarian-Western-liberal agenda. The issue of reproductive health constituted a battlefield where these two ideologies met and the debate on the current health law amendment became a contest, which still continues, for the larger future of Indonesia. The findings confirm the utility of policy analysis theories and stakeholder mapping tools for predicting the likelihood of policy change and informing the strategic approaches for achieving such change. They also highlight opportunities and dilemmas in prospective policy analysis and raise questions about whether research on policy processes and actors can or should be used to inform, or even influence, policies in 'real-time'.

Constitution 200: A Bicentennial Collection of Essays.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hepburn, Mary A., Ed.; And Others

Constitutional essays which formed the basis of public assemblies throughout three states are compiled in this book. The first three essays consider the U.S. government principles of federalism, judicial review, and the separation of powers. Michael L. Benedict proposes that the question of ultimate sovereignty has been answered differently by…

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Emerson, Jo Ann [R-MO-8

2009-04-30

House - 06/12/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Presidents, Congress, and the Use of Force: A Critique of Presidential Powers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kittredge, Jeremiah

2003-01-01

Debates over Congressional involvement in foreign military engagements trace back to America's founding. However, a basic point still remains unresolved: does Congress have the Constitutional right to constrain presidents from unilaterally exercising force abroad? If so, is directly adhering to the Constitution a government responsibility? In…

Efficient generation of twin photons at telecom wavelengths with 2.5 GHz repetition-rate-tunable comb laser

PubMed Central

Jin, Rui-Bo; Shimizu, Ryosuke; Morohashi, Isao; Wakui, Kentaro; Takeoka, Masahiro; Izumi, Shuro; Sakamoto, Takahide; Fujiwara, Mikio; Yamashita, Taro; Miki, Shigehito; Terai, Hirotaka; Wang, Zhen; Sasaki, Masahide

2014-01-01

Efficient generation and detection of indistinguishable twin photons are at the core of quantum information and communications technology (Q-ICT). These photons are conventionally generated by spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), which is a probabilistic process, and hence occurs at a limited rate, which restricts wider applications of Q-ICT. To increase the rate, one had to excite SPDC by higher pump power, while it inevitably produced more unwanted multi-photon components, harmfully degrading quantum interference visibility. Here we solve this problem by using recently developed 10 GHz repetition-rate-tunable comb laser, combined with a group-velocity-matched nonlinear crystal, and superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. They operate at telecom wavelengths more efficiently with less noises than conventional schemes, those typically operate at visible and near infrared wavelengths generated by a 76 MHz Ti Sapphire laser and detected by Si detectors. We could show high interference visibilities, which are free from the pump-power induced degradation. Our laser, nonlinear crystal, and detectors constitute a powerful tool box, which will pave a way to implementing quantum photonics circuits with variety of good and low-cost telecom components, and will eventually realize scalable Q-ICT in optical infra-structures. PMID:25524646

29 CFR 1910.242 - Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment. ... 29 Labor 5 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general... Powered Tools and Other Hand-Held Equipment § 1910.242 Hand and portable powered tools and equipment...

29 CFR 1910.242 - Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment. ... 29 Labor 5 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general... Powered Tools and Other Hand-Held Equipment § 1910.242 Hand and portable powered tools and equipment...

Status Report on Power System Transformation: A 21st Century Power Partnership Report

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

Miller, Mackay; Martinot, Eric; Cox, Sadie

This report has three primary goals: (1) to articulate the concept of power system transformation; (2) to explore the current global landscape of ‘innovations’ that constitute power system transformation and provide evidence of how these innovations are emerging; and (3) to suggest an analytical framework for assessing the status of power system transformation on an on-going basis.

Near East/South Asia Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-10-08

defunct Pakistan People’s Party [PPP] is currently divided into many fighting factions. After martial law had been imposed on the country, the ladies of...constitutional rule from Martial Law holding on national polls at the shortest possible time on the revival of the suspended Constitution, handing over of power...constitution re human rights and writ jurisdiction of the High Court. 101 JPRS-NEA-85-128 8 October 1985 The front called for winding up of Martial Law

Claim Your Powers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Update on Law-Related Education, 1986

1986-01-01

Presents a game which has students interpret Articles I, II, and III of the U.S. Constitution to understand the allocation of powers among the 3 branches of government. The game helps students understand the interaction between the 3 branches of government, stressing the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances. (JDH)

Separation of Powers and the Legislative Power.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rossum, Ralph A.

1986-01-01

Addresses the contribution of separation of powers and checks and balances in resolving the rival defects of democratic ineptitude and majority tyranny as the Founders framed the Constitution. Contends the Founders structured the government so that the three branches could keep each other in their proper places. Discusses Anti- Federalist…

Superadiabatic Controlled Evolutions and Universal Quantum Computation.

PubMed

Santos, Alan C; Sarandy, Marcelo S

2015-10-29

Adiabatic state engineering is a powerful technique in quantum information and quantum control. However, its performance is limited by the adiabatic theorem of quantum mechanics. In this scenario, shortcuts to adiabaticity, such as provided by the superadiabatic theory, constitute a valuable tool to speed up the adiabatic quantum behavior. Here, we propose a superadiabatic route to implement universal quantum computation. Our method is based on the realization of piecewise controlled superadiabatic evolutions. Remarkably, they can be obtained by simple time-independent counter-diabatic Hamiltonians. In particular, we discuss the implementation of fast rotation gates and arbitrary n-qubit controlled gates, which can be used to design different sets of universal quantum gates. Concerning the energy cost of the superadiabatic implementation, we show that it is dictated by the quantum speed limit, providing an upper bound for the corresponding adiabatic counterparts.

Superadiabatic Controlled Evolutions and Universal Quantum Computation

PubMed Central

Santos, Alan C.; Sarandy, Marcelo S.

2015-01-01

Adiabatic state engineering is a powerful technique in quantum information and quantum control. However, its performance is limited by the adiabatic theorem of quantum mechanics. In this scenario, shortcuts to adiabaticity, such as provided by the superadiabatic theory, constitute a valuable tool to speed up the adiabatic quantum behavior. Here, we propose a superadiabatic route to implement universal quantum computation. Our method is based on the realization of piecewise controlled superadiabatic evolutions. Remarkably, they can be obtained by simple time-independent counter-diabatic Hamiltonians. In particular, we discuss the implementation of fast rotation gates and arbitrary n-qubit controlled gates, which can be used to design different sets of universal quantum gates. Concerning the energy cost of the superadiabatic implementation, we show that it is dictated by the quantum speed limit, providing an upper bound for the corresponding adiabatic counterparts. PMID:26511064

Myofiber metabolic type determination by mass spectrometry imaging.

PubMed

Centeno, Delphine; Vénien, Annie; Pujos-Guillot, Estelle; Astruc, Thierry; Chambon, Christophe; Théron, Laëtitia

2017-08-01

Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging is a powerful tool that opens new research opportunities in the field of biology. In this work, predictive model was developed to discriminate metabolic myofiber types using the MALDI spectral data. Rat skeletal muscles are constituted of type I and type IIA fiber, which have an oxidative metabolism for glycogen degradation, and type IIX and type IIB fiber which have a glycolytic metabolism, present in different proportions according to the muscle function and physiological state. So far, myofiber type is determined by histological methods that are time consuming. Thanks to the predictive model, we were able to predict not only the metabolic fiber type but also their location, on the same muscle section that was used for MALDI imaging. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Loess records

USGS Publications Warehouse

Muhs, Daniel R.; Cattle, Stephen R.; Crouvi, Onn; Rousseau, Denis-Didier; Sun, Jiimin; Zárate, Marcelo A.

2014-01-01

Loess is aeolian sediment, dominated by silt-sized particles, that is identifiable in the field as a distinct sedimentary body. It covers a significant portion of the land surface of the Earth and as such constitutes one of the most important archives of long-term dust deposition. Large tracts of loess cover Europe, Asia, South America, and North America, and smaller loess bodies are found covering parts of Africa, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia. Loess thickness, particle size, and carbonate content decrease downwind from sources, trends that are powerful tools for reconstructing paleowinds. Many loess sections consist of relatively thick deposits of mostly unaltered sediment with intercalated paleosols. Paleosols represent periods of landscape stability when loess deposition ceased or at least slowed significantly. Studies from several continents show that loess in most regions was deposited during glacial periods and paleosols formed during interglacial and interstadial periods.

Determination of the ruminant origin of bone particles using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

PubMed Central

Lecrenier, M. C.; Ledoux, Q.; Berben, G.; Fumière, O.; Saegerman, C.; Baeten, V.; Veys, P.

2014-01-01

Molecular biology techniques such as PCR constitute powerful tools for the determination of the taxonomic origin of bones. DNA degradation and contamination by exogenous DNA, however, jeopardise bone identification. Despite the vast array of techniques used to decontaminate bone fragments, the isolation and determination of bone DNA content are still problematic. Within the framework of the eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (including BSE, commonly known as “mad cow disease”), a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol was developed. Results from the described study showed that this method can be applied directly to bones without a demineralisation step and that it allows the identification of bovine and ruminant bones even after severe processing. The results also showed that the method is independent of exogenous contamination and that it is therefore entirely appropriate for this application. PMID:25034259

Determination of the ruminant origin of bone particles using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

PubMed

Lecrenier, M C; Ledoux, Q; Berben, G; Fumière, O; Saegerman, C; Baeten, V; Veys, P

2014-07-17

Molecular biology techniques such as PCR constitute powerful tools for the determination of the taxonomic origin of bones. DNA degradation and contamination by exogenous DNA, however, jeopardise bone identification. Despite the vast array of techniques used to decontaminate bone fragments, the isolation and determination of bone DNA content are still problematic. Within the framework of the eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (including BSE, commonly known as "mad cow disease"), a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol was developed. Results from the described study showed that this method can be applied directly to bones without a demineralisation step and that it allows the identification of bovine and ruminant bones even after severe processing. The results also showed that the method is independent of exogenous contamination and that it is therefore entirely appropriate for this application.

A complete active space valence bond method with nonorthogonal orbitals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirao, Kimihiko; Nakano, Haruyuki; Nakayama, Kenichi

1997-12-01

A complete active space self-consistent field (SCF) wave function is transformed into a valence bond type representation built from nonorthogonal orbitals, each strongly localized on a single atom. Nonorthogonal complete active space SCF orbitals are constructed by Ruedenberg's projected localization procedure so that they have maximal overlaps with the corresponding minimum basis set of atomic orbitals of the free-atoms. The valence bond structures which are composed of such nonorthogonal quasiatomic orbitals constitute the wave function closest to the concept of the oldest and most simple valence bond method. The method is applied to benzene, butadiene, hydrogen, and methane molecules and compared to the previously proposed complete active space valence bond approach with orthogonal orbitals. The results demonstrate the validity of the method as a powerful tool for describing the electronic structure of various molecules.

The nature and evaluation of commercial expert system building tools, revision 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gevarter, William B.

1987-01-01

This memorandum reviews the factors that constitute an Expert System Building Tool (ESBT) and evaluates current tools in terms of these factors. Evaluation of these tools is based on their structure and their alternative forms of knowledge representation, inference mechanisms and developer end-user interfaces. Next, functional capabilities, such as diagnosis and design, are related to alternative forms of mechanization. The characteristics and capabilities of existing commercial tools are then reviewed in terms of these criteria.

PERFORM 60 - Prediction of the effects of radiation for reactor pressure vessel and in-core materials using multi-scale modelling - 60 years foreseen plant lifetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leclercq, Sylvain; Lidbury, David; Van Dyck, Steven; Moinereau, Dominique; Alamo, Ana; Mazouzi, Abdou Al

2010-11-01

In nuclear power plants, materials may undergo degradation due to severe irradiation conditions that may limit their operational life. Utilities that operate these reactors need to quantify the ageing and the potential degradations of some essential structures of the power plant to ensure safe and reliable plant operation. So far, the material databases needed to take account of these degradations in the design and safe operation of installations mainly rely on long-term irradiation programs in test reactors as well as on mechanical or corrosion testing in specialized hot cells. Continuous progress in the physical understanding of the phenomena involved in irradiation damage and continuous progress in computer sciences have now made possible the development of multi-scale numerical tools able to simulate the effects of irradiation on materials microstructure. A first step towards this goal has been successfully reached through the development of the RPV-2 and Toughness Module numerical tools by the scientific community created around the FP6 PERFECT project. These tools allow to simulate irradiation effects on the constitutive behaviour of the reactor pressure vessel low alloy steel, and also on its failure properties. Relying on the existing PERFECT Roadmap, the 4 years Collaborative Project PERFORM 60 has mainly for objective to develop multi-scale tools aimed at predicting the combined effects of irradiation and corrosion on internals (austenitic stainless steels) and also to improve existing ones on RPV (bainitic steels). PERFORM 60 is based on two technical sub-projects: (i) RPV and (ii) internals. In addition to these technical sub-projects, the Users' Group and Training sub-project shall allow representatives of constructors, utilities, research organizations… from Europe, USA and Japan to receive the information and training to get their own appraisal on limits and potentialities of the developed tools. An important effort will also be made to teach young researchers in the field of materials' degradation. PERFORM 60 has officially started on March 1st, 2009 with 20 European organizations and Universities involved in the nuclear field.

Diamond tool wear detection method using cutting force and its power spectrum analysis in ultra-precision fly cutting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, G. Q.; To, S.

2014-08-01

Cutting force and its power spectrum analysis was thought to be an effective method monitoring tool wear in many cutting processes and a significant body of research has been conducted on this research area. However, relative little similar research was found in ultra-precision fly cutting. In this paper, a group of experiments were carried out to investigate the cutting forces and its power spectrum characteristics under different tool wear stages. Result reveals that the cutting force increases with the progress of tool wear. The cutting force signals under different tool wear stages were analyzed using power spectrum analysis. The analysis indicates that a characteristic frequency does exist in the power spectrum of the cutting force, whose power spectral density increases with the increasing of tool wear level, this characteristic frequency could be adopted to monitor diamond tool wear in ultra-precision fly cutting.

Radiation Mitigation and Power Optimization Design Tools for Reconfigurable Hardware in Orbit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

French, Matthew; Graham, Paul; Wirthlin, Michael; Wang, Li; Larchev, Gregory

2005-01-01

The Reconfigurable Hardware in Orbit (RHinO)project is focused on creating a set of design tools that facilitate and automate design techniques for reconfigurable computing in space, using SRAM-based field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) technology. In the second year of the project, design tools that leverage an established FPGA design environment have been created to visualize and analyze an FPGA circuit for radiation weaknesses and power inefficiencies. For radiation, a single event Upset (SEU) emulator, persistence analysis tool, and a half-latch removal tool for Xilinx/Virtex-II devices have been created. Research is underway on a persistence mitigation tool and multiple bit upsets (MBU) studies. For power, synthesis level dynamic power visualization and analysis tools have been completed. Power optimization tools are under development and preliminary test results are positive.

Enemy Combatant Detainees: Habeas Corpus Challenges in Federal Court

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-07

Authority over Federal Courts ......................................................................... 50 Separation of Powers Issues...executive and legislative branches.193 The Court stated that the separation - of - powers doctrine and the history shaping the design of the Suspension Clause...way that violates precepts of separation of powers . The doctrine of separation of powers is not found in the text of the Constitution, but has been

'Healthy Ageing' policies and anti-ageing ideologies and practices: on the exercise of responsibility.

PubMed

Cardona, Beatriz

2008-12-01

This paper explores how the exercise of the ethics of 'responsibility' for health care advanced through 'healthy ageing' and 'successful ageing' narratives in Western countries animates an array of 'authorities', including the 'anti-ageing medicine' movement as a strategy to address the anxieties of growing old in Western societies and as a tool to exercise the ethos of 'responsibility'. The choice of this type of authority as a source of guidance for self-constitution and the exercise of the 'responsible self', this paper will argue, enables the enactment of a type of late modernity notion of citizenship for ageing individuals based on principles of agelessness, health, independence and consumption power. Through interviews with anti-ageing consumers, however, it is also possible to argue the existence of tensions and contradictions that such a rigid model of self-constitution in later life produces, and the potential forms of resistance and contestations that may emerge as a result. In this way the current 'war on anti-ageing medicine' (Vincent 2003) becomes also symptomatic of bigger 'wars' taking place not only between institutions competing for control over knowledge and management of ageing, but between those in favour and against the homogenisation of life under the language of universal science, reason and market rationality.

The Growth of Originalism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bork, Robert H.

2011-01-01

The latest episode in the long-running struggle for control of the Constitution, and the political power that goes with it, is playing out in the federal courts in California. The contending philosophies are originalism, which holds that the Constitution should be read as it was originally understood by the framers and ratifiers, and the congeries…

Supreme Court Rejects Coach's Plea, Exempts NCAA from Constitution's Due-Process Requirement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lederman, Douglas

1989-01-01

The Supreme Court ruled that the National Collegiate Athletic Association is not a governmental entity, enhancing the NCAA's powers by exempting it from constitutional guarantees that governments must act according to due process of law. A dichotomy between the ability of universities to implement NCAA penalties is seen. (MLW)

Becoming Economic Subjects: Agency, Consumption and Popular Culture in Early Childhood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saltmarsh, Sue

2009-01-01

This paper considers how young children in early childhood education draw on popular texts and consumer goods in their constitution of subjectivities and social relations. The paper draws on poststructuralist theories of subjectivity, agency, consumption and power, to explore how performative practices of consumption figure in the constitution of…

The News Media and the Government: Clash of Concentrated Power.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Freedom House, Inc., New York, NY.

This document brings together news media and constitutional law specialists with past and present government officials to define the areas of conflict and the operative constitutional rules and to devise ways to maximize the flow of information to the public without destructive confrontations between the media and government. Contents include:…

29 CFR 1926.304 - Woodworking tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Tools-Hand and Power § 1926.304 Woodworking tools. (a) Disconnect switches. All fixed power driven woodworking tools shall be provided with a disconnect..., power-driven circular saws shall be equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe. The...

Powered mobility intervention: understanding the position of tool use learning as part of implementing the ALP tool.

PubMed

Nilsson, Lisbeth; Durkin, Josephine

2017-10-01

To explore the knowledge necessary for adoption and implementation of the Assessment of Learning Powered mobility use (ALP) tool in different practice settings for both adults and children. To consult with a diverse population of professionals working with adults and children, in different countries and various settings; who were learning about or using the ALP tool, as part of exploring and implementing research findings. Classical grounded theory with a rigorous comparative analysis of data from informants together with reflections on our own rich experiences of powered mobility practice and comparisons with the literature. A core category learning tool use and a new theory of cognizing tool use, with its interdependent properties: motivation, confidence, permissiveness, attentiveness and co-construction has emerged which explains in greater depth what enables the application of the ALP tool. The scientific knowledge base on tool use learning and the new theory conveys the information necessary for practitioner's cognizing how to apply the learning approach of the ALP tool in order to enable tool use learning through powered mobility practice as a therapeutic intervention in its own right. This opens up the possibility for more children and adults to have access to learning through powered mobility practice. Implications for rehabilitation Tool use learning through powered mobility practice is a therapeutic intervention in its own right. Powered mobility practice can be used as a rehabilitation tool with individuals who may not need to become powered wheelchair users. Motivation, confidence, permissiveness, attentiveness and co-construction are key properties for enabling the application of the learning approach of the ALP tool. Labelling and the use of language, together with honing observational skills through viewing video footage, are key to developing successful learning partnerships.

Lincoln's Spot Resolutions. Teaching with Documents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC.

Tension has existed between the legislative and the executive branches of the U.S. government over war powers since the United States Constitution simultaneously vested Congress with the power to declare war and the President with the power of Commander in Chief. When Texas declared its independence and claimed additional territory to the Rio…

Enemy Combatant Detainees: Habeas Corpus Challenges in Federal Court

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-25

40 Separation of Powers Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Eliminating...specifically intended to grant the authority of the President to adjudicate or remedy treaty violations could violate the doctrine of separation of powers , as...not serve to insulate such legislation from constitutional scrutiny. Separation of Powers Issues It is also clear that Congress may not exercise its

Spacecraft Electrical Power System (EPS) generic analysis tools and techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, Gladys M.; Sheppard, Mark A.

1992-01-01

An overview is provided of the analysis tools and techiques used in modeling the Space Station Freedom electrical power system, as well as future space vehicle power systems. The analysis capabilities of the Electrical Power System (EPS) are described and the EPS analysis tools are surveyed.

30 CFR 56.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 56.14116 Section 56... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-SURFACE METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 56.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 56.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 56.14116 Section 56... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-SURFACE METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 56.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 56.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 56.14116 Section 56... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-SURFACE METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 56.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 57.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 57.14116 Section 57... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-UNDERGROUND METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 57.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 56.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 56.14116 Section 56... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-SURFACE METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 56.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 57.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 57.14116 Section 57... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-UNDERGROUND METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 57.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 57.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 57.14116 Section 57... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-UNDERGROUND METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 57.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 56.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 56.14116 Section 56... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-SURFACE METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 56.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 57.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 57.14116 Section 57... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-UNDERGROUND METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 57.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

30 CFR 57.14116 - Hand-held power tools.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Hand-held power tools. 57.14116 Section 57... MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-UNDERGROUND METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Machinery and Equipment Safety Devices and Maintenance Requirements § 57.14116 Hand-held power tools. (a) Power drills...

Power Plant Model Validation Tool

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

The PPMV is used to validate generator model using disturbance recordings. The PPMV tool contains a collection of power plant models and model validation studies, as well as disturbance recordings from a number of historic grid events. The user can import data from a new disturbance into the database, which converts PMU and SCADA data into GE PSLF format, and then run the tool to validate (or invalidate) the model for a specific power plant against its actual performance. The PNNL PPMV tool enables the automation of the process of power plant model validation using disturbance recordings. The tool usesmore » PMU and SCADA measurements as input information. The tool automatically adjusts all required EPCL scripts and interacts with GE PSLF in the batch mode. The main tool features includes: The tool interacts with GE PSLF; The tool uses GE PSLF Play-In Function for generator model validation; Database of projects (model validation studies); Database of the historic events; Database of the power plant; The tool has advanced visualization capabilities; and The tool automatically generates reports« less

Jacobson v Massachusetts at 100 Years: Police Power and Civil Liberties in Tension

PubMed Central

Gostin, Lawrence O.

2005-01-01

A century ago, the US Supreme Court in Jacobson v Massachusetts upheld the exercise of the police power to protect the public’s health. Despite intervening scientific and legal advances, public health practitioners still struggle with Jacobson’s basic tension between individual liberty and the common good. In affirming Massachusetts’ compulsory vaccination law, the Court established a floor of constitutional protections that consists of 4 standards: necessity, reasonable means, proportionality, and harm avoidance. Under Jacobson, the courts are to support public health matters insofar as these standards are respected. If the Court today were to decide Jacobson once again, the analysis would likely differ—to account for developments in constitutional law—but the outcome would certainly reaffirm the basic power of government to safeguard the public’s health. PMID:15798112

[Perspectives of an existential interdisciplinary body theory].

PubMed

Kühn, R

1990-01-01

The existence analytical inquiry has developed corporal models that admit in their integrative-anthropological form fertile comparisons with a phenomenological radical immanence-philosophy of the constitution. The "body as partner" (W. Blankenburg) and the not objectivitical measurable connection of the "figure- and functionbody" contain estimates, to understand the body as living "I can" (Maine de Biran; Husserl) that means as really final subjectivity, ipseity or "soul", like the french phenomenologist Michel Henry from the creature of the not secularized affectivity has analyzed. With that the remained rests of the still from world categories imaginaried connection get powered (transcendence, sensuousness, settlement by Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Schütz for example) to conceive the body as not inferable absolute origin being. Seen interdisciplinary there from results a new foundation for an evidence as constitution-comprehension, that can psychological like therapeutical the pathogenous for instance theoretical world/constitution/soul-distortions help over-power.

A Lyapunov Function Based Remedial Action Screening Tool Using Real-Time Data

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

Mitra, Joydeep; Ben-Idris, Mohammed; Faruque, Omar

This report summarizes the outcome of a research project that comprised the development of a Lyapunov function based remedial action screening tool using real-time data (L-RAS). The L-RAS is an advanced computational tool that is intended to assist system operators in making real-time redispatch decisions to preserve power grid stability. The tool relies on screening contingencies using a homotopy method based on Lyapunov functions to avoid, to the extent possible, the use of time domain simulations. This enables transient stability evaluation at real-time speed without the use of massively parallel computational resources. The project combined the following components. 1. Developmentmore » of a methodology for contingency screening using a homotopy method based on Lyapunov functions and real-time data. 2. Development of a methodology for recommending remedial actions based on the screening results. 3. Development of a visualization and operator interaction interface. 4. Testing of screening tool, validation of control actions, and demonstration of project outcomes on a representative real system simulated on a Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) cluster. The project was led by Michigan State University (MSU), where the theoretical models including homotopy-based screening, trajectory correction using real-time data, and remedial action were developed and implemented in the form of research-grade software. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) contributed to the development of energy margin sensitivity dynamics, which constituted a part of the remedial action portfolio. Florida State University (FSU) and Southern California Edison (SCE) developed a model of the SCE system that was implemented on FSU's RTDS cluster to simulate real-time data that was streamed over the internet to MSU where the L-RAS tool was executed and remedial actions were communicated back to FSU to execute stabilizing controls on the simulated system. LCG Consulting developed the visualization and operator interaction interface, based on specifications provided by MSU. The project was performed from October 2012 to December 2016, at the end of which the L-RAS tool, as described above, was completed and demonstrated. The project resulted in the following innovations and contributions: (a) the L-RAS software prototype, tested on a simulated system, vetted by utility personnel, and potentially ready for wider testing and commercialization; (b) an RTDS-based test bed that can be used for future research in the field; (c) a suite of breakthrough theoretical contributions to the field of power system stability and control; and (d) a new tool for visualization of power system stability margins. While detailed descriptions of the development and implementation of the various project components have been provided in the quarterly reports, this final report provides an overview of the complete project, and is demonstrated using public domain test systems commonly used in the literature. The SCE system, and demonstrations thereon, are not included in this report due to Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII) restrictions.« less

Increased Ratio of Electron Transport to Net Assimilation Rate Supports Elevated Isoprenoid Emission Rate in Eucalypts under Drought1[W][OPEN

PubMed Central

Dani, Kaidala Ganesha Srikanta; Jamie, Ian McLeod; Prentice, Iain Colin; Atwell, Brian James

2014-01-01

Plants undergoing heat and low-CO2 stresses emit large amounts of volatile isoprenoids compared with those in stress-free conditions. One hypothesis posits that the balance between reducing power availability and its use in carbon assimilation determines constitutive isoprenoid emission rates in plants and potentially even their maximum emission capacity under brief periods of stress. To test this, we used abiotic stresses to manipulate the availability of reducing power. Specifically, we examined the effects of mild to severe drought on photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) and net carbon assimilation rate (NAR) and the relationship between estimated energy pools and constitutive volatile isoprenoid emission rates in two species of eucalypts: Eucalyptus occidentalis (drought tolerant) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (drought sensitive). Isoprenoid emission rates were insensitive to mild drought, and the rates increased when the decline in NAR reached a certain species-specific threshold. ETR was sustained under drought and the ETR-NAR ratio increased, driving constitutive isoprenoid emission until severe drought caused carbon limitation of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway. The estimated residual reducing power unused for carbon assimilation, based on the energetic status model, significantly correlated with constitutive isoprenoid emission rates across gradients of drought (r2 > 0.8) and photorespiratory stress (r2 > 0.9). Carbon availability could critically limit emission rates under severe drought and photorespiratory stresses. Under most instances of moderate abiotic stress levels, increased isoprenoid emission rates compete with photorespiration for the residual reducing power not invested in carbon assimilation. A similar mechanism also explains the individual positive effects of low-CO2, heat, and drought stresses on isoprenoid emission. PMID:25139160

Engineering Property Prediction Tools for Tailored Polymer Composite Structures (49465)

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

Nguyen, Ba Nghiep; Kunc, Vlastimil

2009-12-29

Process and constitutive models as well as characterization tools and testing methods were developed to determine stress-strain responses, damage development, strengths and creep of long-fiber thermoplastics (LFTs). The developed models were implemented in Moldflow and ABAQUS and have been validated against LFT data obtained experimentally.

Laboratory Resources Management in Manufacturing Systems Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Obi, Samuel C.

2004-01-01

Most, if not all, industrial technology (IT) programs have laboratories or workshops. Often equipped with modern equipment, tools, materials, and measurement and test instruments, these facilities constitute a major investment for IT programs. Improper use or over use of program facilities may result in dirty lab equipment, lost or damaged tools,…

Contingency diagrams as teaching tools.

PubMed

Mattaini, M A

1995-01-01

Contingency diagrams are particularly effective teaching tools, because they provide a means for students to view the complexities of contingency networks present in natural and laboratory settings while displaying the elementary processes that constitute those networks. This paper sketches recent developments in this visualization technology and illustrates approaches for using contingency diagrams in teaching.

EMU battery/SMM power tool characterization study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palandati, C.

1982-01-01

The power tool which will be used to replace the attitude control system in the SMM spacecraft was modified to operate from a self contained battery. The extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) battery was tested for the power tool application. The results are that the EMU battery is capable of operating the power tool within the pulse current range of 2.0 to 15.0 amperes and battery temperature range of -10 to 40 degrees Celsius.

U.S. v. "Providence Journal": The First Amendment and the Constitutionality of Enforcing Unconstitutional Orders.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Labunski, Richard

Serious constitutional problems arise when the contempt power of judges clashes with other compelling interests such as those of the First Amendment. The "collateral bar" rule--which requires that court orders, even those later determined to be unconstitutional, must be complied with until amended or vacated--in effect, calls for…

Seeing red; the development of pON.mCherry, a broad-host range constitutive expression plasmid for Gram-negative bacteria.

PubMed

Gebhardt, Michael J; Jacobson, Rachael K; Shuman, Howard A

2017-01-01

The development of plasmid-mediated gene expression control in bacteria revolutionized the field of bacteriology. Many of these expression control systems rely on the addition of small molecules, generally metabolites or non-metabolized analogs thereof, to the growth medium to induce expression of the genes of interest. The paradigmatic example of an expression control system is the lac system from Escherichia coli, which typically relies on the Ptac promoter and the Lac repressor, LacI. In many cases, however, constitutive gene expression is desired, and other experimental approaches require the coordinated control of multiple genes. While multiple systems have been developed for use in E. coli and its close relatives, the utility and/or functionality of these tools does not always translate to other species. For example, for the Gram-negative pathogen, Legionella pneumophila, a causative agent of Legionnaires' Disease, the aforementioned Ptac system represents the only well-established expression control system. In order to enhance the tools available to study bacterial gene expression in L. pneumophila, we developed a plasmid, pON.mCherry, which confers constitutive gene expression from a mutagenized LacI binding site. We demonstrate that pON.mCherry neither interferes with other plasmids harboring an intact LacI-Ptac expression system nor alters the growth of Legionella species during intracellular growth. Furthermore, the broad-host range plasmid backbone of pON.mCherry allows constitutive gene expression in a wide variety of Gram-negative bacterial species, making pON.mCherry a useful tool for the greater research community.

TATES: Efficient Multivariate Genotype-Phenotype Analysis for Genome-Wide Association Studies

PubMed Central

van der Sluis, Sophie; Posthuma, Danielle; Dolan, Conor V.

2013-01-01

To date, the genome-wide association study (GWAS) is the primary tool to identify genetic variants that cause phenotypic variation. As GWAS analyses are generally univariate in nature, multivariate phenotypic information is usually reduced to a single composite score. This practice often results in loss of statistical power to detect causal variants. Multivariate genotype–phenotype methods do exist but attain maximal power only in special circumstances. Here, we present a new multivariate method that we refer to as TATES (Trait-based Association Test that uses Extended Simes procedure), inspired by the GATES procedure proposed by Li et al (2011). For each component of a multivariate trait, TATES combines p-values obtained in standard univariate GWAS to acquire one trait-based p-value, while correcting for correlations between components. Extensive simulations, probing a wide variety of genotype–phenotype models, show that TATES's false positive rate is correct, and that TATES's statistical power to detect causal variants explaining 0.5% of the variance can be 2.5–9 times higher than the power of univariate tests based on composite scores and 1.5–2 times higher than the power of the standard MANOVA. Unlike other multivariate methods, TATES detects both genetic variants that are common to multiple phenotypes and genetic variants that are specific to a single phenotype, i.e. TATES provides a more complete view of the genetic architecture of complex traits. As the actual causal genotype–phenotype model is usually unknown and probably phenotypically and genetically complex, TATES, available as an open source program, constitutes a powerful new multivariate strategy that allows researchers to identify novel causal variants, while the complexity of traits is no longer a limiting factor. PMID:23359524

Enemy Combatant Detainees: Habeas Corpus Challenges in Federal Court

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-26

Separation of Powers Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Eliminating Federal Court Jurisdiction Where There...specifically intended to grant the authority of the President to adjudicate or remedy treaty violations could violate the doctrine of separation of powers , as...does not serve to insulate such legislation from constitutional scrutiny. Separation of Powers Issues It is also clear that Congress may not

Power in Play: A Foucauldian Reading of A.O. Soyinka's "The Trials of Brother Jero"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davoodifar, Mahboobeh; Asl, Moussa Pourya

2015-01-01

This work utilizes Foucault's articulations on the power strategies of our contemporary society. To him the subject's constitution is never a purely passive effect of power on the subject but requires the subject's own activity. This necessitates the existence of a dynamic, mutually affecting relationship, implying that one can be both dominated…

Gene Scanning of an Internalin B Gene Fragment Using High-Resolution Melting Curve Analysis as a Tool for Rapid Typing of Listeria monocytogenes

PubMed Central

Pietzka, Ariane T.; Stöger, Anna; Huhulescu, Steliana; Allerberger, Franz; Ruppitsch, Werner

2011-01-01

The ability to accurately track Listeria monocytogenes strains involved in outbreaks is essential for control and prevention of listeriosis. Because current typing techniques are time-consuming, cost-intensive, technically demanding, and difficult to standardize, we developed a rapid and cost-effective method for typing of L. monocytogenes. In all, 172 clinical L. monocytogenes isolates and 20 isolates from culture collections were typed by high-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis of a specific locus of the internalin B gene (inlB). All obtained HRM curve profiles were verified by sequence analysis. The 192 tested L. monocytogenes isolates yielded 15 specific HRM curve profiles. Sequence analysis revealed that these 15 HRM curve profiles correspond to 18 distinct inlB sequence types. The HRM curve profiles obtained correlated with the five phylogenetic groups I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, and III. Thus, HRM curve analysis constitutes an inexpensive assay and represents an improvement in typing relative to classical serotyping or multiplex PCR typing protocols. This method provides a rapid and powerful screening tool for simultaneous preliminary typing of up to 384 samples in approximately 2 hours. PMID:21227395

HC Forum®: a web site based on an international human cytogenetic database

PubMed Central

Cohen, Olivier; Mermet, Marie-Ange; Demongeot, Jacques

2001-01-01

Familial structural rearrangements of chromosomes represent a factor of malformation risk that could vary over a large range, making genetic counseling difficult. However, they also represent a powerful tool for increasing knowledge of the genome, particularly by studying breakpoints and viable imbalances of the genome. We have developed a collaborative database that now includes data on more than 4100 families, from which we have developed a web site called HC Forum® (http://HCForum.imag.fr). It offers geneticists assistance in diagnosis and in genetic counseling by assessing the malformation risk with statistical models. For researchers, interactive interfaces exhibit the distribution of chromosomal breakpoints and of the genome regions observed at birth in trisomy or in monosomy. Dedicated tools including an interactive pedigree allow electronic submission of data, which will be anonymously shown in a forum for discussions. After validation, data are definitively registered in the database with the email of the sender, allowing direct location of biological material. Thus HC Forum® constitutes a link between diagnosis laboratories and genome research centers, and after 1 year, more than 700 users from about 40 different countries already exist. PMID:11125121

Assessment of a targeted resequencing assay as a support tool in the diagnosis of lysosomal storage disorders

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background With over 50 different disorders and a combined incidence of up to 1/3000 births, lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) constitute a major public health problem and place an enormous burden on affected individuals and their families. Many factors make LSD diagnosis difficult, including phenotype and penetrance variability, shared signs and symptoms, and problems inherent to biochemical diagnosis. Developing a powerful diagnostic tool could mitigate the protracted diagnostic process for these families, lead to better outcomes for current and proposed therapies, and provide the basis for more appropriate genetic counseling. Methods We have designed a targeted resequencing assay for the simultaneous testing of 57 lysosomal genes, using in-solution capture as the enrichment method and two different sequencing platforms. A total of 84 patients with high to moderate-or low suspicion index for LSD were enrolled in different centers in Spain and Portugal, including 18 positive controls. Results We correctly diagnosed 18 positive blinded controls, provided genetic diagnosis to 25 potential LSD patients, and ended with 18 diagnostic odysseys. Conclusion We report the assessment of a next–generation-sequencing-based approach as an accessory tool in the diagnosis of LSDs, a group of disorders which have overlapping clinical profiles and genetic heterogeneity. We have also identified and quantified the strengths and limitations of next generation sequencing (NGS) technology applied to diagnosis. PMID:24767253

[Health and gender relations: a reflection on the challenges for the implementation of public policies for health care for indigenous women].

PubMed

Ferreira, Luciane Ouriques

2013-04-01

This article presents some contrasts that exist between the discourses of public policies concerning women's health care, especially with respect to indigenous women, and the ethnological discourse which emphasizes the specificity of gender relations within indigenous societies. We worked on the assumption that the development of these public policies as well as the organization of health care services offered, which in fact are necessary, have a transforming effect on prevailing gender relations within Amerindian Societies. On the one hand, gender relations between indigenous people are associated with the domains of kinship and corporeality. On the other hand, the process of creating public policies, by means of biomedical intervention and the medicalization of the female body, constitutes a powerful tool for body modeling and the construction of subjectivities contributing to making women worthy of citizenship. The female gender is under discussion and its content is being negotiated.

PLUM: Parallel Load Balancing for Unstructured Adaptive Meshes. Degree awarded by Colorado Univ.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliker, Leonid

1998-01-01

Dynamic mesh adaption on unstructured grids is a powerful tool for computing large-scale problems that require grid modifications to efficiently resolve solution features. By locally refining and coarsening the mesh to capture physical phenomena of interest, such procedures make standard computational methods more cost effective. Unfortunately, an efficient parallel implementation of these adaptive methods is rather difficult to achieve, primarily due to the load imbalance created by the dynamically-changing nonuniform grid. This requires significant communication at runtime, leading to idle processors and adversely affecting the total execution time. Nonetheless, it is generally thought that unstructured adaptive- grid techniques will constitute a significant fraction of future high-performance supercomputing. Various dynamic load balancing methods have been reported to date; however, most of them either lack a global view of loads across processors or do not apply their techniques to realistic large-scale applications.

Real-space grids and the Octopus code as tools for the development of new simulation approaches for electronic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrade, Xavier; Strubbe, David; De Giovannini, Umberto; Larsen, Ask Hjorth; Oliveira, Micael J. T.; Alberdi-Rodriguez, Joseba; Varas, Alejandro; Theophilou, Iris; Helbig, Nicole; Verstraete, Matthieu J.; Stella, Lorenzo; Nogueira, Fernando; Aspuru-Guzik, Alán; Castro, Alberto; Marques, Miguel A. L.; Rubio, Angel

Real-space grids are a powerful alternative for the simulation of electronic systems. One of the main advantages of the approach is the flexibility and simplicity of working directly in real space where the different fields are discretized on a grid, combined with competitive numerical performance and great potential for parallelization. These properties constitute a great advantage at the time of implementing and testing new physical models. Based on our experience with the Octopus code, in this article we discuss how the real-space approach has allowed for the recent development of new ideas for the simulation of electronic systems. Among these applications are approaches to calculate response properties, modeling of photoemission, optimal control of quantum systems, simulation of plasmonic systems, and the exact solution of the Schr\\"odinger equation for low-dimensionality systems.

A multi target approach to control chemical reactions in their inhomogeneous solvent environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keefer, Daniel; Thallmair, Sebastian; Zauleck, Julius P. P.; de Vivie-Riedle, Regina

2015-12-01

Shaped laser pulses offer a powerful tool to manipulate molecular quantum systems. Their application to chemical reactions in solution is a promising concept to redesign chemical synthesis. Along this road, theoretical developments to include the solvent surrounding are necessary. An appropriate theoretical treatment is helpful to understand the underlying mechanisms. In our approach we simulate the solvent by randomly selected snapshots from molecular dynamics trajectories. We use multi target optimal control theory to optimize pulses for the various arrangements of explicit solvent molecules simultaneously. This constitutes a major challenge for the control algorithm, as the solvent configurations introduce a large inhomogeneity to the potential surfaces. We investigate how the algorithm handles the new challenges and how well the controllability of the system is preserved with increasing complexity. Additionally, we introduce a way to statistically estimate the efficiency of the optimized laser pulses in the complete thermodynamical ensemble.

Synchronization of random bit generators based on coupled chaotic lasers and application to cryptography.

PubMed

Kanter, Ido; Butkovski, Maria; Peleg, Yitzhak; Zigzag, Meital; Aviad, Yaara; Reidler, Igor; Rosenbluh, Michael; Kinzel, Wolfgang

2010-08-16

Random bit generators (RBGs) constitute an important tool in cryptography, stochastic simulations and secure communications. The later in particular has some difficult requirements: high generation rate of unpredictable bit strings and secure key-exchange protocols over public channels. Deterministic algorithms generate pseudo-random number sequences at high rates, however, their unpredictability is limited by the very nature of their deterministic origin. Recently, physical RBGs based on chaotic semiconductor lasers were shown to exceed Gbit/s rates. Whether secure synchronization of two high rate physical RBGs is possible remains an open question. Here we propose a method, whereby two fast RBGs based on mutually coupled chaotic lasers, are synchronized. Using information theoretic analysis we demonstrate security against a powerful computational eavesdropper, capable of noiseless amplification, where all parameters are publicly known. The method is also extended to secure synchronization of a small network of three RBGs.

Phase Transitions and Scaling in Systems Far from Equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Täuber, Uwe C.

2017-03-01

Scaling ideas and renormalization group approaches proved crucial for a deep understanding and classification of critical phenomena in thermal equilibrium. Over the past decades, these powerful conceptual and mathematical tools were extended to continuous phase transitions separating distinct nonequilibrium stationary states in driven classical and quantum systems. In concordance with detailed numerical simulations and laboratory experiments, several prominent dynamical universality classes have emerged that govern large-scale, long-time scaling properties both near and far from thermal equilibrium. These pertain to genuine specific critical points as well as entire parameter space regions for steady states that display generic scale invariance. The exploration of nonstationary relaxation properties and associated physical aging scaling constitutes a complementary potent means to characterize cooperative dynamics in complex out-of-equilibrium systems. This review describes dynamic scaling features through paradigmatic examples that include near-equilibrium critical dynamics, driven lattice gases and growing interfaces, correlation-dominated reaction-diffusion systems, and basic epidemic models.

Fermi-edge transmission resonance in graphene driven by a single Coulomb impurity.

PubMed

Karnatak, Paritosh; Goswami, Srijit; Kochat, Vidya; Pal, Atindra Nath; Ghosh, Arindam

2014-07-11

The interaction between the Fermi sea of conduction electrons and a nonadiabatic attractive impurity potential can lead to a power-law divergence in the tunneling probability of charge through the impurity. The resulting effect, known as the Fermi edge singularity (FES), constitutes one of the most fundamental many-body phenomena in quantum solid state physics. Here we report the first observation of FES for Dirac fermions in graphene driven by isolated Coulomb impurities in the conduction channel. In high-mobility graphene devices on hexagonal boron nitride substrates, the FES manifests in abrupt changes in conductance with a large magnitude ≈e(2)/h at resonance, indicating total many-body screening of a local Coulomb impurity with fluctuating charge occupancy. Furthermore, we exploit the extreme sensitivity of graphene to individual Coulomb impurities and demonstrate a new defect-spectroscopy tool to investigate strongly correlated phases in graphene in the quantum Hall regime.

Development and testing of aluminum micro channel heat sink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumaraguruparan, G.; Sornakumar, T.

2010-06-01

Microchannel heat sinks constitute an innovative cooling technology for the removal of a large amount of heat from a small area and are suitable for electronics cooling. In the present work, Tool Steel D2 grade milling slitting saw type plain milling cutter is fabricated The microchannels are machined in aluminum work pieces to form the microchannel heat sink using the fabricated milling cutter in an horizontal milling machine. A new experimental set-up is fabricated to conduct the tests on the microchannel heat sink. The heat carried by the water increases with mass flow rate and heat input. The heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number increases with mass flow rate and increased heat input. The pressure drop increases with Reynolds number and decreases with input heat. The friction factor decreases with Reynolds number and decreases with input heat. The thermal resistance decreases with pumping power and decreases with input heat.

Proposed in situ secondary ion mass spectrometry on Mars.

PubMed

Inglebert, R L; Klossa, B; Lorin, J C; Thomas, R

1995-01-01

Secondary ion mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical tool, which has the potentiality, through molecular ion emission, of detecting minor phases, as well as the unique capability of directly measuring isotope abundances in mineral or organic phases without any prior physical, chemical or thermal processing. Applied to the in situ analysis of the Martian regolith, it can provide evidence of the presence of carbonates and, by inference (if carbonates constitute significant deposits), of past liquid water--a necessary condition for the development of life. In addition, oxygen isotopic composition of carbonates preserves a record of the temperature at which this phase precipitated and may therefore help decipher the past climatology of Mars. Detection of a carbon isotopic composition shift between carbonates and organic matter (on Earth, the result of a kinetic fractionation effect during photosynthesis) would provide a definite clue regarding the existence of a past biochemical activity on Mars.

Determination of nutritional parameters of yoghurts by FT Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czaja, Tomasz; Baranowska, Maria; Mazurek, Sylwester; Szostak, Roman

2018-05-01

FT-Raman quantitative analysis of nutritional parameters of yoghurts was performed with the help of partial least squares models. The relative standard errors of prediction for fat, lactose and protein determination in the quantified commercial samples equalled to 3.9, 3.2 and 3.6%, respectively. Models based on attenuated total reflectance spectra of the liquid yoghurt samples and of dried yoghurt films collected with the single reflection diamond accessory showed relative standard errors of prediction values of 1.6-5.0% and 2.7-5.2%, respectively, for the analysed components. Despite a relatively low signal-to-noise ratio in the obtained spectra, Raman spectroscopy, combined with chemometrics, constitutes a fast and powerful tool for macronutrients quantification in yoghurts. Errors received for attenuated total reflectance method were found to be relatively higher than those for Raman spectroscopy due to inhomogeneity of the analysed samples.

Constitutional Issues: Separation of Powers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, Leslie; Burroughs, Wynell

1987-01-01

Using a copy of a February 1937 letter from the publisher of the Gannett newspapers as a discussion springboard, this article provides historical background and teaching suggestions for addressing the issue of the separation of powers through Franklin Roosevelt's attempt to 'pack' the Supreme Court. (JDH)

Detention of U.S. Citizens

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-04-28

Detention of U.S. Citizens Louis Fisher Senior Specialist in Separation of Powers Government and Finance Division Summary In 1971, Congress passed...Hence the amendment also has the consequence of doing patent violence to the constitutional principle of separation of powers .” Id. at 31542

Development of Asset Management Decision Support Tools for Power Equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okamoto, Tatsuki; Takahashi, Tsuguhiro

Development of asset management decision support tools become very intensive in order to reduce maintenance cost of power equipment due to the liberalization of power business. This article reviews some aspects of present status of asset management decision support tools development for power equipment based on the papers published in international conferences, domestic conventions, and several journals.

War Powers Litigation Initiated by Members of Congress Since the Enactment of the War Powers Resolution

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-17

separation of powers . Prominent on the surface of any case held to involve a political question is found a textually demonstrable constitutional...and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia again affirmed. The district court stated as a predicate that the separation of powers doctrine...grave separation of powers issues” and observed that courts traditionally have been reluctant “to intercede in disputes between the political

Astronomical algorithms for automated analysis of tissue protein expression in breast cancer

PubMed Central

Ali, H R; Irwin, M; Morris, L; Dawson, S-J; Blows, F M; Provenzano, E; Mahler-Araujo, B; Pharoah, P D; Walton, N A; Brenton, J D; Caldas, C

2013-01-01

Background: High-throughput evaluation of tissue biomarkers in oncology has been greatly accelerated by the widespread use of tissue microarrays (TMAs) and immunohistochemistry. Although TMAs have the potential to facilitate protein expression profiling on a scale to rival experiments of tumour transcriptomes, the bottleneck and imprecision of manually scoring TMAs has impeded progress. Methods: We report image analysis algorithms adapted from astronomy for the precise automated analysis of IHC in all subcellular compartments. The power of this technique is demonstrated using over 2000 breast tumours and comparing quantitative automated scores against manual assessment by pathologists. Results: All continuous automated scores showed good correlation with their corresponding ordinal manual scores. For oestrogen receptor (ER), the correlation was 0.82, P<0.0001, for BCL2 0.72, P<0.0001 and for HER2 0.62, P<0.0001. Automated scores showed excellent concordance with manual scores for the unsupervised assignment of cases to ‘positive' or ‘negative' categories with agreement rates of up to 96%. Conclusion: The adaptation of astronomical algorithms coupled with their application to large annotated study cohorts, constitutes a powerful tool for the realisation of the enormous potential of digital pathology. PMID:23329232

Co-Cultivation—A Powerful Emerging Tool for Enhancing the Chemical Diversity of Microorganisms

PubMed Central

Marmann, Andreas; Aly, Amal H.; Lin, Wenhan; Wang, Bingui; Proksch, Peter

2014-01-01

Marine-derived bacteria and fungi are promising sources of novel bioactive compounds that are important for drug discovery programs. However, as encountered in terrestrial microorganisms there is a high rate of redundancy that results in the frequent re-discovery of known compounds. Apparently only a part of the biosynthetic genes that are harbored by fungi and bacteria are transcribed under routine laboratory conditions which involve cultivation of axenic microbial strains. Many biosynthetic genes remain silent and are not expressed in vitro thereby seriously limiting the chemical diversity of microbial compounds that can be obtained through fermentation. In contrast to this, co-cultivation (also called mixed fermentation) of two or more different microorganisms tries to mimic the ecological situation where microorganisms always co-exist within complex microbial communities. The competition or antagonism experienced during co-cultivation is shown to lead to a significantly enhanced production of constitutively present compounds and/or to an accumulation of cryptic compounds that are not detected in axenic cultures of the producing strain. This review highlights the power of co-cultivation for increasing the chemical diversity of bacteria and fungi drawing on published studies from the marine and from the terrestrial habitat alike. PMID:24549204

Generalized constitutive equations for piezo-actuated compliant mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Junyi; Ling, Mingxiang; Inman, Daniel J.; Lin, Jin

2016-09-01

This paper formulates analytical models to describe the static displacement and force interactions between generic serial-parallel compliant mechanisms and their loads by employing the matrix method. In keeping with the familiar piezoelectric constitutive equations, the generalized constitutive equations of compliant mechanism represent the input-output displacement and force relations in the form of a generalized Hooke’s law and as analytical functions of physical parameters. Also significantly, a new model of output displacement for compliant mechanism interacting with piezo-stacks and elastic loads is deduced based on the generalized constitutive equations. Some original findings differing from the well-known constitutive performance of piezo-stacks are also given. The feasibility of the proposed models is confirmed by finite element analysis and by experiments under various elastic loads. The analytical models can be an insightful tool for predicting and optimizing the performance of a wide class of compliant mechanisms that simultaneously consider the influence of loads and piezo-stacks.

PC Software graphics tool for conceptual design of space/planetary electrical power systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Truong, Long V.

1995-01-01

This paper describes the Decision Support System (DSS), a personal computer software graphics tool for designing conceptual space and/or planetary electrical power systems. By using the DSS, users can obtain desirable system design and operating parameters, such as system weight, electrical distribution efficiency, and bus power. With this tool, a large-scale specific power system was designed in a matter of days. It is an excellent tool to help designers make tradeoffs between system components, hardware architectures, and operation parameters in the early stages of the design cycle. The DSS is a user-friendly, menu-driven tool with online help and a custom graphical user interface. An example design and results are illustrated for a typical space power system with multiple types of power sources, frequencies, energy storage systems, and loads.

3 CFR 8862 - Proclamation 8862 of September 13, 2012. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... world. It has vested in each of us the power to appeal to principles that could broaden democracy's... centuries, our country has drawn enterprising men and women from around the world—individuals who have... land and ocean because of the belief that, in America, all things are possible. As a new group of...

The Nature of the Future: A Primer for Strategic Planning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vaughan, Jerry, Sr.

The anticipation of the future has been the basis of conflict between people's dreams and the power that people have felt that they have had to act on their dreams. In a practical translation, the future, in the present, is constituted from at least some of the traditional elements of the past. However, the future is mainly constituted in the…

Watergate: A Teaching Unit. Curriculum Project Report No. 4040. Experimental Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malament, Elizabeth E.

Because Watergate tested the strength of the U.S. constitutional system and proved that it worked, this unit could serve as a focal point for study of the U.S. Constitution. The three objectives of the document are: (1) to expand knowledge of the governance process through study of the separation of powers, the impeachment process, the right to…

The Fed and the U.S. Constitution: Too Much Independence?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suiter, Mary C.; Schug, Mark C.

2012-01-01

Central banking in the United States has a long and controversial history dating back to the earliest days of the republic. One of the most widely presented arguments against a central bank has been that the U.S. Constitution does not expressly grant the federal government power to charter a bank. Recently, this issue has received new scrutiny in…

FORUM: Instructional Communication and Millennial Students: The Power of Language: A Constitutive Response to Millennial Student Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rudick, Kyle C.; Ellison, Scott

2016-01-01

In response to the articles in this forum, the authors write that they were struck by the way most of the authors assumed that generations are stable entities characterized by readily identifiable factors, such as age, attitudes or circumstances. Following a constitutive philosophy of communication and instruction (Fassett & Warren, 2007;…

The environment power system analysis tool development program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jongeward, Gary A.; Kuharski, Robert A.; Kennedy, Eric M.; Stevens, N. John; Putnam, Rand M.; Roche, James C.; Wilcox, Katherine G.

1990-01-01

The Environment Power System Analysis Tool (EPSAT) is being developed to provide space power system design engineers with an analysis tool for determining system performance of power systems in both naturally occurring and self-induced environments. The program is producing an easy to use computer aided engineering (CAE) tool general enough to provide a vehicle for technology transfer from space scientists and engineers to power system design engineers. The results of the project after two years of a three year development program are given. The EPSAT approach separates the CAE tool into three distinct functional units: a modern user interface to present information, a data dictionary interpreter to coordinate analysis; and a data base for storing system designs and results of analysis.

Nanoindentation characterisation of human colorectal cancer cells considering cell geometry, surface roughness and hyperelastic constitutive behaviour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boccaccio, Antonio; Uva, Antonio E.; Papi, Massimiliano; Fiorentino, Michele; De Spirito, Marco; Monno, Giuseppe

2017-01-01

Characterisation of the mechanical behaviour of cancer cells is an issue of crucial importance as specific cell mechanical properties have been measured and utilized as possible biomarkers of cancer progression. Atomic force microscopy certainly occupies a prominent place in the field of the mechanical characterisation devices. We developed a hybrid approach to characterise different cell lines (SW620 and SW480) of the human colon carcinoma submitted to nanoindentation measurements. An ad hoc algorithm was written that compares the force-indentation curves experimentally retrieved with those predicted by a finite element model that simulates the nanoindentation process and reproduces the cell geometry and the surface roughness. The algorithm perturbs iteratively the values of the cell mechanical properties implemented in the finite element model until the difference between the experimental and numerical force-indentation curves reaches the minimum value. The occurrence of this indicates that the implemented material properties are very close to the real ones. Different hyperelastic constitutive models, such as Arruda-Boyce, Mooney-Rivlin and Neo-Hookean were utilized to describe the structural behaviour of indented cells. The algorithm was capable of separating, for all the cell lines investigated, the mechanical properties of cell cortex and cytoskeleton. Material properties determined via the algorithm were different with respect to those obtained with the Hertzian contact theory. This demonstrates that factors such as: the cell geometry/anatomy and the hyperelastic constitutive behaviour, which are not contemplated in the Hertz’s theory hypotheses, do affect the nanoindentation measurements. The proposed approach represents a powerful tool that, only on the basis of nanoindentation measurements, is capable of characterising material at the subcellular level.

Balance of excitation and inhibition determines 1/f power spectrum in neuronal networks.

PubMed

Lombardi, F; Herrmann, H J; de Arcangelis, L

2017-04-01

The 1/f-like decay observed in the power spectrum of electro-physiological signals, along with scale-free statistics of the so-called neuronal avalanches, constitutes evidence of criticality in neuronal systems. Recent in vitro studies have shown that avalanche dynamics at criticality corresponds to some specific balance of excitation and inhibition, thus suggesting that this is a basic feature of the critical state of neuronal networks. In particular, a lack of inhibition significantly alters the temporal structure of the spontaneous avalanche activity and leads to an anomalous abundance of large avalanches. Here, we study the relationship between network inhibition and the scaling exponent β of the power spectral density (PSD) of avalanche activity in a neuronal network model inspired in Self-Organized Criticality. We find that this scaling exponent depends on the percentage of inhibitory synapses and tends to the value β = 1 for a percentage of about 30%. More specifically, β is close to 2, namely, Brownian noise, for purely excitatory networks and decreases towards values in the interval [1, 1.4] as the percentage of inhibitory synapses ranges between 20% and 30%, in agreement with experimental findings. These results indicate that the level of inhibition affects the frequency spectrum of resting brain activity and suggest the analysis of the PSD scaling behavior as a possible tool to study pathological conditions.

Balance of excitation and inhibition determines 1/f power spectrum in neuronal networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lombardi, F.; Herrmann, H. J.; de Arcangelis, L.

2017-04-01

The 1/f-like decay observed in the power spectrum of electro-physiological signals, along with scale-free statistics of the so-called neuronal avalanches, constitutes evidence of criticality in neuronal systems. Recent in vitro studies have shown that avalanche dynamics at criticality corresponds to some specific balance of excitation and inhibition, thus suggesting that this is a basic feature of the critical state of neuronal networks. In particular, a lack of inhibition significantly alters the temporal structure of the spontaneous avalanche activity and leads to an anomalous abundance of large avalanches. Here, we study the relationship between network inhibition and the scaling exponent β of the power spectral density (PSD) of avalanche activity in a neuronal network model inspired in Self-Organized Criticality. We find that this scaling exponent depends on the percentage of inhibitory synapses and tends to the value β = 1 for a percentage of about 30%. More specifically, β is close to 2, namely, Brownian noise, for purely excitatory networks and decreases towards values in the interval [1, 1.4] as the percentage of inhibitory synapses ranges between 20% and 30%, in agreement with experimental findings. These results indicate that the level of inhibition affects the frequency spectrum of resting brain activity and suggest the analysis of the PSD scaling behavior as a possible tool to study pathological conditions.

Challenges Facing Design and Analysis Tools

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, Norman F., Jr.; Broduer, Steve (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The design and analysis of future aerospace systems will strongly rely on advanced engineering analysis tools used in combination with risk mitigation procedures. The implications of such a trend place increased demands on these tools to assess off-nominal conditions, residual strength, damage propagation, and extreme loading conditions in order to understand and quantify these effects as they affect mission success. Advances in computer hardware such as CPU processing speed, memory, secondary storage, and visualization provide significant resources for the engineer to exploit in engineering design. The challenges facing design and analysis tools fall into three primary areas. The first area involves mechanics needs such as constitutive modeling, contact and penetration simulation, crack growth prediction, damage initiation and progression prediction, transient dynamics and deployment simulations, and solution algorithms. The second area involves computational needs such as fast, robust solvers, adaptivity for model and solution strategies, control processes for concurrent, distributed computing for uncertainty assessments, and immersive technology. Traditional finite element codes still require fast direct solvers which when coupled to current CPU power enables new insight as a result of high-fidelity modeling. The third area involves decision making by the analyst. This area involves the integration and interrogation of vast amounts of information - some global in character while local details are critical and often drive the design. The proposed presentation will describe and illustrate these areas using composite structures, energy-absorbing structures, and inflatable space structures. While certain engineering approximations within the finite element model may be adequate for global response prediction, they generally are inadequate in a design setting or when local response prediction is critical. Pitfalls to be avoided and trends for emerging analysis tools will be described.

Functional specifications for AI software tools for electric power applications. Final report

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

Faught, W.S.

1985-08-01

The principle barrier to the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the electric power industry has not been a lack of interest or appropriate problems, for the industry abounds in both. Like most others, however, the electric power industry lacks the personnel - knowledge engineers - with the special combination of training and skills AI programming demands. Conversely, very few AI specialists are conversant with electric power industry problems and applications. The recent availability of sophisticated AI programming environments is doing much to alleviate this shortage. These products provide a set of powerful and usable software tools that enablemore » even non-AI scientists to rapidly develop AI applications. The purpose of this project was to develop functional specifications for programming tools that, when integrated with existing general-purpose knowledge engineering tools, would expedite the production of AI applications for the electric power industry. Twelve potential applications, representative of major problem domains within the nuclear power industry, were analyzed in order to identify those tools that would be of greatest value in application development. Eight tools were specified, including facilities for power plant modeling, data base inquiry, simulation and machine-machine interface.« less

Green Power Partner Resources

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA Green Power Partners can access tools and resources to help promote their green power commitments. Partners use these tools to communicate the benefits of their green power use to their customers, stakeholders, and the general public.

A powerful tool for assessing distribution and fate of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in soils: integration of laser ablation spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) on thin sections with soil micromorphology and geochemistry.

PubMed

Scarciglia, Fabio; Barca, Donatella

2017-04-01

The dynamic behavior and inherent spatial heterogeneity, at different hierarchic levels, of the soil system often make the spatial distribution of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) quite complex and difficult to assess correctly. This work demonstrates that the application of laser ablation spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to soil thin sections constitutes an ancillary powerful tool to well-established analytical methods for tracing the behavior and fate of potential soil contaminants at the microsite level. It allowed to discriminate the contribution of PTMs in distinct soil sub-components, such as parent rock fragments, neoformed, clay-enriched or humified matrix, and specific pedogenetic features of illuvial origin (unstained or iron-stained clay coatings) even at very low contents. PTMs were analyzed in three soil profiles located in the Muravera area (Sardinia, Italy), where several, now abandoned mines were exploited. Recurrent trends of increase of many PTMs from rock to pedogenic matrix and to illuvial clay coatings, traced by LA-ICP-MS compositional data, revealed a pedogenetic control on metal fractionation and distribution, based on adsorption properties of clay minerals, iron oxyhydroxides or organic matter, and downprofile illuviation processes. The main PTMs patterns coupled with SEM-EDS analyses suggest that heavy metal-bearing mineral grains were sourced from the mine plants, in addition to the natural sedimentary input. The interplay between soil-forming processes and geomorphic dynamics significantly contributed to the PTMs spatial distribution detected in the different pedogenetic horizons and soil features.

The Senate CTB Treaty Rejection: Prudent Statesmanship or Partisan Politics?

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-12-13

the Constitution the theory of separation of powers , which so many delegates had come to believe in.5...Fathers who had fought for the advice and consent clause and the principle of separation of powers in 1789 would have been pleased with the prudent

Etude par elements finis du comportement thermo-chimiomecanique de la pâte monolithique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girard, Pierre-Luc

Aluminum industry is in a fierce international competition requiring the constant improvement of the electrolysis cell effectiveness and longevity. The selection of the cell's materials components becomes an important factor to increase the cell's life. The ramming paste, used to seal the cathode lining, is compacted in the joints between the cathode and the side wall of the cell. It is a complex thermo-chemo-reactive material whose proprieties change with the evolution of his baking level. Therefore, the objective of this project is to propose a thermo-chemo-mechanical constitutive law for the ramming paste and implement it in the finite element software ANSYSRTM. A constitutive model was first chosen from the available literature on the subject. It is a pressure dependent model that uses hardening, softening and baking mechanisms in its definition to mimic the behavior of carbon-based materials. Subsequently, the numerical tool was validated using the finite element toolbox FESh++, which contains the most representative carbon-based thermochimio- mechanical material constitutive law at this time. Finally, a validation of the experimental setup BERTA (Banc d'essai de resistance thermomecanique ALCAN) was made in prevision of a larger scale experimental validation of the constitutive law in a near future. However, the analysis of the results shows that BERTA is not suited to adequately measure the mechanical deformation of such kind of material. Following this project, the numerical tool will be used in numerical simulation to introduce the various effects of the baking of the ramming paste during the cell startup. This new tool will help the industrial partner to enhance the understanding of Hall-Heroult cell start-up and optimize this critical step.

Grid Stability Awareness System (GSAS) Final Scientific/Technical Report

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

Feuerborn, Scott; Ma, Jian; Black, Clifton

The project team developed a software suite named Grid Stability Awareness System (GSAS) for power system near real-time stability monitoring and analysis based on synchrophasor measurement. The software suite consists of five analytical tools: an oscillation monitoring tool, a voltage stability monitoring tool, a transient instability monitoring tool, an angle difference monitoring tool, and an event detection tool. These tools have been integrated into one framework to provide power grid operators with both real-time or near real-time stability status of a power grid and historical information about system stability status. These tools are being considered for real-time use in themore » operation environment.« less

Hand and power tools: A compilation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Some hand and power tools were described. Section One describes several tools and shop techniques that may be useful in the home or commercial shop. Section Two contains descriptions of tools that are particularly applicable to industrial work, and in Section Three a number of metal working tools are presented.

A Constitutive Relationship between Crack Propagation and Specific Damping Capacity in Steel

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-10-01

diagnostic tool for detecting crack growth in structures. The model must be simple to act as a tool, but it must be comprehensive to provide accuracy...strain for static fracture u ECritical strain above which plastic strain occursP EAverage value of the cyclic plastic-strain rangeP E t ln(Ao/AI), true

Agonist Binding to Chemosensory Receptors: A Systematic Bioinformatics Analysis

PubMed Central

Fierro, Fabrizio; Suku, Eda; Alfonso-Prieto, Mercedes; Giorgetti, Alejandro; Cichon, Sven; Carloni, Paolo

2017-01-01

Human G-protein coupled receptors (hGPCRs) constitute a large and highly pharmaceutically relevant membrane receptor superfamily. About half of the hGPCRs' family members are chemosensory receptors, involved in bitter taste and olfaction, along with a variety of other physiological processes. Hence these receptors constitute promising targets for pharmaceutical intervention. Molecular modeling has been so far the most important tool to get insights on agonist binding and receptor activation. Here we investigate both aspects by bioinformatics-based predictions across all bitter taste and odorant receptors for which site-directed mutagenesis data are available. First, we observe that state-of-the-art homology modeling combined with previously used docking procedures turned out to reproduce only a limited fraction of ligand/receptor interactions inferred by experiments. This is most probably caused by the low sequence identity with available structural templates, which limits the accuracy of the protein model and in particular of the side-chains' orientations. Methods which transcend the limited sampling of the conformational space of docking may improve the predictions. As an example corroborating this, we review here multi-scale simulations from our lab and show that, for the three complexes studied so far, they significantly enhance the predictive power of the computational approach. Second, our bioinformatics analysis provides support to previous claims that several residues, including those at positions 1.50, 2.50, and 7.52, are involved in receptor activation. PMID:28932739

Changing the constitutional landscape for firearms: the US Supreme Court's recent Second Amendment decisions.

PubMed

Vernick, Jon S; Rutkow, Lainie; Webster, Daniel W; Teret, Stephen P

2011-11-01

In 2 recent cases-with important implications for public health practitioners, courts, and researchers-the US Supreme Court changed the landscape for judging the constitutionality of firearm laws under the Constitution's Second Amendment. In District of Columbia v Heller (2008), the court determined for the first time that the Second Amendment grants individuals a personal right to possess handguns in their home. In McDonald v City of Chicago (2010), the court concluded that this right affects the powers of state and local governments. The court identified broad categories of gun laws-other than handgun bans-that remain presumptively valid but did not provide a standard to judge their constitutionality. We discuss ways that researchers can assist decision makers.

Changing the Constitutional Landscape for Firearms: The US Supreme Court's Recent Second Amendment Decisions

PubMed Central

Rutkow, Lainie; Webster, Daniel W.; Teret, Stephen P.

2011-01-01

In 2 recent cases—with important implications for public health practitioners, courts, and researchers—the US Supreme Court changed the landscape for judging the constitutionality of firearm laws under the Constitution's Second Amendment. In District of Columbia v Heller (2008), the court determined for the first time that the Second Amendment grants individuals a personal right to possess handguns in their home. In McDonald v City of Chicago (2010), the court concluded that this right affects the powers of state and local governments. The court identified broad categories of gun laws—other than handgun bans—that remain presumptively valid but did not provide a standard to judge their constitutionality. We discuss ways that researchers can assist decision makers. PMID:21940936

Power and privileges in medical care: an analysis of medical services in post-colonial Nigeria.

PubMed

Ogoh Alubo, S

1987-01-01

Subsequent Nigerian Governments since independence have been committed to a policy of health-for-all. The right to medical care is now constitutionally guaranteed. But it takes more than the constitution to translate medical, and indeed all rights, to reality. In practice, as this study reveals, status, power and privileges determine whether or not one gets Western medical services and of what type in contemporary Nigeria. Further, medical services for the generality of the people have remained a second rate priority of post-colonial governments, very much like the situation in colonial days. The care for state employees and other elites continues to take precedence.

Affidavit and Flyers from the Chinese Boycott Case. The Constitution Community: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greene, Mary Frances

Under Article I, Section 8, Clause 4, of the United States Constitution, the U.S. Congress is granted the power to "establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization." With passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, Congress exercised this authority, denying the rights of citizenship to all Chinese immigrants. The Chinese Boycott Case…

Beyond the 2008 Justice Reforms: Establishing a Legitimate Rule of Law in Mexico with Jury Trials

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-28

States with separation of powers , including executive, legislative, and judicial branches, granted by the 1917 Constitution. The executive branch role...law system prevents an overreaching judicial branch from legislating new laws. This provides a strong separation of powers . However, when coupled

Origins of the 1986 Philippine Constitution

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-04-01

1902 and the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 (Jones Law) - did not expressly provide for the separation of powers . However, in various decisions, the...judiciary as part of the separation of powers was repeatedly declared by the Supreme Court of the Philippines to have been extended to the 11 Philippines

7 CFR 1710.254 - Alternative sources of power.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... facilities constitute an effective and economical means of meeting the power requirements of the consumers. A... proposals on an economic, present-value basis, giving consideration to cost-effectiveness, reliability of service, the short-term and long-term financial viability of the supplier, and the financial risk to the...

7 CFR 1710.254 - Alternative sources of power.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... facilities constitute an effective and economical means of meeting the power requirements of the consumers. A... proposals on an economic, present-value basis, giving consideration to cost-effectiveness, reliability of service, the short-term and long-term financial viability of the supplier, and the financial risk to the...

7 CFR 1710.254 - Alternative sources of power.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... facilities constitute an effective and economical means of meeting the power requirements of the consumers. A... proposals on an economic, present-value basis, giving consideration to cost-effectiveness, reliability of service, the short-term and long-term financial viability of the supplier, and the financial risk to the...

7 CFR 1710.254 - Alternative sources of power.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... facilities constitute an effective and economical means of meeting the power requirements of the consumers. A... proposals on an economic, present-value basis, giving consideration to cost-effectiveness, reliability of service, the short-term and long-term financial viability of the supplier, and the financial risk to the...

7 CFR 1710.254 - Alternative sources of power.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... facilities constitute an effective and economical means of meeting the power requirements of the consumers. A... proposals on an economic, present-value basis, giving consideration to cost-effectiveness, reliability of service, the short-term and long-term financial viability of the supplier, and the financial risk to the...

Discourse, Power Interplays and "Disordered Identities": An Intersectional Framework for Analysis and Policy Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liasidou, Anastasia

2016-01-01

While acknowledging the discursive constitution of student identities through the interplay of unequal power relations and discriminatory processes, the article discusses the ways in which social, emotional and behaviour difficulties (SEBD) are "produced" and "managed" within current schooling. SEBD are routinely framed in…

Electro-osmosis of non-Newtonian fluids in porous media using lattice Poisson-Boltzmann method.

PubMed

Chen, Simeng; He, Xinting; Bertola, Volfango; Wang, Moran

2014-12-15

Electro-osmosis in porous media has many important applications in various areas such as oil and gas exploitation and biomedical detection. Very often, fluids relevant to these applications are non-Newtonian because of the shear-rate dependent viscosity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the behaviors and physical mechanism of electro-osmosis of non-Newtonian fluids in porous media. Model porous microstructures (granular, fibrous, and network) were created by a random generation-growth method. The nonlinear governing equations of electro-kinetic transport for a power-law fluid were solved by the lattice Poisson-Boltzmann method (LPBM). The model results indicate that: (i) the electro-osmosis of non-Newtonian fluids exhibits distinct nonlinear behaviors compared to that of Newtonian fluids; (ii) when the bulk ion concentration or zeta potential is high enough, shear-thinning fluids exhibit higher electro-osmotic permeability, while shear-thickening fluids lead to the higher electro-osmotic permeability for very low bulk ion concentration or zeta potential; (iii) the effect of the porous medium structure depends significantly on the constitutive parameters: for fluids with large constitutive coefficients strongly dependent on the power-law index, the network structure shows the highest electro-osmotic permeability while the granular structure exhibits the lowest permeability on the entire range of power law indices considered; when the dependence of the constitutive coefficient on the power law index is weaker, different behaviors can be observed especially in case of strong shear thinning. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The use of power tools in the insertion of cortical bone screws.

PubMed

Elliott, D

1992-01-01

Cortical bone screws are commonly used in fracture surgery, most patterns are non-self-tapping and require a thread to be pre-cut. This is traditionally performed using hand tools rather than their powered counterparts. Reasons given usually imply that power tools are more dangerous and cut a less precise thread, but there is no evidence to support this supposition. A series of experiments has been performed which show that the thread pattern cut with either method is identical and that over-penetration with the powered tap is easy to control. The conclusion reached is that both methods produce consistently reliable results but use of power tools is much faster.

Flow of “stress power-law” fluids between parallel rotating discs with distinct axes

DOE PAGES

Srinivasan, Shriram; Karra, Satish

2015-04-16

The problem of flow between parallel rotating discs with distinct axes corresponds to the case of flow in an orthogonal rheometer and has been studied extensively for different fluids since the instrument's inception. All the prior studies presume a constitutive prescription of the fluid stress in terms of the kinematical variables. In this paper, we approach the problem from a different perspective, i.e., a constitutive specification of the symmetric part of the velocity gradient in terms of the Cauchy stress. Such an approach ensures that the boundary conditions can be incorporated in a manner quite faithful to real world experimentsmore » with the instrument. Interestingly, the choice of the boundary condition is critical to the solvability of the problem for the case of creeping/Stokes flow. Furthermore, when the no-slip condition is enforced at the boundaries, depending on the model parameters and axes offset, the fluid response can show non-uniqueness or unsolvability, features which are absent in a conventional constitutive specification. In case of creeping/Stokes flow with prescribed values of the stress, the fluid response is indeterminate. We also record the response of a particular case of the given “stress power-law” fluid; one that cannot be attained by the conventional power-law fluids.« less

Meta-tools for software development and knowledge acquisition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eriksson, Henrik; Musen, Mark A.

1992-01-01

The effectiveness of tools that provide support for software development is highly dependent on the match between the tools and their task. Knowledge-acquisition (KA) tools constitute a class of development tools targeted at knowledge-based systems. Generally, KA tools that are custom-tailored for particular application domains are more effective than are general KA tools that cover a large class of domains. The high cost of custom-tailoring KA tools manually has encouraged researchers to develop meta-tools for KA tools. Current research issues in meta-tools for knowledge acquisition are the specification styles, or meta-views, for target KA tools used, and the relationships between the specification entered in the meta-tool and other specifications for the target program under development. We examine different types of meta-views and meta-tools. Our current project is to provide meta-tools that produce KA tools from multiple specification sources--for instance, from a task analysis of the target application.

The Civil War as Photographed by Mathew Brady. The Constitution Community: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1870).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Douglas

Many historians call the Civil War the central event in U.S. history. The formation of the U.S. Constitution corrected the autonomy of individual states that the Articles of Confederation did not harness. The young country struggled for 75 years to find a graceful balance between the power of the federal government and that of the states. The…

Asymmetric Power Balance and Its Implications for Regionalism in South Asia

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-01

constitutes an ideal grouping for economic integration.16 The political dimensions are mainly overshadowed with security concerns among member states...United States’ to the North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ).39 The region’s geo-politics strongly suggest that India is the best candidate for...dynamics in South Asia. Many scholars have put forth their view on what constitutes regional cooperation and integration. E.B. Haas defines the

Impact of design features upon perceived tool usability and safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiker, Steven F.; Seol, Mun-Su

2005-11-01

While injuries from powered hand tools are caused by a number of factors, this study looks specifically at the impact of the tools design features on perceived tool usability and safety. The tools used in this study are circular saws, power drills and power nailers. Sixty-nine males and thirty-two females completed an anonymous web-based questionnaire that provided orthogonal view photographs of the various tools. Subjects or raters provided: 1) description of the respondents or raters, 2) description of the responses from the raters, and 3) analysis of the interrelationships among respondent ratings of tool safety and usability, physical metrics of the tool, and rater demographic information. The results of the study found that safety and usability were dependent materially upon rater history of use and experience, but not upon training in safety and usability, or quality of design features of the tools (e.g., grip diameters, trigger design, guards, etc.). Thus, positive and negative transfer of prior experience with use of powered hand tools is far more important than any expectancy that may be driven by prior safety and usability training, or from the visual cues that are provided by the engineering design of the tool.

A unifying fractional wave equation for compressional and shear waves.

PubMed

Holm, Sverre; Sinkus, Ralph

2010-01-01

This study has been motivated by the observed difference in the range of the power-law attenuation exponent for compressional and shear waves. Usually compressional attenuation increases with frequency to a power between 1 and 2, while shear wave attenuation often is described with powers less than 1. Another motivation is the apparent lack of partial differential equations with desirable properties such as causality that describe such wave propagation. Starting with a constitutive equation which is a generalized Hooke's law with a loss term containing a fractional derivative, one can derive a causal fractional wave equation previously given by Caputo [Geophys J. R. Astron. Soc. 13, 529-539 (1967)] and Wismer [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 120, 3493-3502 (2006)]. In the low omegatau (low-frequency) case, this equation has an attenuation with a power-law in the range from 1 to 2. This is consistent with, e.g., attenuation in tissue. In the often neglected high omegatau (high-frequency) case, it describes attenuation with a power-law between 0 and 1, consistent with what is observed in, e.g., dynamic elastography. Thus a unifying wave equation derived properly from constitutive equations can describe both cases.

Defining and Operationalizing the Construct of Pragmatic Competence: Review and Recommendations. Research Report. ETS RR-15-06

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Timpe Laughlin, Veronika; Wain, Jennifer; Schmidgall, Jonathan

2015-01-01

This review paper constitutes the first step within a larger research effort to develop an interactive pragmatics learning tool for second and foreign language (L2) learners and users of English. The tool will primarily endeavor to support pragmatics learning within the language use domain "workplace." Given this superordinate objective,…

Using Films in Vocabulary Teaching of Turkish as a Foreign Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iscan, Adem

2017-01-01

The use and utility of auditory and visual tools in language teaching is a common practice. Films constitute one of the tools. It has been found that using films in language teaching is also effective in the development of vocabulary of foreign language learners. The literature review reveals that while films are used in foreign language teaching…

Contingency diagrams as teaching tools

PubMed Central

Mattaini, Mark A.

1995-01-01

Contingency diagrams are particularly effective teaching tools, because they provide a means for students to view the complexities of contingency networks present in natural and laboratory settings while displaying the elementary processes that constitute those networks. This paper sketches recent developments in this visualization technology and illustrates approaches for using contingency diagrams in teaching. ImagesFigure 2Figure 3Figure 4 PMID:22478208

Combinatorial Approach for Large-scale Identification of Linked Peptides from Tandem Mass Spectrometry Spectra*

PubMed Central

Wang, Jian; Anania, Veronica G.; Knott, Jeff; Rush, John; Lill, Jennie R.; Bourne, Philip E.; Bandeira, Nuno

2014-01-01

The combination of chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry has recently been shown to constitute a powerful tool for studying protein–protein interactions and elucidating the structure of large protein complexes. However, computational methods for interpreting the complex MS/MS spectra from linked peptides are still in their infancy, making the high-throughput application of this approach largely impractical. Because of the lack of large annotated datasets, most current approaches do not capture the specific fragmentation patterns of linked peptides and therefore are not optimal for the identification of cross-linked peptides. Here we propose a generic approach to address this problem and demonstrate it using disulfide-bridged peptide libraries to (i) efficiently generate large mass spectral reference data for linked peptides at a low cost and (ii) automatically train an algorithm that can efficiently and accurately identify linked peptides from MS/MS spectra. We show that using this approach we were able to identify thousands of MS/MS spectra from disulfide-bridged peptides through comparison with proteome-scale sequence databases and significantly improve the sensitivity of cross-linked peptide identification. This allowed us to identify 60% more direct pairwise interactions between the protein subunits in the 20S proteasome complex than existing tools on cross-linking studies of the proteasome complexes. The basic framework of this approach and the MS/MS reference dataset generated should be valuable resources for the future development of new tools for the identification of linked peptides. PMID:24493012

A Micro-Grid Simulator Tool (SGridSim) using Effective Node-to-Node Complex Impedance (EN2NCI) Models

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

Udhay Ravishankar; Milos manic

2013-08-01

This paper presents a micro-grid simulator tool useful for implementing and testing multi-agent controllers (SGridSim). As a common engineering practice it is important to have a tool that simplifies the modeling of the salient features of a desired system. In electric micro-grids, these salient features are the voltage and power distributions within the micro-grid. Current simplified electric power grid simulator tools such as PowerWorld, PowerSim, Gridlab, etc, model only the power distribution features of a desired micro-grid. Other power grid simulators such as Simulink, Modelica, etc, use detailed modeling to accommodate the voltage distribution features. This paper presents a SGridSimmore » micro-grid simulator tool that simplifies the modeling of both the voltage and power distribution features in a desired micro-grid. The SGridSim tool accomplishes this simplified modeling by using Effective Node-to-Node Complex Impedance (EN2NCI) models of components that typically make-up a micro-grid. The term EN2NCI models means that the impedance based components of a micro-grid are modeled as single impedances tied between their respective voltage nodes on the micro-grid. Hence the benefit of the presented SGridSim tool are 1) simulation of a micro-grid is performed strictly in the complex-domain; 2) faster simulation of a micro-grid by avoiding the simulation of detailed transients. An example micro-grid model was built using the SGridSim tool and tested to simulate both the voltage and power distribution features with a total absolute relative error of less than 6%.« less

The Power to Declare War: The Ultimate Check on Presidential Power

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-07

action through a resolution or by continued funding. When Congress does declare war it grants sweeping powers to the Executive Branch that threatens...formally declare war. If war only requires limited resources then Congress authorizes the action through a resolution or by continued funding. When...surface it may appear that Congress has not performed its constitutional obligations by authorizing military actions without issuing a formal

Clinical study on constitutional herbal tea for treating chronic fatigue.

PubMed

Park, Soo-Jung; Bae, Young-Chun; Choi, Na-Rae; Ryu, Seung-Yeob; Kwon, Young-Mi; Joo, Jong-Cheon

2014-12-01

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of constitutional herbal tea for treating chronic fatigue with no diagnosed cause, which is called Mibyeong in Korea. Males and females with ages between 40 and 59 years who had complained of fatigue for 1 month consistently or for 6 months intermittently without a definite cause were recruited. At the same time, a Chalder fatigue scale (CFS) score of 19 was essential for participation in this study. Sixty five subjects completed the entire process, including blood tests and tests with medical devices. Five assessments of health status were accomplished over 8 weeks by using the CFS and the visual analogue scale (VAS). To ensure that the constitutional herbal tea was being safely used, we conducted and analyzed renal function and liver function tests. For the diagnosis of the Sasang constitution, the Sasang Constitutional Analysis Tool (SCAT) was used, and a specialist in Sasang constitutional medicine made the final diagnosis based on the SCAT result. Constitutional herbal tea was served four weeks after the first visit. The subjects took the constitutional herbal tea twice a day for one month. The results are as follows: The CFS and the VAS scores were significantly improved for the subjects in the constitutional herbal tea. No abnormalities were found on the blood tests to evaluate safety after taking the constitutional herbal tea. The improvements in the CFS and the VAS scores due to the constitutional herbal tea had no significant differences according to the Sasang constitution. Constitutional herbal tea may be used to reduce fatigue and improve health and has no adverse effect on either the kidney or the liver.

Clinical Study on Constitutional Herbal Tea for Treating Chronic Fatigue

PubMed Central

Park, Soo-Jung; Bae, Young-Chun; Choi, Na-Rae; Ryu, Seung-Yeob; Kwon, Young-Mi; Joo, Jong-Cheon

2014-01-01

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of constitutional herbal tea for treating chronic fatigue with no diagnosed cause, which is called Mibyeong in Korea. Methods: Males and females with ages between 40 and 59 years who had complained of fatigue for 1 month consistently or for 6 months intermittently without a definite cause were recruited. At the same time, a Chalder fatigue scale (CFS) score of 19 was essential for participation in this study. Sixty five subjects completed the entire process, including blood tests and tests with medical devices. Five assessments of health status were accomplished over 8 weeks by using the CFS and the visual analogue scale (VAS). To ensure that the constitutional herbal tea was being safely used, we conducted and analyzed renal function and liver function tests. For the diagnosis of the Sasang constitution, the Sasang Constitutional Analysis Tool (SCAT) was used, and a specialist in Sasang constitutional medicine made the final diagnosis based on the SCAT result. Constitutional herbal tea was served four weeks after the first visit. The subjects took the constitutional herbal tea twice a day for one month. Results: The results are as follows: The CFS and the VAS scores were significantly improved for the subjects in the constitutional herbal tea. No abnormalities were found on the blood tests to evaluate safety after taking the constitutional herbal tea. The improvements in the CFS and the VAS scores due to the constitutional herbal tea had no significant differences according to the Sasang constitution. Conclusion: Constitutional herbal tea may be used to reduce fatigue and improve health and has no adverse effect on either the kidney or the liver. PMID:25780720

Undeclared Wars: The Packaging of a National Security Strategy for the 1990’s

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-04-01

regarding shared or separation of powers between the executive and legislature. The issue became less of which branch of government was going to approve... separation of powers " in using military force in non-traditional roles can be found in the Constitution, as articulated by the Founding Fathers. 56

75 FR 20991 - Upper Peninsula Power Company; Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-22

... Peninsula Power Company's plan to replace the spillway at the Bond Falls Development of the Bond Falls... Bond Falls Development is located on the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River in Ontonagon County..., would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human...

Maternal mortality and derivations from the WHO near-miss tool: An institutional experience over a decade in Southern India.

PubMed

Halder, Ajay; Jose, Ruby; Vijayselvi, Reeta

2014-01-01

Preceding the use of World Health Organization (WHO) near-miss approach in our institute for the surveillance of Severe Maternal Outcome (SMO), we pilot-tested the tool on maternal death cases that took place over the last 10 years in order to establish its feasibility and usefulness at the institutional level. This was a retrospective review of maternal deaths in Christian Medical College Vellore, India, over a decade. Cases were recorded and analyzed using the WHO near-miss tool. The International Classification of Diseases, 10(th) Revision was used to define and classify maternal mortality. There were 98,139 total births and 212 recorded maternal deaths. Direct causes of mortality constituted 46.96% of total maternal deaths, indirect causes constituted 51.40%, and unknown cases constituted 1.9%. Nonobstetrical cause (48.11%) is the single largest group. Infections (19.8%) other than puerperal sepsis remain an important group, with pulmonary tuberculosis, scrub typhus, and malaria being the leading ones. According to the WHO near-miss criteria, cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunctions are the most frequent organ dysfunctions. Incidence of coagulation dysfunction is seen highest in obstetrical hemorrhage (64%). All women who died had at least one organ dysfunction; 90.54% mothers had two- and 38.52% had four- or more organ involvement. The screening questions of the WHO near-miss tool are particularly instrumental in obtaining a comprehensive assessment of the problem beyond the International Classification of Diseases-Maternal Mortality and establish the need for laboratory-based identification of organ dysfunctions and prompt availability of critical care facilities. The process indicators, on the other hand, inquire about the basic interventions that are more or less widely practiced and therefore give no added information at the institutional level.

A Tool for Model-Based Generation of Scenario-driven Electric Power Load Profiles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rozek, Matthew L.; Donahue, Kenneth M.; Ingham, Michel D.; Kaderka, Justin D.

2015-01-01

Power consumption during all phases of spacecraft flight is of great interest to the aerospace community. As a result, significant analysis effort is exerted to understand the rates of electrical energy generation and consumption under many operational scenarios of the system. Previously, no standard tool existed for creating and maintaining a power equipment list (PEL) of spacecraft components that consume power, and no standard tool existed for generating power load profiles based on this PEL information during mission design phases. This paper presents the Scenario Power Load Analysis Tool (SPLAT) as a model-based systems engineering tool aiming to solve those problems. SPLAT is a plugin for MagicDraw (No Magic, Inc.) that aids in creating and maintaining a PEL, and also generates a power and temporal variable constraint set, in Maple language syntax, based on specified operational scenarios. The constraint set can be solved in Maple to show electric load profiles (i.e. power consumption from loads over time). SPLAT creates these load profiles from three modeled inputs: 1) a list of system components and their respective power modes, 2) a decomposition hierarchy of the system into these components, and 3) the specification of at least one scenario, which consists of temporal constraints on component power modes. In order to demonstrate how this information is represented in a system model, a notional example of a spacecraft planetary flyby is introduced. This example is also used to explain the overall functionality of SPLAT, and how this is used to generate electric power load profiles. Lastly, a cursory review of the usage of SPLAT on the Cold Atom Laboratory project is presented to show how the tool was used in an actual space hardware design application.

EMU Battery/module Service Tool Characterization Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palandati, C. F.

1984-01-01

The power tool which will be used to replace the attitude control system in the SMM spacecraft is being modified to operate from a self contained battery. The extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) battery, a silver zinc battery, was tested for the power tool application. The results obtained during show the EMU battery is capable of operating the power tool within the pulse current range of 2.0 to 15.0 amperes and battery temperature range of -10 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Green Power Community Tools and Resources

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

GPP supplies GPCs will tools to promote their status. GPCs are a subset of the Green Power Partnership; municipalities or tribal governments where government, businesses, and residents collectively use enough green power to meet GPP requirements.

Machine Tool Software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

A NASA-developed software package has played a part in technical education of students who major in Mechanical Engineering Technology at William Rainey Harper College. Professor Hack has been using (APT) Automatically Programmed Tool Software since 1969 in his CAD/CAM Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing curriculum. Professor Hack teaches the use of APT programming languages for control of metal cutting machines. Machine tool instructions are geometry definitions written in APT Language to constitute a "part program." The part program is processed by the machine tool. CAD/CAM students go from writing a program to cutting steel in the course of a semester.

Parallel Calculations in LS-DYNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vartanovich Mkrtychev, Oleg; Aleksandrovich Reshetov, Andrey

2017-11-01

Nowadays, structural mechanics exhibits a trend towards numeric solutions being found for increasingly extensive and detailed tasks, which requires that capacities of computing systems be enhanced. Such enhancement can be achieved by different means. E.g., in case a computing system is represented by a workstation, its components can be replaced and/or extended (CPU, memory etc.). In essence, such modification eventually entails replacement of the entire workstation, i.e. replacement of certain components necessitates exchange of others (faster CPUs and memory devices require buses with higher throughput etc.). Special consideration must be given to the capabilities of modern video cards. They constitute powerful computing systems capable of running data processing in parallel. Interestingly, the tools originally designed to render high-performance graphics can be applied for solving problems not immediately related to graphics (CUDA, OpenCL, Shaders etc.). However, not all software suites utilize video cards’ capacities. Another way to increase capacity of a computing system is to implement a cluster architecture: to add cluster nodes (workstations) and to increase the network communication speed between the nodes. The advantage of this approach is extensive growth due to which a quite powerful system can be obtained by combining not particularly powerful nodes. Moreover, separate nodes may possess different capacities. This paper considers the use of a clustered computing system for solving problems of structural mechanics with LS-DYNA software. To establish a range of dependencies a mere 2-node cluster has proven sufficient.

Photographs of the 369th Infantry and African Americans during World War I. The Constitution Community: The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schur, Joan Brodsky

In April 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. Under the powers granted to it by the U.S. Constitution, Congress passed the Selective Service Act of 1917. Among the first regiments to arrive in France, and among the most highly decorated when it returned, was the 369th Infantry, more gallantly known as the…

Unintended Consequences of the Goldwater-Nichols Act (Joint Force Quarterly, Spring 1998)

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-01-01

Armed Forces to achieve mili- tary success, the unified direction of DOD neces- sary for budgetary efficiency, and the separation of powers demanded by...its actions. The Constitution has stood for two centuries precisely because it flexibly applies simple concepts such as the separation of powers and...replaced, it has created a national military command structure that ignores the separation of powers . The amended National Security Act has consolidated

The Iran Hostages: Efforts to Obtain Compensation

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-11-01

manner that raised constitutional separation of powers concerns.51 It also chastised the plaintiffs’ attorneys for what it said were serious...argument contains,” the court said, “it is absolutely without basis in law.” Id. at 168. 51 The court did not base its decision on any separation of powers considerations...of jurisdiction [would raise] serious separation of powers concerns” and might be “an impermissible encroachment by Congress into the sphere of the

Multivariate objective response detectors (MORD): statistical tools for multichannel EEG analysis during rhythmic stimulation.

PubMed

Felix, Leonardo Bonato; Miranda de Sá, Antonio Mauricio Ferreira Leite; Infantosi, Antonio Fernando Catelli; Yehia, Hani Camille

2007-03-01

The presence of cerebral evoked responses can be tested by using objective response detectors. They are statistical tests that provide a threshold above which responses can be assumed to have occurred. The detection power depends on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the response and the amount of data available. However, the correlation within the background noise could also affect the power of such detectors. For a fixed SNR, the detection can only be improved at the expense of using a longer stretch of signal. This can constitute a limitation, for instance, in monitored surgeries. Alternatively, multivariate objective response detection (MORD) could be used. This work applies two MORD techniques (multiple coherence and multiple component synchrony measure) to EEG data collected during intermittent photic stimulation. They were evaluated throughout Monte Carlo simulations, which also allowed verifying that correlation in the background reduces the detection rate. Considering the N EEG derivations as close as possible to the primary visual cortex, if N = 4, 6 or 8, multiple coherence leads to a statistically significant higher detection rate in comparison with multiple component synchrony measure. With the former, the best performance was obtained with six signals (O1, O2, T5, T6, P3 and P4).

Atomic force microscopy visualization of injuries in Enterococcus faecalis surface caused by Er,Cr:YSGG and diode lasers

PubMed Central

López-Jiménez, Lidia; Viñas, Miguel; Vinuesa, Teresa

2015-01-01

Aim: To visualize by Atomic Force Microscopy the alterations induced on Enterococcus. faecalis surface after treatment with 2 types of laser: Erbium chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser and Diode laser. Material and Methods: Bacterial suspensions from overnight cultures of E. faecalis were irradiated during 30 seconds with the laser-lights at 1 W and 2 W of power, leaving one untreated sample as control. Surface alterations on treated E. faecalis were visualized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and its surface roughness determined. Results: AFM imaging showed that at high potency of laser both cell morphology and surface roughness resulted altered, and that several cell lysis signs were easily visualized. Surface roughness clearly increase after the treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG at 2W of power, while the other treatments gave similar values of surface roughness. The effect of lasers on bacterial surfaces visualized by AFM revealed drastic alterations. Conclusions: AFM is a good tool to evaluate surface injuries after laser treatment; and could constitute a measure of antimicrobial effect that can complete data obtained by determination of microbial viability. Key words:Atomic force microscopy, Er,Cr:YSGG laser, diode laser, Enterococcus faecalis, surface roughness. PMID:25475770

Insights into the distribution of water in a self-humidifying H2/O2 proton-exchange membrane fuel cell using 1H NMR microscopy.

PubMed

Feindel, Kirk W; Bergens, Steven H; Wasylishen, Roderick E

2006-11-01

Proton ((1)H) NMR microscopy is used to investigate in-situ the distribution of water throughout a self-humidifying proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, PEMFC, operating at ambient temperature and pressure on dry H(2)(g) and O(2)(g). The results provide the first experimental images of the in-plane distribution of water within the PEM of a membrane electrode assembly in an operating fuel cell. The effect of gas flow configuration on the distribution of water in the PEM and cathode flow field is investigated, revealing that the counter-flow configurations yield a more uniform distribution of water throughout the PEM. The maximum power output from the PEMFC, while operating under conditions of constant external load, occurs when H(2)O(l) is first visible in the (1)H NMR image of the cathode flow field, and subsequently declines as this H(2)O(l) continues to accumulate. The (1)H NMR microscopy experiments are in qualitative agreement with predictions from several theoretical modeling studies (e.g., Pasaogullari, U.; Wang, C. Y. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2005, 152, A380-A390), suggesting that combined theoretical and experimental approaches will constitute a powerful tool for PEMFC design, diagnosis, and optimization.

Pathway-Based Kernel Boosting for the Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies

PubMed Central

Manitz, Juliane; Burger, Patricia; Amos, Christopher I.; Chang-Claude, Jenny; Wichmann, Heinz-Erich; Kneib, Thomas; Bickeböller, Heike

2017-01-01

The analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) benefits from the investigation of biologically meaningful gene sets, such as gene-interaction networks (pathways). We propose an extension to a successful kernel-based pathway analysis approach by integrating kernel functions into a powerful algorithmic framework for variable selection, to enable investigation of multiple pathways simultaneously. We employ genetic similarity kernels from the logistic kernel machine test (LKMT) as base-learners in a boosting algorithm. A model to explain case-control status is created iteratively by selecting pathways that improve its prediction ability. We evaluated our method in simulation studies adopting 50 pathways for different sample sizes and genetic effect strengths. Additionally, we included an exemplary application of kernel boosting to a rheumatoid arthritis and a lung cancer dataset. Simulations indicate that kernel boosting outperforms the LKMT in certain genetic scenarios. Applications to GWAS data on rheumatoid arthritis and lung cancer resulted in sparse models which were based on pathways interpretable in a clinical sense. Kernel boosting is highly flexible in terms of considered variables and overcomes the problem of multiple testing. Additionally, it enables the prediction of clinical outcomes. Thus, kernel boosting constitutes a new, powerful tool in the analysis of GWAS data and towards the understanding of biological processes involved in disease susceptibility. PMID:28785300

Pathway-Based Kernel Boosting for the Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies.

PubMed

Friedrichs, Stefanie; Manitz, Juliane; Burger, Patricia; Amos, Christopher I; Risch, Angela; Chang-Claude, Jenny; Wichmann, Heinz-Erich; Kneib, Thomas; Bickeböller, Heike; Hofner, Benjamin

2017-01-01

The analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) benefits from the investigation of biologically meaningful gene sets, such as gene-interaction networks (pathways). We propose an extension to a successful kernel-based pathway analysis approach by integrating kernel functions into a powerful algorithmic framework for variable selection, to enable investigation of multiple pathways simultaneously. We employ genetic similarity kernels from the logistic kernel machine test (LKMT) as base-learners in a boosting algorithm. A model to explain case-control status is created iteratively by selecting pathways that improve its prediction ability. We evaluated our method in simulation studies adopting 50 pathways for different sample sizes and genetic effect strengths. Additionally, we included an exemplary application of kernel boosting to a rheumatoid arthritis and a lung cancer dataset. Simulations indicate that kernel boosting outperforms the LKMT in certain genetic scenarios. Applications to GWAS data on rheumatoid arthritis and lung cancer resulted in sparse models which were based on pathways interpretable in a clinical sense. Kernel boosting is highly flexible in terms of considered variables and overcomes the problem of multiple testing. Additionally, it enables the prediction of clinical outcomes. Thus, kernel boosting constitutes a new, powerful tool in the analysis of GWAS data and towards the understanding of biological processes involved in disease susceptibility.

Simultaneous Rheoelectric Measurements of Strongly Conductive Complex Fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helal, Ahmed; Divoux, Thibaut; McKinley, Gareth H.

2016-12-01

We introduce an modular fixture designed for stress-controlled rheometers to perform simultaneous rheological and electrical measurements on strongly conductive complex fluids under shear. By means of a nontoxic liquid metal at room temperature, the electrical connection to the rotating shaft is completed with minimal additional mechanical friction, allowing for simultaneous stress measurements at values as low as 1 Pa. Motivated by applications such as flow batteries, we use the capabilities of this design to perform an extensive set of rheoelectric experiments on gels formulated from attractive carbon-black particles, at concentrations ranging from 4 to 15 wt %. First, experiments on gels at rest prepared with different shear histories show a robust power-law scaling between the elastic modulus G0' and the conductivity σ0 of the gels—i.e., G0'˜σ0α, with α =1.65 ±0.04 , regardless of the gel concentration. Second, we report conductivity measurements performed simultaneously with creep experiments. Changes in conductivity in the early stage of the experiments, also known as the Andrade-creep regime, reveal for the first time that plastic events take place in the bulk, while the shear rate γ ˙ decreases as a weak power law of time. The subsequent evolution of the conductivity and the shear rate allows us to propose a local yielding scenario that is in agreement with previous velocimetry measurements. Finally, to establish a set of benchmark data, we determine the constitutive rheological and electrical behavior of carbon-black gels. Corrections first introduced for mechanical measurements regarding shear inhomogeneity and wall slip are carefully extended to electrical measurements to accurately distinguish between bulk and surface contributions to the conductivity. As an illustrative example, we examine the constitutive rheoelectric properties of five different grades of carbon-black gels and we demonstrate the relevance of this rheoelectric apparatus as a versatile characterization tool for strongly conductive complex fluids and their applications.

Introducing Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics Computations with Mathematica in the Undergraduate Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Binous, Housam

2007-01-01

We study four non-Newtonian fluid mechanics problems using Mathematica[R]. Constitutive equations describing the behavior of power-law, Bingham and Carreau models are recalled. The velocity profile is obtained for the horizontal flow of power-law fluids in pipes and annuli. For the vertical laminar film flow of a Bingham fluid we determine the…

Military Power in a Democratic Society. Teacher and Student Manuals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zarlengo, F. John

This unit focuses on the classic problem of the place of military power in a democratic society. Early sections examine the relationship between civil and military authority as developed in colonial America and written into the Constitution. The second half of the unit invites consideration of the relevance and workability of the earlier tradition…

Power characteristics in GMAW: Experimental and numerical investigation

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

Joensson, P.G.; Szekely, J.; Madigan, R.B.

1995-03-01

The voltage and power distributions in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) were studied both experimentally and numerically. The principal voltage drop takes place in the arc, which also constitutes the dominant power contribution. Within the arc, the dominating voltage contributions are from the arc column and the cathode fall, while the anode fall and the electrode regions are less significant. The power input to the arc column increases with both increasing current and increasing arc length. These results indicate that it is critical to control the arc length in order to control the power input to the system.

A computer controlled power tool for the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, Paul W.; Konkel, Carl; Smith, Chris; Brown, Lee; Wagner, Ken

1996-01-01

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Pistol Grip Tool (PGT) is a self-contained, microprocessor controlled, battery-powered, 3/8-inch-drive hand-held tool. The PGT is also a non-powered ratchet wrench. This tool will be used by astronauts during Extravehicular Activity (EVA) to apply torque to the HST and HST Servicing Support Equipment mechanical interfaces and fasteners. Numerous torque, speed, and turn or angle limits are programmed into the PGT for use during various missions. Batteries are replaceable during ground operations, Intravehicular Activities, and EVA's.

An advanced constitutive model in the sheet metal forming simulation: the Teodosiu microstructural model and the Cazacu Barlat yield criterion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alves, J. L.; Oliveira, M. C.; Menezes, L. F.

2004-06-01

Two constitutive models used to describe the plastic behavior of sheet metals in the numerical simulation of sheet metal forming process are studied: a recently proposed advanced constitutive model based on the Teodosiu microstructural model and the Cazacu Barlat yield criterion is compared with a more classical one, based on the Swift law and the Hill 1948 yield criterion. These constitutive models are implemented into DD3IMP, a finite element home code specifically developed to simulate sheet metal forming processes, which generically is a 3-D elastoplastic finite element code with an updated Lagrangian formulation, following a fully implicit time integration scheme, large elastoplastic strains and rotations. Solid finite elements and parametric surfaces are used to model the blank sheet and tool surfaces, respectively. Some details of the numerical implementation of the constitutive models are given. Finally, the theory is illustrated with the numerical simulation of the deep drawing of a cylindrical cup. The results show that the proposed advanced constitutive model predicts with more exactness the final shape (medium height and ears profile) of the formed part, as one can conclude from the comparison with the experimental results.

New Ultrasonic Controller and Characterization System for Low Temperature Drying Process Intensification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrés, R. R.; Blanco, A.; Acosta, V. M.; Riera, E.; Martínez, I.; Pinto, A.

Process intensification constitutes a high interesting and promising industrial area. It aims to modify conventional processes or develop new technologies in order to reduce energy needs, increase yields and improve product quality. It has been demonstrated by this research group (CSIC) that power ultrasound have a great potential in food drying processes. The effects associated with the application of power ultrasound can enhance heat and mass transfer and may constitute a way for process intensification. The objective of this work has been the design and development of a new ultrasonic system for the power characterization of piezoelectric plate-transducers, as excitation, monitoring, analysis, control and characterization of their nonlinear response. For this purpose, the system proposes a new, efficient and economic approach that separates the effect of different parameters of the process like excitation, medium and transducer parameters and variables (voltage, current, frequency, impedance, vibration velocity, acoustic pressure and temperature) by observing the electrical, mechanical, acoustical and thermal behavior, and controlling the vibrational state.

Building simulation: Ten challenges

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

Hong, Tianzhen; Langevin, Jared; Sun, Kaiyu

Buildings consume more than one-third of the world’s primary energy. Reducing energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions in the buildings sector through energy conservation and efficiency improvements constitutes a key strategy for achieving global energy and environmental goals. Building performance simulation has been increasingly used as a tool for designing, operating and retrofitting buildings to save energy and utility costs. However, opportunities remain for researchers, software developers, practitioners and policymakers to maximize the value of building performance simulation in the design and operation of low energy buildings and communities that leverage interdisciplinary approaches to integrate humans, buildings, and the power gridmore » at a large scale. This paper presents ten challenges that highlight some of the most important issues in building performance simulation, covering the full building life cycle and a wide range of modeling scales. In conclusion, the formulation and discussion of each challenge aims to provide insights into the state-of-the-art and future research opportunities for each topic, and to inspire new questions from young researchers in this field.« less

Thermodynamic properties of solvated peptides from selective integrated tempering sampling with a new weighting factor estimation algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Lin; Xie, Liangxu; Yang, Mingjun

2017-04-01

Conformational sampling under rugged energy landscape is always a challenge in computer simulations. The recently developed integrated tempering sampling, together with its selective variant (SITS), emerges to be a powerful tool in exploring the free energy landscape or functional motions of various systems. The estimation of weighting factors constitutes a critical step in these methods and requires accurate calculation of partition function ratio between different thermodynamic states. In this work, we propose a new adaptive update algorithm to compute the weighting factors based on the weighted histogram analysis method (WHAM). The adaptive-WHAM algorithm with SITS is then applied to study the thermodynamic properties of several representative peptide systems solvated in an explicit water box. The performance of the new algorithm is validated in simulations of these solvated peptide systems. We anticipate more applications of this coupled optimisation and production algorithm to other complicated systems such as the biochemical reactions in solution.

Disentangling the intragroup HI in Compact Groups of galaxies by means of X3D visualization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verdes-Montenegro, Lourdes; Vogt, Frederic; Aubery, Claire; Duret, Laetitie; Garrido, Julián; Sánchez, Susana; Yun, Min S.; Borthakur, Sanchayeeta; Hess, Kelley; Cluver, Michelle; Del Olmo, Ascensión; Perea, Jaime

2017-03-01

As an extreme kind of environment, Hickson Compact groups (HCGs) have shown to be very complex systems. HI-VLA observations revealed an intrincated network of HI tails and bridges, tracing pre-processing through extreme tidal interactions. We found HCGs to show a large HI deficiency supporting an evolutionary sequence where gas-rich groups transform via tidal interactions and ISM (interstellar medium) stripping into gas-poor systems. We detected as well a diffuse HI component in the groups, increasing with evolutionary phase, although with uncertain distribution. The complex net of detected HI as observed with the VLA seems hence so puzzling as the missing one. In this talk we revisit the existing VLA information on the HI distribution and kinematics of HCGs by means of X3D visualization. X3D constitutes a powerful tool to extract the most from HI data cubes and a mean of simplifying and easing the access to data visualization and publication via three-dimensional (3-D) diagrams.

De Novo Chromosome Structure Prediction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

di Pierro, Michele; Cheng, Ryan R.; Lieberman-Aiden, Erez; Wolynes, Peter G.; Onuchic, Jose'n.

Chromatin consists of DNA and hundreds of proteins that interact with the genetic material. In vivo, chromatin folds into nonrandom structures. The physical mechanism leading to these characteristic conformations, however, remains poorly understood. We recently introduced MiChroM, a model that generates chromosome conformations by using the idea that chromatin can be subdivided into types based on its biochemical interactions. Here we extend and complete our previous finding by showing that structural chromatin types can be inferred from ChIP-Seq data. Chromatin types, which are distinct from DNA sequence, are partially epigenetically controlled and change during cell differentiation, thus constituting a link between epigenetics, chromosomal organization, and cell development. We show that, for GM12878 lymphoblastoid cells we are able to predict accurate chromosome structures with the only input of genomic data. The degree of accuracy achieved by our prediction supports the viability of the proposed physical mechanism of chromatin folding and makes the computational model a powerful tool for future investigations.

Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution: A Powerful Tool for the Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure Alcohols and Amines

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) constitutes a convenient and efficient method to access enantiomerically pure alcohol and amine derivatives. This Perspective highlights the work carried out within this field during the past two decades and pinpoints important avenues for future research. First, the Perspective will summarize the more developed area of alcohol DKR, by delineating the way from the earliest proof-of-concept protocols to the current state-of-the-art systems that allows for the highly efficient and selective preparation of a wide range of enantiomerically pure alcohol derivatives. Thereafter, the Perspective will focus on the more challenging DKR of amines, by presenting the currently available homogeneous and heterogeneous methods and their respective limitations. In these two parts, significant attention will be dedicated to the design of efficient racemization methods as an important means of developing milder DKR protocols. In the final part of the Perspective, a brief overview of the research that has been devoted toward improving enzymes as biocatalysts is presented. PMID:25730714

Building simulation: Ten challenges

DOE PAGES

Hong, Tianzhen; Langevin, Jared; Sun, Kaiyu

2018-04-12

Buildings consume more than one-third of the world’s primary energy. Reducing energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions in the buildings sector through energy conservation and efficiency improvements constitutes a key strategy for achieving global energy and environmental goals. Building performance simulation has been increasingly used as a tool for designing, operating and retrofitting buildings to save energy and utility costs. However, opportunities remain for researchers, software developers, practitioners and policymakers to maximize the value of building performance simulation in the design and operation of low energy buildings and communities that leverage interdisciplinary approaches to integrate humans, buildings, and the power gridmore » at a large scale. This paper presents ten challenges that highlight some of the most important issues in building performance simulation, covering the full building life cycle and a wide range of modeling scales. In conclusion, the formulation and discussion of each challenge aims to provide insights into the state-of-the-art and future research opportunities for each topic, and to inspire new questions from young researchers in this field.« less

Model reduction for agent-based social simulation: coarse-graining a civil violence model.

PubMed

Zou, Yu; Fonoberov, Vladimir A; Fonoberova, Maria; Mezic, Igor; Kevrekidis, Ioannis G

2012-06-01

Agent-based modeling (ABM) constitutes a powerful computational tool for the exploration of phenomena involving emergent dynamic behavior in the social sciences. This paper demonstrates a computer-assisted approach that bridges the significant gap between the single-agent microscopic level and the macroscopic (coarse-grained population) level, where fundamental questions must be rationally answered and policies guiding the emergent dynamics devised. Our approach will be illustrated through an agent-based model of civil violence. This spatiotemporally varying ABM incorporates interactions between a heterogeneous population of citizens [active (insurgent), inactive, or jailed] and a population of police officers. Detailed simulations exhibit an equilibrium punctuated by periods of social upheavals. We show how to effectively reduce the agent-based dynamics to a stochastic model with only two coarse-grained degrees of freedom: the number of jailed citizens and the number of active ones. The coarse-grained model captures the ABM dynamics while drastically reducing the computation time (by a factor of approximately 20).

Model reduction for agent-based social simulation: Coarse-graining a civil violence model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Yu; Fonoberov, Vladimir A.; Fonoberova, Maria; Mezic, Igor; Kevrekidis, Ioannis G.

2012-06-01

Agent-based modeling (ABM) constitutes a powerful computational tool for the exploration of phenomena involving emergent dynamic behavior in the social sciences. This paper demonstrates a computer-assisted approach that bridges the significant gap between the single-agent microscopic level and the macroscopic (coarse-grained population) level, where fundamental questions must be rationally answered and policies guiding the emergent dynamics devised. Our approach will be illustrated through an agent-based model of civil violence. This spatiotemporally varying ABM incorporates interactions between a heterogeneous population of citizens [active (insurgent), inactive, or jailed] and a population of police officers. Detailed simulations exhibit an equilibrium punctuated by periods of social upheavals. We show how to effectively reduce the agent-based dynamics to a stochastic model with only two coarse-grained degrees of freedom: the number of jailed citizens and the number of active ones. The coarse-grained model captures the ABM dynamics while drastically reducing the computation time (by a factor of approximately 20).

Comprehensive Identification of Proteins from MALDI Imaging*

PubMed Central

Maier, Stefan K.; Hahne, Hannes; Gholami, Amin Moghaddas; Balluff, Benjamin; Meding, Stephan; Schoene, Cédrik; Walch, Axel K.; Kuster, Bernhard

2013-01-01

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) is a powerful tool for the visualization of proteins in tissues and has demonstrated considerable diagnostic and prognostic value. One main challenge is that the molecular identity of such potential biomarkers mostly remains unknown. We introduce a generic method that removes this issue by systematically identifying the proteins embedded in the MALDI matrix using a combination of bottom-up and top-down proteomics. The analyses of ten human tissues lead to the identification of 1400 abundant and soluble proteins constituting the set of proteins detectable by MALDI IMS including >90% of all IMS biomarkers reported in the literature. Top-down analysis of the matrix proteome identified 124 mostly N- and C-terminally fragmented proteins indicating considerable protein processing activity in tissues. All protein identification data from this study as well as the IMS literature has been deposited into MaTisse, a new publically available database, which we anticipate will become a valuable resource for the IMS community. PMID:23782541

The power of simulation: imagining one's own and other's behavior.

PubMed

Decety, Jean; Grèzes, Julie

2006-03-24

A large number of cognitive neuroscience studies point to the similarities in the neural circuits activated during the generation, imagination, as well as observation of one's own and other's behavior. Such findings support the shared representations account of social cognition, which is suggested to provide the basic mechanism for social interaction. Mental simulation may also be a representational tool to understand the self and others. However, successfully navigating these shared representations--both within oneself and between individuals--constitutes an essential functional property of any autonomous agent. It will be argued that self-awareness and agency, mediated by the temporoparietal (TPJ) area and the prefrontal cortex, are critical aspects of the social mind. Thus, differences as well as similarities between self and other representations at the neural level may be related to the degrees of self-awareness and agency. Overall, these data support the view that social cognition draws on both domain-general mechanisms and domain-specific embodied representations.

Phase imaging using highly coherent X-rays: radiography, tomography, diffraction topography.

PubMed

Baruchel, J; Cloetens, P; Härtwig, J; Ludwig, W; Mancini, L; Pernot, P; Schlenker, M

2000-05-01

Several hard X-rays imaging techniques greatly benefit from the coherence of the beams delivered by the modern synchrotron radiation sources. This is illustrated with examples recorded on the 'long' (145 m) ID19 'imaging' beamline of the ESRF. Phase imaging is directly related to the small angular size of the source as seen from one point of the sample ('effective divergence' approximately microradians). When using the ;propagation' technique, phase radiography and tomography are instrumentally very simple. They are often used in the 'edge detection' regime, where the jumps of density are clearly observed. The in situ damage assessment of micro-heterogeneous materials is one example of the many applications. Recently a more quantitative approach has been developed, which provides a three-dimensional density mapping of the sample ('holotomography'). The combination of diffraction topography and phase-contrast imaging constitutes a powerful tool. The observation of holes of discrete sizes in quasicrystals, and the investigation of poled ferroelectric materials, result from this combination.

Optics assembly for high power laser tools

DOEpatents

Fraze, Jason D.; Faircloth, Brian O.; Zediker, Mark S.

2016-06-07

There is provided a high power laser rotational optical assembly for use with, or in high power laser tools for performing high power laser operations. In particular, the optical assembly finds applications in performing high power laser operations on, and in, remote and difficult to access locations. The optical assembly has rotational seals and bearing configurations to avoid contamination of the laser beam path and optics.

Design and Control of Integrated Systems for Hydrogen Production and Power Generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgis, Dimitrios

Growing concerns on CO2 emissions have led to the development of highly efficient power plants. Options for increased energy efficiencies include alternative energy conversion pathways, energy integration and process intensification. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) constitute a promising alternative for power generation since they convert the chemical energy electrochemically directly to electricity. Their high operating temperature shows potential for energy integration with energy intensive units (e.g. steam reforming reactors). Although energy integration is an essential tool for increased efficiencies, it leads to highly complex process schemes with rich dynamic behavior, which are challenging to control. Furthermore, the use of process intensification for increased energy efficiency imposes an additional control challenge. This dissertation identifies and proposes solutions on design, operational and control challenges of integrated systems for hydrogen production and power generation. Initially, a study on energy integrated SOFC systems is presented. Design alternatives are identified, control strategies are proposed for each alternative and their validity is evaluated under different operational scenarios. The operational range of the proposed control strategies is also analyzed. Next, thermal management of water gas shift membrane reactors, which are a typical application of process intensification, is considered. Design and operational objectives are identified and a control strategy is proposed employing advanced control algorithms. The performance of the proposed control strategy is evaluated and compared with classical control strategies. Finally SOFC systems for combined heat and power applications are considered. Multiple recycle loops are placed to increase design flexibility. Different operational objectives are identified and a nonlinear optimization problem is formulated. Optimal designs are obtained and their features are discussed and compared. The results of the dissertation provide a deeper understanding on the design, operational and control challenges of the above systems and can potentially guide further commercialization efforts. In addition to this, the results can be generalized and used for applications from the transportation and residential sector to large--scale power plants.

Hand and Power Tools

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-01-01

equipped with a constant- pressure switch or control: drills; tappers; fastener drivers; horizontal, vertical, and angle grinders with wheels more than...hand-held power tools must be equipped with either a positive “on-off” control switch, a constant pressure switch , or a “lock-on” control: disc sanders...percussion tools with no means of holding accessories securely, must be equipped with a constant- pressure switch that will shut off the power when the

Power-Tool Adapter For T-Handle Screws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deloach, Stephen R.

1992-01-01

Proposed adapter enables use of pneumatic drill, electric drill, electric screwdriver, or similar power tool to tighten or loosen T-handled screws. Notched tube with perpendicular rod welded to it inserted in chuck of tool. Notched end of tube slipped over screw handle.

Enumerated Powers Act

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Shadegg, John B. [R-AZ-3

2009-01-09

House - 02/09/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Property-tax incentives for implementing soil-conservation programs under constitutional taxing limitations

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

Massey, D.T.; Silver, M.B.

1982-01-01

This article describes how property-tax incentives can be used to implement soil-conservation programs on agricultural and open-space lands under the differential-assessment statutes and other exceptions to constitutional limitations on taxation powers. The article describes restrictions imposed on taxing powers by the constitutional uniformity clauses and methods for circumventing those limitations; various property-tax incentives available for conservation programs; types of differential or use-value assessments providing property-tax relief for farm, forest, and open-space land preservation; eligibility of lands for differential assessments; methods available to landowners for participation in differential assessments; and determination of value under differential assessment. The article next details howmore » each of the three primary types of differential or use-value assessment statutes for farm, forest, and open-space land preservation provides exceptions to the uniformity clauses for property tax incentives to implement soil-conservation programs. Other methods available for providing exceptions to the uniformity clauses to permit property-tax incentives are also described for each of the three states. Each of these states has statutes giving favorable tax treatment to certain types of property, such as pollution-abatement equipment, alternative energy-producing devices, and even country clubs. These statutes can be used as examples of finding a constitutional method for providing favorabe tax treatment to promote participation in soil-conservation programs.« less

Soil organic matter stability as indicated by compound-specific radiocarbon analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Voort, Tessa Sophia; Zell, Claudia; Hagedorn, Frank; McIntyre, Cameron; Eglinton, Timothy Ian

2017-04-01

Carbon storage in soils is increasingly recognized as a key ecosystem function, and molecular-level analyses could be a valuable potential indicator of this storage potential. In this framework, radiocarbon constitutes a powerful tool for unraveling soil carbon dynamics on both decadal as well as centennial and millennial timescales. In this study, we look at the radiocarbon signature of specific compounds (fatty acids and n-alkanes) in two forested ecosystems (temperate and pre-alpine) with the aim of attaining a better understanding of soil organic carbon stability on a molecular level. Radiocarbon dating of the fatty acids and n-alkanes has been coupled to abundance data of these compounds and additionally lignin phenols. We hypothesize that potentially, these long-chain apolar compounds could be a representative indicator of the mineral-bound soil organic carbon pool. These well-studied sites are part of the Long-Term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF) program of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape research (WSL). Therefore, a wide suite of ancillary climatic and textural data is available for these sites. Initial results show a wide range of ages in the specific compounds which constitute a much larger range than the ages indicated by the density fractions done on the same samples. Overall, this study explores the use of molecular-level indicators to study soil organic matter dynamics, which could help assess the overall potential vulnerability of soil carbon in various ecosystems.

Mechanics of oriented electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for annulus fibrosus tissue engineering.

PubMed

Nerurkar, Nandan L; Elliott, Dawn M; Mauck, Robert L

2007-08-01

Engineering a functional replacement for the annulus fibrosus (AF) of the intervertebral disc is contingent upon recapitulation of AF structure, composition, and mechanical properties. In this study, we propose a new paradigm for AF tissue engineering that focuses on the reconstitution of anatomic fiber architecture and uses constitutive modeling to evaluate construct function. A modified electrospinning technique was utilized to generate aligned nanofibrous polymer scaffolds for engineering the basic functional unit of the AF, a single lamella. Scaffolds were tested in uniaxial tension at multiple fiber orientations, demonstrating a nonlinear dependence of modulus on fiber angle that mimicked the nonlinearity and anisotropy of native AF. A homogenization model previously applied to native AF successfully described scaffold mechanical response, and parametric studies demonstrated that nonfibrillar matrix, along with fiber connectivity, are key contributors to tensile mechanics for engineered AF. We demonstrated that AF cells orient themselves along the aligned scaffolds and deposit matrix that contributes to construct mechanics under loading conditions relevant to the in vivo environment. The homogenization model was applied to cell-seeded constructs and provided quantitative measures for the evolution of matrix and interfibrillar interactions. Finally, the model demonstrated that at fiber angles of the AF (28 degrees -44 degrees ), engineered material behaved much like native tissue, suggesting that engineered constructs replicate the physiologic behavior of the single AF lamella. Constitutive modeling provides a powerful tool for analysis of engineered AF neo-tissue and native AF tissue alike, highlighting key mechanical design criteria for functional AF tissue engineering.

Revisiting the Legislative Veto Issue: A Recent Amendment to the Arms Export Control Act

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-01-01

Executive functions in disregard of the fundamental principle of separation of powers . [10] In the aftermath of the presidential veto, the Congress adopted...history, the Supreme Court endorsed the Constitution’s scheme for the separation of powers . Chief Justice Warren E. Burger noted that Article I of...majority. Accordingly, the drafters of Public Law 99-247 considered that the joint resolution mechanism satisfies the " separation of powers " and the

Judicial Privilege: Does It Have a Role in Military Courts-Martial

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-01

practitioners and judges, both military and civilian, in light of recent politicized struggles between the branches of government invoking the separation of powers doctrine...judicial branch; an act in furtherance of the doctrine of separation of powers set up by the first three articles of the Constitution.I 0 8 2. Dicta...investigators of the historical functions of the doctrine of separation of powers , and went on to declare: In recognition of the fundamental soundness of

Presidential Claims of Executive Privilege: History, Law, Practice and Recent Developments

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-05

assigned area of constitutional duties” and in the separation of powers .29 But although it considered a president’s communications with his close advisors...exemption serves as an important boundary marking the separation of powers . When congressional oversight “is used CRS-11 61 Smith Letter/Watt, supra n...the Executive: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Separation of Powers of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 92d Cong. 1st Sess. 424 (Rehnquist

Study of a conceptual nuclear energy center at Green River, Utah. Power demand, load center assessment and transmission

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

Smith, D.R.; Thaik, A.; Pingel, P.

This document constitutes a segment of a feasibility study investigating the ramification of constructing a nuclear energy center in an arid western region. In this phase of the study. The projected power demands and load center locations were reviewed and assessed. Alternative transmission systems were analysed and a conceptual transmission for bulk power transportation is proposed with potential line routes. Environmental impacts of the proposed transmission were also identified.

Knowledge and power in the technology classroom: a framework for studying teachers and students in action

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danielsson, Anna T.; Berge, Maria; Lidar, Malena

2018-03-01

The purpose of this paper is to develop and illustrate an analytical framework for exploring how relations between knowledge and power are constituted in science and technology classrooms. In addition, the empirical purpose of this paper is to explore how disciplinary knowledge and knowledge-making are constituted in teacher-student interactions. In our analysis we focus on how instances of teacher-student interaction can be understood as simultaneously contributing to meaning-making and producing power relations. The analytical framework we have developed makes use of practical epistemological analysis in combination with a Foucauldian conceptualisation of power, assuming that privileging of educational content needs to be understood as integral to the execution of power in the classroom. The empirical data consists of video-recorded teaching episodes, taken from a teaching sequence of three 1-h lessons in one Swedish technology classroom with sixteen 13-14 years old students. In the analysis we have identified how different epistemological moves contribute to the normalisation and exclusion of knowledge as well as ways of knowledge-making. Further, by looking at how the teacher communicates what counts as (ir)relevant knowledge or (ir)relevant ways of acquiring knowledge we are able to describe what kind of technology student is made desirable in the analysed classroom.

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

Horiike, S.; Okazaki, Y.

This paper describes a performance estimation tool developed for modeling and simulation of open distributed energy management systems to support their design. The approach of discrete event simulation with detailed models is considered for efficient performance estimation. The tool includes basic models constituting a platform, e.g., Ethernet, communication protocol, operating system, etc. Application softwares are modeled by specifying CPU time, disk access size, communication data size, etc. Different types of system configurations for various system activities can be easily studied. Simulation examples show how the tool is utilized for the efficient design of open distributed energy management systems.

Loads produced by a suited subject performing tool tasks without the use of foot restraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rajulu, Sudhakar L.; Poliner, Jeffrey; Klute, Glenn K.

1993-01-01

With an increase in the frequency of extravehicular activities (EVA's) aboard the Space Shuttle, NASA is interested in determining the capabilities of suited astronauts while performing manual tasks during an EVA, in particular the situations in which portable foot restraints are not used to stabilize the astronauts. Efforts were made to document the forces that are transmitted to spacecraft while pushing and pulling an object as well as while operating a standard wrench and an automatic power tool. The six subjects studied aboard the KC-135 reduced gravity aircraft were asked to exert a maximum torque and to maintain a constant level of torque with a wrench, to push and pull an EVA handrail, and to operate a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) power tool. The results give an estimate of the forces and moments that an operator will transmit to the handrail as well as to the supporting structure. In general, it was more effective to use the tool inwardly toward the body rather than away from the body. There were no differences in terms of strength capabilities between right and left hands. The power tool was difficult to use. It is suggested that ergonomic redesigning of the power tool may increase the efficiency of power tool use.

Characterizing the structure of diffuse emission in Hi-GAL maps

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

Elia, D.; Molinari, S.; Rygl, K. L. J.

We present a study of the structure of the Galactic interstellar medium (ISM) through the Δ-variance technique, related to the power spectrum and the fractal properties of infrared/submillimeter maps. Through this method, it is possible to provide quantitative parameters, which are useful for characterizing different morphological and physical conditions, and better constraining the theoretical models. In this respect, the Herschel Infrared Galactic Plane Survey, carried out at five photometric bands from 70 to 500 μm, constitutes a unique database for applying statistical tools to a variety of regions across the Milky Way. In this paper, we derive a robust estimatemore » of the power-law portion of the power spectrum of four contiguous 2° × 2° Hi-GAL tiles located in the third Galactic quadrant (217° ≲ ℓ ≲ 225°, –2° ≲ b ≲ 0°). The low level of confusion along the line of sight, testified by CO observations, makes this region an ideal case. We find very different values for the power spectrum slope from tile to tile but also from wavelength to wavelength (2 ≲ β ≲ 3), with similarities between fields attributable to components located at the same distance. Thanks to comparisons with models of turbulence, an explanation of the determined slopes in terms of the fractal geometry is also provided, and possible relations with the underlying physics are investigated. In particular, an anti-correlation between ISM fractal dimension and star formation efficiency is found for the two main distance components observed in these fields. A possible link between the fractal properties of the diffuse emission and the resulting clump mass function is discussed.« less

Using geologic structures to constrain constitutive laws not accessible in the laboratory

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nevitt, Johanna; Warren, Jessica M.; Kumamoto, Kathryn M.; Pollard, David D.

2018-01-01

In this essay, we explore a central problem of structural geology today, and in the foreseeable future, which is the determination of constitutive laws governing rock deformation to produce geologic structures. Although laboratory experiments provide much needed data and insights about constitutive laws, these experiments cannot cover the range of conditions and compositions relevant to the formation of geologic structures. We advocate that structural geologists address this limitation by interpreting natural experiments, documented with field and microstructural data, using continuum mechanical models that enable the deduction of constitutive laws. To put this procedure into a historical context, we review the founding of structural geology by James Hutton in the late 18th century, and the seminal contributions to continuum mechanics from Newton to Cauchy that provide the tools to model geologic structures. The procedure is illustrated with two examples drawn from recent and on-going field investigations of crustal and mantle lithologies. We conclude by pointing to future research opportunities that will engage structural geologists in the pursuit of constitutive laws during the 21st century.

Novel approach of molecular genetic understanding of iridology: relationship between iris constitution and angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism.

PubMed

Um, Jae-Young; An, Nyeon-Hyoung; Yang, Gui-Bi; Lee, Geon-Mok; Cho, Ju-Jang; Cho, Jae-Woon; Hwang, Woo-Jun; Chae, Han-Jung; Kim, Hyung-Ryong; Hong, Seung-Heon; Kim, Hyung-Min

2005-01-01

Iridology is the study of the iris of the eye to detect the conditions of the body and its organs, genetic strengths and weaknesses, etc. Although iridology is not widely used as a scientific tool for healthcare professionals to get to the source of people's health conditions, it has been used as a supplementary source to help the diagnosis of medical conditions by noting irregularities of the pigmentation in the iris among some Korean Oriental medical doctors. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism is one of the most well studied genetic markers of vascular disease. We investigated the relationship between iridological constitution and ACE polymorphism in hypertensives. We classified 87 hypertensives and 79 controls according to iris constitution and determined the ACE genotype of each individual. DD genotype was more prevalent in patients with a neurogenic constitution than in controls. This finding supports the hypothesis that D allele is a candidate gene for hypertension and demonstrates the association among ACE genotype, Korean hypertensives and iris constitution.

Implementation Analysis of Cutting Tool Carbide with Cast Iron Material S45 C on Universal Lathe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junaidi; hestukoro, Soni; yanie, Ahmad; Jumadi; Eddy

2017-12-01

Cutting tool is the tools lathe. Cutting process tool CARBIDE with Cast Iron Material Universal Lathe which is commonly found at Analysiscutting Process by some aspects numely Cutting force, Cutting Speed, Cutting Power, Cutting Indication Power, Temperature Zone 1 and Temperatur Zone 2. Purpose of this Study was to determine how big the cutting Speed, Cutting Power, electromotor Power,Temperatur Zone 1 and Temperatur Zone 2 that drives the chisel cutting CARBIDE in the Process of tur ning Cast Iron Material. Cutting force obtained from image analysis relationship between the recommended Component Cuting Force with plane of the cut and Cutting Speed obtained from image analysis of relationships between the recommended Cutting Speed Feed rate.

Computational tool for simulation of power and refrigeration cycles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Córdoba Tuta, E.; Reyes Orozco, M.

2016-07-01

Small improvement in thermal efficiency of power cycles brings huge cost savings in the production of electricity, for that reason have a tool for simulation of power cycles allows modeling the optimal changes for a best performance. There is also a big boom in research Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), which aims to get electricity at low power through cogeneration, in which the working fluid is usually a refrigerant. A tool to design the elements of an ORC cycle and the selection of the working fluid would be helpful, because sources of heat from cogeneration are very different and in each case would be a custom design. In this work the development of a multiplatform software for the simulation of power cycles and refrigeration, which was implemented in the C ++ language and includes a graphical interface which was developed using multiplatform environment Qt and runs on operating systems Windows and Linux. The tool allows the design of custom power cycles, selection the type of fluid (thermodynamic properties are calculated through CoolProp library), calculate the plant efficiency, identify the fractions of flow in each branch and finally generates a report very educational in pdf format via the LaTeX tool.

A bicycle network analysis tool for planning applications in small communities.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-05-01

Non-motorized transportation modes such as bicycles constitute an important part of a : communitys transportation system; they are vital to the success of transit-oriented developments : (TODs). However, bicycles were often ignored in transportati...

The Molecular Structure of Penicillin

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bentley, Ronald

2004-01-01

Overviews of the observations that constitute a structure proof for penicillin, specifically aimed at the general student population, are presented. Melting points and boiling points were criteria of purity and a crucial tool was microanalysis leading to empirical formulas.

The Evolution of the Executive During the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Villier, Paul Wayne

The scope of the American Presidency and the office's powers can change from one Chief Executive to the next. The Chief Executive is the Head of State, has Executive Powers and Privileges, is the Chief Negotiator in Treaties, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and leader of his political party. This paper considers European and U.S.…

County and municipal ordinances to protect wildland-urban interface communities

Treesearch

Terry Haines; Cheryl Renner; Margaret Reams

2008-01-01

The growth of residential communities within and adjacent to high-fire risk forests in the past several decades, has increased the danger to life, property and natural assets from wildfire. Under the police powers granted by the Constitution, state and local governments have the power to pass laws to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens. As this...

Thickness ratio effects on quasistatic actuation and sensing behavior of laminate magnetoelectric cantilevers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yezuo; Atulasimha, Jayasimha; Clarke, Joshua; Sundaresan, Vishnu B.

2010-04-01

In this work, the magnetoelectric cantilever composed of a layer of Galfenol and a layer of PZT-5H is studied for novel applications such as surgical ablation tools and cutting tools for machining applications. For developing a suitable model for the magnetoelectric cantilever, an energy based approach for the non-linear constitutive behavior of the magnetostrictive material and linear piezoelectric constitutive equations will be coupled with Euler Bernoulli model for composite beams. The cantilever is held in a uniform magnetic field and the magnetic field is measured by a Gaussmeter. The tip-deflection of the cantilever is detected by a laser triangulation sensor. The piezoelectric response can be studied with low noise preamplifier. Four PZT-5H layers with different thickness are separately bonded on the top of the same Galfenol layer and characterized to study the thickness ratio effects on the quasistatic actuation and sensing behavior of the composite cantilever.

PowderSim: Lagrangian Discrete and Mesh-Free Continuum Simulation Code for Cohesive Soils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Scott; Walton, Otis; Settgast, Randolph

2013-01-01

PowderSim is a calculation tool that combines a discrete-element method (DEM) module, including calibrated interparticle-interaction relationships, with a mesh-free, continuum, SPH (smoothed-particle hydrodynamics) based module that utilizes enhanced, calibrated, constitutive models capable of mimicking both large deformations and the flow behavior of regolith simulants and lunar regolith under conditions anticipated during in situ resource utilization (ISRU) operations. The major innovation introduced in PowderSim is to use a mesh-free method (SPH-based) with a calibrated and slightly modified critical-state soil mechanics constitutive model to extend the ability of the simulation tool to also address full-scale engineering systems in the continuum sense. The PowderSim software maintains the ability to address particle-scale problems, like size segregation, in selected regions with a traditional DEM module, which has improved contact physics and electrostatic interaction models.

Entanglements of instruments and media in investigating organic life.

PubMed

Steigerwald, Joan

2016-06-01

The question what constitutes organic life might be answered variously. This special issue explores how the rendering of life throughout the history of biology has been shaped by various instruments and media. While acknowledging the significance of the theoretical and social scenes of inquiry in which specific tools and techniques develop, and which delimit epistemic possibilities for making sense of life, the issue draws attention to material practices and instrumental mediations in experimental studies of life. Although it might seem self-evident that biology takes as its object of inquiry living organisms, it is productive to regard its subject matter as organic media rather than discrete organisms. The papers gathered in this issue show the rich potential for the critical study of how organic life has been constituted through the tools used to mediate its study. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Insecticidal activity of plant lectins and potential application in crop protection.

PubMed

Macedo, Maria Lígia R; Oliveira, Caio F R; Oliveira, Carolina T

2015-01-27

Lectins constitute a complex group of proteins found in different organisms. These proteins constitute an important field for research, as their structural diversity and affinity for several carbohydrates makes them suitable for numerous biological applications. This review addresses the classification and insecticidal activities of plant lectins, providing an overview of the applicability of these proteins in crop protection. The likely target sites in insect tissues, the mode of action of these proteins, as well as the use of lectins as biotechnological tools for pest control are also described. The use of initial bioassays employing artificial diets has led to the most recent advances in this field, such as plant breeding and the construction of fusion proteins, using lectins for targeting the delivery of toxins and to potentiate expected insecticide effects. Based on the data presented, we emphasize the contribution that plant lectins may make as tools for the development of integrated insect pest control strategies.

Fifth amendment taking and environmental protection under the police power: Historical development and a modest proposal to address the muddle

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

Root, T.E.; Dotterrer, I.L.

1995-12-01

Under its developing {open_quotes}just compensation{close_quotes} jurisprudence, the United States Supreme Court has applied the constitutional requirement (of just compensation for taking private property for public use) to overly intrusive regulations. The application of the just compensation clause to governmental environmental protection activity has pitted the basic principle of protection of private property from government confiscation against another basic principle-the police power (which allows the government to regulate the use of property to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people). The authors outline the muddle resulting from the conflict of these two constitutional principles after tracing the development ofmore » each. This article first outlines the general trend of increasing regulation of the uses of private property under environmental laws pursuant to the police power, and then outlines the development of Fifth Amendment just compensation jurisprudence (from eminent domain, through inverse condemnation, to regulatory taking). The authors urge Congress to authorize a Commission to review exercise of the police power and environmental protection legislation in light of the Fifth Amendment just compensation provision and to recommend legislation that will reconcile the two principles.« less

Modeling of power electronic systems with EMTP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tam, Kwa-Sur; Dravid, Narayan V.

1989-01-01

In view of the potential impact of power electronics on power systems, there is need for a computer modeling/analysis tool to perform simulation studies on power systems with power electronic components as well as to educate engineering students about such systems. The modeling of the major power electronic components of the NASA Space Station Freedom Electric Power System is described along with ElectroMagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) and it is demonstrated that EMTP can serve as a very useful tool for teaching, design, analysis, and research in the area of power systems with power electronic components. EMTP modeling of power electronic circuits is described and simulation results are presented.

New constitutionalism and the social reproduction of caring institutions.

PubMed

Gill, Stephen; Bakker, Isabella

2006-01-01

This essay analyzes neo-liberal economic agreements and legal and political frameworks or what has been called the "new constitutionalism," a governance framework that empowers market forces to reshape economic and social development worldwide. The article highlights some consequences of new constitutionalism for caring institutions specifically, and for what feminists call social reproduction more generally: the biological reproduction of the species; the reproduction of labor power; and the reproduction of social institutions and processes associated with the creation and maintenance of communities. New constitutional governance frameworks fundamentally reshape conditions under which the care of human beings takes place. Caring institutions once governed by enabling professions geared to universal care are now determined increasingly by market values and private forces, and driven directly by the profit motive. This is one of the reasons why neo-liberalism is increasingly contested in both the North and the global South.

Kant on biological teleology: Towards a two-level interpretation.

PubMed

Quarfood, Marcel

2006-12-01

According to Kant's Critique of the power of judgment, teleological considerations are unavoidable for conceptualizing organisms. Does this mean that teleology is more than merely heuristic? Kant stresses the regulative status of teleological attributions, but sometimes he seems to treat teleology as a constitutive condition for biology. To clarify this issue, the concept of natural purpose and its role for biology are examined. I suggest that the concept serves an identificatory function: it singles out objects as natural purposes, whereby the special science of biology is constituted. This relative constitutivity of teleology is explicated by means of a distinction of levels: on the object level of biological science, teleology is taken as constitutive, though it is merely regulative on the philosophical meta level. This distinction also concerns the place of Aristotelian teleology in Kant: on the object level, the Aristotelian view is accepted, whereas on the meta level, an agnostic stance is taken concerning teleology.

An E8 promoter-HSP terminator cassette promotes the high-level accumulation of recombinant protein predominantly in transgenic tomato fruits: a case study of miraculin.

PubMed

Kurokawa, Natsuko; Hirai, Tadayoshi; Takayama, Mariko; Hiwasa-Tanase, Kyoko; Ezura, Hiroshi

2013-04-01

The E8 promoter-HSP terminator expression cassette is a powerful tool for increasing the accumulation of recombinant protein in a ripening tomato fruit. Strong, tissue-specific transgene expression is a desirable feature in transgenic plants to allow the production of variable recombinant proteins. The expression vector is a key tool to control the expression level and site of transgene and recombinant protein expression in transgenic plants. The combination of the E8 promoter, a fruit-ripening specific promoter, and a heat shock protein (HSP) terminator, derived from heat shock protein 18.2 of Arabidopsis thaliana, produces the strong and fruit-specific accumulation of recombinant miraculin in transgenic tomato. Miraculin gene expression was driven by an E8 promoter and HSP terminator cassette (E8-MIR-HSP) in transgenic tomato plants, and the miraculin concentration was the highest in the ripening fruits, representing 30-630 μg miraculin of the gram fresh weight. The highest level of miraculin concentration among the transgenic tomato plant lines containing the E8-MIR-HSP cassette was approximately four times higher than those observed in a previous study using a constitutive 35S promoter and NOS terminator cassette (Hiwasa-Tanase et al. in Plant Cell Rep 30:113-124, 2011). These results demonstrate that the combination of the E8 promoter and HSP terminator cassette is a useful tool to increase markedly the accumulation of recombinant proteins in a ripening fruit-specific manner.

Simulation Tools for Power Electronics Courses Based on Java Technologies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canesin, Carlos A.; Goncalves, Flavio A. S.; Sampaio, Leonardo P.

2010-01-01

This paper presents interactive power electronics educational tools. These interactive tools make use of the benefits of Java language to provide a dynamic and interactive approach to simulating steady-state ideal rectifiers (uncontrolled and controlled; single-phase and three-phase). Additionally, this paper discusses the development and use of…

General Construction Trades. Volume 1. Teacher's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

East Texas State Univ., Commerce. Occupational Curriculum Lab.

Ten units on the world of construction and twelve units on carpentry are presented in this teacher's guide. The construction units include the following: safety; human relations in the shop; grooming and hygiene; hand tools; measurement; portable power tools, stationary power tools; fastening devices; and job application and interview. The…

Digital Portfolios: Powerful Marketing Tool for Communications Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nikirk, Martin

2008-01-01

A digital portfolio is a powerful marketing tool for young people searching for employment in the communication or interactive media fields. With a digital portfolio, students can demonstrate their skills at working with software tools, demonstrate appropriate use of materials, explain technical procedures, show an understanding of processes and…

A low power cryocooled autonomous ultra-stable oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fluhr, C.; Dubois, B.; Grop, S.; Paris, J.; Le Tetû, G.; Giordano, V.

2016-12-01

We present the design and the preliminary evaluation of a cryostat equipped with a low power pulse-tube cryocooler intended to maintain near 5 K a high-Q factor sapphire microwave resonator. This cooled resonator constitutes the frequency reference of an ultra-stable oscillator presenting a short term fractional frequency stability of better than 1 ×10-15 . The proposed design enables to reach a state-of-the-art frequency stability with a cryogenic oscillator consuming only 3 kW of electrical power.

Ayurvedic genomics, constitutional psychology, and endocrinology: the missing connection.

PubMed

Rizzo-Sierra, Carlos V

2011-05-01

A recent methodological approach for human classification, diagnosis, and therapeutics through the combination of current Western constitutional psychology somatotypes and traditional Indian medicine (prakriti) body types and mind (manas) is herein presented. The striking similarities between psychologic somatotypes and Indian medicine body types permits proposal of a finite genopsycho-somatotyping of humans. Genopsycho-somatotyping of humans consists of a set of common physiologic, physical, and psychologic attributes related to a common basic birth constitution that remains somewhat permanent during human lifetime, since it is proposed that this birth constitution is programmed in the person's DNA (genes). This mainly provides a tool for classifying the human population based on broad and finite phenotype clusters across different ethnicity, languages, geographical location, or self-reported ancestry. In spite of any social or environmental traumatic event, I propose for males that every basic constitution has an associated identification organ, a measured property or marker, a soma, and some psyche general tendencies suggesting specific behavior or recurrent conduct. Three (3) basic extreme genopsycho-somatotypes or birth constitutions are enunciated: mesomorphic or andrus (Pitta), endomorphic or thymus (Khapa), and ectomorphic or thyrus (Vata). The method further predicts that male andrus constitution across races shares similarities in androgen (An) nuclear receptor behavior, whereas thymus constitutions are mainly regulated by T-cells (Tc) nuclear receptor behavior. Moreover, it suggests that thyrus constitutions share similarities in thyroxine (Th) nuclear receptor behavior. These proposed nuclear receptors are expected to regulate the expression of specific genes, thereby controlling the embryonic development, adult homeostasis, and metabolism of the human organism in a very profound way. The method finally predicts small differences in measured property (An, Tc, and Th nuclear receptors behavior) within a birth constitution across different races to be expected by modulation effects in melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor behavior.

AI in manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gross, John E.; Minato, Rick; Smith, David M.; Loftin, R. B.; Savely, Robert T.

1991-10-01

AI techniques are shown to have been useful in such aerospace industry tasks as vehicle configuration layouts, process planning, tool design, numerically-controlled programming of tools, production scheduling, and equipment testing and diagnosis. Accounts are given of illustrative experiences at the production facilities of three major aerospace defense contractors. Also discussed is NASA's autonomous Intelligent Computer-Aided Training System, for such ambitious manned programs as Space Station Freedom, which employs five different modules to constitute its job-independent training architecture.

Studying radiolytic ageing of nuclear power plant electric cables with FTIR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Levet, A; Colombani, J; Duponchel, L

2017-09-01

Due to the willingness to extend the nuclear power plants length of life, it is of prime importance to understand long term ageing effect on all constitutive materials. For this purpose gamma-irradiation effects on insulation of instrumentation and control cables are studied. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and principal components analysis (PCA) were used to highlight molecular modifications induced by gamma-irradiation under oxidizing conditions. In order to be closer to real world conditions, a low dose rate of 11Gyh -1 was used to irradiate insulations in full cable or alone with a dose up to 58 kGy. Spectral differences according to irradiation dose were extracted using PCA. It was then possible to observe different behaviors of the insulation constitutive compounds i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and aluminium trihydrate (ATH). Irradiation of insulations led to the oxidation of their constitutive polymers and a modification of filler-polymer ratio. Moreover all these modifications were observed for insulations alone or in full cable indicating that oxygen easily diffuses into the material. Spectral contributions were discussed considering different degradation mechanisms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

"PowerUp"!: A Tool for Calculating Minimum Detectable Effect Sizes and Minimum Required Sample Sizes for Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Design Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dong, Nianbo; Maynard, Rebecca

2013-01-01

This paper and the accompanying tool are intended to complement existing supports for conducting power analysis tools by offering a tool based on the framework of Minimum Detectable Effect Sizes (MDES) formulae that can be used in determining sample size requirements and in estimating minimum detectable effect sizes for a range of individual- and…

18 CFR 367.3940 - Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment. 367.3940 Section 367.3940 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL... NATURAL GAS ACT Service Company Property Chart of Accounts § 367.3940 Account 394, Tools, shop and garage...

18 CFR 367.3940 - Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment. 367.3940 Section 367.3940 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL... NATURAL GAS ACT Service Company Property Chart of Accounts § 367.3940 Account 394, Tools, shop and garage...

18 CFR 367.3940 - Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment. 367.3940 Section 367.3940 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL... NATURAL GAS ACT Service Company Property Chart of Accounts § 367.3940 Account 394, Tools, shop and garage...

18 CFR 367.3940 - Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Account 394, Tools, shop and garage equipment. 367.3940 Section 367.3940 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL... NATURAL GAS ACT Service Company Property Chart of Accounts § 367.3940 Account 394, Tools, shop and garage...

Discursive archaeology: constituting knowledge of militant nurses in trade associations.

PubMed

Almeida, Deybson Borba de; Silva, Gilberto Tadeu Reis da; Freitas, Genival Fernandes de; Padilha, Maria Itayra; Almeida, Igor Ferreira Borba de

2018-05-01

To analyze the constituting knowledge of militant nurses in trade associations. Historical research, based on the oral history method, with a qualitative approach carried out with 11 nurses who are/were militants for professional issues since the 1980s in the state of Bahia. The data collected through semi-structured interviews were organized in the software n-vivo 10 and analyzed based on dialectical hermeneutics. We identified pedagogical, administrative, public health, sociological, and trade union background knowledge as constituent of militant individuals. Final considerations: The constituting knowledge of militant nurses are inscribed in the Social Sciences, distanced from biomedical knowledge and power, pointing at ways for structuring nursing curricula. We identified the Brazilian Association of Nursing as a space for political formation.

The Election of 1800: Teaching about a Critical Moment in the History of American Constitutional Democracy. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nixon, William A.

In 1800 the U.S. democracy faced a challenge when Republican Thomas Jefferson defeated Federalist President John Adams. The Federalists handed over the reins of power to their hated rivals, setting a precedent that has guided U.S. politics ever since. This precedent established the tradition of the peaceful transfer of power. The bicentennial of…

Postmodernity, Cultural Pluralism and the Nation-State: Problems of Language Rights, Human Rights, Identity and Power.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rassool, Naz

1998-01-01

Argues that language provides not only a central identity variable but also constitutes a key means by which people can either gain access to power or be excluded from the right to exercise control over their lives. Argues that, if language is materially and culturally rooted, issues of language rights cannot be addressed outside of social policy.…

Method to determine the optimal constitutive model from spherical indentation tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tairui; Wang, Shang; Wang, Weiqiang

2018-03-01

The limitation of current indentation theories was investigated and a method to determine the optimal constitutive model through spherical indentation tests was proposed. Two constitutive models, the Power-law and the Linear-law, were used in Finite Element (FE) calculations, and then a set of indentation governing equations was established for each model. The load-depth data from the normal indentation depth was used to fit the best parameters in each constitutive model while the data from the further loading part was compared with those from FE calculations, and the model that better predicted the further deformation was considered the optimal one. Moreover, a Yang's modulus calculation model which took the previous plastic deformation and the phenomenon of pile-up (or sink-in) into consideration was also proposed to revise the original Sneddon-Pharr-Oliver model. The indentation results on six materials, 304, 321, SA508, SA533, 15CrMoR, and Fv520B, were compared with tensile ones, which validated the reliability of the revised E calculation model and the optimal constitutive model determination method in this study.

Real-Time PCR Typing of Escherichia coli Based on Multiple Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms--a Convenient and Rapid Method.

PubMed

Lager, Malin; Mernelius, Sara; Löfgren, Sture; Söderman, Jan

2016-01-01

Healthcare-associated infections caused by Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistance due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production constitute a threat against patient safety. To identify, track, and control outbreaks and to detect emerging virulent clones, typing tools of sufficient discriminatory power that generate reproducible and unambiguous data are needed. A probe based real-time PCR method targeting multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) was developed. The method was based on the multi locus sequence typing scheme of Institute Pasteur and by adaptation of previously described typing assays. An 8 SNP-panel that reached a Simpson's diversity index of 0.95 was established, based on analysis of sporadic E. coli cases (ESBL n = 27 and non-ESBL n = 53). This multi-SNP assay was used to identify the sequence type 131 (ST131) complex according to the Achtman's multi locus sequence typing scheme. However, it did not fully discriminate within the complex but provided a diagnostic signature that outperformed a previously described detection assay. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing of isolates from a presumed outbreak (n = 22) identified two outbreaks (ST127 and ST131) and three different non-outbreak-related isolates. Multi-SNP typing generated congruent data except for one non-outbreak-related ST131 isolate. We consider multi-SNP real-time PCR typing an accessible primary generic E. coli typing tool for rapid and uniform type identification.

Multiple-Color Optical Activation, Silencing, and Desynchronization of Neural Activity, with Single-Spike Temporal Resolution

PubMed Central

Han, Xue; Boyden, Edward S.

2007-01-01

The quest to determine how precise neural activity patterns mediate computation, behavior, and pathology would be greatly aided by a set of tools for reliably activating and inactivating genetically targeted neurons, in a temporally precise and rapidly reversible fashion. Having earlier adapted a light-activated cation channel, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), for allowing neurons to be stimulated by blue light, we searched for a complementary tool that would enable optical neuronal inhibition, driven by light of a second color. Here we report that targeting the codon-optimized form of the light-driven chloride pump halorhodopsin from the archaebacterium Natronomas pharaonis (hereafter abbreviated Halo) to genetically-specified neurons enables them to be silenced reliably, and reversibly, by millisecond-timescale pulses of yellow light. We show that trains of yellow and blue light pulses can drive high-fidelity sequences of hyperpolarizations and depolarizations in neurons simultaneously expressing yellow light-driven Halo and blue light-driven ChR2, allowing for the first time manipulations of neural synchrony without perturbation of other parameters such as spiking rates. The Halo/ChR2 system thus constitutes a powerful toolbox for multichannel photoinhibition and photostimulation of virally or transgenically targeted neural circuits without need for exogenous chemicals, enabling systematic analysis and engineering of the brain, and quantitative bioengineering of excitable cells. PMID:17375185

Data management routines for reproducible research using the G-Node Python Client library

PubMed Central

Sobolev, Andrey; Stoewer, Adrian; Pereira, Michael; Kellner, Christian J.; Garbers, Christian; Rautenberg, Philipp L.; Wachtler, Thomas

2014-01-01

Structured, efficient, and secure storage of experimental data and associated meta-information constitutes one of the most pressing technical challenges in modern neuroscience, and does so particularly in electrophysiology. The German INCF Node aims to provide open-source solutions for this domain that support the scientific data management and analysis workflow, and thus facilitate future data access and reproducible research. G-Node provides a data management system, accessible through an application interface, that is based on a combination of standardized data representation and flexible data annotation to account for the variety of experimental paradigms in electrophysiology. The G-Node Python Library exposes these services to the Python environment, enabling researchers to organize and access their experimental data using their familiar tools while gaining the advantages that a centralized storage entails. The library provides powerful query features, including data slicing and selection by metadata, as well as fine-grained permission control for collaboration and data sharing. Here we demonstrate key actions in working with experimental neuroscience data, such as building a metadata structure, organizing recorded data in datasets, annotating data, or selecting data regions of interest, that can be automated to large degree using the library. Compliant with existing de-facto standards, the G-Node Python Library is compatible with many Python tools in the field of neurophysiology and thus enables seamless integration of data organization into the scientific data workflow. PMID:24634654

Data management routines for reproducible research using the G-Node Python Client library.

PubMed

Sobolev, Andrey; Stoewer, Adrian; Pereira, Michael; Kellner, Christian J; Garbers, Christian; Rautenberg, Philipp L; Wachtler, Thomas

2014-01-01

Structured, efficient, and secure storage of experimental data and associated meta-information constitutes one of the most pressing technical challenges in modern neuroscience, and does so particularly in electrophysiology. The German INCF Node aims to provide open-source solutions for this domain that support the scientific data management and analysis workflow, and thus facilitate future data access and reproducible research. G-Node provides a data management system, accessible through an application interface, that is based on a combination of standardized data representation and flexible data annotation to account for the variety of experimental paradigms in electrophysiology. The G-Node Python Library exposes these services to the Python environment, enabling researchers to organize and access their experimental data using their familiar tools while gaining the advantages that a centralized storage entails. The library provides powerful query features, including data slicing and selection by metadata, as well as fine-grained permission control for collaboration and data sharing. Here we demonstrate key actions in working with experimental neuroscience data, such as building a metadata structure, organizing recorded data in datasets, annotating data, or selecting data regions of interest, that can be automated to large degree using the library. Compliant with existing de-facto standards, the G-Node Python Library is compatible with many Python tools in the field of neurophysiology and thus enables seamless integration of data organization into the scientific data workflow.

Membrane proteins structures: A review on computational modeling tools.

PubMed

Almeida, Jose G; Preto, Antonio J; Koukos, Panagiotis I; Bonvin, Alexandre M J J; Moreira, Irina S

2017-10-01

Membrane proteins (MPs) play diverse and important functions in living organisms. They constitute 20% to 30% of the known bacterial, archaean and eukaryotic organisms' genomes. In humans, their importance is emphasized as they represent 50% of all known drug targets. Nevertheless, experimental determination of their three-dimensional (3D) structure has proven to be both time consuming and rather expensive, which has led to the development of computational algorithms to complement the available experimental methods and provide valuable insights. This review highlights the importance of membrane proteins and how computational methods are capable of overcoming challenges associated with their experimental characterization. It covers various MP structural aspects, such as lipid interactions, allostery, and structure prediction, based on methods such as Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Machine-Learning (ML). Recent developments in algorithms, tools and hybrid approaches, together with the increase in both computational resources and the amount of available data have resulted in increasingly powerful and trustworthy approaches to model MPs. Even though MPs are elementary and important in nature, the determination of their 3D structure has proven to be a challenging endeavor. Computational methods provide a reliable alternative to experimental methods. In this review, we focus on computational techniques to determine the 3D structure of MP and characterize their binding interfaces. We also summarize the most relevant databases and software programs available for the study of MPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Leishmania infantum Lipophosphoglycan-Deficient Mutants: A Tool to Study Host Cell-Parasite Interplay

PubMed Central

Lázaro-Souza, Milena; Matte, Christine; Lima, Jonilson B.; Arango Duque, Guillermo; Quintela-Carvalho, Graziele; de Carvalho Vivarini, Áislan; Moura-Pontes, Sara; Figueira, Cláudio P.; Jesus-Santos, Flávio H.; Gazos Lopes, Ulisses; Farias, Leonardo P.; Araújo-Santos, Théo; Descoteaux, Albert; Borges, Valéria M.

2018-01-01

Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is the major surface glycoconjugate of metacyclic Leishmania promastigotes and is associated with virulence in various species of this parasite. Here, we generated a LPG-deficient mutant of Leishmania infantum, the foremost etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. The L. infantum LPG-deficient mutant (Δlpg1) was obtained by homologous recombination and complemented via episomal expression of LPG1 (Δlpg1 + LPG1). Deletion of LPG1 had no observable effect on parasite morphology or on the presence of subcellular organelles, such as lipid droplets. While both wild-type and add-back parasites reached late phase in axenic cultures, the growth of Δlpg1 parasites was delayed. Additionally, the deletion of LPG1 impaired the outcome of infection in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. Although no significant differences were observed in parasite load after 4 h of infection, survival of Δlpg1 parasites was significantly reduced at 72 h post-infection. Interestingly, L. infantum LPG-deficient mutants induced a strong NF-κB-dependent activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) promoter compared to wild type and Δlpg1 + LPG1 parasites. In conclusion, the L. infantum Δlpg1 mutant constitutes a powerful tool to investigate the role(s) played by LPG in host cell-parasite interactions. PMID:29675001

Electrically powered hand tool

DOEpatents

Myers, Kurt S.; Reed, Teddy R.

2007-01-16

An electrically powered hand tool is described and which includes a three phase electrical motor having a plurality of poles; an electrical motor drive electrically coupled with the three phase electrical motor; and a source of electrical power which is converted to greater than about 208 volts three-phase and which is electrically coupled with the electrical motor drive.

Microsoft Producer: A Software Tool for Creating Multimedia PowerPoint[R] Presentations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leffingwell, Thad R.; Thomas, David G.; Elliott, William H.

2007-01-01

Microsoft[R] Producer[R] is a powerful yet user-friendly PowerPoint companion tool for creating on-demand multimedia presentations. Instructors can easily distribute these presentations via compact disc or streaming media over the Internet. We describe the features of the software, system requirements, and other required hardware. We also describe…

49 CFR 176.54 - Repairs involving welding, burning, and power-actuated tools and appliances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Repairs involving welding, burning, and power... MATERIALS REGULATIONS CARRIAGE BY VESSEL General Operating Requirements § 176.54 Repairs involving welding..., repairs or work involving welding or burning, or the use of power-actuated tools or appliances which may...

49 CFR 176.54 - Repairs involving welding, burning, and power-actuated tools and appliances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Repairs involving welding, burning, and power... MATERIALS REGULATIONS CARRIAGE BY VESSEL General Operating Requirements § 176.54 Repairs involving welding..., repairs or work involving welding or burning, or the use of power-actuated tools or appliances which may...

49 CFR 176.54 - Repairs involving welding, burning, and power-actuated tools and appliances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Repairs involving welding, burning, and power... MATERIALS REGULATIONS CARRIAGE BY VESSEL General Operating Requirements § 176.54 Repairs involving welding..., repairs or work involving welding or burning, or the use of power-actuated tools or appliances which may...

49 CFR 176.54 - Repairs involving welding, burning, and power-actuated tools and appliances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Repairs involving welding, burning, and power... MATERIALS REGULATIONS CARRIAGE BY VESSEL General Operating Requirements § 176.54 Repairs involving welding..., repairs or work involving welding or burning, or the use of power-actuated tools or appliances which may...

49 CFR 176.54 - Repairs involving welding, burning, and power-actuated tools and appliances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Repairs involving welding, burning, and power... MATERIALS REGULATIONS CARRIAGE BY VESSEL General Operating Requirements § 176.54 Repairs involving welding..., repairs or work involving welding or burning, or the use of power-actuated tools or appliances which may...

EPSAT - A workbench for designing high-power systems for the space environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuharski, R. A.; Jongeward, G. A.; Wilcox, K. G.; Kennedy, E. M.; Stevens, N. J.; Putnam, R. M.; Roche, J. C.

1990-01-01

The Environment Power System Analysis Tool (EPSAT) is being developed to provide space power system design engineers with an analysis tool for determining the performance of power systems in both naturally occurring and self-induced environments. This paper presents the results of the project after two years of a three-year development program. The relevance of the project result for SDI are pointed out, and models of the interaction of the environment and power systems are discussed.

AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION OF A STOCHASTIC-LAGRANGIAN TRANSPORT MODEL (SLAM)

EPA Science Inventory

Numerical models are a useful tool in evaluating and designing NAPL remediation systems. Traditional constitutive finite difference and finite element models are complex and expensive to apply. For this reason, this paper presents the application of a simplified stochastic-Lagran...

LC-MS/MS with 2D mass mapping of skin secretions' peptides as a reliable tool for interspecies identification inside Rana esculenta complex.

PubMed

Samgina, Tatyana Yu; Gorshkov, Vladimir A; Artemenko, Konstantin A; Vorontsov, Egor A; Klykov, Oleg V; Ogourtsov, Sergey V; Zubarev, Roman A; Lebedev, Albert T

2012-04-01

Identification of species constituting Rana esculenta complex represents a certain problem as two parental species Rana ridibunda and Rana lessonae form their hybrid R. esculenta, while external signs and sizes of the members of this complex are intersected. However the composition of skin secretion consisting mainly of peptides is different for the species of the complex. LC-MS/MS is an ideal analytical tool for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of these peptides. The results covering elemental composition of these peptides, their levels in the secretion, as well as their belonging to a certain family of peptides may be visualized by means of 2D mass maps. The proposed approach proved itself to be a perspective tool for the reliable identification of all 3 species constituting R. esculenta complex. Easy distinguishing between the species may be achieved using 2D maps as fingerprints. Besides this approach may be used to study hybridogenesis and mechanisms of hemiclonal transfer of genetic information, when rapid and reliable identification of species involved in the process is required. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A macrosonic system for industrial processing

PubMed

Gallego-Juarez; Rodriguez-Corral; Riera-Franco de Sarabia E; Campos-Pozuelo; Vazquez-Martinez; Acosta-Aparicio

2000-03-01

The development of high-power applications of sonic and ultrasonic energy in industrial processing requires a great variety of practical systems with characteristics which are dependent on the effect to be exploited. Nevertheless, the majority of systems are basically constituted of a treatment chamber and one or several transducers coupled to it. Therefore, the feasibility of the application mainly depends on the efficiency of the transducer-chamber system. This paper deals with a macrosonic system which is essentially constituted of a high-power transducer with a double stepped-plate radiator coupled to a chamber of square section. The radiator, which has a rectangular shape, is placed on one face of the chamber in order to drive the inside fluid volume. The stepped profile of the radiator allows a piston-like radiation to be obtained. The radiation from the back face of the radiator is also applied to the chamber by using adequate reflectors. Transducer-chamber systems for sonic and ultrasonic frequencies have been developed with power capacities up to about 5 kW for the treatment of fluid volumes of several cubic meters. The characteristics of these systems are presented in this paper.

Effect of constitutive inactivation of the myostatin gene on the gain in muscle strength during postnatal growth in two murine models.

PubMed

Stantzou, Amalia; Ueberschlag-Pitiot, Vanessa; Thomasson, Remi; Furling, Denis; Bonnieu, Anne; Amthor, Helge; Ferry, Arnaud

2017-02-01

The effect of constitutive inactivation of the gene encoding myostatin on the gain in muscle performance during postnatal growth has not been well characterized. We analyzed 2 murine myostatin knockout (KO) models, (i) the Lee model (KO Lee ) and (ii) the Grobet model (KO Grobet ), and measured the contraction of tibialis anterior muscle in situ. Absolute maximal isometric force was increased in 6-month-old KO Lee and KO Grobet mice, as compared to wild-type mice. Similarly, absolute maximal power was increased in 6-month-old KO Lee mice. In contrast, specific maximal force (relative maximal force per unit of muscle mass was decreased in all 6-month-old male and female KO mice, except in 6-month-old female KO Grobet mice, whereas specific maximal power was reduced only in male KO Lee mice. Genetic inactivation of myostatin increases maximal force and power, but in return it reduces muscle quality, particularly in male mice. Muscle Nerve 55: 254-261, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Line Item Veto Act After One Year.

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-04-01

grounds that it violates the Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine. The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on the case for late April and is expected to make a mling sometime this year.

The Feminist Project in Cyberspace and Civil Society.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mojab, Shahrzad

2000-01-01

Offers a feminist critique of civil society, especially as it is constituted in cyberspace. Uses the International Kurdish Women's Studies Network to illustrate how cyberspace reproduces the unequal divisions of power existing in "realspace." (SK)

Restoring the Constitutional Balance of Power Act of 2013

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE

2013-01-31

Senate - 01/31/2013 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

U.S. Constitution Course

Science.gov Websites

to assist DoD employees in learning more about this most powerful and enduring document, the U.S . Print your certificate. There are several learning objectives for this course. At the conclusion of the

Ethics and constitutional government.

PubMed

Albright, James A

2007-01-01

The term ethics refers to a set of principles that govern acceptable, proper conduct. Attacks on the Constitution of the United States pose the most serious breach of ethics today. Our country was founded as a republic, not as a democracy. Our Founding Fathers' main concern was to protect citizens from the power of the federal government, so constitutionally, the central government has little or no authority over individual citizens except on federal property. One of the major problems today is the fact that we now have professional politicians. This is due in large part to the lure of financial gain from countless special interest groups. This would change under constitutional law because the federal budget would decrease drastically. Article 1 states that all legislative power is vested in Congress. Congress has only 18 enumerated powers, and almost half of these pertain to defense of the country. Many of our current problems are due to regulatory agencies that have become independent fiefdoms with unconstitutional legislative, as well as executive and judicial, powers. The regulatory agency most relevant to medicine, both clinical care and research, is the FDA. It is now obvious that its basic structure needs to be changed or abolished because its actions are identical to those inherent in authoritarian systems. Constructive change could come from Congress, but it would be most desirable if the Supreme Court would take the lead and reestablish the authority of the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land. The FDA's function could be limited to the determination of safety, but preferably its mission would be altered to that of product certification. Defenders of the current system claim that such a drastic change would be too dangerous and their prime example is thalidomide. But it is now known that the market has already solved that problem prior to the government-imposed sanctions. Realistically, market forces and their ramifications, including our legal system, provide the most effective methods of protecting the public from harmful drugs and devices. Fortunately, a model for miracles is available. It is New Zealand, which had become increasingly socialistic after WW II. As a result, they had become noncompetitive, and with the formation of the European Union, they lost their major market exports. In order to survive they made some astounding changes in the mid-1980s. They studied every agency that depended on government funding and transferred much of this work over to the private sector. They turned the remaining agencies into profit-making enterprises. These agencies had cost the government about $1 billion/year. Now, they produce about $1 billion in revenue and taxes. Without question, a return to constitutional government would be an invigorating stimulus to bioengineering research in the future. It would flourish. The eminence of this country did not develop from a strong central government. It is due to its absence, but we are rapidly reaching a point of no return.

Development of an Empirical Model for Optimization of Machining Parameters to Minimize Power Consumption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kant Garg, Girish; Garg, Suman; Sangwan, K. S.

2018-04-01

The manufacturing sector consumes huge energy demand and the machine tools used in this sector have very less energy efficiency. Selection of the optimum machining parameters for machine tools is significant for energy saving and for reduction of environmental emission. In this work an empirical model is developed to minimize the power consumption using response surface methodology. The experiments are performed on a lathe machine tool during the turning of AISI 6061 Aluminum with coated tungsten inserts. The relationship between the power consumption and machining parameters is adequately modeled. This model is used for formulation of minimum power consumption criterion as a function of optimal machining parameters using desirability function approach. The influence of machining parameters on the energy consumption has been found using the analysis of variance. The validation of the developed empirical model is proved using the confirmation experiments. The results indicate that the developed model is effective and has potential to be adopted by the industry for minimum power consumption of machine tools.

Structural Embeddings: Mechanization with Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Munoz, Cesar; Rushby, John

1999-01-01

The most powerful tools for analysis of formal specifications are general-purpose theorem provers and model checkers, but these tools provide scant methodological support. Conversely, those approaches that do provide a well-developed method generally have less powerful automation. It is natural, therefore, to try to combine the better-developed methods with the more powerful general-purpose tools. An obstacle is that the methods and the tools often employ very different logics. We argue that methods are separable from their logics and are largely concerned with the structure and organization of specifications. We, propose a technique called structural embedding that allows the structural elements of a method to be supported by a general-purpose tool, while substituting the logic of the tool for that of the method. We have found this technique quite effective and we provide some examples of its application. We also suggest how general-purpose systems could be restructured to support this activity better.

Design Tools for Reconfigurable Hardware in Orbit (RHinO)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

French, Mathew; Graham, Paul; Wirthlin, Michael; Larchev, Gregory; Bellows, Peter; Schott, Brian

2004-01-01

The Reconfigurable Hardware in Orbit (RHinO) project is focused on creating a set of design tools that facilitate and automate design techniques for reconfigurable computing in space, using SRAM-based field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) technology. These tools leverage an established FPGA design environment and focus primarily on space effects mitigation and power optimization. The project is creating software to automatically test and evaluate the single-event-upsets (SEUs) sensitivities of an FPGA design and insert mitigation techniques. Extensions into the tool suite will also allow evolvable algorithm techniques to reconfigure around single-event-latchup (SEL) events. In the power domain, tools are being created for dynamic power visualiization and optimization. Thus, this technology seeks to enable the use of Reconfigurable Hardware in Orbit, via an integrated design tool-suite aiming to reduce risk, cost, and design time of multimission reconfigurable space processors using SRAM-based FPGAs.

Energy evaluation of protection effectiveness of anti-vibration gloves.

PubMed

Hermann, Tomasz; Dobry, Marian Witalis

2017-09-01

This article describes an energy method of assessing protection effectiveness of anti-vibration gloves on the human dynamic structure. The study uses dynamic models of the human and the glove specified in Standard No. ISO 10068:2012. The physical models of human-tool systems were developed by combining human physical models with a power tool model. The combined human-tool models were then transformed into mathematical models from which energy models were finally derived. Comparative energy analysis was conducted in the domain of rms powers. The energy models of the human-tool systems were solved using numerical simulation implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The simulation procedure demonstrated the effectiveness of the anti-vibration glove as a method of protecting human operators of hand-held power tools against vibration. The desirable effect is achieved by lowering the flow of energy in the human-tool system when the anti-vibration glove is employed.

A developmental perspective on the ideal of reason in American constitutional law.

PubMed

Dailey, Anne C

2005-01-01

The ideal of reason is central to contemporary accounts of citizenship in American constitutional law. The individual capacity for reasoned choice lies closely aligned with the constitutional values of personal liberty and democratic self-government as they have evolved in Supreme Court decisions over the past century. Yet as presently conceived, the ideal of reason in constitutional law overlooks the process by which individuals actually acquire the capacity to choose their own values and commitments or to engage in reasoned thinking about collective ends. This paper argues that we cannot hope to sustain and foster a constitutional polity committed to the principles of individual liberty and democratic self-government without knowing something about how individual citizens come to possess this requisite skill of mind. A developmental perspective on reason in constitutional law provides a framework for examining the source and contours of the psychological skills that make it possible to lead an autonomous, self-directed life and to participate meaningfully in the processes of democratic self-government. Developmental psychology, together with research in related fields, provides empirical support for the proposition that the psychological capacity for reasoned thinking has its roots in the early caregiving relationship. Thus, a comprehensive and integrated constitutional family law must recognize the role of early caregiving in the political socialization of children. This developmental approach offers a substantial reworking of constitutional doctrine in the areas of family privacy, parental rights, congressional power, and affirmative welfare rights.

Water Power Data and Tools | Water Power | NREL

Science.gov Websites

computer modeling tools and data with state-of-the-art design and analysis. Photo of a buoy designed around National Wind Technology Center's Information Portal as well as a WEC-Sim fact sheet. WEC Design Response Toolbox The WEC Design Response Toolbox provides extreme response and fatigue analysis tools specifically

Digital Storytelling: A Powerful Technology Tool for the 21st Century Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robin, Bernard R.

2008-01-01

Digital storytelling has emerged over the last few years as a powerful teaching and learning tool that engages both teachers and their students. However, until recently, little attention has been paid to a theoretical framework that could be employed to increase the effectiveness of technology as a tool in a classroom environment. A discussion of…

A Training Tool and Methodology to Allow Concurrent Multidisciplinary Experimental Projects in Engineering Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maseda, F. J.; Martija, I.; Martija, I.

2012-01-01

This paper describes a novel Electrical Machine and Power Electronic Training Tool (EM&PE[subscript TT]), a methodology for using it, and associated experimental educational activities. The training tool is implemented by recreating a whole power electronics system, divided into modular blocks. This process is similar to that applied when…

Helping School Leaders Help New Teachers: A Tool for Transforming School-Based Induction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birkeland, Sarah; Feiman-Nemser, Sharon

2012-01-01

Ample research demonstrates the power of comprehensive induction to develop and retain new teachers. Education scholars generally agree on what powerful systems of induction include, yet few tools exist for guiding schools in creating such systems. Drawing on theory and practice, we have created such a tool. This article introduces the "Continuum…

Photoluminescence from PP-HMDSO thin films deposited using a remote plasma of 13.56 MHz hollow cathode discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naddaf, M.; Saloum, S.; Hamadeh, H.

2007-07-01

Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) from plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane (PP-HMDSO) thin films deposited on silicon wafers has been investigated as a function of both the applied RF power and the monomer flow rate. Films were deposited in a low pressure-low temperature remote plasma ignited in a 13.56 MHz hollow cathode discharge reactor, using pure HMDSO as a monomer and Ar as a feed gas. The substrate temperature during the deposition was as low as 40 °C and the total pressure was about 0.03 mbar. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) has been used as in situ tool for monitoring the different chemical species present in the plasma during deposition processes. The deposited PP-HMDSO films showed a strong, broad 'green/yellow' PL band. The RF power and the flow rate of the HMDSO monomer are found to have a significant impact on the PL intensity of the deposited film. The changes in the chemical bonding of the film as a function of deposition parameters have been investigated by using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis and are related to PL and OES results. The 'green/yellow' PL band is ascribed to chemical groups and bonds of silicon, hydrogen and/or oxygen constituting the films, in particular, SiH, SiO bonds and silanol Si-O-H groups.

The obesity-risk variant of FTO is inversely related with the So-Eum constitutional type: genome-wide association and replication analyses.

PubMed

Cha, Seongwon; Yu, Hyunjoo; Park, Ah Yeon; Oh, Soo A; Kim, Jong Yeol

2015-04-15

Body constitutional types described in the traditional Korean medicine system, Sasang constitutional medicine, are heritable, as has been revealed by twin and family studies. Thus, individuals with the same constitution type usually have similar pathophysiological and psychological traits. In several recent genome-wide association (GWA) analyses performed to identify constitution-associated variants, the association signals were not replicated due to small sample size and dissimilar, non-objective methods for classification of the constitutional types. We conducted GWA analysis and followed replication analysis in two large populations (5,490 subjects: 3,810 subjects at discovery stage and 1,680 subjects at replication stage) to identify the replicable constitution-associated variants, wherein subjects with the highest tertile of constitution probability values versus the reference with the lowest tertile of the values obtained from a recently developed constitution analysis tool were compared. We found that the obesity-risk variant in intron 1 of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene was replicably inversely associated with the So-Eum (SE) type, characterized by reduced appetite, slim body, and cautious personality (rs7193144 in combined samples: odds ratio = 0.729, p = 1.47 × 10(-7)), and substantial association signal remained after controlling for body mass index (BMI). In contrast, the association of the variant with the Tae-Eum type, characterized by high body mass, disappeared after controlling BMI. In summary, the obesity-risk variant in FTO intron 1 was inversely associated with the SE type, independent of BMI, which corresponded well with the characteristics of the SE type, such as the lowest body mass and lowest susceptibility to metabolic disorders among the constitutional types. Therefore, the obesity-risk variant of FTO associated with body mass increase might be involved in the determination of body constitution type.

HANDMADE WOODEN RACK FOR TOOL STORE, LOWER LEVEL OF HYDROELECTRIC ...

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

HANDMADE WOODEN RACK FOR TOOL STORE, LOWER LEVEL OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER HOUSE - St. Lucie Canal, Lock No. 1, Hydroelectric Power House, St. Lucie, Cross State Canal, Okeechobee Intracoastal Waterway, Stuart, Martin County, FL

Grid Integration Research | Wind | NREL

Science.gov Websites

-generated simulation of a wind turbine. Wind Power Plant Modeling and Simulation Engineers at the National computer-aided engineering tool, FAST, as well as their wind power plant simulation tool, Wind-Plant

Data and Tools | Concentrating Solar Power | NREL

Science.gov Websites

download. Solar Power tower Integrated Layout and Optimization Tool (SolarPILOT(tm)) The SolarPILOT is code rapid layout and optimization capability of the analytical DELSOL3 program with the accuracy and

Test and evaluation of load converter topologies used in the Space Station Freedom Power Management and distribution DC test bed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lebron, Ramon C.; Oliver, Angela C.; Bodi, Robert F.

1991-01-01

Power components hardware in support of the Space Station Freedom dc Electrical Power System were tested. One type of breadboard hardware tested is the dc Load Converter Unit, which constitutes the power interface between the electric power system and the actual load. These units are dc to dc converters that provide the final system regulation before power is delivered to the load. Three load converters were tested: a series resonant converter, a series inductor switchmode converter, and a switching full-bridge forward converter. The topology, operation principles, and tests results are described, in general. A comparative analysis of the three units is given with respect to efficiency, regulation, short circuit behavior (protection), and transient characteristics.

NREL: News - Advisor 2002-A Powerful Vehicle Simulation Tool Gets Better

Science.gov Websites

Advisor 2002-A Powerful Vehicle Simulation Tool Gets Better Golden, Colo., June 11, 2002 A powerful analysis is made possible by co-simulation links to Avant!'s Saber and Ansoft's SIMPLORER�. Transient air conditioning system analysis is possible by co-simulation with C&R Technologies' SINDA/FLUINT

Tool for a configurable integrated circuit that uses determination of dynamic power consumption

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davoodi, Azadeh (Inventor); French, Matthew C. (Inventor); Agarwal, Deepak (Inventor); Wang, Li (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A configurable logic tool that allows minimization of dynamic power within an FPGA design without changing user-entered specifications. The minimization of power may use minimized clock nets as a first order operation, and a second order operation that minimizes other factors, such as area of placement, area of clocks and/or slack.

doGlycans-Tools for Preparing Carbohydrate Structures for Atomistic Simulations of Glycoproteins, Glycolipids, and Carbohydrate Polymers for GROMACS.

PubMed

Danne, Reinis; Poojari, Chetan; Martinez-Seara, Hector; Rissanen, Sami; Lolicato, Fabio; Róg, Tomasz; Vattulainen, Ilpo

2017-10-23

Carbohydrates constitute a structurally and functionally diverse group of biological molecules and macromolecules. In cells they are involved in, e.g., energy storage, signaling, and cell-cell recognition. All of these phenomena take place in atomistic scales, thus atomistic simulation would be the method of choice to explore how carbohydrates function. However, the progress in the field is limited by the lack of appropriate tools for preparing carbohydrate structures and related topology files for the simulation models. Here we present tools that fill this gap. Applications where the tools discussed in this paper are particularly useful include, among others, the preparation of structures for glycolipids, nanocellulose, and glycans linked to glycoproteins. The molecular structures and simulation files generated by the tools are compatible with GROMACS.

Introducing AC inductive reactance with a power tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryant, Wesley; Baker, Blane

2016-09-01

The concept of reactance in AC electrical circuits is often non-intuitive and difficult for students to grasp. In order to address this lack of conceptual understanding, classroom exercises compare the predicted resistance of a power tool, based on electrical specifications, to measured resistance. Once students discover that measured resistance is smaller than expected, they are asked to explain these observations using previously studied principles of magnetic induction. Exercises also introduce the notion of inductive reactance and impedance in AC circuits and, ultimately, determine self-inductance of the motor windings within the power tool.

Compressed-air power tools in orthopaedic surgery: exhaust air is a potential source of contamination.

PubMed

Sagi, H C; DiPasquale, Thomas; Sanders, Roy; Herscovici, Dolfi

2002-01-01

To determine if the exhaust from surgical compressed-air power tools contains bacteria and if the exhaust leads to contamination of sterile surfaces. Bacteriologic study of orthopaedic power tools. Level I trauma center operative theater. None. Part I. Exhaust from two sterile compact air drills was sampled directly at the exhaust port. Part II. Exhaust from the drills was directed at sterile agar plates from varying distances. The agar plates represented sterile surfaces within the operative field. Part III. Control cultures. A battery-powered drill was operated over open agar plates in similar fashion as the compressed-air drills. Agar plates left open in the operative theater served as controls to rule out atmospheric contamination. Random cultures were taken from agar plates, gloves, drills, and hoses. Incidence of positive cultures. In Part I, all filters from both compressed-air drill exhausts were culture negative ( = 0.008). In Part II, the incidence of positive cultures for air drills number one and number two was 73% and 82%, respectively. The most commonly encountered organisms were, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Micrococcus species. All control cultures from agar plates, battery-powered drill, gloves, and hoses were negative ( < 0.01). Exhaust from compressed-air power tools in orthopaedic surgery may contribute to the dissemination of bacteria onto the surgical field. We do not recommend the use of compressed-air power tools that do not have a contained exhaust.

JPRS Report, East Europe.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-12-28

place not given; first paragraph is BERLINER ZEI- TUNG introduction] [Text] It would appear farfetched to find a common denominator for a flue gas ... desulfurization plant and a cordless electric shaver. The power plant construction combine constitutes a bridge between the two, because both items... desulfurizing and denitrogenation of a 500 megawatt power plant. During the last few years, they have spent a total of M 20 billion to protect the air from

Young children's tool innovation across culture: Affordance visibility matters.

PubMed

Neldner, Karri; Mushin, Ilana; Nielsen, Mark

2017-11-01

Young children typically demonstrate low rates of tool innovation. However, previous studies have limited children's performance by presenting tools with opaque affordances. In an attempt to scaffold children's understanding of what constitutes an appropriate tool within an innovation task we compared tools in which the focal affordance was visible to those in which it was opaque. To evaluate possible cultural specificity, data collection was undertaken in a Western urban population and a remote Indigenous community. As expected affordance visibility altered innovation rates: young children were more likely to innovate on a tool that had visible affordances than one with concealed affordances. Furthermore, innovation rates were higher than those reported in previous innovation studies. Cultural background did not affect children's rates of tool innovation. It is suggested that new methods for testing tool innovation in children must be developed in order to broaden our knowledge of young children's tool innovation capabilities. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Air ion concentrations in various urban outdoor environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, Xuan; Jayaratne, Rohan; Morawska, Lidia

2010-06-01

Atmospheric ions are produced by many natural and anthropogenic sources and their concentrations vary widely between different environments. There is very little information on their concentrations in different types of urban environments, how they compare across these environments and their dominant sources. In this study, we measured airborne concentrations of small ions, particles and net particle charge at 32 different outdoor sites in and around a major city in Australia and identified the main ion sources. Sites were classified into seven groups as follows: park, woodland, city centre, residential, freeway, power lines and power substation. Generally, parks were situated away from ion sources and represented the urban background value of about 270 ions cm -3. Median concentrations at all other groups were significantly higher than in the parks. We show that motor vehicles and power transmission systems are two major ion sources in urban areas. Power lines and substations constituted strong unipolar sources, while motor vehicle exhaust constituted strong bipolar sources. The small ion concentration in urban residential areas was about 960 cm -3. At sites where ion sources were co-located with particle sources, ion concentrations were inhibited due to the ion-particle attachment process. These results improved our understanding on air ion distribution and its interaction with particles in the urban outdoor environment.

Bioinformatic tools for inferring functional information from plant microarray data: tools for the first steps.

PubMed

Page, Grier P; Coulibaly, Issa

2008-01-01

Microarrays are a very powerful tool for quantifying the amount of RNA in samples; however, their ability to query essentially every gene in a genome, which can number in the tens of thousands, presents analytical and interpretative problems. As a result, a variety of software and web-based tools have been developed to help with these issues. This article highlights and reviews some of the tools for the first steps in the analysis of a microarray study. We have tried for a balance between free and commercial systems. We have organized the tools by topics including image processing tools (Section 2), power analysis tools (Section 3), image analysis tools (Section 4), database tools (Section 5), databases of functional information (Section 6), annotation tools (Section 7), statistical and data mining tools (Section 8), and dissemination tools (Section 9).

To establish a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14

2009-01-06

House - 06/12/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

30 CFR 250.1700 - What do the terms “decommissioning”, “obstructions”, and “facility” mean?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... pipeline risers, platforms, templates, pilings, pipelines, pipeline valves, and power cables. (c) Facility... risers, templates, pilings, and any other facility or equipment that constitutes an obstruction such as...

Autopsy issues in German Federal Republic transplantation legislation until 1997.

PubMed

Schweikardt, Christoph

2014-01-01

This article analyzes the relevance of autopsy issues for German Federal Republic transplantation legislation until 1997 against the background of legal traditions and the distribution of constitutional legislative powers. It is based on Federal Ministry of Justice records and German Parliament documents on transplantation legislation. Transplantation and autopsy legislation started with close ties in the 1970s. Viewing transplantation legislation as relevant for future autopsy regulation contributed to the decision to stall transplantation legislation, because the interests of the federal government and the medical profession converged to avoid subsequent restrictions on the practice of conducting autopsies and procuring tissues for transplantation. Sublegal norms were insufficient for the prosecution of the organ trade and area-wide transplantation regulation after the reunification of Germany. In contrast to autopsy issues, legislative power for transplantation issues was extended to the federal level by an amendment to the constitution, allowing decision making for Germany as a whole.

Klamath Falls: High-Power Acoustic Well Stimulation Technology

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

Black, Brian

Acoustic well stimulation (AWS) technology uses high-power sonic waves from specific frequency spectra in an attempt to stimulate production in a damaged or low-production wellbore. AWS technology is one of the most promising technologies in the oil and gas industry, but it has proven difficult for the industry to develop an effective downhole prototype. This collaboration between Klamath Falls Inc. and the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) included a series of tests using high-power ultrasonic tools to stimulate oil and gas production. Phase I testing was designed and implemented to verify tool functionality, power requirements, and capacity of high-powermore » AWS tools. The purpose of Phase II testing was to validate the production response of wells with marginal production rates to AWS stimulation and to capture and identify any changes in the downhole environment after tool deployment. This final report presents methodology and results.« less

Immunoproteomic and bioinformatic approaches to identify secreted Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. infantum proteins with specific reactivity using canine serum.

PubMed

Lima, B S S; Fialho, L C; Pires, S F; Tafuri, W L; Andrade, H M

2016-06-15

Leishmania spp have a wide range of hosts, and each host can harbor several Leishmania species. Dogs, for example, are frequently infected by Leishmania infantum, where they constitute its main reservoir, but they also serve as hosts for L. braziliensis and L. amazonensis. Serological tests for antibody detection are valuable tools for diagnosis of L. infantum infection due to the high levels of antibodies induced, unlike what is observed in L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis infections. Likewise, serology-based antigen-detection can be useful as an approach to diagnose any Leishmania species infection using different corporal fluid samples. Immunogenic and secreted proteins constitute powerful targets for diagnostic methods in antigen detection. As such, we performed immunoproteomic (2-DE, western blot and mass spectrometry) and bioinformatic screening to search for reactive and secreted proteins from L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. infantum. Twenty-eight non-redundant proteins were identified, among which, six were reactive only in L. amazonensis extracts, 10 in L. braziliensis extracts, and seven in L. infantum extracts. After bioinformatic analysis, seven proteins were predicted to be secreted, two of which were reactive only in L. amazonensis extracts (52kDa PDI and the glucose-regulated protein 78), one in L. braziliensis extracts (pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 beta subunit) and three in L. infantum extracts (two conserved hypothetical proteins and elongation factor 1-beta). We propose that proteins can be suitable targets for diagnostic methods based on antigen detection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cloud-Based Orchestration of a Model-Based Power and Data Analysis Toolchain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Post, Ethan; Cole, Bjorn; Dinkel, Kevin; Kim, Hongman; Lee, Erich; Nairouz, Bassem

2016-01-01

The proposed Europa Mission concept contains many engineering and scientific instruments that consume varying amounts of power and produce varying amounts of data throughout the mission. System-level power and data usage must be well understood and analyzed to verify design requirements. Numerous cross-disciplinary tools and analysis models are used to simulate the system-level spacecraft power and data behavior. This paper addresses the problem of orchestrating a consistent set of models, tools, and data in a unified analysis toolchain when ownership is distributed among numerous domain experts. An analysis and simulation environment was developed as a way to manage the complexity of the power and data analysis toolchain and to reduce the simulation turnaround time. A system model data repository is used as the trusted store of high-level inputs and results while other remote servers are used for archival of larger data sets and for analysis tool execution. Simulation data passes through numerous domain-specific analysis tools and end-to-end simulation execution is enabled through a web-based tool. The use of a cloud-based service facilitates coordination among distributed developers and enables scalable computation and storage needs, and ensures a consistent execution environment. Configuration management is emphasized to maintain traceability between current and historical simulation runs and their corresponding versions of models, tools and data.

Optimization of power-cycle arrangements for Supercritical Water cooled Reactors (SCWRs)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lizon-A-Lugrin, Laure

The world energy demand is continuously rising due to the increase of both the world population and the standard of life quality. Further, to assure both a healthy world economy as well as adequate social standards, in a relatively short term, new energy-conversion technologies are mandatory. Within this framework, a Generation IV International Forum (GIF) was established by the participation of 10 countries to collaborate for developing nuclear power reactors that will replace the present technology by 2030. The main goals of these nuclear-power reactors are: economic competitiveness, sustainability, safety, reliability and resistance to proliferation. As a member of the GIF, Canada has decided to orient its efforts towards the design of a CANDU-type Super Critical Water-cooled Reactor (SCWR). Such a system must run at a coolant outlet temperature of about 625°C and at a pressure of 25 MPa. It is obvious that at such conditions the overall efficiency of this kind of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) will compete with actual supercritical water-power boilers. In addition, from a heat-transfer viewpoint, the use of a supercritical fluid allows the limitation imposed by Critical Heat Flux (CHF) conditions, which characterize actual technologies, to be removed. Furthermore, it will be also possible to use direct thermodynamic cycles where the supercritical fluid expands right away in a turbine without the necessity of using intermediate steam generators and/or separators. This work presents several thermodynamic cycles that could be appropriate to run SCWR power plants. Improving both thermal efficiency and mechanical power constitutes a multi-objective optimization problem and requires specific tools. To this aim, an efficient and robust evolutionary algorithm, based on genetic algorithm, is used and coupled to an appropriate power plant thermodynamic simulation model. The results provide numerous combinations to achieve a thermal efficiency higher than 50% with a mechanical power of 1200 MW. It is observed that in most cases the landscape of Pareto's front is mostly controlled only by few key parameters. These results may be very useful for future plant design engineers. Furthermore, some calculations for pipe sizing and temperature variation between coolant and fuel have been carried out to provide an idea on their order of magnitude.

Safety with Hand and Portable Power Tools. Module SH-14. Safety and Health.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Occupational Research and Development, Inc., Waco, TX.

This student module on safety with hand and portable power tools is one of 50 modules concerned with job safety and health. This module discusses the proper use and maintenance of tools, including the need for protective equipment for the worker. Following the introduction, 16 objectives (each keyed to a page in the text) the student is expected…

Rover Wheel-Actuated Tool Interface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matthews, Janet; Ahmad, Norman; Wilcox, Brian

2007-01-01

A report describes an interface for utilizing some of the mobility features of a mobile robot for general-purpose manipulation of tools and other objects. The robot in question, now undergoing conceptual development for use on the Moon, is the All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (ATHLETE) rover, which is designed to roll over gentle terrain or walk over rough or steep terrain. Each leg of the robot is a six-degree-of-freedom general purpose manipulator tipped by a wheel with a motor drive. The tool interface includes a square cross-section peg, equivalent to a conventional socket-wrench drive, that rotates with the wheel. The tool interface also includes a clamp that holds a tool on the peg, and a pair of fold-out cameras that provides close-up stereoscopic images of the tool and its vicinity. The field of view of the imagers is actuated by the clamp mechanism and is specific to each tool. The motor drive can power any of a variety of tools, including rotating tools for helical fasteners, drills, and such clamping tools as pliers. With the addition of a flexible coupling, it could also power another tool or remote manipulator at a short distance. The socket drive can provide very high torque and power because it is driven by the wheel motor.

Interchangeable end effector tools utilized on the protoflight manipulator arm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1987-01-01

A subset of teleoperator and effector tools was designed, fabricated, delivered and successfully demonstrated on the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) protoflight manipulator arm (PFMA). The tools delivered included a rotary power tool with interchangeable collets and two fluid coupling mate/demate tools; one for a Fairchild coupling and the other for a Purolator coupling. An electrical interface connector was also provided for the rotary power tool. A tool set, from which the subset was selected, for performing on-orbit satellite maintenance was identified and conceptionally designed. Maintenance requirements were synthesized, evaluated and prioritized to develop design requirements for a set of end effector tools representative of those needed to provide on-orbit maintenance of satellites to be flown in the 1986 to 2000 timeframe.

Water Powered Tools

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Space Spin-Offs, Inc. under a contract with Lewis Research Center and Marshall Space Flight Center produced a new water-powered saw that cuts through concrete and steel plate reducing danger of explosion or electric shock in rescue and other operations. In prototype unit efficient water-powered turbine drives an 8 inch diameter grinding disk at 6,600 rpm. Exhaust water cools disk and workpiece quenching any sparks produced by cutting head. At maximum power, tool easily cuts through quarter inch steel plate. Adapter heads for chain saws, impact wrenches, heavy duty drills, and power hack saws can be fitted.

Generalized Fractional Derivative Anisotropic Viscoelastic Characterization.

PubMed

Hilton, Harry H

2012-01-18

Isotropic linear and nonlinear fractional derivative constitutive relations are formulated and examined in terms of many parameter generalized Kelvin models and are analytically extended to cover general anisotropic homogeneous or non-homogeneous as well as functionally graded viscoelastic material behavior. Equivalent integral constitutive relations, which are computationally more powerful, are derived from fractional differential ones and the associated anisotropic temperature-moisture-degree-of-cure shift functions and reduced times are established. Approximate Fourier transform inversions for fractional derivative relations are formulated and their accuracy is evaluated. The efficacy of integer and fractional derivative constitutive relations is compared and the preferential use of either characterization in analyzing isotropic and anisotropic real materials must be examined on a case-by-case basis. Approximate protocols for curve fitting analytical fractional derivative results to experimental data are formulated and evaluated.

A Design Tool for Matching UAV Propeller and Power Plant Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mangio, Arion L.

A large body of knowledge is available for matching propellers to engines for large propeller driven aircraft. Small UAV's and model airplanes operate at much lower Reynolds numbers and use fixed pitch propellers so the information for large aircraft is not directly applicable. A design tool is needed that takes into account Reynolds number effects, allows for gear reduction, and the selection of a propeller optimized for the airframe. The tool developed in this thesis does this using propeller performance data generated from vortex theory or wind tunnel experiments and combines that data with an engine power curve. The thrust, steady state power, RPM, and tip Mach number vs. velocity curves are generated. The Reynolds number vs. non dimensional radial station at an operating point is also found. The tool is then used to design a geared power plant for the SAE Aero Design competition. To measure the power plant performance, a purpose built engine test stand was built. The characteristics of the engine test stand are also presented. The engine test stand was then used to characterize the geared power plant. The power plant uses a 26x16 propeller, 100/13 gear ratio, and an LRP 0.30 cubic inch engine turning at 28,000 RPM and producing 2.2 HP. Lastly, the measured power plant performance is presented. An important result is that 17 lbf of static thrust is produced.

A Switching-Mode Power Supply Design Tool to Improve Learning in a Power Electronics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miaja, P. F.; Lamar, D. G.; de Azpeitia, M.; Rodriguez, A.; Rodriguez, M.; Hernando, M. M.

2011-01-01

The static design of ac/dc and dc/dc switching-mode power supplies (SMPS) relies on a simple but repetitive process. Although specific spreadsheets, available in various computer-aided design (CAD) programs, are widely used, they are difficult to use in educational applications. In this paper, a graphic tool programmed in MATLAB is presented,…

A novel investigation of a micropolar fluid characterized by nonlinear constitutive diffusion model in boundary layer flow and heat transfer.

PubMed

Sui, Jize; Zhao, Peng; Cheng, Zhengdong; Zheng, Liancun; Zhang, Xinxin

2017-02-01

The rheological and heat-conduction constitutive models of micropolar fluids (MFs), which are important non-Newtonian fluids, have been, until now, characterized by simple linear expressions, and as a consequence, the non-Newtonian performance of such fluids could not be effectively captured. Here, we establish the novel nonlinear constitutive models of a micropolar fluid and apply them to boundary layer flow and heat transfer problems. The nonlinear power law function of angular velocity is represented in the new models by employing generalized " n -diffusion theory," which has successfully described the characteristics of non-Newtonian fluids, such as shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids. These novel models may offer a new approach to the theoretical understanding of shear-thinning behavior and anomalous heat transfer caused by the collective micro-rotation effects in a MF with shear flow according to recent experiments. The nonlinear similarity equations with a power law form are derived and the approximate analytical solutions are obtained by the homotopy analysis method, which is in good agreement with the numerical solutions. The results indicate that non-Newtonian behaviors involving a MF depend substantially on the power exponent n and the modified material parameter [Formula: see text] introduced by us. Furthermore, the relations of the engineering interest parameters, including local boundary layer thickness, local skin friction, and Nusselt number are found to be fitted by a quadratic polynomial to n with high precision, which enables the extraction of the rapid predictions from a complex nonlinear boundary-layer transport system.

A novel investigation of a micropolar fluid characterized by nonlinear constitutive diffusion model in boundary layer flow and heat transfer

PubMed Central

Zhao, Peng; Cheng, Zhengdong; Zheng, Liancun; Zhang, Xinxin

2017-01-01

The rheological and heat-conduction constitutive models of micropolar fluids (MFs), which are important non-Newtonian fluids, have been, until now, characterized by simple linear expressions, and as a consequence, the non-Newtonian performance of such fluids could not be effectively captured. Here, we establish the novel nonlinear constitutive models of a micropolar fluid and apply them to boundary layer flow and heat transfer problems. The nonlinear power law function of angular velocity is represented in the new models by employing generalized “n-diffusion theory,” which has successfully described the characteristics of non-Newtonian fluids, such as shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids. These novel models may offer a new approach to the theoretical understanding of shear-thinning behavior and anomalous heat transfer caused by the collective micro-rotation effects in a MF with shear flow according to recent experiments. The nonlinear similarity equations with a power law form are derived and the approximate analytical solutions are obtained by the homotopy analysis method, which is in good agreement with the numerical solutions. The results indicate that non-Newtonian behaviors involving a MF depend substantially on the power exponent n and the modified material parameter K0 introduced by us. Furthermore, the relations of the engineering interest parameters, including local boundary layer thickness, local skin friction, and Nusselt number are found to be fitted by a quadratic polynomial to n with high precision, which enables the extraction of the rapid predictions from a complex nonlinear boundary-layer transport system. PMID:28344433

Development and content validation of the power mobility training tool.

PubMed

Kenyon, Lisa K; Farris, John P; Cain, Brett; King, Emily; VandenBerg, Ashley

2018-01-01

This paper outlines the development and content validation of the power mobility training tool (PMTT), an observational tool designed to assist therapists in developing power mobility training programs for children who have multiple, severe impairments. Initial items on the PMTT were developed based on a literature review and in consultation with therapists experienced in the use of power mobility. Items were trialled in clinical settings, reviewed, and refined. Items were then operationalized and an administration manual detailing scoring for each item was created. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to establish content validity via a 15 member, international expert panel. The content validity ratio (CVR) was determined for each possible item. Of the 19 original items, 10 achieved minimum required CVR values and were included in the final version of the PMTT. Items related to manoeuvring a power mobility device were merged and an item related to the number of switches used concurrently to operate a power mobility device were added to the PMTT. The PMTT may assist therapists in developing training programs that facilitate the acquisition of beginning power mobility skills in children who have multiple, severe impairments. Implications for Rehabilitation The Power Mobility Training Tool (PMTT) was developed to help guide the development of power mobility intervention programs for children who have multiple, severe impairments. The PMTT can be used with children who access a power mobility device using either a joystick or a switch. Therapists who have limited experience with power mobility may find the PMTT to be helpful in setting up and conducting power mobility training interventions as a feasible aspect of a plan of care for children who have multiple, severe impairments.

[Drawing, a tool to use with unaccompanied foreign minors].

PubMed

Touhami, Fatima; Minassian, Sevan; Radjack, Rahmeth; Moro, Marie Rose

Supporting unaccompanied foreign minors requires a different clinical approach. These youngsters must be given individualised support to help them make the transition from exile and loss, to an existence as an individual, yet still a son or daughter. The drawing, as a transcultural and atemporal imprint, constitutes a tool enabling these young people to bring to the surface their unconscious thought processes, to exist and to come into being with dignity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

ORAC-DR: Pipelining With Other People's Code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Economou, Frossie; Bridger, Alan; Wright, Gillian S.; Jenness, Tim; Currie, Malcolm J.; Adamson, Andy

As part of the UKIRT ORAC project, we have developed a pipeline (orac-dr) for driving on-line data reduction using existing astronomical packages as algorithm engines and display tools. The design is modular and extensible on several levels, allowing it to be easily adapted to a wide variety of instruments. Here we briefly review the design, discuss the robustness and speed of execution issues inherent in such pipelines, and address what constitutes a desirable (in terms of ``buy-in'' effort) engine or tool.

Border Cracks: Approaching Border Security From a Complexity Theory and Systems Perspective

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-01

The judicial system ensures the laws passed, along with the enforcement, are legal and in accordance with the Constitution . Judicial rulings are...54 4. Prohibition: The Beginning of Border Security as a Law Enforcement Tool...64 5. Law Enforcement ...............................................................................65 6

PubMed Central

Schick, Erik; Tessier, Jocelyne

1991-01-01

Urodynamics has profoundly changed our understanding of the physiopathology of urinary incontinence which is, first and foremost, a functional problem. The urodynamic study is the only diagnostic tool which makes it possible to explore the functioning of the urethra and bladder. As such, it constitutes the cornerstone of our therapeutic strategy. PMID:21229029

32 CFR 643.3 - Authority to grant use of real estate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Constitution (Article IV, Section 3), provides that the Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all... to use real estate may also be granted to other military departments or Federal agencies. (e) Except...

Computerized power supply analysis: State equation generation and terminal models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrett, S. J.

1978-01-01

To aid engineers that design power supply systems two analysis tools that can be used with the state equation analysis package were developed. These tools include integration routines that start with the description of a power supply in state equation form and yield analytical results. The first tool uses a computer program that works with the SUPER SCEPTRE circuit analysis program and prints the state equation for an electrical network. The state equations developed automatically by the computer program are used to develop an algorithm for reducing the number of state variables required to describe an electrical network. In this way a second tool is obtained in which the order of the network is reduced and a simpler terminal model is obtained.

Bioprocess integration for human mesenchymal stem cells: From up to downstream processing scale-up to cell proteome characterization.

PubMed

Cunha, Bárbara; Aguiar, Tiago; Carvalho, Sofia B; Silva, Marta M; Gomes, Ricardo A; Carrondo, Manuel J T; Gomes-Alves, Patrícia; Peixoto, Cristina; Serra, Margarida; Alves, Paula M

2017-04-20

To deliver the required cell numbers and doses to therapy, scaling-up production and purification processes (at least to the liter-scale) while maintaining cells' characteristics is compulsory. Therefore, the aim of this work was to prove scalability of an integrated streamlined bioprocess compatible with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) comprised by cell expansion, harvesting and volume reduction unit operations using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) isolated from bone marrow (BM-MSC) and adipose tissue (AT-MSC). BM-MSC and AT-MSC expansion and harvesting steps were scaled-up from spinner flasks to 2L scale stirred tank single-use bioreactor using synthetic microcarriers and xeno-free medium, ensuring high cellular volumetric productivities (50×10 6 cellL -1 day -1 ), expansion factors (14-16 fold) and cell recovery yields (80%). For the concentration step, flat sheet cassettes (FSC) and hollow fiber cartridges (HF) were compared showing a fairly linear scale-up, with a need to slightly decrease the permeate flux (30-50 LMH, respectively) to maximize cell recovery yield. Nonetheless, FSC allowed to recover 18% more cells after a volume reduction factor of 50. Overall, at the end of the entire bioprocess more than 65% of viable (>95%) hMSC could be recovered without compromising cell's critical quality attributes (CQA) of viability, identity and differentiation potential. Alongside the standard quality assays, a proteomics workflow based on mass spectrometry tools was established to characterize the impact of processing on hMSC's CQA; These analytical tools constitute a powerful tool to be used in process design and development. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multiobjective optimization of hybrid regenerative life support technologies. Topic D: Technology Assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manousiouthakis, Vasilios

1995-01-01

We developed simple mathematical models for many of the technologies constituting the water reclamation system in a space station. These models were employed for subsystem optimization and for the evaluation of the performance of individual water reclamation technologies, by quantifying their operational 'cost' as a linear function of weight, volume, and power consumption. Then we performed preliminary investigations on the performance improvements attainable by simple hybrid systems involving parallel combinations of technologies. We are developing a software tool for synthesizing a hybrid water recovery system (WRS) for long term space missions. As conceptual framework, we are employing the state space approach. Given a number of available technologies and the mission specifications, the state space approach would help design flowsheets featuring optimal process configurations, including those that feature stream connections in parallel, series, or recycles. We visualize this software tool to function as follows: given the mission duration, the crew size, water quality specifications, and the cost coefficients, the software will synthesize a water recovery system for the space station. It should require minimal user intervention. The following tasks need to be solved for achieving this goal: (1) formulate a problem statement that will be used to evaluate the advantages of a hybrid WRS over a single technology WBS; (2) model several WRS technologies that can be employed in the space station; (3) propose a recycling network design methodology (since the WRS synthesis task is a recycling network design problem, it is essential to employ a systematic method in synthesizing this network); (4) develop a software implementation for this design methodology, design a hybrid system using this software, and compare the resulting WRS with a base-case WRS; and (5) create a user-friendly interface for this software tool.

BCQ+: a body constitution questionnaire to assess Yang-Xu. Part I: establishment of a first final version through a Delphi process.

PubMed

Su, Yi-Chang; Chen, Li-Li; Lin, Jun-Dai; Lin, Jui-Shan; Huang, Yi-Chia; Lai, Jim-Shoung

2008-12-01

Assessing an individual's level of Yang deficiency (Yang-Xu) by its manifestations is a frequent issue in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical trials. To this end, an objective, reliable and rigorous diagnostic tool is required. This study aimed to develop a first final version of the Yang-Xu Constitution Questionnaire. We conducted 3 steps to develop such an objective measurement tool: 1) the research team was formed and a panel of 26 experts was selected for the Delphi process; 2) items for the questionnaire were generated by literature review and a Delphi process; items were reworded into colloquial questions; face and content validity of the items were evaluated through a Delphi process again; 3) the difficulty of the questionnaire was evaluated in a pilot study with 81 subjects aged 20-60 years. The literature review retrieved 35 relevant items which matched the definition of 'constitution' and 'Yang-Xu'. After a first Delphi process, 22 items were retained and translated into colloquial questions. According to the second part of the Delphi process, the content validity index of each of the 22 questions ranged between 0.85-1. These 22 questions were evaluated by 81 subjects, 2 questions that were hard to tell the difference were combined; 3 questions were modified after the research team had discussed the participants' feedback. Finally, the questionnaire was established with 21 questions. This first final version of a questionnaire to assess Yang-Xu constitution with considerable face and content validity may serve as a basis to develop an advanced Yang-Xu questionnaire. 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

FY15 Report on Thermomechanical Testing

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

Hansen, Francis D.; Buchholz, Stuart

2015-08-01

Sandia is participating in the third phase of a United States (US)-German Joint Project that compares constitutive models and simulation procedures on the basis of model calculations of the thermomechanical behavior and healing of rock salt (Salzer et al. 2015). The first goal of the project is to evaluate the ability of numerical modeling tools to correctly describe the relevant deformation phenomena in rock salt under various influences. Among the numerical modeling tools required to address this are constitutive models that are used in computer simulations for the description of the thermal, mechanical, and hydraulic behavior of the host rockmore » under various influences and for the long-term prediction of this behavior. Achieving this goal will lead to increased confidence in the results of numerical simulations related to the secure disposal of radioactive wastes in rock salt. Results of the Joint Project may ultimately be used to make various assertions regarding stability analysis of an underground repository in salt during the operating phase as well as long-term integrity of the geological barrier in the post-operating phase A primary evaluation of constitutive model capabilities comes by way of predicting large-scale field tests. The Joint Project partners decided to model Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Rooms B & D which are full-scale rooms having the same dimensions. Room D deformed under natural, ambient conditions while Room B was thermally driven by an array of waste-simulating heaters (Munson et al. 1988; 1990). Existing laboratory test data for WIPP salt were carefully scrutinized and the partners decided that additional testing would be needed to help evaluate advanced features of the constitutive models. The German partners performed over 140 laboratory tests on WIPP salt at no charge to the US Department of Energy (DOE).« less

On-Chip Quantitative Measurement of Mechanical Stresses During Cell Migration with Emulsion Droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molino, D.; Quignard, S.; Gruget, C.; Pincet, F.; Chen, Y.; Piel, M.; Fattaccioli, J.

2016-07-01

The ability of immune cells to migrate within narrow and crowded spaces is a critical feature involved in various physiological processes from immune response to metastasis. Several in-vitro techniques have been developed so far to study the behaviour of migrating cells, the most recent being based on the fabrication of microchannels within which cells move. To address the question of the mechanical stress a cell is able to produce during the encounter of an obstacle while migrating, we developed a hybrid microchip made of parallel PDMS channels in which oil droplets are sparsely distributed and serve as deformable obstacles. We thus show that cells strongly deform droplets while passing them. Then, we show that the microdevice can be used to study the influence of drugs on migration at the population level. Finally, we describe a quantitative analysis method of the droplet deformation that allows measuring in real-time the mechanical stress exerted by a single cell. The method presented herein thus constitutes a powerful analytical tool for cell migration studies under confinement.

Exosome Theranostics: Biology and Translational Medicine

PubMed Central

He, Chuanjiang; Zheng, Shu; Luo, Yan; Wang, Ben

2018-01-01

Exosomes are common membrane-bound nanovesicles that contain diverse biomolecules, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Exosomes are derived from cells through exocytosis, are ingested by target cells, and can transfer biological signals between local or distant cells. Exosome secretion is a constitutive phenomenon that is involved in both physiological and pathological processes and determines both the exosomal surface molecules and the contents. Hence, we can exploit exosomes as biomarkers, vaccines and drug carriers and modify them rationally for therapeutic interventions. However, it is still a challenge to identify, isolate and quantify exosomes accurately, efficiently and selectively. Further studies on exosomes will explore their potential in translational medicine and provide new avenues for the creation of effective clinical diagnostics and therapeutic strategies; the use of exosomes in these applications can be called exosome theranostics. This review describes the fundamental processes of exosome formation and uptake. In addition, the physiological and pathological roles of exosomes in biology are also illustrated with a focus on how exosomes can be exploited or engineered as powerful tools in translational medicine. PMID:29290805

Analysis and comparison of glucocerebroside species from three edible sea cucumbers using liquid chromatography-ion trap-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Xu, Jie; Duan, Jingjing; Xue, Changhu; Feng, Tingyu; Dong, Ping; Sugawara, Tatsuya; Hirata, Takashi

2011-11-23

Sphingolipids constitute a highly diverse and complex class of molecules and exhibit important physiological functions. Glucocerebrosides are anticipated to play a positive role in human nutrition. In this study, complicated glucocerebrosides from three specimens of edible sea cucumbers, specifically, Acaudina molpadioides, Cucumaria frondosa, and Apostichopus japonicus, were rapidly identified using liquid chromatography-ion trap-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LCMS-IT-TOF), which is a powerful analysis tool. [M + H](+), [M + Na](+), and [M + H - H(2)O](+) in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode were used for MS/MS analysis to obtain product ion spectra. Various long-chain bases of glucocerebrosides were found in these sea cucumbers. Two of the most common long-chain bases were 2-amino-1,3-dihydroxy-4-heptadecene (d17:1) and 4,8-sphingadienine (d18:2), which were acylated to form saturated and monounsaturated nonhydroxy and monohydroxy fatty acids with 18-25 carbon atoms. The glucocerebroside molecular species were the most complicated in the sea cucumber C. frondosa and were the simplest in the sea cucumber A. molpadioides.

Raman and SERS microspectroscopy on living cells: a promising tool toward cellular drug response and medical diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beljebbar, Abdelilah; Sockalingum, Ganesh D.; Morjani, Hamid; Manfait, Michel

1999-04-01

Raman spectroscopy has been sued to differentiate between sensitive and MDR-resistant cells using Raman spectral imaging with a 632.8 nm excitation wavelength. The comparison between two spectral images allowed to quantify the differences between sensitive and resistant cell lines in term of proteins, lipids when MDR phenotype is expressed. SER spectroscopy has become a powerful and non-invasive probe for investigating the molecular and cellular interaction of drugs with their targets. The comparison between these models allow to elucidate the biological effect of the drugs. The development of new types of SERS- active substrates has extended the applicability of this technique to medical diagnosis. Two kinds of SERS active substrates, characterized as 'bio-compatible' systems, can be used for investigation on single living cells: colloid suspensions and microelectrodes and island films. This methodology is used for the study of cell membrane components in interaction with the SERS substrates with the aim to understand the resistance mechanism. The constitution of a data bank will allow the follow-up of cancer and future monitoring of therapeutic intervention.

The SysMan monitoring service and its management environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debski, Andrzej; Janas, Ekkehard

1996-06-01

Management of modern information systems is becoming more and more complex. There is a growing need for powerful, flexible and affordable management tools to assist system managers in maintaining such systems. It is at the same time evident that effective management should integrate network management, system management and application management in a uniform way. Object oriented OSI management architecture with its four basic modelling concepts (information, organization, communication and functional models) together with widely accepted distribution platforms such as ANSA/CORBA, constitutes a reliable and modern framework for the implementation of a management toolset. This paper focuses on the presentation of concepts and implementation results of an object oriented management toolset developed and implemented within the framework of the ESPRIT project 7026 SysMan. An overview is given of the implemented SysMan management services including the System Management Service, Monitoring Service, Network Management Service, Knowledge Service, Domain and Policy Service, and the User Interface. Special attention is paid to the Monitoring Service which incorporates the architectural key entity responsible for event management. Its architecture and building components, especially filters, are emphasized and presented in detail.

Discrete decoding based ultrafast multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Zhiliang; Lin, Liangjie; Ye, Qimiao; Li, Jing; Cai, Shuhui; Chen, Zhong

2015-07-01

The three-dimensional (3D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy constitutes an important and powerful tool in analyzing chemical and biological systems. However, the abundant 3D information arrives at the expense of long acquisition times lasting hours or even days. Therefore, there has been a continuous interest in developing techniques to accelerate recordings of 3D NMR spectra, among which the ultrafast spatiotemporal encoding technique supplies impressive acquisition speed by compressing a multidimensional spectrum in a single scan. However, it tends to suffer from tradeoffs among spectral widths in different dimensions, which deteriorates in cases of NMR spectroscopy with more dimensions. In this study, the discrete decoding is proposed to liberate the ultrafast technique from tradeoffs among spectral widths in different dimensions by focusing decoding on signal-bearing sites. For verifying its feasibility and effectiveness, we utilized the method to generate two different types of 3D spectra. The proposed method is also applicable to cases with more than three dimensions, which, based on the experimental results, may widen applications of the ultrafast technique.

Non-conforming finite-element formulation for cardiac electrophysiology: an effective approach to reduce the computation time of heart simulations without compromising accuracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hurtado, Daniel E.; Rojas, Guillermo

2018-04-01

Computer simulations constitute a powerful tool for studying the electrical activity of the human heart, but computational effort remains prohibitively high. In order to recover accurate conduction velocities and wavefront shapes, the mesh size in linear element (Q1) formulations cannot exceed 0.1 mm. Here we propose a novel non-conforming finite-element formulation for the non-linear cardiac electrophysiology problem that results in accurate wavefront shapes and lower mesh-dependance in the conduction velocity, while retaining the same number of global degrees of freedom as Q1 formulations. As a result, coarser discretizations of cardiac domains can be employed in simulations without significant loss of accuracy, thus reducing the overall computational effort. We demonstrate the applicability of our formulation in biventricular simulations using a coarse mesh size of ˜ 1 mm, and show that the activation wave pattern closely follows that obtained in fine-mesh simulations at a fraction of the computation time, thus improving the accuracy-efficiency trade-off of cardiac simulations.

Carbon dioxide degassing and thermal energy release at Vesuvio (Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frondini, F.; Chiodini, G.; Caliro, S.; Cardellini, C.; Granieri, D.

2003-04-01

At Vesuvio, basing on the data of the CO2 flux surveys carried out in April and May 2000, are discharged about 130 t d-1 of CO2 through soil diffuse degassing. In the crater area the distribution of the soil temperatures show a general correspondence between the CO2 flux anomalies and the high temperatures, suggesting that the heating of the soil is mainly due to the condensation of the rising volcanic-hydrothermal fluids. Considering that the original H2O/CO2 ratio of hydrothermal fluids is recorded by fumarolic effluents, the steam associated to the CO2 output has been computed and amount to is 475 t d-1. The energy produced by the steam condensation and cooling of the liquid phase is 1.26 1012 J d-1 (14.6 MW). The amounts of gas and energy released by Vesuvio are comparable to those released by other volcanic degassing areas of the world and their estimates, through periodical CO2 flux surveys, can constitute a powerful tool to monitor the activity of the volcano.

Inborn Errors in Immunity

PubMed Central

Lionakis, M.S.; Hajishengallis, G.

2015-01-01

In recent years, the study of genetic defects arising from inborn errors in immunity has resulted in the discovery of new genes involved in the function of the immune system and in the elucidation of the roles of known genes whose importance was previously unappreciated. With the recent explosion in the field of genomics and the increasing number of genetic defects identified, the study of naturally occurring mutations has become a powerful tool for gaining mechanistic insight into the functions of the human immune system. In this concise perspective, we discuss emerging evidence that inborn errors in immunity constitute real-life models that are indispensable both for the in-depth understanding of human biology and for obtaining critical insights into common diseases, such as those affecting oral health. In the field of oral mucosal immunity, through the study of patients with select gene disruptions, the interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway has emerged as a critical element in oral immune surveillance and susceptibility to inflammatory disease, with disruptions in the IL-17 axis now strongly linked to mucosal fungal susceptibility, whereas overactivation of the same pathways is linked to inflammatory periodontitis. PMID:25900229

The numerical high cycle fatigue damage model of fillet weld joint under weld-induced residual stresses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen Van Do, Vuong

2018-04-01

In this study, a development of nonlinear continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model for multiaxial high cycle fatigue is proposed in which the cyclic plasticity constitutive model has been incorporated in the finite element (FE) framework. T-joint FE simulation of fillet welding is implemented to characterize sequentially coupled three-dimensional (3-D) of thermo-mechanical FE formulation and simulate the welding residual stresses. The high cycle fatigue damage model is then taken account into the fillet weld joints under the various cyclic fatigue load types to calculate the fatigue life considering the residual stresses. The fatigue crack initiation and the propagation in the present model estimated for the total fatigue is compared with the experimental results. The FE results illustrated that the proposed high cycle fatigue damage model in this study could become a powerful tool to effectively predict the fatigue life of the welds. Parametric studies in this work are also demonstrated that the welding residual stresses cannot be ignored in the computation of the fatigue life of welded structures.

A capital Scot: microscopes and museums in Robert E. Grant's zoology (1815-1840).

PubMed

Quick, Tom

2016-06-01

Early nineteenth-century zoology in Britain has been characterized as determined by the ideological concerns of its proponents. Taking the zoologist Robert E. Grant as an exemplary figure in this regard, this article offers a differently nuanced account of the conditions under which natural-philosophical knowledge concerning animal life was established in post-Napoleonic Britain. Whilst acknowledging the ideological import of concepts such as force and law, it points to an additional set of concerns amongst natural philosophers - that of appropriate tool use in investigation. Grant's studies in his native Edinburgh relied heavily on the use of microscopes. On his arrival in London, however, he entered a culture in which a different set of objects - museum specimens - held greater persuasive power. This article relates changes in Grant's ideas and practices to the uneven emphases on microscopic and museological evidence amongst European, Scottish and English natural philosophers at this time. In so doing, it identifies the reliance of London-based natural philosophers on museology as constituting a limiting effect on the kinds of claim that Grant sought to make regarding the nature of life.

Optimality and inference in hydrology from entropy production considerations: synthetic hillslope numerical experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kollet, S. J.

2015-05-01

In this study, entropy production optimization and inference principles are applied to a synthetic semi-arid hillslope in high-resolution, physics-based simulations. The results suggest that entropy or power is indeed maximized, because of the strong nonlinearity of variably saturated flow and competing processes related to soil moisture fluxes, the depletion of gradients, and the movement of a free water table. Thus, it appears that the maximum entropy production (MEP) principle may indeed be applicable to hydrologic systems. In the application to hydrologic system, the free water table constitutes an important degree of freedom in the optimization of entropy production and may also relate the theory to actual observations. In an ensuing analysis, an attempt is made to transfer the complex, "microscopic" hillslope model into a macroscopic model of reduced complexity using the MEP principle as an interference tool to obtain effective conductance coefficients and forces/gradients. The results demonstrate a new approach for the application of MEP to hydrologic systems and may form the basis for fruitful discussions and research in future.

Response: Reading between the lines of cancer screening trials: using modeling to understand the evidence.

PubMed

Etzioni, Ruth; Gulati, Roman

2013-04-01

In our article about limitations of basing screening policy on screening trials, we offered several examples of ways in which modeling, using data from large screening trials and population trends, provided insights that differed somewhat from those based only on empirical trial results. In this editorial, we take a step back and consider the general question of whether randomized screening trials provide the strongest evidence for clinical guidelines concerning population screening programs. We argue that randomized trials provide a process that is designed to protect against certain biases but that this process does not guarantee that inferences based on empirical results from screening trials will be unbiased. Appropriate quantitative methods are key to obtaining unbiased inferences from screening trials. We highlight several studies in the statistical literature demonstrating that conventional survival analyses of screening trials can be misleading and list a number of key questions concerning screening harms and benefits that cannot be answered without modeling. Although we acknowledge the centrality of screening trials in the policy process, we maintain that modeling constitutes a powerful tool for screening trial interpretation and screening policy development.

Minimally invasive surgical video analysis: a powerful tool for surgical training and navigation.

PubMed

Sánchez-González, P; Oropesa, I; Gómez, E J

2013-01-01

Analysis of minimally invasive surgical videos is a powerful tool to drive new solutions for achieving reproducible training programs, objective and transparent assessment systems and navigation tools to assist surgeons and improve patient safety. This paper presents how video analysis contributes to the development of new cognitive and motor training and assessment programs as well as new paradigms for image-guided surgery.

The Environment-Power System Analysis Tool development program. [for spacecraft power supplies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jongeward, Gary A.; Kuharski, Robert A.; Kennedy, Eric M.; Wilcox, Katherine G.; Stevens, N. John; Putnam, Rand M.; Roche, James C.

1989-01-01

The Environment Power System Analysis Tool (EPSAT) is being developed to provide engineers with the ability to assess the effects of a broad range of environmental interactions on space power systems. A unique user-interface-data-dictionary code architecture oversees a collection of existing and future environmental modeling codes (e.g., neutral density) and physical interaction models (e.g., sheath ionization). The user-interface presents the engineer with tables, graphs, and plots which, under supervision of the data dictionary, are automatically updated in response to parameter change. EPSAT thus provides the engineer with a comprehensive and responsive environmental assessment tool and the scientist with a framework into which new environmental or physical models can be easily incorporated.

Solving Power Tool Problems in the School Shop

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Irvin, Daniel W.

1976-01-01

The school shop instructor is largely responsible for the preventive maintenance of power tools. These preventive measures primarily involve proper alignment, good lubrication, a reasonable maintenance program, and good operating procedures. Suggestions for maintenance of specific equipment is provided. (Author/BP)

Development of a Pre-Prototype Power Assisted Glove End Effector for Extravehicular Activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1986-01-01

The purpose of this program was to develop an EVA power tool which is capable of performing a variety of functions while at the same time increasing the EVA crewmember's effectiveness by reducing hand fatigue associated with gripping tools through a pressurized EMU glove. The Power Assisted Glove End Effector (PAGE) preprototype hardware met or exceeded all of its technical requirements and has incorporated acoustic feedback to allow the EVA crewmember to monitor motor loading and speed. If this tool is to be developed for flight use, several issues need to be addressed. These issues are listed.

Thermomechanical modelling of laser surface glazing for H13 tool steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabir, I. R.; Yin, D.; Tamanna, N.; Naher, S.

2018-03-01

A two-dimensional thermomechanical finite element (FE) model of laser surface glazing (LSG) has been developed for H13 tool steel. The direct coupling technique of ANSYS 17.2 (APDL) has been utilised to solve the transient thermomechanical process. A H13 tool steel cylindrical cross-section has been modelled for laser power 200 W and 300 W at constant 0.2 mm beam width and 0.15 ms residence time. The model can predict temperature distribution, stress-strain increments in elastic and plastic region with time and space. The crack formation tendency also can be assumed by analysing the von Mises stress in the heat-concentrated zone. Isotropic and kinematic hardening models have been applied separately to predict the after-yield phenomena. At 200 W laser power, the peak surface temperature achieved is 1520 K which is below the melting point (1727 K) of H13 tool steel. For laser power 300 W, the peak surface temperature is 2523 K. Tensile residual stresses on surface have been found after cooling, which are in agreement with literature. Isotropic model shows higher residual stress that increases with laser power. Conversely, kinematic model gives lower residual stress which decreases with laser power. Therefore, both plasticity models could work in LSG for H13 tool steel.

Observational tests for Λ(t)CDM cosmology

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

Pigozzo, C.; Carneiro, S.; Dantas, M.A.

2011-08-01

We investigate the observational viability of a class of cosmological models in which the vacuum energy density decays linearly with the Hubble parameter, resulting in a production of cold dark matter particles at late times. Similarly to the flat ΛCDM case, there is only one free parameter to be adjusted by the data in this class of Λ(t)CDM scenarios, namely, the matter density parameter. To perform our analysis we use three of the most recent SNe Ia compilation sets (Union2, SDSS and Constitution) along with the current measurements of distance to the BAO peaks at z = 0.2 and zmore » = 0.35 and the position of the first acoustic peak of the CMB power spectrum. We show that in terms of χ{sup 2} statistics both models provide good fits to the data and similar results. A quantitative analysis discussing the differences in parameter estimation due to SNe light-curve fitting methods (SALT2 and MLCS2k2) is studied using the current SDSS and Constitution SNe Ia compilations. A matter power spectrum analysis using the 2dFGRS is also performed, providing a very good concordance with the constraints from the SDSS and Constitution MLCS2k2 data.« less

Development of a Constitutive Equation for HSLA (High-Strength Low- Alloy)-100 at Cryogenic Temperatures

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-12-01

temperatur The Holloncn Power Equation and the VocE. Equation are used tý) describe the true stress;’true strain behavior to failure of individual tests...Hollomon Power Equation (a= Kcn) and the Voce Equation (c=G -[O -ao1exp[-E!A]) are used to describe the true stress / true strain behavior to failure of...6 8 A. MODIFICATIONS/ IMPROVEMENTS IN THE USE OF THE VOCE

Tools and data acquisition of borehole geophysical logging for the Florida Power and Light Company Turkey Point Power Plant in support of a groundwater, surface-water, and ecological monitoring plan, Miami-Dade County, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wacker, Michael A.

2010-01-01

Borehole geophysical logs were obtained from selected exploratory coreholes in the vicinity of the Florida Power and Light Company Turkey Point Power Plant. The geophysical logging tools used and logging sequences performed during this project are summarized herein to include borehole logging methods, descriptions of the properties measured, types of data obtained, and calibration information.

Test and evaluation of load converter topologies used in the Space Station Freedom power management and distribution dc test bed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lebron, Ramon C.; Oliver, Angela C.; Bodi, Robert F.

1991-01-01

Power components hardware in support of the Space Station freedom dc Electric Power System were tested. One type of breadboard hardware tested is the dc Load Converter Unit, which constitutes the power interface between the electric power system and the actual load. These units are dc to dc converters that provide the final system regulation before power is delivered to the load. Three load converters were tested: a series resonant converter, a series inductor switch-mode converter, and a switching full-bridge forward converter. The topology, operation principles, and test results are described, in general. A comparative analysis of the three units is given with respect to efficiency, regulation, short circuit behavior (protection), and transient characteristics.

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

Zediker, Mark S.; Rinzler, Charles C.; Faircloth, Brian O.

There is provided a system and apparatus for the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances without substantial power loss and without the presence of stimulated Raman scattering. There is further provided systems and optical fiber cable configurations and optical fiber structures for the delivering high power laser energy over great distances to a tool or surface to perform an operation or work with the tool or upon the surface.

Beyond Jeopardy and Lectures: Using "Microsoft PowerPoint" as a Game Design Tool to Teach Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siko, Jason; Barbour, Michael; Toker, Sacip

2011-01-01

To date, research involving homemade PowerPoint games as an instructional tool has not shown statistically significant gains in student performance. This paper examines the results of a study comparing the performance of students in a high school chemistry course who created homemade PowerPoint games as a test review with the students who used a…

AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL MAINTENANCE 1, UNIT XVI, I--USE AND CARE OF SMALL HAND TOOLS, II--PRINCIPLES OF THE POWER DIVIDER.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minnesota State Dept. of Education, St. Paul. Div. of Vocational and Technical Education.

THIS MODULE OF A 30-MODULE COURSE IS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF SMALL HAND TOOLS USED IN DIESEL ENGINE MAINTENANCE AND THE OPERATING PRINCIPLES AND MAINTENANCE OF POWER DIVIDERS (GEAR BOXES) USED IN DIESEL ENGINE POWER DISTRIBUTION. TOPICS ARE (1) UNDERSTANDING TORQUE AND HOW IT IS MEASURED, (2) REPAIRING AND REPLACING THREADED…

Semantically Grounded Briefings

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-12-01

cascading interface, mirroring the class inheritance of the ontologies. Clicking on one of these tools, like PowerPoint’s native autoshape tools...connections are their graphic templates. This determines the appearance of an instance of that concept. Any of PowerPoint’s native autoshapes , formatted...which can be any PowerPoint autoshape , group shape, or image • Identification of a modulated component of C’s graphic template. If C’s graphic

Ergonomic analysis of fastening vibration based on ISO Standard 5349 (2001).

PubMed

Joshi, Akul; Leu, Ming; Murray, Susan

2012-11-01

Hand-held power tools used for fastening operations exert high dynamic forces on the operator's hand-arm, potentially causing injuries to the operator in the long run. This paper presents a study that analyzed the vibrations exerted by two hand-held power tools used for fastening operations with the operating exhibiting different postures. The two pneumatic tools, a right-angled nut-runner and an offset pistol-grip, are used to install shearing-type fasteners. A tri-axial accelerometer is used to measure the tool's vibration. The position and orientation of the transducer mounted on the tool follows the ISO-5349 Standard. The measured vibration data is used to compare the two power tools at different operating postures. The data analysis determines the number of years required to reach a 10% probability of developing finger blanching. The results indicate that the pistol-grip tool induces more vibration in the hand-arm than the right-angled nut-runner and that the vibrations exerted on the hand-arm vary for different postures. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

Analytical and experimental comparisons of electromechanical vibration response of a piezoelectric bimorph beam for power harvesting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lumentut, M. F.; Howard, I. M.

2013-03-01

Power harvesters that extract energy from vibrating systems via piezoelectric transduction show strong potential for powering smart wireless sensor devices in applications of health condition monitoring of rotating machinery and structures. This paper presents an analytical method for modelling an electromechanical piezoelectric bimorph beam with tip mass under two input base transverse and longitudinal excitations. The Euler-Bernoulli beam equations were used to model the piezoelectric bimorph beam. The polarity-electric field of the piezoelectric element is excited by the strain field caused by base input excitation, resulting in electrical charge. The governing electromechanical dynamic equations were derived analytically using the weak form of the Hamiltonian principle to obtain the constitutive equations. Three constitutive electromechanical dynamic equations based on independent coefficients of virtual displacement vectors were formulated and then further modelled using the normalised Ritz eigenfunction series. The electromechanical formulations include both the series and parallel connections of the piezoelectric bimorph. The multi-mode frequency response functions (FRFs) under varying electrical load resistance were formulated using Laplace transformation for the multi-input mechanical vibrations to provide the multi-output dynamic displacement, velocity, voltage, current and power. The experimental and theoretical validations reduced for the single mode system were shown to provide reasonable predictions. The model results from polar base excitation for off-axis input motions were validated with experimental results showing the change to the electrical power frequency response amplitude as a function of excitation angle, with relevance for practical implementation.

Minos as a novel Tc1/mariner-type transposable element for functional genomic analysis in Aspergillus nidulans.

PubMed

Evangelinos, Minoas; Anagnostopoulos, Gerasimos; Karvela-Kalogeraki, Iliana; Stathopoulou, Panagiota M; Scazzocchio, Claudio; Diallinas, George

2015-08-01

Transposons constitute powerful genetic tools for gene inactivation, exon or promoter trapping and genome analyses. The Minos element from Drosophila hydei, a Tc1/mariner-like transposon, has proved as a very efficient tool for heterologous transposition in several metazoa. In filamentous fungi, only a handful of fungal-specific transposable elements have been exploited as genetic tools, with the impala Tc1/mariner element from Fusarium oxysporum being the most successful. Here, we developed a two-component transposition system to manipulate Minos transposition in Aspergillus nidulans (AnMinos). Our system allows direct selection of transposition events based on re-activation of niaD, a gene necessary for growth on nitrate as a nitrogen source. On average, among 10(8) conidiospores, we obtain up to ∼0.8×10(2) transposition events leading to the expected revertant phenotype (niaD(+)), while ∼16% of excision events lead to AnMinos loss. Characterized excision footprints consisted of the four terminal bases of the transposon flanked by the TA target duplication and led to no major DNA rearrangements. AnMinos transposition depends on the presence of its homologous transposase. Its frequency was not significantly affected by temperature, UV irradiation or the transcription status of the original integration locus (niaD). Importantly, transposition is dependent on nkuA, encoding an enzyme essential for non-homologous end joining of DNA in double-strand break repair. AnMinos proved to be an efficient tool for functional analysis as it seems to transpose in different genomic loci positions in all chromosomes, including a high proportion of integration events within or close to genes. We have used Minos to obtain morphological and toxic analogue resistant mutants. Interestingly, among morphological mutants some seem to be due to Minos-elicited over-expression of specific genes, rather than gene inactivation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

doGlycans–Tools for Preparing Carbohydrate Structures for Atomistic Simulations of Glycoproteins, Glycolipids, and Carbohydrate Polymers for GROMACS

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Carbohydrates constitute a structurally and functionally diverse group of biological molecules and macromolecules. In cells they are involved in, e.g., energy storage, signaling, and cell–cell recognition. All of these phenomena take place in atomistic scales, thus atomistic simulation would be the method of choice to explore how carbohydrates function. However, the progress in the field is limited by the lack of appropriate tools for preparing carbohydrate structures and related topology files for the simulation models. Here we present tools that fill this gap. Applications where the tools discussed in this paper are particularly useful include, among others, the preparation of structures for glycolipids, nanocellulose, and glycans linked to glycoproteins. The molecular structures and simulation files generated by the tools are compatible with GROMACS. PMID:28906114

The Hidden Curriculum as Emancipatory and Non-Emancipatory Tools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kanpol, Barry

Moral values implied in school practices and policies constitute the "hidden curriculum." Because the hidden curriculum may promote certain moral values to students, teachers are partially responsible for the moral education of students. A component of the hidden curriculum, institutional political resistance, concerns teacher opposition to…

Turbine Engine Hot Section Technology, 1987

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1987-01-01

Presentations were made concerning the development of design analysis tools for combustor liners, turbine vanes, and turbine blades. Presentations were divided into six sections: instrumentation, combustion, turbine heat transfer, structural analysis, fatigue and fracture, surface protective coatings, constitutive behavior of materials, stress-strain response and life prediction methods.

The Critical Thinking Worksheet.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agnew, Priscilla

A description is provided of the use of a Critical Thinking Worksheet as a pedagogical tool for introducing critical thinking to students of philosophy and informal logic. First, an accompanying handout introduces essential terms such as "argument,""conclusion," and "reasons or premises." The worksheet itself constitutes the second page of the…

Indian Studies Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peck, Cy, Sr.; And Others

A product of the Indian Studies Curriculum Committee and the Indian Studies Staff, this manual on the Indians of Southeast Alaska constitutes a useable classroom tool designed for the cross-cultural program in the Juneau School District. Objectives of this Indian Studies Program are identified as: to increase knowledge, awareness, and positive…

System technology for laser-assisted milling with tool integrated optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermani, Jan-Patrick; Emonts, Michael; Brecher, Christian

2013-02-01

High strength metal alloys and ceramics offer a huge potential for increased efficiency (e. g. in engine components for aerospace or components for gas turbines). However, mass application is still hampered by cost- and time-consuming end-machining due to long processing times and high tool wear. Laser-induced heating shortly before machining can reduce the material strength and improve machinability significantly. The Fraunhofer IPT has developed and successfully realized a new approach for laser-assisted milling with spindle and tool integrated, co-rotating optics. The novel optical system inside the tool consists of one deflection prism to position the laser spot in front of the cutting insert and one focusing lens. Using a fiber laser with high beam quality the laser spot diameter can be precisely adjusted to the chip size. A high dynamic adaption of the laser power signal according to the engagement condition of the cutting tool was realized in order not to irradiate already machined work piece material. During the tool engagement the laser power is controlled in proportion to the current material removal rate, which has to be calculated continuously. The needed geometric values are generated by a CAD/CAM program and converted into a laser power signal by a real-time controller. The developed milling tool with integrated optics and the algorithm for laser power control enable a multi-axis laser-assisted machining of complex parts.

31 CFR 546.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... constituted a threat to stability in Darfur and the region; (iii) To be responsible for conduct related to the... paragraph (a) of § 546.201: Section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701...

75 FR 145 - Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petition for Objection to State Operating Permit for East...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-04

....-- William C. Dale Power Station; Clark County, KY AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION... Station (Dale Station) located in Clark County, Kentucky. This Order constitutes a final action on the...

A crystallographic model for nickel base single crystal alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dame, L. T.; Stouffer, D. C.

1988-01-01

The purpose of this research is to develop a tool for the mechanical analysis of nickel-base single-crystal superalloys, specifically Rene N4, used in gas turbine engine components. This objective is achieved by developing a rate-dependent anisotropic constitutive model and implementing it in a nonlinear three-dimensional finite-element code. The constitutive model is developed from metallurgical concepts utilizing a crystallographic approach. An extension of Schmid's law is combined with the Bodner-Partom equations to model the inelastic tension/compression asymmetry and orientation-dependence in octahedral slip. Schmid's law is used to approximate the inelastic response of the material in cube slip. The constitutive equations model the tensile behavior, creep response and strain-rate sensitivity of the single-crystal superalloys. Methods for deriving the material constants from standard tests are also discussed. The model is implemented in a finite-element code, and the computed and experimental results are compared for several orientations and loading conditions.

Examination of CRISPR/Cas9 design tools and the effect of target site accessibility on Cas9 activity.

PubMed

Lee, Ciaran M; Davis, Timothy H; Bao, Gang

2018-04-01

What is the topic of this review? In this review, we analyse the performance of recently described tools for CRISPR/Cas9 guide RNA design, in particular, design tools that predict CRISPR/Cas9 activity. What advances does it highlight? Recently, many tools designed to predict CRISPR/Cas9 activity have been reported. However, the majority of these tools lack experimental validation. Our analyses indicate that these tools have poor predictive power. Our preliminary results suggest that target site accessibility should be considered in order to develop better guide RNA design tools with improved predictive power. The recent adaptation of the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system for targeted genome engineering has led to its widespread application in many fields worldwide. In order to gain a better understanding of the design rules of CRISPR/Cas9 systems, several groups have carried out large library-based screens leading to some insight into sequence preferences among highly active target sites. To facilitate CRISPR/Cas9 design, these studies have spawned a plethora of guide RNA (gRNA) design tools with algorithms based solely on direct or indirect sequence features. Here, we demonstrate that the predictive power of these tools is poor, suggesting that sequence features alone cannot accurately inform the cutting efficiency of a particular CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA design. Furthermore, we demonstrate that DNA target site accessibility influences the activity of CRISPR/Cas9. With further optimization, we hypothesize that it will be possible to increase the predictive power of gRNA design tools by including both sequence and target site accessibility metrics. © 2017 The Authors. Experimental Physiology © 2017 The Physiological Society.

Human Exploration Ethnography of the Haughton-Mars Project, 1998-1999

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clancey, William J.; Swanson, Keith (Technical Monitor)

1999-01-01

During the past two field seasons, July 1988 and 1999, we have conducted research about the field practices of scientists and engineers at Haughton Crater on Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic, with the objective of determining how people will live and work on Mars. This broad investigation of field life and work practice, part of the Haughton-Mars Project lead by Pascal Lee, spans social and cognitive anthropology, psychology, and computer science. Our approach involves systematic observation and description of activities, places, and concepts, constituting an ethnography of field science at Haughton. Our focus is on human behaviors-what people do, where, when, with whom, and why. By locating behavior in time and place-in contrast with a purely functional or "task oriented" description of work-we find patterns constituting the choreography of interaction between people, their habitat, and their tools. As such, we view the exploration process in terms of a total system comprising a social organization, facilities, terrain/climate, personal identities, artifacts, and computer tools. Because we are computer scientists seeking to develop new kinds of tools for living and working on Mars, we focus on the existing representational tools (such as documents and measuring devices), learning and improvization (such as use of the internet or informal assistance), and prototype computational systems brought to the field. Our research is based on partnership, by which field scientists and engineers actively contribute to our findings, just as we participate in their work and life.

Adaptive reduction of constitutive model-form error using a posteriori error estimation techniques

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

Bishop, Joseph E.; Brown, Judith Alice

In engineering practice, models are typically kept as simple as possible for ease of setup and use, computational efficiency, maintenance, and overall reduced complexity to achieve robustness. In solid mechanics, a simple and efficient constitutive model may be favored over one that is more predictive, but is difficult to parameterize, is computationally expensive, or is simply not available within a simulation tool. In order to quantify the modeling error due to the choice of a relatively simple and less predictive constitutive model, we adopt the use of a posteriori model-form error-estimation techniques. Based on local error indicators in the energymore » norm, an algorithm is developed for reducing the modeling error by spatially adapting the material parameters in the simpler constitutive model. The resulting material parameters are not material properties per se, but depend on the given boundary-value problem. As a first step to the more general nonlinear case, we focus here on linear elasticity in which the “complex” constitutive model is general anisotropic elasticity and the chosen simpler model is isotropic elasticity. As a result, the algorithm for adaptive error reduction is demonstrated using two examples: (1) A transversely-isotropic plate with hole subjected to tension, and (2) a transversely-isotropic tube with two side holes subjected to torsion.« less

Adaptive reduction of constitutive model-form error using a posteriori error estimation techniques

DOE PAGES

Bishop, Joseph E.; Brown, Judith Alice

2018-06-15

In engineering practice, models are typically kept as simple as possible for ease of setup and use, computational efficiency, maintenance, and overall reduced complexity to achieve robustness. In solid mechanics, a simple and efficient constitutive model may be favored over one that is more predictive, but is difficult to parameterize, is computationally expensive, or is simply not available within a simulation tool. In order to quantify the modeling error due to the choice of a relatively simple and less predictive constitutive model, we adopt the use of a posteriori model-form error-estimation techniques. Based on local error indicators in the energymore » norm, an algorithm is developed for reducing the modeling error by spatially adapting the material parameters in the simpler constitutive model. The resulting material parameters are not material properties per se, but depend on the given boundary-value problem. As a first step to the more general nonlinear case, we focus here on linear elasticity in which the “complex” constitutive model is general anisotropic elasticity and the chosen simpler model is isotropic elasticity. As a result, the algorithm for adaptive error reduction is demonstrated using two examples: (1) A transversely-isotropic plate with hole subjected to tension, and (2) a transversely-isotropic tube with two side holes subjected to torsion.« less

Anisotropic constitutive model for nickel base single crystal alloys: Development and finite element implementation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dame, L. T.; Stouffer, D. C.

1986-01-01

A tool for the mechanical analysis of nickel base single crystal superalloys, specifically Rene N4, used in gas turbine engine components is developed. This is achieved by a rate dependent anisotropic constitutive model implemented in a nonlinear three dimensional finite element code. The constitutive model is developed from metallurigical concepts utilizing a crystallographic approach. A non Schmid's law formulation is used to model the tension/compression asymmetry and orientation dependence in octahedral slip. Schmid's law is a good approximation to the inelastic response of the material in cube slip. The constitutive equations model the tensile behavior, creep response, and strain rate sensitivity of these alloys. Methods for deriving the material constants from standard tests are presented. The finite element implementation utilizes an initial strain method and twenty noded isoparametric solid elements. The ability to model piecewise linear load histories is included in the finite element code. The constitutive equations are accurately and economically integrated using a second order Adams-Moulton predictor-corrector method with a dynamic time incrementing procedure. Computed results from the finite element code are compared with experimental data for tensile, creep and cyclic tests at 760 deg C. The strain rate sensitivity and stress relaxation capabilities of the model are evaluated.

Legal Implications of the Use of Biometrics as a Tool to Fight the Global War on Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-13

suspects, thwarting their plan to terrorize innocent citizens. A biometric identification system would certainly present law enforcement officials...with a powerful tool for the identification of known or suspected terrorists and other criminals, however, the system must adhere to the laws...terrorize innocent citizens. A biometric identification system would certainly present law enforcement officials with a powerful tool for the

Sturckow in Node 1/Unity module with power tool

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-12-11

S88-E-5126 (12-11-98) --- Astronaut Frederick W. Sturckow, pilot, is pictured with a power tool near the hatchway between Unity and a pressurized mating adapter (PMA). Members of the STS-88 crew used this type tool and others to attach handrails and accessories and perform other tasks on Unity. The photo was taken with an electronic still camera (ESC) at 01:09:40 GMT, Dec. 11.

A culture and power perspective on the management of health information technology in hospitals.

PubMed

Petersen, Lone Stub; Bertelsen, Pernille

2012-01-01

The three traditionally dominating professional hospital cultures - physicians, nurses and management - are challenged by the increasing use of health information technology (HIT) in health care. A fourth group of actors, the IT-professionals has become an exceedingly powerful player challenging the boundaries of the traditional hospital cultures. The hospital cultures are being redefined by and are redefining the technologies as well as the divisions of labour between the professional groups. The IT-professionals have become central actors in this and thereby they constitute a fourth powerful professional culture in the hospitals. This study draws out the phenomenon of IT-professionals as a fourth culture through a qualitative case study of both the IT-department and clinical and managerial hospital practices. The study finds evidence of how the IT-professionals and the IT-departments play a central part in the development of hospital practices constituting them as an influential culture and player in the hospitals. The tendency to see IT as merely infrastructure is hereby challenged and the conclusions demand further research into how to consider IT strategically in the hospitals, possibly pointing towards further user involvement in IT management.

Energy Survey of Machine Tools: Separating Power Information of the Main Transmission System During Machining Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shuang; Liu, Fei; Hu, Shaohua; Yin, Zhenbiao

The major power information of the main transmission system in machine tools (MTSMT) during machining process includes effective output power (i.e. cutting power), input power and power loss from the mechanical transmission system, and the main motor power loss. These information are easy to obtain in the lab but difficult to evaluate in a manufacturing process. To solve this problem, a separation method is proposed here to extract the MTSMT power information during machining process. In this method, the energy flow and the mathematical models of major power information of MTSMT during the machining process are set up first. Based on the mathematical models and the basic data tables obtained from experiments, the above mentioned power information during machining process can be separated just by measuring the real time total input power of the spindle motor. The operation program of this method is also given.

Social participation within a context of political violence: implications for the promotion and exercise of the right to health in Guatemala.

PubMed

Flores, Walter; Ruano, Ana Lorena; Funchal, Denise Phe

2009-01-01

Social participation has been understood in many different ways, and there are even typologies classifying participation by the degree of a population's control in decision making. Participation can vary from a symbolic act, which does not involve decision making, to processes in which it constitutes the principal tool for redistributing power within a population. This article argues that analyzing social participation from a perspective of power relations requires knowledge of the historical, social, and economic processes that have characterized the social relations in a specific context. Applying such an analysis to Guatemala reveals asymmetrical power relations characterized by a long history of repression and political violence. The armed conflict during the second half of the 20th century had devastating consequences for a large portion of the population as well as the country's social leadership. The ongoing violence resulted in negative psychosocial effects among the population, including mistrust toward institutions and low levels of social and political participation. Although Guatemala made progress in creating spaces for social participation in public policy after signing the Peace Accords in 1996, the country still faces after-effects of the conflict. One important task for the organizations that work in the field of health and the right to health is to help regenerate the social fabric and to rebuild trust between the state and its citizens. Such regeneration involves helping the population gain the skills, knowledge, and information needed in order to participate in and affect formal political processes that are decided and promoted by various public entities, such as the legislative and executive branches, municipal governments, and political parties. This process also applies to other groups that build citizenship through participation, such as neighborhood organizations and school and health committees.

An optimal FFT-based anisotropic power spectrum estimator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hand, Nick; Li, Yin; Slepian, Zachary; Seljak, Uroš

2017-07-01

Measurements of line-of-sight dependent clustering via the galaxy power spectrum's multipole moments constitute a powerful tool for testing theoretical models in large-scale structure. Recent work shows that this measurement, including a moving line-of-sight, can be accelerated using Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) by decomposing the Legendre polynomials into products of Cartesian vectors. Here, we present a faster, optimal means of using FFTs for this measurement. We avoid redundancy present in the Cartesian decomposition by using a spherical harmonic decomposition of the Legendre polynomials. With this method, a given multipole of order l requires only 2l+1 FFTs rather than the (l+1)(l+2)/2 FFTs of the Cartesian approach. For the hexadecapole (l = 4), this translates to 40% fewer FFTs, with increased savings for higher l. The reduction in wall-clock time enables the calculation of finely-binned wedges in P(k,μ), obtained by computing multipoles up to a large lmax and combining them. This transformation has a number of advantages. We demonstrate that by using non-uniform bins in μ, we can isolate plane-of-sky (angular) systematics to a narrow bin at 0μ simeq while eliminating the contamination from all other bins. We also show that the covariance matrix of clustering wedges binned uniformly in μ becomes ill-conditioned when combining multipoles up to large values of lmax, but that the problem can be avoided with non-uniform binning. As an example, we present results using lmax=16, for which our procedure requires a factor of 3.4 fewer FFTs than the Cartesian method, while removing the first μ bin leads only to a 7% increase in statistical error on f σ8, as compared to a 54% increase with lmax=4.

Three-dimensional digital projection in neurosurgical education: technical note.

PubMed

Martins, Carolina; Ribas, Eduardo Carvalhal; Rhoton, Albert L; Ribas, Guilherme Carvalhal

2015-10-01

Three-dimensional images have become an important tool in teaching surgical anatomy, and its didactic power is enhanced when combined with 3D surgical images and videos. This paper describes the method used by the last author (G.C.R.) since 2002 to project 3D anatomical and surgical images using a computer source. Projecting 3D images requires the superposition of 2 similar but slightly different images of the same object. The set of images, one mimicking the view of the left eye and the other mimicking the view of the right eye, constitute the stereoscopic pair and can be processed using anaglyphic or horizontal-vertical polarization of light for individual use or presentation to larger audiences. Classically, 3D projection could be obtained by using a double set of slides, projected through 2 slide projectors, each of them equipped with complementary filters, shooting over a medium that keeps light polarized (a silver screen) and having the audience wear appropriate glasses. More recently, a digital method of 3D projection has been perfected. In this method, a personal computer is used as the source of the images, which are arranged in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. A beam splitter device is used to connect the computer source to 2 digital, portable projectors. Filters, a silver screen, and glasses are used, similar to the classic method. Among other advantages, this method brings flexibility to 3D presentations by allowing the combination of 3D anatomical and surgical still images and videos. It eliminates the need for using film and film developing, lowering the costs of the process. In using small, powerful digital projectors, this method substitutes for the previous technology, without incurring a loss of quality, and enhances portability.

Battery Energy Storage Systems to Mitigate the Variability of Photovoltaic Power Generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurganus, Heath Alan

Methods of generating renewable energy such as through solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and wind turbines offer great promise in terms of a reduced carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment. However, these methods also share the attribute of being highly stochastic, meaning they are variable in such a way that is difficult to forecast with sufficient accuracy. While solar power currently constitutes a small amount of generating potential in most regions, the cost of photovoltaics continues to decline and a trend has emerged to build larger PV plants than was once feasible. This has brought the matter of increased variability to the forefront of research in the industry. Energy storage has been proposed as a means of mitigating this increased variability --- and thus reducing the need to utilize traditional spinning reserves --- as well as offering auxiliary grid services such as peak-shifting and frequency control. This thesis addresses the feasibility of using electrochemical storage methods (i.e. batteries) to decrease the ramp rates of PV power plants. By building a simulation of a grid-connected PV array and a typical Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the NetLogo simulation environment, I have created a parameterized tool that can be tailored to describe almost any potential PV setup. This thesis describes the design and function of this model, and makes a case for the accuracy of its measurements by comparing its simulated output to that of well-documented real world sites. Finally, a set of recommendations for the design and operational parameters of such a system are then put forth based on the results of several experiments performed using this model.

[Soldiers and HIV: impact of medical knowledge on the analysis of discrimination in the constitution].

PubMed

Pou Giménez, Francisca

2012-01-01

In 2007 the Mexican Supreme Court issued several opinions dealing with military personnel dismissed from the Army because of their being HIV-positive. The author describes the main questions under discussion and the core arguments developed by the Court, and stresses three reasons why these cases deserve close attention: positively, because they reinforced the use of the proportionality principle as a tool for identifying discriminatory norms and because they opened the door to the use of specialized scientific knowledge in constitutional adjudication; negatively, because they failed to build on the direct normative efficacy of the right to health.

Development and Validation of a Supersonic Helium-Air Coannular Jet Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carty, Atherton A.; Cutler, Andrew D.

1999-01-01

Data are acquired in a simple coannular He/air supersonic jet suitable for validation of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) codes for high speed propulsion. Helium is employed as a non-reacting hydrogen fuel simulant, constituting the core of the coannular flow while the coflow is composed of air. The mixing layer interface between the two flows in the near field and the plume region which develops further downstream constitute the primary regions of interest, similar to those present in all hypersonic air breathing propulsion systems. A computational code has been implemented from the experiment's inception, serving as a tool for model design during the development phase.

Modeling and Simulation Roadmap to Enhance Electrical Energy Security of U.S. Naval Bases

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

evaluating power system architectures and technologies and, therefore, can become a valuable tool for the implementation of the described plan for Navy...a well validated and consistent process for evaluating power system architectures and technologies and, therefore, can be a valuable tool for the...process for evaluating power system architectures and component technologies is needed to support the development and implementation of these new

Advanced Power System Analysis Capabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

As a continuing effort to assist in the design and characterization of space power systems, the NASA Lewis Research Center's Power and Propulsion Office developed a powerful computerized analysis tool called System Power Analysis for Capability Evaluation (SPACE). This year, SPACE was used extensively in analyzing detailed operational timelines for the International Space Station (ISS) program. SPACE was developed to analyze the performance of space-based photovoltaic power systems such as that being developed for the ISS. It is a highly integrated tool that combines numerous factors in a single analysis, providing a comprehensive assessment of the power system's capability. Factors particularly critical to the ISS include the orientation of the solar arrays toward the Sun and the shadowing of the arrays by other portions of the station.

Professional Learning and the Materiality of Social Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Makitalo, Asa

2012-01-01

This article addresses professional learning as intrinsic to social practices. It takes its point of departure in a sociocultural notion of mediation and communication in human activity and addresses the constitutive nature of language and artefacts as material-semiotic tools in the social coordination of perspectives and action, meaning-making…

The Development of Emotional Face Processing during Childhood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Batty, Magali; Taylor, Margot J.

2006-01-01

Our facial expressions give others the opportunity to access our feelings, and constitute an important nonverbal tool for communication. Many recent studies have investigated emotional perception in adults, and our knowledge of neural processes involved in emotions is increasingly precise. Young children also use faces to express their internal…

Handwriting in Lebanese Bigraphic Children: Standardization of the BHK Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matta Abizeid, Carla; Tabsh Nakib, Amira; Younès Harb, Céleste; Ghantous Faddoul, Shereen; Albaret, Jean-Michel

2017-01-01

Educational systems in Lebanon are bilingual. They simultaneously impose two handwriting systems in Arabic and Latin. This historically driven situation could constitute a significant impact on the process and development of handwriting skills. Using an accurate and valid handwriting evaluation tool standardized for the Lebanese population is a…

Understanding Authority in Classrooms: A Review of Theory, Ideology, and Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pace, Judith L.; Hemmings, Annette

2007-01-01

Authority is a fundamental, problematic, and poorly understood component of classroom life. A better understanding of classroom authority can be achieved by reviewing writings on social theory, educational ideology, and qualitative research in schools. Social theories provide important analytical tools for examining the constitutive elements of…

Abaqus Simulations of Rock Response to Dynamic Loading

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

Steedman, David W.; Coblentz, David

The LANL Geodynamics Team has been applying Abaqus modeling to achieve increasingly complex simulations. Advancements in Abaqus model building and simulation tools allows this progress. We use Lab-developed constitutive models, the fully coupled CEL Abaqus and general contact to simulate response of realistic sites to explosively driven shock.

Constitutive and numerical modeling of soil and soil-pile interaction for 3D applications and Kealakaha stream bridge case study.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-12-01

This study is concerned with developing new modeling tools for predicting the response of the new Kealakaha : Stream Bridge to static and dynamic loads, including seismic shaking. The bridge will span 220 meters, with the : deck structure being curve...

Multilingual Education in South Africa: The Role of Publishers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edwards, Viv; Ngwaru, Jacob Marriote

2011-01-01

The South African constitution and related legislative tools provide a supportive framework for multilingual education. Successful implementation, however, requires appropriate learning materials and questions remain as to the vision and commitment of publishers to producing them. Based on an analysis of currently available books for children and…

Developing the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG), as a Tool for Describing the Condition of US Coral Reefs

EPA Science Inventory

Understanding effects of human activity on coral reefs requires knowing what characteristics constitute a high quality coral reef and identifying measurable criteria. The BCG is a conceptual model that describes how biological attributes of coral reefs change along a gradient of ...

On the Historical Narrative in the Classroom and Its Measure of Interest

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vansover, Yaron

2013-01-01

This article examines the narrative structure used by Israeli history teachers in their lessons. The investigation makes use of the analytical tools of narratology, employing the constitutive narratological distinction between "fabula" and "szujet." It becomes clear that the narrative structure which teachers of history…

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kotler, Janet; Hickey, Dona

1987-01-01

Claims that the controversy about whether writing is a process or a product is largely unnecessary because writing is clearly both. States that the real argument in the profession regards what constitutes (1) useful research, (2) the tools needed to do it, and (3) the vocabulary within which it should be conducted. (JD)

Quality Measurement in Early Childhood Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zaslow, Martha, Ed.; Martinez-Beck, Ivelisse, Ed.; Tout, Kathryn, Ed.; Halle, Tamara, Ed.

2011-01-01

What constitutes quality in early childhood settings, and how can it best be measured with today's widely used tools and promising new approaches? Find authoritative answers in this book, a must-have for high-level administrators and policymakers as more and more states adopt early childhood Quality Rating and Improvement Systems. The most…

Health care law versus constitutional law.

PubMed

Hall, Mark A

2013-04-01

National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, the Supreme Court's ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is a landmark decision - both for constitutional law and for health care law and policy. Others will study its implications for constitutional limits on a range of federal powers beyond health care. This article considers to what extent the decision is also about health care law, properly conceived. Under one view, health care law is the subdiscipline that inquires how courts and government actors take account of the special features of medicine that make legal or policy issues especially problematic - rather than regarding health care delivery and finance more generically, like most any other economic or social enterprise. Viewed this way, the opinions from the Court's conservative justices are mainly about general constitutional law principles. In contrast, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dissenting opinion for the four more liberal justices is just as much about health care law as it is about constitutional law. Her opinion gives detailed attention to the unique features of health care finance and delivery in order to inform her analysis of constitutional precedents and principles. Thus, the Court's multiple opinions give a vivid depiction of the compelling contrasts between communal versus individualistic conceptions of caring for those in need, and between health care and health insurance as ordinary commodities versus ones that merit special economic, social, and legal status.

Aerospace Power Systems Design and Analysis (APSDA) Tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Truong, Long V.

1998-01-01

The conceptual design of space and/or planetary electrical power systems has required considerable effort. Traditionally, in the early stages of the design cycle (conceptual design), the researchers have had to thoroughly study and analyze tradeoffs between system components, hardware architectures, and operating parameters (such as frequencies) to optimize system mass, efficiency, reliability, and cost. This process could take anywhere from several months to several years (as for the former Space Station Freedom), depending on the scale of the system. Although there are many sophisticated commercial software design tools for personal computers (PC's), none of them can support or provide total system design. To meet this need, researchers at the NASA Lewis Research Center cooperated with Professor George Kusic from the University of Pittsburgh to develop a new tool to help project managers and design engineers choose the best system parameters as quickly as possible in the early design stages (in days instead of months). It is called the Aerospace Power Systems Design and Analysis (APSDA) Tool. By using this tool, users can obtain desirable system design and operating parameters such as system weight, electrical distribution efficiency, bus power, and electrical load schedule. With APSDA, a large-scale specific power system was designed in a matter of days. It is an excellent tool to help designers make tradeoffs between system components, hardware architectures, and operation parameters in the early stages of the design cycle. user interface. It operates on any PC running the MS-DOS (Microsoft Corp.) operating system, version 5.0 or later. A color monitor (EGA or VGA) and two-button mouse are required. The APSDA tool was presented at the 30th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC) and is being beta tested at several NASA centers. Beta test packages are available for evaluation by contacting the author.

Arduino Due based tool to facilitate in vivo two-photon excitation microscopy.

PubMed

Artoni, Pietro; Landi, Silvia; Sato, Sebastian Sulis; Luin, Stefano; Ratto, Gian Michele

2016-04-01

Two-photon excitation spectroscopy is a powerful technique for the characterization of the optical properties of genetically encoded and synthetic fluorescent molecules. Excitation spectroscopy requires tuning the wavelength of the Ti:sapphire laser while carefully monitoring the delivered power. To assist laser tuning and the control of delivered power, we developed an Arduino Due based tool for the automatic acquisition of high quality spectra. This tool is portable, fast, affordable and precise. It allowed studying the impact of scattering and of blood absorption on two-photon excitation light. In this way, we determined the wavelength-dependent deformation of excitation spectra occurring in deep tissues in vivo.

Honduran-U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-10

and a third for municipal elections. 7 “Constitutional reform or power grab,” Latin American Weekly Report, March 26, 2009. 8 Both candidates have...the resignations of Honduran Defense Minister Edmundo Orellana Mercado and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Romeo Vasquez Velasquez after they

Text Previews and Three Level Study Guides for Content Area Critical Reading.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bean, Thomas W.; Ericson, Bonnie O.

1989-01-01

Describes the integration of text previews (teacher-developed synopses of the text) and three-level study guides (encouraging factual, inferential, and problem solving responses). Claims a combination of these constitutes a powerful strategy for content area reading. (RS)

The Japan of Today, 1982.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo (Japan).

Following an introduction which discusses the history and geography of Japan, this book focuses on topics related to this country's government, economy, social conditions, and cultural life. Topics related to government include: constitution and emperor; legislature; executive power; judiciary system; foreign relations; and defense. Topics related…

Sub-Second Parallel State Estimation

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

Chen, Yousu; Rice, Mark J.; Glaesemann, Kurt R.

This report describes the performance of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) sub-second parallel state estimation (PSE) tool using the utility data from the Bonneville Power Administrative (BPA) and discusses the benefits of the fast computational speed for power system applications. The test data were provided by BPA. They are two-days’ worth of hourly snapshots that include power system data and measurement sets in a commercial tool format. These data are extracted out from the commercial tool box and fed into the PSE tool. With the help of advanced solvers, the PSE tool is able to solve each BPA hourly statemore » estimation problem within one second, which is more than 10 times faster than today’s commercial tool. This improved computational performance can help increase the reliability value of state estimation in many aspects: (1) the shorter the time required for execution of state estimation, the more time remains for operators to take appropriate actions, and/or to apply automatic or manual corrective control actions. This increases the chances of arresting or mitigating the impact of cascading failures; (2) the SE can be executed multiple times within time allowance. Therefore, the robustness of SE can be enhanced by repeating the execution of the SE with adaptive adjustments, including removing bad data and/or adjusting different initial conditions to compute a better estimate within the same time as a traditional state estimator’s single estimate. There are other benefits with the sub-second SE, such as that the PSE results can potentially be used in local and/or wide-area automatic corrective control actions that are currently dependent on raw measurements to minimize the impact of bad measurements, and provides opportunities to enhance the power grid reliability and efficiency. PSE also can enable other advanced tools that rely on SE outputs and could be used to further improve operators’ actions and automated controls to mitigate effects of severe events on the grid. The power grid continues to grow and the number of measurements is increasing at an accelerated rate due to the variety of smart grid devices being introduced. A parallel state estimation implementation will have better performance than traditional, sequential state estimation by utilizing the power of high performance computing (HPC). This increased performance positions parallel state estimators as valuable tools for operating the increasingly more complex power grid.« less

Hot stars in young massive clusters: Mapping the current Galactic metallicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de la Fuente, Diego; Najarro, Francisco; Davies, Ben; Trombley, Christine; Figer, Donald F.; Herrero, Artemio

2013-06-01

Young Massive Clusters (YMCs) with ages < 6 Myr are ideal tools for mapping the current chemical abundances in the Galactic disk for several reasons. First of all, the locations of these clusters can be known through spectrophotometric distances. Secondly, their young ages guarantee that these objects present the same chemical composition than the surrounding environment where they are recently born. Finally, the YMCs host very massive stars whose extreme luminosities allow to accomplish detailed spectroscopic analyses even in the most distant regions of the Milky Way. Our group has carried out ISAAC/VLT spectroscopic observations of hot massive stars belonging to several YMCs in different locations around the Galactic disk. As a result, high signal-to-noise, near-infrared spectra of dozens of blue massive stars (including many OB supergiants, Wolf-Rayet stars and a B hypergiant) have been obtained. These data are fully reduced, and NLTE spherical atmosphere modeling is in process. Several line diagnostics will be combined in order to calculate metal abundances accurately for each cluster. The diverse locations of the clusters will allow us to draw a two-dimensional chemical map of the Galactic disk for the first time. The study of the radial and azimuthal variations of elemental abundances will be crucial for understanding the chemical evolution of the Milky Way. Particularly, the ratio between Fe-peak and alpha elements will constitute a powerful tool to investigate the past stellar populations that originated the current Galactic chemistry.

SPIKE – a database, visualization and analysis tool of cellular signaling pathways

PubMed Central

Elkon, Ran; Vesterman, Rita; Amit, Nira; Ulitsky, Igor; Zohar, Idan; Weisz, Mali; Mass, Gilad; Orlev, Nir; Sternberg, Giora; Blekhman, Ran; Assa, Jackie; Shiloh, Yosef; Shamir, Ron

2008-01-01

Background Biological signaling pathways that govern cellular physiology form an intricate web of tightly regulated interlocking processes. Data on these regulatory networks are accumulating at an unprecedented pace. The assimilation, visualization and interpretation of these data have become a major challenge in biological research, and once met, will greatly boost our ability to understand cell functioning on a systems level. Results To cope with this challenge, we are developing the SPIKE knowledge-base of signaling pathways. SPIKE contains three main software components: 1) A database (DB) of biological signaling pathways. Carefully curated information from the literature and data from large public sources constitute distinct tiers of the DB. 2) A visualization package that allows interactive graphic representations of regulatory interactions stored in the DB and superposition of functional genomic and proteomic data on the maps. 3) An algorithmic inference engine that analyzes the networks for novel functional interplays between network components. SPIKE is designed and implemented as a community tool and therefore provides a user-friendly interface that allows registered users to upload data to SPIKE DB. Our vision is that the DB will be populated by a distributed and highly collaborative effort undertaken by multiple groups in the research community, where each group contributes data in its field of expertise. Conclusion The integrated capabilities of SPIKE make it a powerful platform for the analysis of signaling networks and the integration of knowledge on such networks with omics data. PMID:18289391

pKAMA-ITACHI Vectors for Highly Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Knockout in Arabidopsis thaliana

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9) system is widely used as a tool for genome engineering in various organisms. A complex consisting of Cas9 and single guide RNA (sgRNA) induces a DNA double-strand break in a sequence-specific manner, resulting in knockout. Some binary vectors for CRISPR/Cas9 in plants have been reported, but there is a problem with low efficiency. Here, we present a newly developed, highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9 vector for Arabidopsis thaliana, pKAMA-ITACHI Red (pKIR), harboring the RIBOSOMAL PROTEIN S5 A (RPS5A) promoter to drive Cas9. The RPS5A promoter maintains high constitutive expression at all developmental stages starting from the egg cell and including meristematic cells. Even in the T1 generation, pKIR induced null phenotypes in some genes: PHYTOENE DESATURASE 3 (PDS3), AGAMOUS (AG) and DUO POLLEN 1 (DUO1). Mutations induced by pKIR were carried in the germ cell line of the T1 generation. Surprisingly, in some lines, 100% of the T2 plants had the adh1 (ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE 1) null phenotype, indicating that pKIR strongly induced heritable mutations. Cas9-free T2 mutant plants were obtained by removing T2 seeds expressing a fluorescent marker in pKIR. Our results suggest that the pKIR system is a powerful molecular tool for genome engineering in Arabidopsis. PMID:27856772

Rapid ISS Power Availability Simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Downing, Nicholas

2011-01-01

The ISS (International Space Station) Power Resource Officers (PROs) needed a tool to automate the calculation of thousands of ISS power availability simulations used to generate power constraint matrices. Each matrix contains 864 cells, and each cell represents a single power simulation that must be run. The tools available to the flight controllers were very operator intensive and not conducive to rapidly running the thousands of simulations necessary to generate the power constraint data. SOLAR is a Java-based tool that leverages commercial-off-the-shelf software (Satellite Toolkit) and an existing in-house ISS EPS model (SPEED) to rapidly perform thousands of power availability simulations. SOLAR has a very modular architecture and consists of a series of plug-ins that are loosely coupled. The modular architecture of the software allows for the easy replacement of the ISS power system model simulator, re-use of the Satellite Toolkit integration code, and separation of the user interface from the core logic. Satellite Toolkit (STK) is used to generate ISS eclipse and insulation times, solar beta angle, position of the solar arrays over time, and the amount of shadowing on the solar arrays, which is then provided to SPEED to calculate power generation forecasts. The power planning turn-around time is reduced from three months to two weeks (83-percent decrease) using SOLAR, and the amount of PRO power planning support effort is reduced by an estimated 30 percent.

Multi-Mission Power Analysis Tool (MMPAT) Version 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Eric G.; Chang, George W.; Chen, Fannie C.

2012-01-01

The Multi-Mission Power Analysis Tool (MMPAT) simulates a spacecraft power subsystem including the power source (solar array and/or radioisotope thermoelectric generator), bus-voltage control, secondary battery (lithium-ion or nickel-hydrogen), thermostatic heaters, and power-consuming equipment. It handles multiple mission types including heliocentric orbiters, planetary orbiters, and surface operations. Being parametrically driven along with its user-programmable features can reduce or even eliminate any need for software modifications when configuring it for a particular spacecraft. It provides multiple levels of fidelity, thereby fulfilling the vast majority of a project s power simulation needs throughout the lifecycle. It can operate in a stand-alone mode with a graphical user interface, in batch mode, or as a library linked with other tools. This software can simulate all major aspects of a spacecraft power subsystem. It is parametrically driven to reduce or eliminate the need for a programmer. Added flexibility is provided through user-designed state models and table-driven parameters. MMPAT is designed to be used by a variety of users, such as power subsystem engineers for sizing power subsystem components; mission planners for adjusting mission scenarios using power profiles generated by the model; system engineers for performing system- level trade studies using the results of the model during the early design phases of a spacecraft; and operations personnel for high-fidelity modeling of the essential power aspect of the planning picture.

29 CFR 1926.951 - Tools and protective equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Power Transmission and Distribution § 1926.951 Tools and protective equipment. (a) Protective equipment. (1)(i) Rubber protective... “Double Insulated”; or (iii) Be connected to the power supply by means of an isolating transformer, or...

29 CFR 1926.951 - Tools and protective equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Power Transmission and Distribution § 1926.951 Tools and protective equipment. (a) Protective equipment. (1)(i) Rubber protective... “Double Insulated”; or (iii) Be connected to the power supply by means of an isolating transformer, or...

29 CFR 1926.951 - Tools and protective equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Power Transmission and Distribution § 1926.951 Tools and protective equipment. (a) Protective equipment. (1)(i) Rubber protective... “Double Insulated”; or (iii) Be connected to the power supply by means of an isolating transformer, or...

29 CFR 1926.951 - Tools and protective equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Power Transmission and Distribution § 1926.951 Tools and protective equipment. (a) Protective equipment. (1)(i) Rubber protective... “Double Insulated”; or (iii) Be connected to the power supply by means of an isolating transformer, or...

Prediction of absolute risk of fragility fracture at 10 years in a Spanish population: validation of the WHO FRAX ™ tool in Spain

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Age-related bone loss is asymptomatic, and the morbidity of osteoporosis is secondary to the fractures that occur. Common sites of fracture include the spine, hip, forearm and proximal humerus. Fractures at the hip incur the greatest morbidity and mortality and give rise to the highest direct costs for health services. Their incidence increases exponentially with age. Independently changes in population demography, the age - and sex- specific incidence of osteoporotic fractures appears to be increasing in developing and developed countries. This could mean more than double the expected burden of osteoporotic fractures in the next 50 years. Methods/Design To assess the predictive power of the WHO FRAX™ tool to identify the subjects with the highest absolute risk of fragility fracture at 10 years in a Spanish population, a predictive validation study of the tool will be carried out. For this purpose, the participants recruited by 1999 will be assessed. These were referred to scan-DXA Department from primary healthcare centres, non hospital and hospital consultations. Study population: Patients attended in the national health services integrated into a FRIDEX cohort with at least one Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement and one extensive questionnaire related to fracture risk factors. Measurements: At baseline bone mineral density measurement using DXA, clinical fracture risk factors questionnaire, dietary calcium intake assessment, history of previous fractures, and related drugs. Follow up by telephone interview to know fragility fractures in the 10 years with verification in electronic medical records and also to know the number of falls in the last year. The absolute risk of fracture will be estimated using the FRAX™ tool from the official web site. Discussion Since more than 10 years ago numerous publications have recognised the importance of other risk factors for new osteoporotic fractures in addition to low BMD. The extension of a method for calculating the risk (probability) of fractures using the FRAX™ tool is foreseeable in Spain and this would justify a study such as this to allow the necessary adjustments in calibration of the parameters included in the logarithmic formula constituted by FRAX™. PMID:21272372

Constitutive formulations for the mechanical investigation of colonic tissues.

PubMed

Carniel, Emanuele Luigi; Gramigna, Vera; Fontanella, Chiara Giulia; Stefanini, Cesare; Natali, Arturo N

2014-05-01

A constitutive framework is provided for the characterization of the mechanical behavior of colonic tissues, as a fundamental tool for the development of numerical models of the colonic structures. The constitutive analysis is performed by a multidisciplinary approach that requires the cooperation between experimental and computational competences. The preliminary investigation pertains to the review of the tissues histology. The complex structural configuration of the tissues and the specific distributions of fibrous elements entail the nonlinear mechanical behavior and the anisotropic response. The identification of the mechanical properties requires to perform mechanical tests according to different loading situations, as different loading directions. Because of the typical functionality of colon structures, the tissues mechanics is investigated by tensile tests, which are performed on taenia coli and haustra specimens from fresh pig colons. Accounting for the histological investigation and the results from the mechanical tests, a specific hyperelastic framework is provided within the theory of fiber-reinforced composite materials. Preliminary analytical formulations are defined to identify the constitutive parameters by the inverse analysis of the experimental tests. Finite element models of the specimens are developed accounting for the actual configuration of the colon structures to verify the quality of the results. The good agreement between experimental and numerical model results suggests the reliability of the constitutive formulations and parameters. Finally, the developed constitutive analysis makes it possible to identify the mechanical behavior and properties of the different colonic tissues. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Coupled thermal, electrical, and fluid flow analyses of AMTEC converters, with illustrative application to OSC`s cell design

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

Schock, A.; Noravian, H.; Or, C.

1997-12-31

This paper presents the background and introduction to the OSC AMTEC (Alkali Metal Thermal-to-Electrical Conversion) studies, which were conducted for the Department of energy (DOE) and NASA`s jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). After describing the basic principle of AMTEC, the paper describes and explains the operation of multi-tube vapor/vapor cells, which have been under development by AMPS (Advance Modular Power Systems, Inc.) for the Air Force Phillips Laboratory (AFPL) and JPL for possible application to the Europa Orbiter, Pluto Express, and other space missions. It then describes a novel OSC-generated methodology for analyzing the performance of such cells. This methodology consistsmore » of an iterative procedure for the coupled solution of the interdependent thermal, electrical, and fluid flow differential and integral equations governing the performance of AMTEC cells and generators, taking proper account of the non-linear axial variations of temperature, pressure, open-circuit voltage, inter-electrode voltages, current density, axial current, sodium mass flow rate, and power density. The paper illustrates that analytical procedure by applying it to OSC`s latest cell design and by presenting detailed analytical results for that design. The OSC-developed analytic methodology constitutes a unique and powerful tool for accurate parametric analyses and design optimizations of the multi-tube AMTEC cells and of radioisotope power systems. This is illustrated in two companion papers in these proceedings. The first of those papers applies the OSC-derived program to determine the effect of various design parameters on the performance of single AMTEC cells with adiabatic side walls, culminating in an OSC-recommended revised cell design. And the second describes a number of OSC-generated AMTEC generator designs consisting of 2 and 3 GPHS heat source modules, 16 multi-tube converter cells, and a hybrid insulation design, and presents the results of applying the above analysis program to determine the applicability of those generators to possible future missions under consideration by NASA.« less

Development status of EUV sources for use in beta-tools and high-volume chip manufacturing tools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stamm, U.; Kleinschmidt, J.; Bolshukhin, D.; Brudermann, J.; Hergenhan, G.; Korobotchko, V.; Nikolaus, B.; Schürmann, M. C.; Schriever, G.; Ziener, C.; Borisov, V. M.

2006-03-01

In the paper we give an update about the development status of gas discharge produced plasma (GDPP) EUV sources at XTREME technologies. Already in 2003 first commercial prototypes of xenon GDPP sources of the type XTS 13-35 based on the Z-pinch with 35 W power in 2π sr have been delivered and integrated into micro-exposure tools from Exitech, UK. The micro-exposure tools with these sources have been installed in industry in 2004. The first tool has made more than 100 million pulses without visible degradation of the source collector optics. For the next generation of full-field exposure tools (we call it Beta-tools) we develop GDPP sources with power of > 10 W in intermediate focus. Also these sources use xenon as fuel which has the advantage of not introducing additional contaminations. Here we describe basic performance of these sources as well as aspects of collector integration and debris mitigation and optics lifetime. To achieve source performance data required for high volume chip manufacturing we consider tin as fuel for the source because of its higher conversion efficiency compared to xenon. While we had earlier reported an output power of 400 W in 2π sr from a tin source we could reach meanwhile 800 W in 2π sr from the source in burst operation. Provided a high power collector is available with a realistic collector module efficiency of between 9% and 15 % these data would support 70-120 W power in intermediate focus. However, we do not expect that the required duty cycle and the required electrode lifetimes can be met with this standing electrode design Z-pinch approach. To overcome lifetime and duty cycle limitations we have investigated GDPP sources with tin fuel and rotating disk electrodes. Currently we can generate more than 200 W in 2π sr with these sources at 4 kHz repetition rate. To achieve 180 W power in intermediate focus which is the recent requirement of some exposure tool manufacturers this type of source needs to operate at 21-28 kHz repetition rate which may be not possible by various reasons. In order to make operation at reasonable repetition rates with sufficient power possible we have investigated various new excitation concepts of the rotating disk electrode configurations. With one of the concepts pulse energies above 170 mJ in 2π sr could be demonstrated. This approach promises to support 180 W intermediate focus power at repetition rates in the range between 7 and 10 kHz. It will be developed to the next power level in the following phase of XTREME technologies' high volume manufacturing source development program.

Marital power process of Korean men married to foreign women: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Kim, Miyoung; Park, Gyeong Sook; Windsor, Carol

2013-03-01

This study explored how Korean men married to migrant women construct meaning around married life. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 men who had had been married to migrant women for ≥ 2 years. Data collection and analysis were performed concurrently using a grounded theory approach. The core category generated was the process of sustaining a family unit. The men came to understand the importance of a distribution of power within the family in sustaining the family unit. Constituting this process were four stages: recognizing an imbalance of power, relinquishing power, empowering, and fine-tuning the balance of power. This study provides important insight into the dynamics of marital power from men's point of view by demonstrating a link between the way people adjust to married life and the process by which married couples adjust through the distribution and redistribution of power. © 2012 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Unborn children as constitutional persons.

PubMed

Roden, Gregory J

2010-01-01

In Roe v. Wade, the state of Texas argued that "the fetus is a 'person' within the language and meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment." To which Justice Harry Blackmun responded, "If this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the Amendment." However, Justice Blackmun then came to the conclusion "that the word 'person,' as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn." In this article, it is argued that unborn children are indeed "persons" within the language and meaning of the Fourteenth and Fifth Amendments. As there is no constitutional text explicitly holding unborn children to be, or not to be, "persons," this argument will be based on the "historical understanding and practice, the structure of the Constitution, and thejurisprudence of [the Supreme] Court." Specifically, it is argued that the Constitution does not confer upon the federal government a specifically enumerated power to grant or deny "personhood" under the Fourteenth Amendment. Rather, the power to recognize or deny unborn children as the holders of rights and duties has been historically exercised by the states. The Roe opinion and other Supreme Court cases implicitly recognize this function of state sovereignty. The states did exercise this power and held unborn children to be persons under the property, tort, and criminal law of the several states at the time Roe was decided. As an effect of the unanimity of the states in holding unborn children to be persons under criminal, tort, and property law, the text of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment compels federal protection of unborn persons. Furthermore, to the extent Justice Blackmun examined the substantive law in these disciplines, his findings are clearly erroneous and as a whole amount to judicial error. Moreover, as a matter of procedure, according to the due process standards recognized in Fifth Amendment jurisprudence of the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade should be held null and void as to the rights and interests of unborn persons.

Tools. Unit 9: A Core Curriculum of Related Instruction for Apprentices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New York State Education Dept., Albany. Bureau of Occupational and Career Curriculum Development.

The tool handling unit is presented to assist apprentices to acquire a general knowledge on the use of various basic tools. The unit consists of seven modules: (1) introduction to hand tools and small power tools; (2) measuring tools: layout and measuring tools for woodworking; (3) measuring tools: feeler gauge, micrometer, and torque wrench; (4)…