International round-robin inter-comparison of dye-sensitized and crystalline silicon solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chia-Yuan; Ahn, Seung Kyu; Aoki, Dasiuke; Kokubo, Junichi; Yoon, Kyung Hoon; Saito, Hidenori; Lee, Kyung Sik; Magaino, Shinichi; Takagi, Katsuhiko; Lin, Ling-Chuan; Lee, Kun-Mu; Wu, Chun-Guey; Zhou, Hong; Igari, Sanekazu

2017-02-01

An international round-robin inter-comparison of the spectral responsivity (SR) and current-voltage (I-V) characteristics for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) and crystalline silicon solar cells is reported for the first time. The crystalline silicon cells with various spectral responsivities were also calibrated by AIST to validate this round-robin activity. On the basis of the remarkable consistency in Pmax (within ±1.4% among participants) and Isc (within ±1.2% compared to the primary calibration of AIST) of the silicon specimens, the discrepancy in the SR and photovoltaic parameters of five DSCs among three national laboratories can be verified and diagnosed. Recommendations about sample packages, SR and I-V measurement methods as well as the inter-comparison protocol for improving the performance characterization of the mesoscopic DSCs are presented according to the consolidated data and the experience of the participants.

Interlaboratory round robin study on axial tensile properties of SiC-SiC CMC tubular test specimens [Interlaboratory round robin study on axial tensile properties of SiC/SiC tubes

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

Singh, Gyanender P.; Gonczy, Steve T.; Deck, Christian P.

An interlaboratory round robin study was conducted on the tensile strength of SiC–SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) tubular test specimens at room temperature with the objective of expanding the database of mechanical properties of nuclear grade SiC–SiC and establishing the precision and bias statement for standard test method ASTM C1773. The mechanical properties statistics from the round robin study and the precision statistics and precision statement are presented herein. The data show reasonable consistency across the laboratories, indicating that the current C1773–13 ASTM standard is adequate for testing ceramic fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite tubular test specimen. Furthermore, it wasmore » found that the distribution of ultimate tensile strength data was best described with a two–parameter Weibull distribution, while a lognormal distribution provided a good description of the distribution of proportional limit stress data.« less

Interlaboratory round robin study on axial tensile properties of SiC-SiC CMC tubular test specimens [Interlaboratory round robin study on axial tensile properties of SiC/SiC tubes

DOE PAGES

Singh, Gyanender P.; Gonczy, Steve T.; Deck, Christian P.; ...

2018-04-19

An interlaboratory round robin study was conducted on the tensile strength of SiC–SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) tubular test specimens at room temperature with the objective of expanding the database of mechanical properties of nuclear grade SiC–SiC and establishing the precision and bias statement for standard test method ASTM C1773. The mechanical properties statistics from the round robin study and the precision statistics and precision statement are presented herein. The data show reasonable consistency across the laboratories, indicating that the current C1773–13 ASTM standard is adequate for testing ceramic fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite tubular test specimen. Furthermore, it wasmore » found that the distribution of ultimate tensile strength data was best described with a two–parameter Weibull distribution, while a lognormal distribution provided a good description of the distribution of proportional limit stress data.« less

Nudging Fledgling Teen Readers from the Nest: From Round Robin to Real Reading

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fair, Ginni Chase; Combs, Dorie

2011-01-01

Middle and Secondary teachers often find it difficult to help their students read textbooks and other instructional materials. In order to ensure they read the text, teachers may rely on "round robin reading" and other ineffective strategies. In this article, the authors explain why this strategy hinders comprehension, fluency and development of…

Results of x-ray mirror round-robin metrology measurements at the APS, ESRF, and SPring-8 optical metrology laboratories.

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

Assoufid, L.; Rommeveaux, A.; Ohashi, H.

2005-01-01

This paper presents the first series of round-robin metrology measurements of x-ray mirrors organized at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) in the USA, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France, and the Super Photon Ring (SPring-8) (in a collaboration with Osaka University, ) in Japan. This work is part of the three institutions' three-way agreement to promote a direct exchange of research information and experience amongst their specialists. The purpose of the metrology round robin is to compare the performance and limitations of the instrumentation used at the optical metrology laboratories of these facilities and to set the basis formore » establishing guidelines and procedures to accurately perform the measurements. The optics used in the measurements were selected to reflect typical, as well as state of the art, in mirror fabrication. The first series of the round robin measurements focuses on flat and cylindrical mirrors with varying sizes and quality. Three mirrors (two flats and one cylinder) were successively measured using long trace profilers. Although the three facilities' LTPs are of different design, the measurements were found to be in excellent agreement. The maximum discrepancy of the rms slope error values is 0.1 {micro}rad, that of the rms shape error was 3 nm, and they all relate to the measurement of the cylindrical mirror. The next round-robin measurements will deal with elliptical and spherical optics.« less

An International Round-Robin Study, Part II: Thermal Diffusivity, Specific Heat and Thermal Conductivity

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

Wang, Hsin; Porter, Wallace D; Bottner, Harold

2013-01-01

For bulk thermoelectrics, figure-of-merit, ZT, still needs to improve from the current value of 1.0 - 1.5 to above 2 to be competitive to other alternative technologies. In recent years, the most significant improvements in ZT were mainly due to successful reduction of thermal conductivity. However, thermal conductivity cannot be measured directly at high temperatures. The combined measurements of thermal diffusivity and specific heat and density are required. It has been shown that thermal conductivity is the property with the greatest uncertainty and has a direct influence on the accuracy of the figure of merit. The International Energy Agency (IEA)more » group under the implementing agreement for Advanced Materials for Transportation (AMT) has conducted two international round-robins since 2009. This paper is Part II of the international round-robin testing of transport properties of bulk bismuth telluride. The main focuses in Part II are on thermal diffusivity, specific heat and thermal conductivity.« less

Outdoor performance results for NBS Round Robin collector no. 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, D. R.

1976-01-01

The efficiency of a PPG flat-plate solar collector was evaluated utilizing an outdoor solar collector test facility at the NASA-Lewis Research Center, as part of the National Bureau of Standards 'round robin' collector test program. The correlation equation for collector thermal efficiency Eta curve fit of the data was: Eta = 0.666 - 1.003(Btu/hr-sq ft-F) Theta, where the parameter Theta is the difference between the average fluid temperature and the ambient temperature, all divided by the total flux impinging on the collector.

Round robin test for odour testing of migration waters.

PubMed

Rapp, Thomas; Günther, Herbert

2015-04-15

For a round robin test for EN 1420-1 (Odour assessment for organic materials in contact with drinking water) with 14 contributing laboratories from 10 European countries segments of a plastic pipe were sent to the laboratories which performed a migration test and an odour analysis of the migration waters (water that had contact with the organic material) according to the procedure described in the standard from 1999. In addition reference substances (Methyl tert-butyl ether, 1-butanol and hexanal) were investigated for their suitability to qualify the panels and the individual panellists. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) and 1-butanol proved to be suitable for this purpose, whereas hexanal showed a wide distribution of the individual odour threshold concentrations. Both possible testing options (unforced and forced choice) were performed and gave similar results. However, with respect to the qualification of the panellists and the data analysis the unforced choice procedure showed advantages. As human olfactory perception is used for the analysis, the reproducibility and the comparability between laboratories is of particular concern. For the pipe material the TON results of the different laboratories were in a range of ±1.5 dilutions based on a dilution factor of 2. This might be improved by taking the individual sensitivities of the panellists into account more strongly. Appropriate measures for the improvement of the test method appear to be the use of the proposed reference substances for the training of the panellists as well as the auditing and the selection of the panellists. The results of this round robin test are used in the revision process of the standard. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Results of ASTM round robin testing for mode 1 interlaminar fracture toughness of composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Obrien, T. Kevin; Martin, Roderick H.

1992-01-01

The results are summarized of several interlaboratory 'round robin' test programs for measuring the mode 1 interlaminar fracture toughness of advanced fiber reinforced composite materials. Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) tests were conducted by participants in ASTM committee D30 on High Modulus Fibers and their Composites and by representatives of the European Group on Fracture (EGF) and the Japanese Industrial Standards Group (JIS). DCB tests were performed on three AS4 carbon fiber reinforced composite materials: AS4/3501-6 with a brittle epoxy matrix; AS4/BP907 with a tough epoxy matrix; and AS4/PEEK with a tough thermoplastic matrix. Difficulties encountered in manufacturing panels, as well as conducting the tests are discussed. Critical issues that developed during the course of the testing are highlighted. Results of the round robin testing used to determine the precision of the ASTM DCB test standard are summarized.

The liquidus temperature of nuclear waste glasses: an international Round-Robin Study

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

Riley, Brian J.; Hrma, Pavel R.; Vienna, John D.

2012-12-01

Ten institutions from five countries participated in a Round Robin study to contribute to the Precision and Bias section of an American Society for Testing and Materials standard procedure that Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing for measuring the liquidus temperature (TL) of radioactive and simulated waste glasses. In this study, three separate TL measurement methods were a gradient temperature (GT) method, a uniform temperature (UT) method, and a crystal fraction extrapolation (CF) method. Three different glasses were measured with a combination of these three methods. The TL values reported by different institutions are generally consistent and vary withinmore » a narrow range. The precision of a TL measurement was evaluated as ±10°C regardless of the method used for making the measurement. The Round Robin glasses were all previously studied at PNNL and included ARG-1 (Glass A), Zr-9 (Glass B), and AmCm2-19 (Glass C), with measured TL values spanning the temperature range ~960-1240°C. The three methods discussed here in more detail are the GT, UT, and CF methods. A best-case precision for TL has been obtained from the data, even though the data were not acquired for all three glasses using all three methods from each participating organization.« less

Results of the International Energy Agency Round Robin on Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oil Production

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

Elliott, Douglas C.; Meier, Dietrich; Oasmaa, Anja

An international round robin study of the production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil was undertaken. Fifteen institutions in six countries contributed. Three biomass samples were distributed to the laboratories for processing in fast pyrolysis reactors. Samples of the bio-oil produced were transported to a central analytical laboratory for analysis. The round robin was focused on validating the pyrolysis community understanding of production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil by providing a common feedstock for bio-oil preparation. The round robin included: •distribution of 3 feedstock samples from a common source to each participating laboratory; •preparation of fast pyrolysis bio-oil in each laboratory with themore » 3 feedstocks provided; •return of the 3 bio-oil products (minimum 500 ml) with operational description to a central analytical laboratory for bio-oil property determination. The analyses of interest were: density, viscosity, dissolved water, filterable solids, CHN, S, trace element analysis, ash, total acid number, pyrolytic lignin, and accelerated aging of bio-oil. In addition, an effort was made to compare the bio-oil components to the products of analytical pyrolysis through GC/MS analysis. The results showed that clear differences can occur in fast pyrolysis bio-oil properties by applying different reactor technologies or configurations. The comparison to analytical pyrolysis method suggested that Py-GC/MS could serve as a rapid screening method for bio-oil composition when produced in fluid-bed reactors. Furthermore, hot vapor filtration generally resulted in the most favorable bio-oil product, with respect to water, solids, viscosity, and total acid number. These results can be helpful in understanding the variation in bio-oil production methods and their effects on bio-oil product composition.« less

Evaluation of NDE Round-Robin Exercises Using the NRC Steam Generator Mockup at Argonne National Laboratory

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

Muscara, Joseph; Kupperman, David S.; Bakhtiari, Sasab

2002-07-01

This paper discusses round-robin exercises using the NRC steam generator (SG) mock-up at Argonne National Laboratory to assess inspection reliability. The purpose of the round robins was to assess the current reliability of SG tubing inservice inspection, determine the probability of detection (POD) as function of flaw size or severity, and assess the capability for sizing of flaws. For the round robin and subsequent evaluation completed in 2001, eleven teams participated. Bobbin and rotating coil mock-up data collected by qualified industry personnel were evaluated. The mock-up contains hundreds of cracks and simulations of artifacts such as corrosion deposits and tubemore » support plates that make detection and characterization of cracks more difficult in operating steam generators than in most laboratory situations. An expert Task Group from industry, Argonne National Laboratory, and the NRC have reviewed the signals from the laboratory-grown cracks used in the mock-up to ensure that they provide reasonable simulations of those obtained in the field. The mock-up contains 400 tube openings. Each tube contains nine 22.2-mm (7/8-in.) diameter, 30.5-cm (1-ft) long, Alloy 600 test sections. The flaws are located in the tube sheet near the roll transition zone (RTZ), in the tube support plate (TSP), and in the free-span. The flaws are primarily intergranular stress corrosion cracks (axial and circumferential, ID and OD) though intergranular attack (IGA) wear and fatigue cracks are also present, as well as cracks in dents. In addition to the simulated tube sheet and TSP the mock-up has simulated sludge and magnetite deposits. A multiparameter eddy current algorithm, validated for mock-up flaws, provided a detailed isometric plot for every flaw and was used to establish the reference state of defects in the mock-up. The detection results for the 11 teams were used to develop POD curves as a function of maximum depth, voltage and the parameter m p, for the various

PARENT Quick Blind Round-Robin Test Report

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

Braatz, Brett G.; Heasler, Patrick G.; Meyer, Ryan M.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established the Program to Assess the Reliability of Emerging Nondestructive Techniques (PARENT) whose goal is to investigate the effectiveness of current and novel nondestructive examination procedures and techniques to find flaws in nickel-alloy welds and base materials. This is to be done by conducting a series of open and blind international round-robin tests on a set of piping components that include large-bore dissimilar metal welds, small-bore dissimilar metal welds, and bottom-mounted instrumentation penetration welds. The blind testing is being conducted in two segments, one is called Quick-Blind and the other is called Blind. Themore » Quick-Blind testing and destructive analysis of the test blocks has been completed. This report describes the four Quick-Blind test blocks used, summarizes their destructive analysis, gives an overview of the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques applied, provides an analysis inspection data, and presents the conclusions drawn.« less

Fractography used with lifetime prediction tests on commercial grades of alumina and silicon carbide

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

Kuebler, J.; Woodtli, J.; Berroth, K.

1996-12-31

Fractographic investigations were conducted on alumina and {alpha}-SSiC bend bars from a round robin test comparing a static and a dynamic lifetime test method. The investigations revealed that not all fracture origins found on {alpha}-SSiC specimens had contact with the ambient medium and therefore the dynamic lifetime tests did not measure the materials` behaviour under stress in water. In addition to the conventional SEM fractography an alternate technique, using an auto focus scanning laser profilometer was applied for characterizing the fractures. This tool is very promising for fractography because of the ability to handle topographic data by imaging procedures andmore » fractal analysis.« less

DWPF STARTUP FRIT VISCOSITY MEASUREMENT ROUND ROBIN RESULTS

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

Crum, Jarrod V.; Edwards, Tommy B.; Russell, Renee L.

2012-07-31

A viscosity standard is needed to replace the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) glasses currently being used to calibrate viscosity measurement equipment. The current NIST glasses are either unavailable or less than ideal for calibrating equipment to measure the viscosity of high-level waste glasses. This report documents the results of a viscosity round robin study conducted on the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) startup frit. DWPF startup frit was selected because its viscosity-temperature relationship is similar to most DWPF and Hanford high-level waste glass compositions. The glass underwent grinding and blending to homogenize the large (100 lb) batch.more » Portions of the batch were supplied to the laboratories (named A through H) for viscosity measurements following a specified temperature schedule with a temperature range of 1150 C to 950 C and with an option to measure viscosity at lower temperatures if their equipment was capable of measuring at the higher viscosities. Results were used to fit the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher and Arrhenius equations to viscosity as a function of temperature for the entire temperature range of 460 C through 1250 C as well as the limited temperature interval of approximately 950 C through 1250 C. The standard errors for confidence and prediction were determined for the fitted models.« less

U.S. (ARRADCOM) Test Results for NATO Round-Robin Test on High Explosives

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-05-01

Round-Robin Test Hersteller: (Manufacturer) Probenbezeichnung: (sample symbol ) Fa. Dynamit Nobel AG (W-Germany) Werk Leverkusen-Schlebusch S - 1...0,050 % 0,004 % Beim Zufügen von 0,002 n KMnO,-Lösung zu einem durch Kochen mit Wasser er-. haltenem Auszug keine Entfärbung in 1 h (no...Hersteller: (manufacturer) Fa. Soc. Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs (SNPE) Poudrerie de Sorgues, Frankreich Probenbezeichnung: (sample symbol

Round-robin study of arsenic implant dose measurement in silicon by SIMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simons, D.; Kim, K.; Benbalagh, R.; Bennett, J.; Chew, A.; Gehre, D.; Hasegawa, T.; Hitzman, C.; Ko, J.; Lindstrom, R.; MacDonald, B.; Magee, C.; Montgomery, N.; Peres, P.; Ronsheim, P.; Yoshikawa, S.; Schuhmacher, M.; Stockwell, W.; Sykes, D.; Tomita, M.; Toujou, F.; Won, J.

2006-07-01

An international round-robin study was undertaken under the auspices of ISO TC201/SC6 to determine the best analytical conditions and the level of interlaboratory agreement for the determination of the implantation dose of arsenic in silicon by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Fifteen SIMS laboratories, as well as two laboratories that performed low energy electron-induced X-ray emission spectrometry (LEXES) and one that made measurements by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were asked to determine the implanted arsenic doses in three unknown samples using as a comparator NIST Standard Reference Material ® 2134. The use of a common reference material by all laboratories resulted in better interlaboratory agreement than was seen in a previous round-robin that lacked a common comparator. The relative standard deviation among laboratories was less than 4% for the medium-dose sample, but several percent larger for the low- and high-dose samples. The high-dose sample showed a significant difference between point-by-point and average matrix normalization because the matrix signal decreased in the vicinity of the implant peak, as observed in a previous study. The dose from point-by-point normalization was in close agreement with that determined by INAA. No clear difference in measurement repeatability was seen when comparing Si 2- and Si 3- as matrix references with AsSi -.

Analysis of 2004 Round Robin Tests 1 and 4 Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hirsch, David; Beeson, Harold

2005-01-01

An analysis of 2004 round robin tests 1 and 4 data is presented. Test 1 burn length test results include: 1) Kydex, WSTF No. 04-38645 25.9% O2 @ 14.3 psia; 2) Kydex, 30% O2 @ 10.2 psia; 3) Royal Blue Cotton, Flame Resistant (WST No. 04-38644) 30% O2 @ 10.2 psia; and 4) Silicone 20.9% O2 @ 14.7 psia. Test 4 burn length test results include: 1) Raychem Electrical Wire, MIL M22759/32-20-9 30% O2 @ 10.2 psia; and 2) Raychem Electrical Wire, MIL M81044/12-20-9 20.9% O2 @ 14.7 psia.

Development of AM 1.5 global measurement procedures and international cell measurement round robin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, R.

1985-01-01

The development of the capability for measurement under global irradiance spectral distribution is reported. The airmass 1.5 global measurement procedure is given. Also given is the procedure and justification for using the large area pulsed solar simulator (LAPSS). The status of the international round robin of reference cell measurements managed by the Commission of European Communities (CEC) is described.

The OLI Radiometric Scale Realization Round Robin Measurement Campaign

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cutlip, Hansford; Cole,Jerold; Johnson, B. Carol; Maxwell, Stephen; Markham, Brian; Ong, Lawrence; Hom, Milton; Biggar, Stuart

2011-01-01

A round robin radiometric scale realization was performed at the Ball Aerospace Radiometric Calibration Laboratory in January/February 2011 in support of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) Program. Participants included Ball Aerospace, NIST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the University of Arizona. The eight day campaign included multiple observations of three integrating sphere sources by nine radiometers. The objective of the campaign was to validate the radiance calibration uncertainty ascribed to the integrating sphere used to calibrate the OLI instrument. The instrument level calibration source uncertainty was validated by quatnifying: (1) the long term stability of the NIST calibrated radiance artifact, (2) the responsivity scale of the Ball Aerospace transfer radiometer and (3) the operational characteristics of the large integrating sphere.

The Use of Cooperative Round Robin Discussion Model to Improve Students' Holistic Ability in TEFL Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Asari, Slamet; Ma'rifah, Ulfatul; Arifani, Yudhi

2017-01-01

This classroom action research is carried out within two cycles to breed a strategy on how a" Round Robin Discussion Learning Model" enhance students' critical thinking, presentation skills, confidence, and independent learning in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) class. Pop-up quiz, teacher made-tests, classroom…

Learning Multirobot Hose Transportation and Deployment by Distributed Round-Robin Q-Learning.

PubMed

Fernandez-Gauna, Borja; Etxeberria-Agiriano, Ismael; Graña, Manuel

2015-01-01

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) algorithms face two main difficulties: the curse of dimensionality, and environment non-stationarity due to the independent learning processes carried out by the agents concurrently. In this paper we formalize and prove the convergence of a Distributed Round Robin Q-learning (D-RR-QL) algorithm for cooperative systems. The computational complexity of this algorithm increases linearly with the number of agents. Moreover, it eliminates environment non sta tionarity by carrying a round-robin scheduling of the action selection and execution. That this learning scheme allows the implementation of Modular State-Action Vetoes (MSAV) in cooperative multi-agent systems, which speeds up learning convergence in over-constrained systems by vetoing state-action pairs which lead to undesired termination states (UTS) in the relevant state-action subspace. Each agent's local state-action value function learning is an independent process, including the MSAV policies. Coordination of locally optimal policies to obtain the global optimal joint policy is achieved by a greedy selection procedure using message passing. We show that D-RR-QL improves over state-of-the-art approaches, such as Distributed Q-Learning, Team Q-Learning and Coordinated Reinforcement Learning in a paradigmatic Linked Multi-Component Robotic System (L-MCRS) control problem: the hose transportation task. L-MCRS are over-constrained systems with many UTS induced by the interaction of the passive linking element and the active mobile robots.

Feasibility and limitations of the round robin test for assessment of in vitro chondrogenesis evaluation protocol in a tissue-engineered medical product.

PubMed

Yokoi, Masako; Hattori, Koji; Narikawa, Koichi; Ohgushi, Hajime; Tadokoro, Mika; Hoshi, Kazuto; Takato, Tsuyoshi; Myoui, Akira; Nanno, Katsuhiko; Kato, Yukio; Kanawa, Masami; Sugawara, Katsura; Kobo, Tomoko; Ushida, Takashi

2012-07-01

Tissue-engineered medical products (TEMPs) should be evaluated before implantation. Therefore, it is indispensable to establish evaluation protocols in regenerative medicine. Whether or not such evaluation protocols are reasonable is generally verified through a 'round robin' test. However, the round robin test for TEMPs intrinsically includes a deficiency, because 'identical' specimens can not be prepared for TEMPs. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility and limitations of the round robin test for TEMPs by using a prepared evaluation protocol. We adopted tissue-engineered cartilage constructs as delivered specimens and a protocol of measuring sGAG content as an evaluation protocol proposed to ISO TC150/SC7, which is an invasive, but usually applied, method, although non-invasive methods are keenly required in evaluating TEMPs. The results showed that: (a) the coefficient of variation (CV) of the measured sGAG contents in intralaboratory tests was ~5% at most; (b) the CV of sGAG content in the scheme where each participating laboratory measured different constructs was comparable with that in the scheme where each participating laboratory measured one half of a construct along with the organizing laboratory; (c) the CV caused by factors other than the specimen was ~15%, comparable to that in reproducible experiments in biomedical fields. Based on these results, the study concludes that a round robin test for a TEMP could be valuable, under the condition that the delivered TEMPs are sufficiently reproducible so that the CV of the measured values is < 5% in the organizing laboratory. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Sixth SeaWiFS/SIMBIOS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-6)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riley, Thomas; Bailey, Sean

1998-01-01

For the sixth Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-6), NASA personnel carried the same four Satlantic in-water radiometers to nine separate laboratories and calibrated them. Two of the sensors were seven-channel radiance heads and two were seven-channel irradiance heads. The calibration and data reduction procedures used at each site followed that laboratory's normal procedures. The reference lamps normally used for the calibration of these types of instruments by the various laboratories were also used for this experiment. NASA personnel processed the data to produce calibration parameters from the various laboratories

Second metrology round-robin of APS, ESRF and SPring-8 laboratories of elliptical and spherical hard-x-ray mirrors.

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

Rommeveaux, A.; Assoufid, L.; Ohashi, H.

2007-01-01

The first series of metrology round-robin measurements carried out in 2005 at the APS, ESRF and SPring-8 metrology laboratories involving two flat x-ray mirrors and a cylindrical x-ray mirror has shown excellent agreement among the three facilities Long Trace Profilers (LTP) despite their architectural differences. Because of the growing interest in diffraction-limited hard x-ray K-B focusing mirrors, it was decided to extend the round robin measurements to spherical and aspheric x-ray mirrors. The strong surface slope variation of these mirrors presents a real challenge to LTP. As a result, new LTP measurement protocol has to be developed and implemented tomore » ensure measurement accuracy and consistency. In this paper, different measurement techniques and procedures will be described, the results will be discussed, and comparison will be extended to micro-stitching interferometry measurements performed at Osaka University, Japan.« less

Round Robin Test of Residual Resistance Ratio of Nb$$_3$$Sn Composite Superconductors

DOE PAGES

Matsushita, Teruo; Otabe, Edmund Soji; Kim, Dong Ho; ...

2017-12-07

A round robin test of residual resistance ratio (RRR) was performed for Nb 3Sn composite superconductors prepared by internal tin method by six institutes with the international standard test method described in IEC 61788-4. It was found that uncertainty mainly resulted from determination of the cryogenic resistance from the intersection of two straight lines drawn to fit the voltage vs. temperature curve around the resistive transition. As a result, the measurement clarified that RRR can be measured with expanded uncertainty not larger than 5% with the coverage factor 2 by using this test method.

Round Robin Test of Residual Resistance Ratio of Nb$$_3$$Sn Composite Superconductors

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

Matsushita, Teruo; Otabe, Edmund Soji; Kim, Dong Ho

A round robin test of residual resistance ratio (RRR) was performed for Nb 3Sn composite superconductors prepared by internal tin method by six institutes with the international standard test method described in IEC 61788-4. It was found that uncertainty mainly resulted from determination of the cryogenic resistance from the intersection of two straight lines drawn to fit the voltage vs. temperature curve around the resistive transition. As a result, the measurement clarified that RRR can be measured with expanded uncertainty not larger than 5% with the coverage factor 2 by using this test method.

Result of International Round Robin Test on Young's Modulus Measurement of 304L and 316L Steels at Cryogenic Temperatures

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

Shibata, K.; Ogata, T.; Nyilas, A.

2006-03-31

Ogata et al. reported in 1996 results of international Round Robin tests on mechanical property measurement of several metals at cryogenic temperatures. Following the report, the standard deviation of Young's modulus of 316L steel is much larger than those of yield and tensile strengths, that is, 4.6 % of the mean value for Young's modulus, while 1.4 % and 1.6 % of the mean values for yield and for tensile strengths, respectively. Therefore, an international Round Robin test on Young's modulus of two austenitic stainless steels at cryogenic temperatures under the participation often institutes from four nations has been initiatedmore » within these two years. As a result, the ratios of standard deviation to the mean values are 4.2 % for 304L and 3.6 % for 316L. Such a drop in the standard deviation is attributable to the decrease in the number of institute owing to the application of single extensometer or direct strain gage technique.« less

Parabolic trough receiver heat loss and optical efficiency round robin 2015/2016

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pernpeintner, Johannes; Schiricke, Björn; Sallaberry, Fabienne; de Jalón, Alberto García; López-Martín, Rafael; Valenzuela, Loreto; de Luca, Antonio; Georg, Andreas

2017-06-01

A round robin for parabolic trough receiver heat loss and optical efficiency in the laboratory was performed between five institutions using five receivers in 2015/2016. Heat loss testing was performed at three cartridge heater test benches and one Joule heating test bench in the temperature range between 100 °C and 550 °C. Optical efficiency testing was performed with two spectrometric test bench and one calorimetric test bench. Heat loss testing results showed standard deviations at the order of 6% to 12 % for most temperatures and receivers and a standard deviation of 17 % for one receiver at 100 °C. Optical efficiency is presented normalized for laboratories showing standard deviations of 0.3 % to 1.3 % depending on the receiver.

A round robin approach to the analysis of bisphenol a (BPA) in human blood samples

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous, yet there are concerns about whether BPA can be measured in human blood. This Round Robin was designed to address this concern through three goals: 1) to identify collection materials, reagents and detection apparatuses that do not contribute BPA to serum; 2) to identify sensitive and precise methods to accurately measure unconjugated BPA (uBPA) and BPA-glucuronide (BPA-G), a metabolite, in serum; and 3) to evaluate whether inadvertent hydrolysis of BPA-G occurs during sample handling and processing. Methods Four laboratories participated in this Round Robin. Laboratories screened materials to identify BPA contamination in collection and analysis materials. Serum was spiked with concentrations of uBPA and/or BPA-G ranging from 0.09-19.5 (uBPA) and 0.5-32 (BPA-G) ng/mL. Additional samples were preserved unspiked as ‘environmental’ samples. Blinded samples were provided to laboratories that used LC/MSMS to simultaneously quantify uBPA and BPA-G. To determine whether inadvertent hydrolysis of BPA metabolites occurred, samples spiked with only BPA-G were analyzed for the presence of uBPA. Finally, three laboratories compared direct and indirect methods of quantifying BPA-G. Results We identified collection materials and reagents that did not introduce BPA contamination. In the blinded spiked sample analysis, all laboratories were able to distinguish low from high values of uBPA and BPA-G, for the whole spiked sample range and for those samples spiked with the three lowest concentrations (0.5-3.1 ng/ml). By completion of the Round Robin, three laboratories had verified methods for the analysis of uBPA and two verified for the analysis of BPA-G (verification determined by: 4 of 5 samples within 20% of spiked concentrations). In the analysis of BPA-G only spiked samples, all laboratories reported BPA-G was the majority of BPA detected (92.2 – 100%). Finally, laboratories were more likely to be verified

An Integrated Constraint Programming Approach to Scheduling Sports Leagues with Divisional and Round-robin Tournaments

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

Carlsson, Mats; Johansson, Mikael; Larson, Jeffrey

Previous approaches for scheduling a league with round-robin and divisional tournaments involved decomposing the problem into easier subproblems. This approach, used to schedule the top Swedish handball league Elitserien, reduces the problem complexity but can result in suboptimal schedules. This paper presents an integrated constraint programming model that allows to perform the scheduling in a single step. Particular attention is given to identifying implied and symmetry-breaking constraints that reduce the computational complexity significantly. The experimental evaluation of the integrated approach takes considerably less computational effort than the previous approach.

Wind Turbine Gearbox Condition Monitoring Round Robin Study - Vibration Analysis

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

Sheng, S.

2012-07-01

The Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC) at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) tested two identical gearboxes. One was tested on the NWTCs 2.5 MW dynamometer and the other was field tested in a turbine in a nearby wind plant. In the field, the test gearbox experienced two oil loss events that resulted in damage to its internal bearings and gears. Since the damage was not severe, the test gearbox was removed from the field and retested in the NWTCs dynamometer before it was disassembled. During the dynamometer retest, some vibration data along with testing condition information were collected. These datamore » enabled NREL to launch a Wind Turbine Gearbox Condition Monitoring Round Robin project, as described in this report. The main objective of this project was to evaluate different vibration analysis algorithms used in wind turbine condition monitoring (CM) and find out whether the typical practices are effective. With involvement of both academic researchers and industrial partners, the project sets an example on providing cutting edge research results back to industry.« less

The First SeaWiFS HPLC Analysis Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE-1)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Claustre, Herve; Ras, Josephine; VanHeukelem, Laurie; Berthon, Jean-Francois; Targa, Cristina; vanderLinde, Dirk; Barlow, Ray; Sessions, Heather

2001-01-01

Four laboratories, which had contributed to various aspects of SeaWiFS calibration and validation activities, participated in the first SeaWiFS HPLC Analysis Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE-1): Horn Point Laboratory (USA), the Joint Research Centre (Italy), the Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Marines (France), and the Marine and Coastal Management group (South Africa). The analyses of the data are presented in Chapter 1 and the individual methods of the four groups are presented in Chapters 2-5. The average (or overall) conclusions of the round-robin are derived from 12 in situ stations occupied during a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea, although, only 11 stations are used in the analyses. The data set is composed of 12 replicates taken during each sampling opportunity with 3 replicates going to each of the 4 laboratories. The average (or overall) results from the intercomparison of 15 pigments or pigment associations are as follows (in some cases, data subsets that exclude pigments which were not analyzed by all the laboratories, or that had unusually large variances, are used to exclude a variety of problematic pigments): a) the accuracy of the four methods in determining the concentration of total chlorophyll a is 7.9%, (one method did not separate mono- and divinyl chlorophyll a, and if the samples containing significant divinyl chlorophyll a concentrations are ignored, the four methods have an accuracy of 6.7%); b) the accuracy in determining the full set of pigments is 19.1%; c) there is a reduction in accuracy of approximately - 12.2% for every decade (factor of 10) decrease in concentration (based on a data subset); d) the precision of the four methods using a subset data is 8.617( 6.2% for an edited subset); e) the repeatability of the four methods using the subset data is 9.2% (7.2%; for an edited subset, and f) the reproducibility of the four methods using the subset data is 21.31% (15.0% for an edited subset).

The Seventh SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-7), March 1999

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); McLean, Scott; Sherman, Jennifer; Small, Mark; Lazin, Gordana; Zibordi, Giuseppe; Brown, James W.; McClain, Charles R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This report documents the scientific activities during the seventh SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-7) held at Satlantic, Inc. (Halifax, Canada). The overall objective of SIRREX-7 was to determine the uncertainties of radiometric calibrations and measurements at a single calibration facility. Specifically, this involved the estimation of the uncertainties in a) lamp standards, b) plaque standards (including the uncertainties associated with plaque illumination non-uniformity), c) radiance calibrations, and d) irradiance calibrations. The investigation of the uncertainties in lamp standards included a comparison between a calibration of a new FEL by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Optronic Laboratories, Inc. In addition, the rotation and polarization sensitivity of radiometers were determined, and a procedure for transferring an absolute calibration to portable light sources was defined and executed.

Stress analysis of the cracked-lap-shear specimen - An ASTM round-robin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. S.

1987-01-01

This ASTM Round Robin was conducted to evaluate the state of the art in stress analysis of adhesively bonded joint specimens. Specifically, the participants were asked to calculate the strain-energy-release rate for two different geometry cracked lap shear (CLS) specimens at four different debond lengths. The various analytical techniques consisted of 2- and 3-dimensional finite element analysis, beam theory, plate theory, and a combination of beam theory and finite element analysis. The results were examined in terms of the total strain-energy-release rate and the mode I to mode II ratio as a function of debond length for each specimen geometry. These results basically clustered into two groups: geometric linear or geometric nonlinear analysis. The geometric nonlinear analysis is required to properly analyze the CLS specimens. The 3-D finite element analysis gave indications of edge closure plus some mode III loading. Each participant described his analytical technique and results. Nine laboratories participated.

Stress analysis of the cracked lap shear specimens: An ASTM round robin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. S.

1986-01-01

This ASTM Round Robin was conducted to evaluate the state of the art in stress analysis of adhesively bonded joint specimens. Specifically, the participants were asked to calculate the strain-energy-release rate for two different geometry cracked lap shear (CLS) specimens at four different debond lengths. The various analytical techniques consisted of 2- and 3-dimensional finite element analysis, beam theory, plate theory, and a combination of beam theory and finite element analysis. The results were examined in terms of the total strain-energy-release rate and the mode I to mode II ratio as a function of debond length for each specimen geometry. These results basically clustered into two groups: geometric linear or geometric nonlinear analysis. The geometric nonlinear analysis is required to properly analyze the CLS specimens. The 3-D finite element analysis gave indications of edge closure plus some mode III loading. Each participant described his analytical technique and results. Nine laboratories participated.

Spin-the-bottle Sort and Annealing Sort: Oblivious Sorting via Round-robin Random Comparisons

PubMed Central

Goodrich, Michael T.

2013-01-01

We study sorting algorithms based on randomized round-robin comparisons. Specifically, we study Spin-the-bottle sort, where comparisons are unrestricted, and Annealing sort, where comparisons are restricted to a distance bounded by a temperature parameter. Both algorithms are simple, randomized, data-oblivious sorting algorithms, which are useful in privacy-preserving computations, but, as we show, Annealing sort is much more efficient. We show that there is an input permutation that causes Spin-the-bottle sort to require Ω(n2 log n) expected time in order to succeed, and that in O(n2 log n) time this algorithm succeeds with high probability for any input. We also show there is a specification of Annealing sort that runs in O(n log n) time and succeeds with very high probability. PMID:24550575

Results from an International Measurement Round Robin of III-V Triple Junction Solar Cells under Air Mass Zero

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, Phillip; Scheiman, Chris; Goodbody, Chris; Baur, Carsten; Sharps, Paul; Imaizumi, Mitsuru; Yoo, Henry; Sahlstrom, Ted; Walters, Robert; Lorentzen, Justin;

Statistical Analysis of a Round-Robin Measurement Survey of Two Candidate Materials for a Seebeck Coefficient Standard Reference Material

PubMed Central

Lu, Z. Q. J.; Lowhorn, N. D.; Wong-Ng, W.; Zhang, W.; Thomas, E. L.; Otani, M.; Green, M. L.; Tran, T. N.; Caylor, C.; Dilley, N. R.; Downey, A.; Edwards, B.; Elsner, N.; Ghamaty, S.; Hogan, T.; Jie, Q.; Li, Q.; Martin, J.; Nolas, G.; Obara, H.; Sharp, J.; Venkatasubramanian, R.; Willigan, R.; Yang, J.; Tritt, T.

2009-01-01

In an effort to develop a Standard Reference Material (SRM™) for Seebeck coefficient, we have conducted a round-robin measurement survey of two candidate materials—undoped Bi2Te3 and Constantan (55 % Cu and 45 % Ni alloy). Measurements were performed in two rounds by twelve laboratories involved in active thermoelectric research using a number of different commercial and custom-built measurement systems and techniques. In this paper we report the detailed statistical analyses on the interlaboratory measurement results and the statistical methodology for analysis of irregularly sampled measurement curves in the interlaboratory study setting. Based on these results, we have selected Bi2Te3 as the prototype standard material. Once available, this SRM will be useful for future interlaboratory data comparison and instrument calibrations. PMID:27504212

Practical Quantum Private Database Queries Based on Passive Round-Robin Differential Phase-shift Quantum Key Distribution.

PubMed

Li, Jian; Yang, Yu-Guang; Chen, Xiu-Bo; Zhou, Yi-Hua; Shi, Wei-Min

2016-08-19

A novel quantum private database query protocol is proposed, based on passive round-robin differential phase-shift quantum key distribution. Compared with previous quantum private database query protocols, the present protocol has the following unique merits: (i) the user Alice can obtain one and only one key bit so that both the efficiency and security of the present protocol can be ensured, and (ii) it does not require to change the length difference of the two arms in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and just chooses two pulses passively to interfere with so that it is much simpler and more practical. The present protocol is also proved to be secure in terms of the user security and database security.

Faked state attacks on realistic round robin DPS quantum key distribution systems and countermeasure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwakoshi, T.

2015-05-01

In May 2014, a new quantum key distribution protocol named "Round Robin Differential-Phase-Shift Quantum Key Distribution (RR DPS QKD)" was proposed. It has a special feature that the key consumption via privacy amplification is a small constant because RR DPS QKD guarantees its security by information causality, not by information-disturbance trade-off. Therefore, the authors claimed that RR DPS QKD systems does not need to monitor the disturbance by an attacker in the quantum channel. However, this study shows that a modified Faked-State Attack (or so-called bright illumination attack) can hack a RR DPS QKD system almost perfectly if it is implemented with realistic detectors even information-causality guarantees the security of RR DPS QKD protocol. Therefore, this study also proposes a possible Measurement-Device-Independent RR DPS QKD system to avoid the modified Faked-State Attack.

Volume 14: The first SeaWiFS intercalibration round-robin experiment, SIRREX-1, July 1992

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, James L.; Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor)

1993-01-01

The results of the first Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-1), which was held at the Center for Hydro-Optics and Remote Sensing (CHORS) at San Diego State University (SDSU) on 27-31 July 1992 are presetend. Oceanographic radiometers to be used in the SeaWiFS Calibration and Validation Program will be calibrated by individuals from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), CHORS, and seven other laboratories. The purpose of the SIRREX experiments is to assure the radiometric standards used in all of these laboratories are referenced to the same scales of spectral irradiance and radiance, which will be maintained by GSFC and periodically recalibrated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The spectral irradiance scale of GSFC's FEL lamp number F269 (recalibrated by NIST in October 1992) was transferred to lamps belonging to the 9 participating laboratories; l set of lamp transfer measurements (involving 4 of the lamps) was precise to within less than 1 percent and meets SeaWiFS goals, but a second set (involving another 14 lamps) did not. The spectral radiance scale of the GSFC 40-inch integrating sphere source was transferred to integrating sphere radiance sources belonging to four of the other laboratories. Reflectance plaques, used for irradiance-to-radiance transfer by five of the laboratories, were compared, but spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF's) were not determined quantitatively. Also reported are results of similar comparisons (in October 1992) between the GSFC scales of spectral irradiance and radiance and those used by the Hughes/Santa Barbara Research Center (SBRC) to calibrate and characterize the SeaWiFS instrument. This first set of intercalibration round-robin experiments was a valuable learning experience for all participants, and led to several important procedural changes, which

Practical Quantum Private Database Queries Based on Passive Round-Robin Differential Phase-shift Quantum Key Distribution

PubMed Central

Li, Jian; Yang, Yu-Guang; Chen, Xiu-Bo; Zhou, Yi-Hua; Shi, Wei-Min

2016-01-01

A novel quantum private database query protocol is proposed, based on passive round-robin differential phase-shift quantum key distribution. Compared with previous quantum private database query protocols, the present protocol has the following unique merits: (i) the user Alice can obtain one and only one key bit so that both the efficiency and security of the present protocol can be ensured, and (ii) it does not require to change the length difference of the two arms in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and just chooses two pulses passively to interfere with so that it is much simpler and more practical. The present protocol is also proved to be secure in terms of the user security and database security. PMID:27539654

Highly Efficient Multi Channel Packet Forwarding with Round Robin Intermittent Periodic Transmit for Multihop Wireless Backhaul Networks

PubMed Central

Furukawa, Hiroshi

2017-01-01

Round Robin based Intermittent Periodic Transmit (RR-IPT) has been proposed which achieves highly efficient multi-hop relays in multi-hop wireless backhaul networks (MWBN) where relay nodes are 2-dimensionally deployed. This paper newly investigates multi-channel packet scheduling and forwarding scheme for RR-IPT. Downlink traffic is forwarded by RR-IPT via one of the channels, while uplink traffic and part of downlink are accommodated in the other channel. By comparing IPT and carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) for uplink/downlink packet forwarding channel, IPT is more effective in reducing packet loss rate whereas CSMA/CA is better in terms of system throughput and packet delay improvement. PMID:29137164

Ultrasound Metrology in Mexico: a round robin test for medical diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amezola Luna, R.; López Sánchez, A. L.; Elías Juárez, A. A.

2011-02-01

This paper presents preliminary statistical results from an on-going imaging medical ultrasound study, of particular relevance for gynecology and obstetrics areas. Its scope is twofold, firstly to compile the medical ultrasound infrastructure available in cities of Queretaro-Mexico, and second to promote the use of traceable measurement standards as a key aspect to assure quality of ultrasound examinations performed by medical specialists. The experimental methodology is based on a round robin test using an ultrasound phantom for medical imaging. The physician, using its own ultrasound machine, couplant and facilities, measures the size and depth of a set of pre-defined reflecting and absorbing targets of the reference phantom, which simulate human illnesses. Measurements performed give the medical specialist an objective feedback regarding some performance characteristics of their ultrasound examination systems, such as measurement system accuracy, dead zone, axial resolution, depth of penetration and anechoic targets detection. By the end of March 2010, 66 entities with medical ultrasound facilities, from both public and private institutions, have performed measurements. A network of medical ultrasound calibration laboratories in Mexico, with traceability to The International System of Units via national measurement standards, may indeed contribute to reduce measurement deviations and thus attain better diagnostics.

Results of the Round Robin on opening-load measurement conducted by ASTM Task Group E24.04.04 on Crack Closure Measurement and Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Phillips, Edward P.

1989-01-01

An experimental Round Robin on the measurement of the opening load in fatigue crack growth tests was conducted on Crack Closure Measurement and Analysis. The Round Robin evaluated the current level of consistency of opening load measurements among laboratories and to identify causes for observed inconsistency. Eleven laboratories participated in the testing of compact and middle-crack specimens. Opening-load measurements were made for crack growth at two stress-intensity factor levels, three crack lengths, and following an overload. All opening-load measurements were based on the analysis of specimen compliance data. When all of the results reported (from all participants, all measurement methods, and all data analysis methods) for a given test condition were pooled, the range of opening loads was very large--typically spanning the lower half of the fatigue loading cycle. Part of the large scatter in the reported opening-load results was ascribed to consistent differences in results produced by the various methods used to measure specimen compliance and to evaluate the opening load from the compliance data. Another significant portion of the scatter was ascribed to lab-to-lab differences in producing the compliance data when using nominally the same method of measurement.

A cognitive gateway-based spectrum sharing method in downlink round robin scheduling of LTE system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Hongyu; Wu, Cheng; Wang, Yiming

2017-07-01

A key technique of LTE is how to allocate efficiently the resource of radio spectrum. Traditional Round Robin (RR) scheduling scheme may lead to too many resource residues when allocating resources. When the number of users in the current transmission time interval (TTI) is not the greatest common divisor of resource block groups (RBGs), and such a phenomenon lasts for a long time, the spectrum utilization would be greatly decreased. In this paper, a novel spectrum allocation scheme of cognitive gateway (CG) was proposed, in which the LTE spectrum utilization and CG’s throughput were greatly increased by allocating idle resource blocks in the shared TTI in LTE system to CG. Our simulation results show that the spectrum resource sharing method can improve LTE spectral utilization and increase the CG’s throughput as well as network use time.

Analytical Round Robin for Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Surface Cracked Plates, Phase II Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, P. A.; Wells, D. N.

2017-01-01

The second phase of an analytical round robin for the elastic-plastic analysis of surface cracks in flat plates was conducted under the auspices of ASTM Interlaboratory Study 732. The interlaboratory study (ILS) had 10 participants with a broad range of expertise and experience, and experimental results from a surface crack tension test in 4142 steel plate loaded well into the elastic-plastic regime provided the basis for the study. The participants were asked to evaluate a surface crack tension test according to the version of the surface crack initiation toughness testing standard published at the time of the ILS, E2899-13. Data were provided to each participant that represent the fundamental information that would be provided by a mechanical test laboratory prior to evaluating the test result. Overall, the participant’s test analysis results were in good agreement and constructive feedback was received that has resulted in an improved published version of the standard E2899-15.

Round-robin differential-phase-shift quantum key distribution with a passive decoy state method

PubMed Central

Liu, Li; Guo, Fen-Zhuo; Qin, Su-Juan; Wen, Qiao-Yan

2017-01-01

Recently, a new type of protocol named Round-robin differential-phase-shift quantum key distribution (RRDPS QKD) was proposed, where the security can be guaranteed without monitoring conventional signal disturbances. The active decoy state method can be used in this protocol to overcome the imperfections of the source. But, it may lead to side channel attacks and break the security of QKD systems. In this paper, we apply the passive decoy state method to the RRDPS QKD protocol. Not only can the more environment disturbance be tolerated, but in addition it can overcome side channel attacks on the sources. Importantly, we derive a new key generation rate formula for our RRDPS protocol using passive decoy states and enhance the key generation rate. We also compare the performance of our RRDPS QKD to that using the active decoy state method and the original RRDPS QKD without any decoy states. From numerical simulations, the performance improvement of the RRDPS QKD by our new method can be seen. PMID:28198808

Round-robin differential-phase-shift quantum key distribution with heralded pair-coherent sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Le; Zhao, Shengmei

2017-04-01

Round-robin differential-phase-shift (RRDPS) quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme provides an effective way to overcome the signal disturbance from the transmission process. However, most RRDPS-QKD schemes use weak coherent pulses (WCPs) as the replacement of the perfect single-photon source. Considering the heralded pair-coherent source (HPCS) can efficiently remove the shortcomings of WCPs, we propose a RRDPS-QKD scheme with HPCS in this paper. Both infinite-intensity decoy-state method and practical three-intensity decoy-state method are adopted to discuss the tight bound of the key rate of the proposed scheme. The results show that HPCS is a better candidate for the replacement of the perfect single-photon source, and both the key rate and the transmission distance are greatly increased in comparison with those results with WCPs when the length of the pulse trains is small. Simultaneously, the performance of the proposed scheme using three-intensity decoy states is close to that result using infinite-intensity decoy states when the length of pulse trains is small.

Results of the second Round Robin on opening-load measurement conducted by ASTM Task Group E24.04.04 on crack closure measurement and analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Phillips, E. P.

1993-01-01

A second experimental Round Robin on the measurement of the crack opening load in fatigue crack growth tests has been completed by the ASTM Task Group E24.04.04 on Crack Closure Measurement and Analysis. Fourteen laboratories participated in the testing of aluminum alloy compact tension specimens. Opening-load measurements were made at three crack lengths during constant Delta K, constant stress ratio tests by most of the participants. Four participants made opening-load measurements during threshold tests. All opening-load measurements were based on the analysis of specimens compliance behavior, where the displacement/strain was measured either at the crack mouth or the mid-height back face location. The Round Robin data were analyzed for opening load using two non-subjective analysis methods: the compliance offset and the correlation coefficient methods. The scatter in the opening load results was significantly reduced when some of the results were excluded from the analysis population based on an accept/reject criterion for raw data quality. The compliance offset and correlation coefficient opening load analysis methods produced similar results for data populations that had been screened to eliminate poor quality data.

Nonlinear model updating applied to the IMAC XXXII Round Robin benchmark system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurt, Mehmet; Moore, Keegan J.; Eriten, Melih; McFarland, D. Michael; Bergman, Lawrence A.; Vakakis, Alexander F.

2017-05-01

We consider the application of a new nonlinear model updating strategy to a computational benchmark system. The approach relies on analyzing system response time series in the frequency-energy domain by constructing both Hamiltonian and forced and damped frequency-energy plots (FEPs). The system parameters are then characterized and updated by matching the backbone branches of the FEPs with the frequency-energy wavelet transforms of experimental and/or computational time series. The main advantage of this method is that no nonlinearity model is assumed a priori, and the system model is updated solely based on simulation and/or experimental measured time series. By matching the frequency-energy plots of the benchmark system and its reduced-order model, we show that we are able to retrieve the global strongly nonlinear dynamics in the frequency and energy ranges of interest, identify bifurcations, characterize local nonlinearities, and accurately reconstruct time series. We apply the proposed methodology to a benchmark problem, which was posed to the system identification community prior to the IMAC XXXII (2014) and XXXIII (2015) Conferences as a "Round Robin Exercise on Nonlinear System Identification". We show that we are able to identify the parameters of the non-linear element in the problem with a priori knowledge about its position.

QA /QC of European NOx measurements by round robin and side by side experiment at the Meteorological Observatory Hohenpeissenberg in the framework of ACTRIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilge, Stefan; Plass-Dülmer, Christian; Weyrauch, Dietmar; Rohrer, Franz

2013-04-01

The European ACTRIS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure Network) project, Work Package 4, aims at harmonization and improvement of the measurement of volatile organic carbon and nitrogen oxides. Central tools to assess and compare the performance of European NOx monitoring stations and labs within ACTRIS are a round robin experiment (2012) and side-by-side intercomparisons (Nov 2012). While the first checked the used laboratories' scales versus a common scale, the latter investigated weather same samples are identically and artefact-free analyzed by collocated instruments. The ACTRIS-NOx-side-by-side intercomparison was realised by instruments sampling from a common manifold which was fed by zero gas, synthetic air mixtures, ambient air, and spiked ambient air. Thus, the side-by-side experiments enabled a full characterization of the detection limit, the linear range, the span, and of potential artefacts due to interfering species for each of the contributing instruments. Generally, CLD type NOx instruments were used in the comparisons supplemented by four new optical techniques, comprising LIF and cavity enhanced techniques. In the round robin exercise, some 20 monitoring sites participated, and 14 instruments were running side-by-side in the one week Nov comparison. The results of both experiments will be presented and discussed with respect to the data quality objectives of GAW and ACTRIS.

Round robin test on quantification of amyloid-β 1-42 in cerebrospinal fluid by mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Pannee, Josef; Gobom, Johan; Shaw, Leslie M; Korecka, Magdalena; Chambers, Erin E; Lame, Mary; Jenkins, Rand; Mylott, William; Carrillo, Maria C; Zegers, Ingrid; Zetterberg, Henrik; Blennow, Kaj; Portelius, Erik

2016-01-01

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42) is an important biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, both in diagnostics and to monitor disease-modifying therapies. However, there is a great need for standardization of methods used for quantification. To overcome problems associated with immunoassays, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has emerged as a critical orthogonal alternative. We compared results for CSF Aβ42 quantification in a round robin study performed in four laboratories using similar sample preparation methods and LC-MS instrumentation. The LC-MS results showed excellent correlation between laboratories (r(2) >0.98), high analytical precision, and good correlation with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (r(2) >0.85). The use of a common reference sample further decreased interlaboratory variation. Our results indicate that LC-MS is suitable for absolute quantification of Aβ42 in CSF and highlight the importance of developing a certified reference material. Copyright © 2016 The Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

First report on a European round robin for slope measuring profilers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rommeveaux, Amparo; Thomasset, Muriel; Cocco, Daniele; Siewert, Frank

2005-08-01

In the framework of the European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research action on "X-ray and Neutron Optic" (COST P7) and following the decision announced in the last International Workshop on Metrology for X-ray and neutron optic (Grenoble, April 2004), the metrology facilities of four European synchrotrons, Bessy, Elettra, ESRF and Soleil, have decided and started a program of instrument inter-comparison. Other synchrotrons are joining us and further interested Institutions are invited to participate in this open measurement comparison. The metrology instruments involved are different kinds of direct slope measurement devices, like the well known Long Trace Profiler (in house made or modified) and the Bessy N.O.M.. The Round Robin was started with 2 flat and 2 spherical mirrors (three made of Zerodur and one of fused silica) made available by Bessy and Elettra. A short radius of curvature spherical mirror of Silicon from SOLEIL was later added. First results show a very close match between the measurements of all facilities provided that the same procedures are followed. In particular, a special attention has to be given to the way of supporting the reference objects, as it will be illustrated by some examples. Another important issue is the characterization of the systematic errors of the different instruments and how they can be reduced or eliminated. The paper expects to open a discussion on the performances of different commercial and custom made or modified profilometers, and over standard procedures for calibration testing, including the definition of standard reference surfaces.

Which egg features predict egg rejection responses in American robins? Replicating Rothstein's (1982) study.

PubMed

Luro, Alec B; Igic, Branislav; Croston, Rebecca; López, Analía V; Shawkey, Matthew D; Hauber, Mark E

2018-02-01

Rothstein (Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 11, 1982, 229) was one of the first comprehensive studies to examine how different egg features influence egg rejection behaviors of avian brood parasite-hosts. The methods and conclusions of Rothstein (1982) laid the foundation for subsequent experimental brood parasitism studies over the past thirty years, but its results have never been evaluated with replication. Here, we partially replicated Rothstein's (1982) experiments using parallel artificial model egg treatments to simulate cowbird ( Molothrus ater ) parasitism in American robin ( Turdus migratorius ) nests. We compared our data with those of Rothstein (1982) and confirmed most of its original findings: (1) robins reject model eggs that differ from the appearance of a natural robin egg toward that of a natural cowbird egg in background color, size, and maculation; (2) rejection responses were best predicted by model egg background color; and (3) model eggs differing by two or more features from natural robin eggs were more likely to be rejected than model eggs differing by one feature alone. In contrast with Rothstein's (1982) conclusion that American robin egg recognition is not specifically tuned toward rejection of brown-headed cowbird eggs, we argue that our results and those of other recent studies of robin egg rejection suggest a discrimination bias toward rejection of cowbird eggs. Future work on egg recognition will benefit from utilizing a range of model eggs varying continuously in background color, maculation patterning, and size in combination with avian visual modeling, rather than using model eggs which vary only discretely.

Round robin test on the measurement of the specific heat of solar salt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muñoz-Sánchez, Belén; Nieto-Maestre, Javier; González-Aguilar, José; Julia, José Enrique; Navarrete, Nuria; Faik, Abdessamad; Bauer, Thomas; Bonk, Alexander; Navarro, María Elena; Ding, Yulong; Uranga, Nerea; Veca, Elisabetta; Sau, Salvatore; Giménez, Pau; García, Pierre; Burgaleta, Juan Ignacio

2017-06-01

Solar salt (SS), a well-known non-eutectic mixture of sodium nitrate (60% w/w) and potassium nitrate (40% w/w), is commonly used either as Thermal Energy Storage (TES) material (double tank technology) or Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) (solar tower) in modern CSP plants worldwide. The specific heat (cp, kJ kg-1 °C-1) of SS is a very important property in order to support the design of new CSP Plants or develop novel materials based on SS. A high scientific effort has been dedicated to perform a suitable thermophysical characterization of this material. However, there is still a great discrepancy among the cp values reported by different authors1. These differences may be due to either experimental errors (random or systematic) or divergences in the starting material (grade of purity, presence of impurities and/or water). In order to avoid the second source of uncertainty (the starting material), a Round Robin Test (RRT) was proposed starting from a common material. In this way, the different methods from each laboratory could be compared. The study should lay the foundations for the establishment of a systematic procedure for the measurement of the specific heat of this kind of materials. Nine institutions, research centers and companies, accepted the proposal and are contributing with their results. The initiative was organized within the Workshop SolarPACES Task III - Material activity.

Analytical Round Robin for Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Surface Cracked Plates: Phase I Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, D. N.; Allen, P. A.

2012-01-01

An analytical round robin for the elastic-plastic analysis of surface cracks in flat plates was conducted with 15 participants. Experimental results from a surface crack tension test in 2219-T8 aluminum plate provided the basis for the inter-laboratory study (ILS). The study proceeded in a blind fashion given that the analysis methodology was not specified to the participants, and key experimental results were withheld. This approach allowed the ILS to serve as a current measure of the state of the art for elastic-plastic fracture mechanics analysis. The analytical results and the associated methodologies were collected for comparison, and sources of variability were studied and isolated. The results of the study revealed that the J-integral analysis methodology using the domain integral method is robust, providing reliable J-integral values without being overly sensitive to modeling details. General modeling choices such as analysis code, model size (mesh density), crack tip meshing, or boundary conditions, were not found to be sources of significant variability. For analyses controlled only by far-field boundary conditions, the greatest source of variability in the J-integral assessment is introduced through the constitutive model. This variability can be substantially reduced by using crack mouth opening displacements to anchor the assessment. Conclusions provide recommendations for analysis standardization.

Robins gather in a tree

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

In a wooded area of Kennedy Space Center, robins gather on a tree branch just beginning to show new Spring growth. A member of the thrush family, robins inhabit towns, gardens, open woodlands and agricultural lands. They range through most of North America, spending winters in large roosts mostly in the United States but also Newfoundland, southern Ontario and British Columbia. The Center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a haven and habitat for more than 331 species of birds. The Refuge encompasses 92,000 acres that are also a habitat for 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, as well as a variety of insects.

Results from a round robin test for the ecotoxicological evaluation of construction products using two leaching tests and an aquatic test battery.

PubMed

Gartiser, Stefan; Heisterkamp, Ines; Schoknecht, Ute; Burkhardt, Michael; Ratte, Monika; Ilvonen, Outi; Brauer, Frank; Brückmann, Jan; Dabrunz, André; Egeler, Philipp; Eisl, Andrea-Maria; Feiler, Ute; Fritz, Ines; König, Sabina; Lebertz, Herbert; Pandard, Pascal; Pötschke, Gabriele; Scheerbaum, Dirk; Schreiber, Frank; Soldán, Přemysl; Weiß, Roland; Weltens, Reinhilde

2017-05-01

A European round robin test according to ISO 5725-2 was conceptually prepared, realised, and evaluated. The aim was to determine the inter-laboratory variability of the overall process for the ecotoxicological characterization of construction products in eluates and bioassays. To this end, two construction products BAM-G1 (granulate) and HSR-2 (roof sealing sheet), both made of EPDM polymers (rubber), were selected. The granular construction product was eluted in a one stage batch test, the planar product in the Dynamic Surface Leaching test (DSLT). A total of 17 laboratories from 5 countries participated in the round robin test: Germany (12), Austria (2), Belgium (1), Czech Republic (1) and France (1). A test battery of four standardised ecotoxicity tests with algae, daphnia, luminescent bacteria and zebrafish eggs was used. As toxicity measures, EC50 and LID values were calculated. All tests, except the fish egg test, were basically able to demonstrate toxic effects and the level of toxicity. The reproducibility of test results depended on the test specimens and the test organisms. Generally, the variability of the EC50 or LID values increased with the overall level of toxicity. For the very toxic BAM-G1 eluate a relative high variability of CV = 73%-110% was observed for EC50 in all biotests, while for the less toxic HSR-2 eluate the reproducibility of EC50 varied with sensitivity: it was very good (CV = 9.3%) for the daphnia test with the lowest sensitivity, followed by the algae test (CV = 36.4%). The luminescent bacteria test, being the most sensitive bioassay for HSR-2 Eluate, showed the highest variability (CV = 74.8%). When considering the complex overall process the reproducibility of bioassays with eluates from construction products was acceptable. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Assessment of Atmospheric Correction Processors for MERIS Based on In-Situ Measurements-Updates in OC-CCI Round Robin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muller, Dagmar; Krasemann, Hajo; Zuhilke, Marco; Doerffer, Roland; Brockmann, Carsten; Steinmetz, Francois; Valente, Andre; Brotas, Vanda; Grant, kMicheal G.; Sathyendranath, Shubha; Melin, Frederic; Franz, Bryan A.; Mazeran, Constant; Regner, Peter

2016-08-01

The Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC- CCI) provides a long-term time series of ocean colour data and investigates the detectable climate impact. A reliable and stable atmospheric correction (AC) procedure is the basis for ocean colour products of the necessary high quality.The selection of atmospheric correction processors is repeated regularly based on a round robin exercise, at the latest when a revised production and release of the OC-CCI merged product is scheduled. Most of the AC processors are under constant development and changes are implemented to improve the quality of satellite-derived retrievals of remote sensing reflectances. The changes between versions of the inter-comparison are not restricted to the implementation of AC processors. There are activities to improve the quality flagging for some processors, and the system vicarious calibration for AC algorithms in their sensor specific behaviour are widely studied. Each inter-comparison starts with an updated in-situ database, as more spectra are included in order to broaden the temporal and spatial range of satellite match-ups. While the OC-CCI's focus has laid on case-1 waters in the past, it has expanded to the retrieval of case-2 products now. In light of this goal, new bidirectional correction procedures (normalisation) for the remote sensing spectra have been introduced. As in-situ measurements are not always available at the satellite sensor specific central wave- lengths, a band-shift algorithm has to be applied to the dataset.In order to guarantee an objective selection from a set of four atmospheric correction processors, the common validation strategy of comparisons between in-situ and satellite-derived water leaving reflectance spectra, is aided by a ranking system. In principal, the statistical parameters are transformed into relative scores, which evaluate the relationship of quality dependent on the algorithms under study. The sensitivity of these scores to the selected

Results of PBX 9501 and PBX 9502 Round-Robin Quasi-Static Tension Tests from JOWOG-9/39 Focused Exchange.

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

Thompson, D. G.

2002-01-01

A round-robin study was conducted with the participation of three laboratory facilities: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), BWXT Pantex Plant (PX), and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The study involved the machining and quasi-static tension testing of two plastic-bonded high explosive (PBX) composites, PBX 9501 and PBX 9502. Nine tensile specimens for each type of PBX were to be machined at each of the three facilities; 3 of these specimens were to be sent to each of the participating materials testing facilities for tensile testing. The resultant data was analyzed to look for trends associated with specimen machining location and/ormore » trends associated with materials testing location. The analysis provides interesting insights into the variability and statistical nature of mechanical properties testing on PBX composites. Caution is warranted when results are compared/exchanged between testing facilities.« less

Pierre Robin sequence

MedlinePlus

Pierre Robin syndrome; Pierre Robin complex; Pierre Robin anomaly ... The exact causes of Pierre Robin sequence are unknown. It may be part of many genetic syndromes. The lower jaw develops slowly before birth, but may grow ...

A security proof of the round-robin differential phase shift quantum key distribution protocol based on the signal disturbance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaki, Toshihiko; Koashi, Masato

2017-06-01

The round-robin differential phase shift (RRDPS) quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol is a unique QKD protocol whose security has not been understood through an information-disturbance trade-off relation, and a sufficient amount of privacy amplification was given independently of signal disturbance. Here, we discuss the security of the RRDPS protocol in the asymptotic regime when a good estimate of the bit error rate is available as a measure of signal disturbance. The uniqueness of the RRDPS protocol shows up as a peculiar form of information-disturbance trade-off curve. When the length of a block of pulses used for encoding and the signal disturbance are both small, it provides a significantly better key rate than that from the original security proof. On the other hand, when the block length is large, the use of the signal disturbance makes little improvement in the key rate. Our analysis will bridge a gap between the RRDPS protocol and the conventional QKD protocols.

The failure analysis and lifetime prediction for the solder joint of the magnetic head

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Xianghui; Peng, Minfang; Cardoso, Jaime S.; Tang, Rongjun; Zhou, YingLiang

2015-02-01

Micro-solder joint (MSJ) lifetime prediction methodology and failure analysis (FA) are to assess reliability by fatigue model with a series of theoretical calculations, numerical simulation and experimental method. Due to shortened time of solder joints on high-temperature, high-frequency sampling error that is not allowed in productions may exist in various models, including round-off error. Combining intermetallic compound (IMC) growth theory and the FA technology for the magnetic head in actual production, this thesis puts forward a new growth model to predict life expectancy for solder joint of the magnetic head. And the impact of IMC, generating from interface reaction between slider (magnetic head, usually be called slider) and bonding pad, on mechanical performance during aging process is analyzed in it. By further researching on FA of solder ball bonding, thesis chooses AuSn4 growth model that affects least to solder joint mechanical property to indicate that the IMC methodology is suitable to forecast the solder lifetime. And the diffusion constant under work condition 60 °C is 0.015354; the solder lifetime t is 14.46 years.

Round-robin test for the cell-of-origin classification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma-a feasibility study using full slide staining.

PubMed

Reinke, Sarah; Richter, Julia; Fend, Falko; Feller, Alfred; Hansmann, Martin-Leo; Hüttl, Katrin; Oschlies, Ilske; Ott, German; Möller, Peter; Rosenwald, Andreas; Stein, Harald; Altenbuchinger, Michael; Spang, Rainer; Klapper, Wolfram

2018-05-05

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is subdivided by gene expression analysis (GEP) into two molecular subtypes named germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC) after their putative cell-of-origin (COO). Determination of the COO is considered mandatory in any new-diagnosed DLBCL, not otherwise specified according to the updated WHO classification. Despite the fact that pathologists are free to choose the method for COO classification, immunohistochemical (IHC) assays are most widely used. However, to the best of our knowledge, no round-robin test to evaluate the interlaboratory variability has been published so far. Eight hematopathology laboratories participated in an interlaboratory test for COO classification of 10 DLBCL tumors using the IHC classifier comprising the expression of CD10, BCL6, and MUM1 (so-called Hans classifier). The results were compared with GEP for COO signature and, in a subset, with results obtained by image analysis. In 7/10 cases (70%), at least seven laboratories assigned a given case to the same COO subtype (one center assessed one sample as not analyzable), which was in agreement with the COO subtype determined by GEP. The results in 3/10 cases (30%) revealed discrepancies between centers and/or between IHC and GEP subtype. Whereas the CD10 staining results were highly reproducible, staining for MUM1 was inconsistent in 50% and for BCL6 in 40% of cases. Image analysis of 16 slides stained for BCL6 (N = 8) and MUM1 (N = 8) of the two cases with the highest disagreement in COO classification were in line with the score of the pathologists in 14/16 stainings analyzed (87.5%). This study describes the first round-robin test for COO subtyping in DLBCL using IHC and demonstrates that COO classification using the Hans classifier yields consistent results among experienced hematopathologists, even when variable staining protocols are used. Data from this small feasibility study need to be validated in larger

The Fourth SeaWiFS HPLC Analysis Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE-4)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B.; Thomas, Crystal S.; van Heukelem, Laurie; Schlueter, louise; Russ, Mary E.; Ras, Josephine; Claustre, Herve; Clementson, Lesley; Canuti, Elisabetta; Berthon, Jean-Francois;

The Second SeaWiFS HPLC Analysis Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE-2)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2005-01-01

Eight international laboratories specializing in the determination of marine pigment concentrations using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were intercompared using in situ samples and a variety of laboratory standards. The field samples were collected primarily from eutrophic waters, although mesotrophic waters were also sampled to create a dynamic range in chlorophyll concentration spanning approximately two orders of magnitude (0.3 25.8 mg m-3). The intercomparisons were used to establish the following: a) the uncertainties in quantitating individual pigments and higher-order variables (sums, ratios, and indices); b) an evaluation of spectrophotometric versus HPLC uncertainties in the determination of total chlorophyll a; and c) the reduction in uncertainties as a result of applying quality assurance (QA) procedures associated with extraction, separation, injection, degradation, detection, calibration, and reporting (particularly limits of detection and quantitation). In addition, the remote sensing requirements for the in situ determination of total chlorophyll a were investigated to determine whether or not the average uncertainty for this measurement is being satisfied. The culmination of the activity was a validation of the round-robin methodology plus the development of the requirements for validating an individual HPLC method. The validation process includes the measurements required to initially demonstrate a pigment is validated, and the measurements that must be made during sample analysis to confirm a method remains validated. The so-called performance-based metrics developed here describe a set of thresholds for a variety of easily-measured parameters with a corresponding set of performance categories. The aggregate set of performance parameters and categories establish a) the overall performance capability of the method, and b) whether or not the capability is consistent with the required accuracy objectives.

Transport Properties of Bulk Thermoelectrics An International Round-Robin Study, Part I: Seebeck Coefficient and Electrical Resistivity

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

Wang, Hsin; Porter, Wallace D; Bottner, Harold

2013-01-01

Recent research and development of high temperature thermoelectric materials has demonstrated great potential of converting automobile exhaust heat directly into electricity. Thermoelectrics based on classic bismuth telluride have also started to impact the automotive industry by enhancing air conditioning efficiency and integrated cabin climate control. In addition to engineering challenges of making reliable and efficient devices to withstand thermal and mechanical cycling, the remaining issues in thermoelectric power generation and refrigeration are mostly materials related. The figure-of-merit, ZT, still needs to improve from the current value of 1.0 - 1.5 to above 2 to be competitive to other alternative technologies.more » In the meantime, the thermoelectric community could greatly benefit from the development of international test standards, improved test methods and better characterization tools. Internationally, thermoelectrics have been recognized by many countries as an important area for improving energy efficiency. The International Energy Agency (IEA) group under the implementing agreement for Advanced Materials for Transportation (AMT) identified thermoelectric materials as an important area in 2009. This paper is Part I of the international round-robin testing of transport properties of bulk thermoelectrics. The main focuses in Part I are on two electronic transport properties: Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity.« less

Transport Properties of Bulk Thermoelectrics—An International Round-Robin Study, Part I: Seebeck Coefficient and Electrical Resistivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hsin; Porter, Wallace D.; Böttner, Harald; König, Jan; Chen, Lidong; Bai, Shengqiang; Tritt, Terry M.; Mayolet, Alex; Senawiratne, Jayantha; Smith, Charlene; Harris, Fred; Gilbert, Patricia; Sharp, Jeff W.; Lo, Jason; Kleinke, Holger; Kiss, Laszlo

2013-04-01

Recent research and development of high-temperature thermoelectric materials has demonstrated great potential for converting automobile exhaust heat directly into electricity. Thermoelectrics based on classic bismuth telluride have also started to impact the automotive industry by enhancing air-conditioning efficiency and integrated cabin climate control. In addition to engineering challenges of making reliable and efficient devices to withstand thermal and mechanical cycling, the remaining issues in thermoelectric power generation and refrigeration are mostly materials related. The dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, still needs to be improved from the current value of 1.0 to 1.5 to above 2.0 to be competitive with other alternative technologies. In the meantime, the thermoelectric community could greatly benefit from the development of international test standards, improved test methods, and better characterization tools. Internationally, thermoelectrics have been recognized by many countries as a key component for improving energy efficiency. The International Energy Agency (IEA) group under the Implementing Agreement for Advanced Materials for Transportation (AMT) identified thermoelectric materials as an important area in 2009. This paper is part I of the international round-robin testing of transport properties of bulk thermoelectrics. The main foci in part I are the measurement of two electronic transport properties: Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity.

Robin Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishnan, Chethan; Maheshwari, Shubham; Bala Subramanian, P. N.

2017-08-01

We write down a Robin boundary term for general relativity. The construction relies on the Neumann result of arXiv:1605.01603 in an essential way. This is unlike in mechanics and (polynomial) field theory, where two formulations of the Robin problem exist: one with Dirichlet as the natural limiting case, and another with Neumann.

Results of the IEA Round Robin on Viscosity and Aging of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oils: Long-Term Tests and Repeatability

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

Elliott, Douglas C.; Oasmaa, Anja; Meier, Dietrich

2012-11-06

An international round robin study of the viscosity and aging of fast pyrolysis bio-oil has been undertaken recently and this work is an outgrowth from that effort. Two bio-oil samples were distributed to the laboratories for aging tests and extended viscosity studies. The accelerated aging test was defined as the change in viscosity of a sealed sample of bio-oil held for 24 h at 80 °C. The test was repeated 10 times over consecutive days to determine the repeatability of the method. Other bio-oil samples were placed in storage at three temperatures, 21 °C, 4 °C and -17 °C formore » a period up to a year to evaluate the change in viscosity. The variation in the results of the aging test was shown to be low within a given laboratory. Storage of bio-oil under refrigeration can minimize the amount of change in viscosity. The accelerated aging test gives a measure of change similar to that of 6-12 months of storage at room temperature. These results can be helpful in setting standards for use of bio-oil, which is just coming into the marketplace.« less

Determination of Compressive Properties of Fibre Composites in the In-plane Direction According to ISO 14126. Part 1: A Round Robin Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Konrad

2007-01-01

Over the years different tests are established to characterise the compressive properties of composites in the in-plane direction. The international standard ISO 14126 (2000) (Fibre-reinforced plastic composites — determination of compressive properties in the in-plane direction, ISO 14126: 1999 (E), Faserverstärkte Kunststoffe, Bestimmung der Druckeigenschaften in der Laminatebene, DIN EN ISO 14126: 2000-12) tries to standardise these tests. The described wide range of arrangements enables to continue with the present practice to a large extent. But the standard doesn’t say anything about the precision of the method. Four labs performed a round robin test to check the precision and reproducibility of the Celanese-type arrangement for different composite materials, structures and dimensions. The test procedure is critically discussed and some proposals for the applicability of the method are derived. Mainly the advantages of optical monitoring the overall as well as the local strain of the specimen are demonstrated for the characterisation the failure process. By this method some of the reasons of unsatisfying reproducibility can be cleared up.

Glass Fibre/Epoxy Resin Interface Life-Time Prediction.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-04-01

RD-Ai32 26 GLASS FIBRE /POXY RESIN INTERFACE LIFE-TIME PREDICTION 1/1 (U) BRISTOL UNIV (ENGLAND) H H WILLS PHYSICS LAB K H RSHBEE ET AL. APR 83...D 3005-MS GLASS FIBRE /EPOXY RESIN INTERFACE LIFE-TIME PREDICTION - Final Report by K H G Ashbee, Principal Investigator R Ho~l J P Sargent Elizabeth...REPORT h PERIOD COVERED. Glass Fibre /Epoxy Resin Interface Life-time F-inal Technical 11’ port PreictonApril 1981 - A:’ril 1983 6. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT

Predicting sample lifetimes in creep fracture of heterogeneous materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koivisto, Juha; Ovaska, Markus; Miksic, Amandine; Laurson, Lasse; Alava, Mikko J.

2016-08-01

Materials flow—under creep or constant loads—and, finally, fail. The prediction of sample lifetimes is an important and highly challenging problem because of the inherently heterogeneous nature of most materials that results in large sample-to-sample lifetime fluctuations, even under the same conditions. We study creep deformation of paper sheets as one heterogeneous material and thus show how to predict lifetimes of individual samples by exploiting the "universal" features in the sample-inherent creep curves, particularly the passage to an accelerating creep rate. Using simulations of a viscoelastic fiber bundle model, we illustrate how deformation localization controls the shape of the creep curve and thus the degree of lifetime predictability.

Results of the Second SeaWiFS Data Analysis Round Robin, March 2000 (DARR-00)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Zibordi, Giuseppe; Berthon, Jean-Francois; D'Alimonte, Davide; Maritorena, Stephane; McLean, Scott; Sildam, Juri; McClain, Charles R. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The accurate determination of upper ocean apparent optical properties (AOPs) is essential for the vicarious calibration of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) instrument and the validation of the derived data products. To evaluate the importance of data analysis methods upon derived AOP values, the Second Data Analysis Round Robin (DARR-00) activity was planned during the latter half of 1999 and executed during March 2000. The focus of the study was the intercomparison of several standard AOP parameters: (1) the upwelled radiance immediately below the sea surface, L(sub u)(0(-),lambda); (2) the downward irradiance immediately below the sea surface, E(sub d)(0(-),lambda); (3) the diffuse attenuation coefficients from the upwelling radiance and the downward irradiance profiles, L(sub L)(lambda) and K(sub d)(lambda), respectively; (4) the incident solar irradiance immediately above the sea surface, E(sub d)(0(+),lambda); (5) the remote sensing reflectance, R(sub rs)(lambda); (6) the normalized water-leaving radiance, [L(sub W)(lambda)](sub N); (7) the upward irradiance immediately below the sea surface, E(sub u)(0(-)), which is used with the upwelled radiance to derive the nadir Q-factor immediately below the sea surface, Q(sub n)(0(-),lambda); and (8) ancillary parameters like the solar zenith angle, theta, and the total chlorophyll concentration, C(sub Ta), derived from the optical data through statistical algorithms. In the results reported here, different methodologies from three research groups were applied to an identical set of 40 multispectral casts in order to evaluate the degree to which differences in data analysis methods influence AOP estimation, and whether any general improvements can be made. The overall results of DARR-00 are presented in Chapter 1 and the individual methods used by the three groups and their data processors are presented in Chapters 2-4.

Load balancing prediction method of cloud storage based on analytic hierarchy process and hybrid hierarchical genetic algorithm.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiuze; Lin, Fan; Yang, Lvqing; Nie, Jing; Tan, Qian; Zeng, Wenhua; Zhang, Nian

2016-01-01

With the continuous expansion of the cloud computing platform scale and rapid growth of users and applications, how to efficiently use system resources to improve the overall performance of cloud computing has become a crucial issue. To address this issue, this paper proposes a method that uses an analytic hierarchy process group decision (AHPGD) to evaluate the load state of server nodes. Training was carried out by using a hybrid hierarchical genetic algorithm (HHGA) for optimizing a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN). The AHPGD makes the aggregative indicator of virtual machines in cloud, and become input parameters of predicted RBFNN. Also, this paper proposes a new dynamic load balancing scheduling algorithm combined with a weighted round-robin algorithm, which uses the predictive periodical load value of nodes based on AHPPGD and RBFNN optimized by HHGA, then calculates the corresponding weight values of nodes and makes constant updates. Meanwhile, it keeps the advantages and avoids the shortcomings of static weighted round-robin algorithm.

Predicting a future lifetime through Box-Cox transformation.

PubMed

Yang, Z

1999-09-01

In predicting a future lifetime based on a sample of past lifetimes, the Box-Cox transformation method provides a simple and unified procedure that is shown in this article to meet or often outperform the corresponding frequentist solution in terms of coverage probability and average length of prediction intervals. Kullback-Leibler information and second-order asymptotic expansion are used to justify the Box-Cox procedure. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are also performed to evaluate the small sample behavior of the procedure. Certain popular lifetime distributions, such as Weibull, inverse Gaussian and Birnbaum-Saunders are served as illustrative examples. One important advantage of the Box-Cox procedure lies in its easy extension to linear model predictions where the exact frequentist solutions are often not available.

Filter replacement lifetime prediction

DOEpatents

Hamann, Hendrik F.; Klein, Levente I.; Manzer, Dennis G.; Marianno, Fernando J.

2017-10-25

Methods and systems for predicting a filter lifetime include building a filter effectiveness history based on contaminant sensor information associated with a filter; determining a rate of filter consumption with a processor based on the filter effectiveness history; and determining a remaining filter lifetime based on the determined rate of filter consumption. Methods and systems for increasing filter economy include measuring contaminants in an internal and an external environment; determining a cost of a corrosion rate increase if unfiltered external air intake is increased for cooling; determining a cost of increased air pressure to filter external air; and if the cost of filtering external air exceeds the cost of the corrosion rate increase, increasing an intake of unfiltered external air.

An advanced approach to traditional round robin CPU scheduling algorithm to prioritize processes with residual burst time nearest to the specified time quantum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swaraj Pati, Mythili N.; Korde, Pranav; Dey, Pallav

2017-11-01

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an optimised variant to the round robin scheduling algorithm. Every algorithm works in its own way and has its own merits and demerits. The proposed algorithm overcomes the shortfalls of the existing scheduling algorithms in terms of waiting time, turnaround time, throughput and number of context switches. The algorithm is pre-emptive and works based on the priority of the associated processes. The priority is decided on the basis of the remaining burst time of a particular process, that is; lower the burst time, higher the priority and higher the burst time, lower the priority. To complete the execution, a time quantum is initially specified. In case if the burst time of a particular process is less than 2X of the specified time quantum but more than 1X of the specified time quantum; the process is given high priority and is allowed to execute until it completes entirely and finishes. Such processes do not have to wait for their next burst cycle.

Preparation of Simulated LBL Defects for Round Robin Experiment

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

Gerczak, Tyler J.; Baldwin, Charles A.; Hunn, John D.

2016-01-01

A critical characteristic of the TRISO fuel design is its ability to retain fission products. During reactor operation, the TRISO layers act as barriers to release of fission products not stabilized in the kernel. Each component of the TRISO particle and compact construction plays a unique role in retaining select fission products, and layer performance is often interrelated. The IPyC, SiC, and OPyC layers are barriers to the release of fission product gases such as Kr and Xe. The SiC layer provides the primary barrier to release of metallic fission products not retained in the kernel, as transport across themore » SiC layer is rate limiting due to the greater permeability of the IPyC and OPyC layers to many metallic fission products. These attributes allow intact TRISO coatings to successfully retain most fission products released from the kernel, with the majority of released fission products during operation being due to defective, damaged, or failed coatings. This dominant release of fission products from compromised particles contributes to the overall source term in reactor; causing safety and maintenance concerns and limiting the lifetime of the fuel. Under these considerations, an understanding of the nature and frequency of compromised particles is an important part of predicting the expected fission product release and ensuring safe and efficient operation.« less

Round Robin Study: Molecular Simulation of Thermodynamic Properties from Models with Internal Degrees of Freedom.

PubMed

Schappals, Michael; Mecklenfeld, Andreas; Kröger, Leif; Botan, Vitalie; Köster, Andreas; Stephan, Simon; García, Edder J; Rutkai, Gabor; Raabe, Gabriele; Klein, Peter; Leonhard, Kai; Glass, Colin W; Lenhard, Johannes; Vrabec, Jadran; Hasse, Hans

2017-09-12

Thermodynamic properties are often modeled by classical force fields which describe the interactions on the atomistic scale. Molecular simulations are used for retrieving thermodynamic data from such models, and many simulation techniques and computer codes are available for that purpose. In the present round robin study, the following fundamental question is addressed: Will different user groups working with different simulation codes obtain coinciding results within the statistical uncertainty of their data? A set of 24 simple simulation tasks is defined and solved by five user groups working with eight molecular simulation codes: DL_POLY, GROMACS, IMC, LAMMPS, ms2, NAMD, Tinker, and TOWHEE. Each task consists of the definition of (1) a pure fluid that is described by a force field and (2) the conditions under which that property is to be determined. The fluids are four simple alkanes: ethane, propane, n-butane, and iso-butane. All force fields consider internal degrees of freedom: OPLS, TraPPE, and a modified OPLS version with bond stretching vibrations. Density and potential energy are determined as a function of temperature and pressure on a grid which is specified such that all states are liquid. The user groups worked independently and reported their results to a central instance. The full set of results was disclosed to all user groups only at the end of the study. During the study, the central instance gave only qualitative feedback. The results reveal the challenges of carrying out molecular simulations. Several iterations were needed to eliminate gross errors. For most simulation tasks, the remaining deviations between the results of the different groups are acceptable from a practical standpoint, but they are often outside of the statistical errors of the individual simulation data. However, there are also cases where the deviations are unacceptable. This study highlights similarities between computer experiments and laboratory experiments, which are

Robin Newmark - Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives | NREL

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Robin Newmark - Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives Robin Newmark - Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives A photo of Robin Newmark. At NREL, Robin Newmark focuses on the development of size and diversified its support. She previously served as the Director of the Strategic Energy

A crack-closure model for predicting fatigue-crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, J. C., Jr.

1981-01-01

The development and application of an analytical model of cycle crack growth is presented that includes the effects of crack closure. The model was used to correlate crack growth rates under constant amplitude loading and to predict crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading on 2219-T851 aluminum alloy sheet material. The predicted crack growth lives agreed well with experimental data. The ratio of predicted to experimental lives ranged from 0.66 to 1.48. These predictions were made using data from an ASTM E24.06.01 Round Robin.

Round robin test on V-shape bio-imaging transfer standard for determination of the instrument transfer function of 3D optical profilers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bermudez, Carlos; Artigas, Roger; Martinez, Pol; Nolvi, Anton; Järvinen, Miikka; Hæggström, Edward; Kassamakov, Ivan

2018-02-01

A V-shape Bio-Transfer-Standard (V-BTS), developed and produced at the University of Helsinki (UH), was measured in two laboratories. In comparison to Siemens Star calibration specimens, the V-BTS performs better at high lateral frequencies close to the diffraction limit of the optical instrument. This permits determining of the Instrument Transfer Function (ITF). The V-BTS features two lipid bilayer steps that partly overlap each other at an angle of 20°, with an average height of 4.6 +/- 0.1 nm. The Round Robin (RR) test aims to determine whether the V-BTS and the developed application protocol work with different optical profilers in different laboratories. First the artefact was measured at Sensofar-Tech, S.L. using an S-neox profiler working in Phase Shifting Interferometry mode. Then V-BTS was measured at UH using a custom-built Scanning White Light Interferometer. All measurements done by four different operators at the two laboratories have a range or standard deviation of +/-0.1 nm which agrees with the theoretical estimates and with measurements done using an atomic force microscope and with a surface plasmon resonance based instrument. The RR results show the applicability of the V-BTS for calibration and for ITF characterization of 3D optical profilers.

Is Robin Hood Alive in Your Classroom?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Royer, Sharon E.

2002-01-01

Considers whether the tales of Robin Hood should be presented as fact or fiction. Discusses the appropriateness of the tales for use in literature programs. Presents arguments for Robin Hood as fact and arguments for Robin Hood as fiction. Considers different versions of the tale. (SG)

Validation of the GILLS score for tongue-lip adhesion in Robin sequence patients.

PubMed

Abramowicz, Shelly; Bacic, Janine D; Mulliken, John B; Rogers, Gary F

2012-03-01

The GILLS score consists of gastroesophageal reflux disease, preoperative intubation, late surgical intervention, low birth weight, and syndromic diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to test the validity of the GILLS score in predicting success of tongue-lip adhesion (TLA) in managing Robin sequence. Infants with Robin sequence were included in the study if they had a TLA for airway compromise subsequent to formulation of the GILLS scoring system, that is, they were not included in the original GILLS analysis. The patients were prospectively considered based on the presence of the 5 factors that constitute the GILLS score. A score of ≤ 2 predicts success of TLA. Twenty patients met the inclusion criteria. Tongue-lip adhesion managed the compromised airway in 18 (90%) of 20 patients. Overall, the GILLS score had a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 50%, positive predictive value of 94%, and negative predictive value of 25%. The GILLS score accurately predicts a successful outcome for TLA in infants with Robin sequence. For infants with a score of 2 or less, TLA is the procedure of choice. Infants with a GILLS score of 3 or greater were 5 times more likely to fail TLA than those with a score of 2 or less. In these patients, other methods of managing the airway should be considered.

Modeling of BN Lifetime Prediction of a System Based on Integrated Multi-Level Information.

PubMed

Wang, Jingbin; Wang, Xiaohong; Wang, Lizhi

2017-09-15

Predicting system lifetime is important to ensure safe and reliable operation of products, which requires integrated modeling based on multi-level, multi-sensor information. However, lifetime characteristics of equipment in a system are different and failure mechanisms are inter-coupled, which leads to complex logical correlations and the lack of a uniform lifetime measure. Based on a Bayesian network (BN), a lifetime prediction method for systems that combine multi-level sensor information is proposed. The method considers the correlation between accidental failures and degradation failure mechanisms, and achieves system modeling and lifetime prediction under complex logic correlations. This method is applied in the lifetime prediction of a multi-level solar-powered unmanned system, and the predicted results can provide guidance for the improvement of system reliability and for the maintenance and protection of the system.

Characterization of Initial Parameter Information for Lifetime Prediction of Electronic Devices.

PubMed

Li, Zhigang; Liu, Boying; Yuan, Mengxiong; Zhang, Feifei; Guo, Jiaqiang

2016-01-01

Newly manufactured electronic devices are subject to different levels of potential defects existing among the initial parameter information of the devices. In this study, a characterization of electromagnetic relays that were operated at their optimal performance with appropriate and steady parameter values was performed to estimate the levels of their potential defects and to develop a lifetime prediction model. First, the initial parameter information value and stability were quantified to measure the performance of the electronics. In particular, the values of the initial parameter information were estimated using the probability-weighted average method, whereas the stability of the parameter information was determined by using the difference between the extrema and end points of the fitting curves for the initial parameter information. Second, a lifetime prediction model for small-sized samples was proposed on the basis of both measures. Finally, a model for the relationship of the initial contact resistance and stability over the lifetime of the sampled electromagnetic relays was proposed and verified. A comparison of the actual and predicted lifetimes of the relays revealed a 15.4% relative error, indicating that the lifetime of electronic devices can be predicted based on their initial parameter information.

Characterization of Initial Parameter Information for Lifetime Prediction of Electronic Devices

PubMed Central

Li, Zhigang; Liu, Boying; Yuan, Mengxiong; Zhang, Feifei; Guo, Jiaqiang

2016-01-01

Newly manufactured electronic devices are subject to different levels of potential defects existing among the initial parameter information of the devices. In this study, a characterization of electromagnetic relays that were operated at their optimal performance with appropriate and steady parameter values was performed to estimate the levels of their potential defects and to develop a lifetime prediction model. First, the initial parameter information value and stability were quantified to measure the performance of the electronics. In particular, the values of the initial parameter information were estimated using the probability-weighted average method, whereas the stability of the parameter information was determined by using the difference between the extrema and end points of the fitting curves for the initial parameter information. Second, a lifetime prediction model for small-sized samples was proposed on the basis of both measures. Finally, a model for the relationship of the initial contact resistance and stability over the lifetime of the sampled electromagnetic relays was proposed and verified. A comparison of the actual and predicted lifetimes of the relays revealed a 15.4% relative error, indicating that the lifetime of electronic devices can be predicted based on their initial parameter information. PMID:27907188

Round Robin evaluation of soil moisture retrieval models for the MetOp-A ASCAT Instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruber, Alexander; Paloscia, Simonetta; Santi, Emanuele; Notarnicola, Claudia; Pasolli, Luca; Smolander, Tuomo; Pulliainen, Jouni; Mittelbach, Heidi; Dorigo, Wouter; Wagner, Wolfgang

2014-05-01

Global soil moisture observations are crucial to understand hydrologic processes, earth-atmosphere interactions and climate variability. ESA's Climate Change Initiative (CCI) project aims to create a global consistent long-term soil moisture data set based on the merging of the best available active and passive satellite-based microwave sensors and retrieval algorithms. Within the CCI, a Round Robin evaluation of existing retrieval algorithms for both active and passive instruments was carried out. In this study we present the comparison of five different retrieval algorithms covering three different modelling principles applied to active MetOp-A ASCAT L1 backscatter data. These models include statistical models (Bayesian Regression and Support Vector Regression, provided by the Institute for Applied Remote Sensing, Eurac Research Viale Druso, Italy, and an Artificial Neural Network, provided by the Institute of Applied Physics, CNR-IFAC, Italy), a semi-empirical model (provided by the Finnish Meteorological Institute), and a change detection model (provided by the Vienna University of Technology). The algorithms were applied on L1 backscatter data within the period of 2007-2011, resampled to a 12.5 km grid. The evaluation was performed over 75 globally distributed, quality controlled in situ stations drawn from the International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN) using surface soil moisture data from the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS-) Noah land surface model as second independent reference. The temporal correlation between the data sets was analyzed and random errors of the the different algorithms were estimated using the triple collocation method. Absolute soil moisture values as well as soil moisture anomalies were considered including both long-term anomalies from the mean seasonal cycle and short-term anomalies from a five weeks moving average window. Results show a very high agreement between all five algorithms for most stations. A slight

Analysis of Orbital Lifetime Prediction Parameters in Preparation for Post-Mission Disposal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Ha-Yeon; Kim, Hae-Dong; Seong, Jae-Dong

2015-12-01

Atmospheric drag force is an important source of perturbation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) orbit satellites, and solar activity is a major factor for changes in atmospheric density. In particular, the orbital lifetime of a satellite varies with changes in solar activity, so care must be taken in predicting the remaining orbital lifetime during preparation for post-mission disposal. In this paper, the System Tool Kit (STK®) Long-term Orbit Propagator is used to analyze the changes in orbital lifetime predictions with respect to solar activity. In addition, the STK® Lifetime tool is used to analyze the change in orbital lifetime with respect to solar flux data generation, which is needed for the orbital lifetime calculation, and its control on the drag coefficient control. Analysis showed that the application of the most recent solar flux file within the Lifetime tool gives a predicted trend that is closest to the actual orbit. We also examine the effect of the drag coefficient, by performing a comparative analysis between varying and constant coefficients in terms of solar activity intensities.

Do Love Styles Predict Lifetime Number of Sex Partners?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hans, Jason D.

2008-01-01

The relationship between love styles and lifetime number of sexual partners was explored using survey data from 507 college students. Love styles significantly (p less than 0.001) contributed to the prediction of number of lifetime sex partners after controlling for demographic characteristics and attitudes toward sexually transmitted infections.…

Modeling of BN Lifetime Prediction of a System Based on Integrated Multi-Level Information

PubMed Central

Wang, Xiaohong; Wang, Lizhi

2017-01-01

Predicting system lifetime is important to ensure safe and reliable operation of products, which requires integrated modeling based on multi-level, multi-sensor information. However, lifetime characteristics of equipment in a system are different and failure mechanisms are inter-coupled, which leads to complex logical correlations and the lack of a uniform lifetime measure. Based on a Bayesian network (BN), a lifetime prediction method for systems that combine multi-level sensor information is proposed. The method considers the correlation between accidental failures and degradation failure mechanisms, and achieves system modeling and lifetime prediction under complex logic correlations. This method is applied in the lifetime prediction of a multi-level solar-powered unmanned system, and the predicted results can provide guidance for the improvement of system reliability and for the maintenance and protection of the system. PMID:28926930

SeaWiFS Postlaunch Technical Report Series. Volume 7; The Fifth Sea-WiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-5), July 1996

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Johnson, B. Carol; Yoon, Howard W.; Bruce, Sally S.; Shaw, Ping-Shine; Thompson, Ambler; Hooker, Stanford B.; Barnes, Robert A.; Eplee, Robert E., Jr.;

Quantitative phase analysis of challenging samples using neutron powder diffraction. Sample #4 from the CPD QPA round robin revisited

DOE PAGES

Whitfield, Pamela S.

2016-04-29

Here, quantitative phase analysis (QPA) using neutron powder diffraction more often than not involves non-ambient studies where no sample preparation is possible. The larger samples and penetration of neutrons versus X-rays makes neutron diffraction less susceptible to inhomogeneity and large grain sizes, but most well-characterized QPA standard samples do not have these characteristics. Sample #4 from the International Union of Crystallography Commission on Powder Diffraction QPA round robin was one such sample. Data were collected using the POWGEN time-of-flight (TOF) neutron powder diffractometer and analysed together with historical data from the C2 diffractometer at Chalk River. The presence of magneticmore » reflections from Fe 3O 4 (magnetite) in the sample was an additional consideration, and given the frequency at which iron-containing and other magnetic compounds are present during in-operando studies their possible impact on the accuracy of QPA is of interest. Additionally, scattering from thermal diffuse scattering in the high-Qregion (<0.6 Å) accessible with TOF data could impact QPA results during least-squares because of the extreme peak overlaps present in this region. Refinement of POWGEN data was largely insensitive to the modification of longer d-spacing reflections by magnetic contributions, but the constant-wavelength data were adversely impacted if the magnetic structure was not included. A robust refinement weighting was found to be effective in reducing quantification errors using the constant-wavelength neutron data both where intensities from magnetic reflections were ignored and included. Results from the TOF data were very sensitive to inadequate modelling of the high- Q (low d-spacing) background using simple polynomials.« less

Sea WiFS Technical Report Series: The fourth SeaWIFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-4), May 1995. vol. 37

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, B. Carol; Mueller, James L.; Bruce, Sally S.; Early, Edward A.; Houston, Jeanne M.; O'Brian, Thomas R.; Thompson, Ambler; Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor)

1996-01-01

This report documents the fourth Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-4), which was held at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on 3-10 May 1995. The agenda for SIRREX-4 was established by a consensus reached at the conclusion of SIRREX-3: there should be an emphasis on training and work to foster and encourage uniform use of accepted protocols for calibrating radiometric instruments in the laboratory. The goal was to host the activity in a setting where proper techniques could be discussed and demonstrated. It seemed appealing to split the day between morning lectures and afternoon laboratory exercises or practicals. The former gave the user community a chance to present what was important to them and discuss it with acknowledged experts in radiometry, while the latter presented a unique opportunity for training and evaluation in the presence of these same experts. The five laboratory sessions were concerned with (1) determining the responsivity of a spectroradiometer and the spectral radiance of an unknown integrating sphere source, (2) demonstrating spectral field calibration procedures for an integrating sphere using three different instruments, (3) measuring spectral radiance using the plaque method, (4) setting up and aligning lamp calibration transfer standards using the NIST specifications for irradiance measurements, and (5) characterizing radiometric instruments. In addition to documenting some supplemental studies performed outside the laboratory sessions, this report includes an evaluation of the hardware that has been used during the SIRREX activities plus a critical evaluation of SIRREX objectives.

Experience with Round Beam Operation at The Advanced Photon Source

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

Xiao, A.; Emery, L.; Sajaev, V.

2015-01-01

Very short Touschek lifetime becomes a common issue for next-generation ultra-low emittance storage ring light sources. In order to reach a longer beamlifetime, such amachine often requires operating with a vertical-to-horizontal emittance ratio close to an unity, i.e. a “round beam”. In tests at the APS storage ring, we determined how a round beam can be reached experimentally. Some general issues, such as beam injection, optics measurement and corrections, and orbit correction have been tested also. To demonstrate that a round beam was achieved, the beam size ratio is calibrated using beam lifetime measurement.

Lifetime predictions for the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) and San Marco spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, E. A.; Ward, D. T.; Schmitt, M. W.; Phenneger, M. C.; Vaughn, F. J.; Lupisella, M. L.

1989-01-01

Lifetime prediction techniques developed by the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Flight Dynamics Division (FDD) are described. These techniques were developed to predict the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) spacecraft orbit, which is decaying due to atmospheric drag, with reentry predicted to occur before the end of 1989. Lifetime predictions were also performed for the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), which was deployed on the 1984 SMM repair mission and is scheduled for retrieval on another Space Transportation System (STS) mission later this year. Concepts used in the lifetime predictions were tested on the San Marco spacecraft, which reentered the Earth's atmosphere on December 6, 1988. Ephemerides predicting the orbit evolution of the San Marco spacecraft until reentry were generated over the final 90 days of the mission when the altitude was less than 380 kilometers. The errors in the predicted ephemerides are due to errors in the prediction of atmospheric density variations over the lifetime of the satellite. To model the time dependence of the atmospheric densities, predictions of the solar flux at the 10.7-centimeter wavelength were used in conjunction with Harris-Priester (HP) atmospheric density tables. Orbital state vectors, together with the spacecraft mass and area, are used as input to the Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS). Propagations proceed in monthly segments, with the nominal atmospheric drag model scaled for each month according to the predicted monthly average value of F10.7. Calibration propagations are performed over a period of known orbital decay to obtain the effective ballistic coefficient. Progagations using plus or minus 2 sigma solar flux predictions are also generated to estimate the despersion in expected reentry dates. Definitive orbits are compared with these predictions as time expases. As updated vectors are received, these are also propagated to reentryto continually update the lifetime predictions.

[Prediction of round window visibility in cochlear implantation with temporal bone high resolution computed tomography].

PubMed

Sun, S P; Lu, W; Lei, Y B; Men, X M; Zuo, B; Ding, S G

2017-08-07

Objective: To discuss the prediction of round window(RW) visibility in cochlear implantation(CI) with temporal bone high resolution computed tomography(HRCT). Methods: From January 2013 to January 2017, 130 cases underwent both HRCT and CI in our hospital were analyzed. The distance from facial nerve to posterior canal wall(FWD), the angle between facial nerve and inner margin of round window(FRA), and the angle between facial nerve and tympanic anulus to inner margin of round window(FRAA) were detected at the level of round window on axial temporal bone HRCT. A line parallel to the posterior wall of ear canal was drawn from the anterior wall of facial nerve at the level of round window on axial temporal bone HRCT and its relationship with round window was detected (facial-round window line, FRL): type0-posterior to the round window, type1-between the round window, type2-anterior to the round window. Their(FWD, FRA, FRAA, FRL) relationships with intra-operative round window visibility were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software. Results: FWD( F =18.76, P =0.00), FRA( F =34.57, P =0.00), FRAA ( F =14.24, P =0.00) could affect the intra-operative RW visibility significantly. RW could be exposed completely during CI when preoperative HRCT showing type0 FRL. RW might be partly exposed and not exposed when preoperative HRCT showing type1 and type2 FRL respectively. Conclusion: FWD, FRA, FRAA and FRL of temporal bone HRCT can predict intra-operative round window visibility effectively in CI surgery.

Service lifetime prediction for encapsulated photovoltaic cells/minimodules

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

Czanderna, A.W.; Jorgensen, G.J.

The overall purposes of this paper are to elucidate the crucial importance of predicting the service lifetime (SLP) for photovoltaics (PV) modules and to present an outline for developing a SLP methodology for encapsulated PV cells and minimodules. The specific objectives are (a) to illustrate the generic nature of SLP for several types of solar energy conversion or conversion devices, (b) to summarize the major durability issues concerned with these devices, (c) to justify using SLP in the triad of cost, performance, and durability instead of only durability, (d) to define and explain the seven major elements that comprise amore » generic SLP methodology, (e) to provide background about implementing the SLP methodology for PV cells and minimodules including the complexity of the encapsulation problems, (f) to summarize briefly the past focus of our task for improving and/or replacing ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) as a PV pottant, and (g) to provide an outline of our present and future studies using encapsulated PV cells and minimodules for improving the encapsulation of PV cells and predicting a service lifetime for them using the SLP methodology outlined in objective (d). By using this methodology, our major conclusion is that predicting the service lifetime of PV cells and minimodules is possible. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}« less

The effects of orchard pesticide applications on breeding robins

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, E.V.; Mack, G.L.; Thompson, D.Q.

1976-01-01

From 1966 through 1968, robins reproduced successfully in commercial apple orchards which were periodically sprayed with DDT, dieldrin, and other pesticides. Observations by a Z-man team using walkie-talkies revealed that breeding robins obtained essentially all food for themselves and nestlings from unsprayed areas adjacent to the orchards. Invertebrate trapping in sprayed and unsprayed areas showed that these food items were 5 or 6 times more abundant in unsprayed habitat. Worms forced to live in sprayed orchard soil displayed significantly greater mortality than controls. Mean robin clutch sizes in the study orchards were lower than those reported for robins in other studies, perhaps because of food shortage and/or increased foraging distances. Levels of DDT and its analogs in food items from robin foraging areas did not exceed 8 ppm wet weight basis. From late April to July, adult robins showed small but significant increases in DDE levels in all tissues examined, as well as an increase in dieldrin in brains. Pesticides sprayed on the farm had no direct demonstrable adverse effects on the robins; productivity was high and adult mortality low. The situation was in large measure fortuitous, since any changes in orchard management practices which resulted in the presence or availability of invertebrates under orchard trees would be expected to result in robin mortality and/or reduced breeding success.

Attempting to Predict Success in the Qualifying Round of the International Chemistry Olympiad

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Urhahne, Detlef; Ho, Lok Hang; Parchmann, Ilka; Nick, Sabine

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was trying to predict success in the qualifying round for the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) on the basis of the expectancy-value model of achievement motivation by Eccles et al. The investigation with 52 participants, including 14 females, was conducted during the third of four qualifying rounds of the IChO in…

Resonant alteration of propagation in guiding structures with complex Robin parameter and its magnetic-field-induced restoration

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

Olendski, O., E-mail: oolendski@ksu.edu.sa

2011-06-15

Highlights: > Solutions of the wave equation are analyzed for the confined circular geometry with complex Robin boundary conditions. > Sharp extremum is found in the energy dependence on the imaginary part of the extrapolation length. > Nonzero real part of the Robin length or/and magnetic field wipe out the resonance. - Abstract: Solutions of the scalar Helmholtz wave equation are derived for the analysis of the transport and thermodynamic properties of the two-dimensional disk and three-dimensional infinitely long straight wire in the external uniform longitudinal magnetic field B under the assumption that the Robin boundary condition contains extrapolation lengthmore » {Lambda} with nonzero imaginary part {Lambda}{sub i}. As a result of this complexity, the self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian is lost, its eigenvalues E become complex too and the discrete bound states of the disk characteristic for the real {Lambda} turn into the corresponding quasibound states with their lifetime defined by the eigenenergies imaginary parts E{sub i}. Accordingly, the longitudinal flux undergoes an alteration as it flows along the wire with its attenuation/amplification being E{sub i}-dependent too. It is shown that, for zero magnetic field, the component E{sub i} as a function of the Robin imaginary part exhibits a pronounced sharp extremum with its magnitude being the largest for the zero real part {Lambda}{sub r} of the extrapolation length. Increasing magnitude of {Lambda}{sub r} quenches the E{sub i} - {Lambda}{sub i} resonance and at very large {Lambda}{sub r} the eigenenergies E approach the asymptotic real values independent of {Lambda}{sub i}. The extremum is also wiped out by the magnetic field when, for the large B, the energies tend to the Landau levels. Mathematical and physical interpretations of the obtained results are provided; in particular, it is shown that the finite lifetime of the disk quasibound states stems from the {Lambda}{sub i}-induced currents

Robin Williams' suicide: a case study.

PubMed

Tohid, Hassaan

2016-01-01

The world renowned comedian and four-time Oscar nominated actor Robin Williams died on August 11, 2014. From the outset, the news indicated that his death was believed to be a suicide and this was later confirmed to be true by the autopsy reports. Williams had been suffering from severe depression, which is believed to be the leading contributor to his suicide. In this case study, I will highlight the event of the actor's suicide and the main risk factors along with depression leading to his tragic death. As of the end of 2015, no other case study seemed to have addressed or explored the links between the cause (or causes) and events leading to Robin Williams' suicide. Robin Williams was suffering from relationship problems, financial problems, drug addiction, and major depression. All of these factors led to his suicide. The chances of committing suicide drastically increase in the presence of any of the key risk factors. Unfortunately, the actor Robin Williams was dealing with four of the major risk factors all together, which put him at a high risk of committing suicide and eventually led to his tragic death.

A round-robin gamma stereotactic radiosurgery dosimetry interinstitution comparison of calibration protocols

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

Drzymala, R. E., E-mail: drzymala@wustl.edu; Alvarez, P. E.; Bednarz, G.

2015-11-15

Purpose: Absorbed dose calibration for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery is challenging due to the unique geometric conditions, dosimetry characteristics, and nonstandard field size of these devices. Members of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 178 on Gamma Stereotactic Radiosurgery Dosimetry and Quality Assurance have participated in a round-robin exchange of calibrated measurement instrumentation and phantoms exploring two approved and two proposed calibration protocols or formalisms on ten gamma radiosurgery units. The objectives of this study were to benchmark and compare new formalisms to existing calibration methods, while maintaining traceability to U.S. primary dosimetry calibration laboratory standards. Methods:more » Nine institutions made measurements using ten gamma stereotactic radiosurgery units in three different 160 mm diameter spherical phantoms [acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, Solid Water, and liquid water] and in air using a positioning jig. Two calibrated miniature ionization chambers and one calibrated electrometer were circulated for all measurements. Reference dose-rates at the phantom center were determined using the well-established AAPM TG-21 or TG-51 dose calibration protocols and using two proposed dose calibration protocols/formalisms: an in-air protocol and a formalism proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) working group for small and nonstandard radiation fields. Each institution’s results were normalized to the dose-rate determined at that institution using the TG-21 protocol in the ABS phantom. Results: Percentages of dose-rates within 1.5% of the reference dose-rate (TG-21 + ABS phantom) for the eight chamber-protocol-phantom combinations were the following: 88% for TG-21, 70% for TG-51, 93% for the new IAEA nonstandard-field formalism, and 65% for the new in-air protocol. Averages and standard deviations for dose-rates over all measurements relative to the TG

SeaWiFs Technical Report Series. Volume 34: The Third SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-3), 19-30 September 1994

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Acker, James G. (Editor); Mueller, James L.; Johnson, B. Carol; Cromer, Christopher L.; McLean, James T.; Biggar, Stuart F.

1996-01-01

This report presents results of the third Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round- Robin Experiment (SIRREX-3), which was held at the San Diego State University (SDSU) Center for Hydro-Optics and Remote Sensing (CHORS) on 19-30 September 1994. Spectral irradiances of FEL lamps belonging to each participant were intercompared by reference to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) scale of spectral irradiance using secondary standard lamps F268, F269, and F182, with a Type A uncertainty between 1.1-1.5%. This level of uncertainty was achieved despite difficulties with lamp F269. The average spectral irradiances of FEL lamps, compared in both SIRREX-2 and SIRREX-3, differed between the two experiments by 1.5%, which probably indicates that the values assigned to the secondary standard lamp at the time of SIRREX-2 were in error. With two exceptions, spectral radiance values of integrating sphere sources were measured during SIRREX-3 with uncertainties in temporal stability of less than 0.3% and absolute uncertainties of 1.5-2.0%. This is a significant improvement over similar intercomparisons in SIRREX- I and SIRREX-2. Plaque reflectances were intercompared with an uncertainty of about 1-2%, but the absolute uncertainty is undefined. Although this is an improvement over results of previous SIRREXS, the sources and magnitude of uncertainty associated with transfers of spectral radiance using plaques requires further evaluation in future experiments.

Probabilistic Prediction of Lifetimes of Ceramic Parts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Noel N.; Gyekenyesi, John P.; Jadaan, Osama M.; Palfi, Tamas; Powers, Lynn; Reh, Stefan; Baker, Eric H.

2006-01-01

ANSYS/CARES/PDS is a software system that combines the ANSYS Probabilistic Design System (PDS) software with a modified version of the Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures Life (CARES/Life) Version 6.0 software. [A prior version of CARES/Life was reported in Program for Evaluation of Reliability of Ceramic Parts (LEW-16018), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 20, No. 3 (March 1996), page 28.] CARES/Life models effects of stochastic strength, slow crack growth, and stress distribution on the overall reliability of a ceramic component. The essence of the enhancement in CARES/Life 6.0 is the capability to predict the probability of failure using results from transient finite-element analysis. ANSYS PDS models the effects of uncertainty in material properties, dimensions, and loading on the stress distribution and deformation. ANSYS/CARES/PDS accounts for the effects of probabilistic strength, probabilistic loads, probabilistic material properties, and probabilistic tolerances on the lifetime and reliability of the component. Even failure probability becomes a stochastic quantity that can be tracked as a response variable. ANSYS/CARES/PDS enables tracking of all stochastic quantities in the design space, thereby enabling more precise probabilistic prediction of lifetimes of ceramic components.

Epizootic podoknemidokoptiasis in American robins

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pence, Danny B.; Cole, Rebecca A.; Brugger, Kristin E.; Fischer, John R.

1999-01-01

Epizootics of scaly leg disease caused by infection with the submacroscopic mite Knemidokoptes jamaicensis (Acari: Knemidokoptidae) in migratory American robins (Turdus migratorius) from a residential area of Tulsa (Oklahoma, USA) are documented during the winters (December through February) of 1993–94 and 1994–95. Estimates of 60 to >80% of the birds in several different flights arriving in the area had lesions consistent with knemidokoptic mange. Epizootic occurrence of K. jamaicensis also is confirmed incidentally in American robins from Georgia (USA) in 1995 and 1998 and in Florida (USA) in 1991. These are the first confirmed epizootics of scaly leg attributed to infections with mites specifically identified as K. jamaicensis in North America. Severity of observed lesions in American robins ranged from scaly hyperkeratosis of the feet and legs to extensive proliferative lesions with loss of digits or the entire foot in some birds. Histologically, there was severe diffuse hyperkeratosis of the epidermis which contained numerous mites and multifocal aggregates of degranulating to degenerating eosinophilic heterophils; there was mild to severe superficial dermatitis with aggregates of eosinophilic heterophils and some mononuclear cells. Based on limited data from affected captive birds in Florida, we questioned the efficacy of ivermectin as an effective acaricide for knemidokoptiasis and propose that conditions associated with captivity may exacerbate transmission of this mite among caged birds. While knemidokoptic mange apparently can result in substantial host morbidity and possibly mortality, the ultimate impact of these epizootics on American robin populations presently is unknown.

Predicting round window niche visibility via the facial recess using high-resolution computed tomography.

PubMed

Kashio, Akinori; Sakamoto, Takashi; Karino, Shotaro; Kakigi, Akinobu; Iwasaki, Shinichi; Yamasoba, Tatsuya

2015-01-01

To predict round window niche (RWN) visibility using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Case series with chart review. Academic tertiary care center. We retrospectively reviewed 70 cochlear implant ears that underwent presurgical axial HRCT with a surgical video recorder. The visibility of the RWN was classified into three types: 17 as invisible or nearly invisible, 22 as partially visible, and 31 as fully visible. Next, we measured the following three radiologic parameters: 1) the angle of the external auditory canal (EAC) relative to the cochlear basal turn, 2) the width of the facial recess, and 3) the relative location of the facial nerve (FN) to the cochlear basal turn. These were compared with the RWN visibility. Subsequently, to predict the RWN visibility, a line was created parallel to the EAC line and along the anterior lateral FN. The location of the line relative to the round window membrane was compared with the RWN view. In cases that had poor RWN visibility, the angle of the posterior canal wall portion of the EAC relative to the cochlear basal turn was significantly smaller and the location of the FN to the cochlear basal turn was closer. The location of the prediction line to the round window membrane highly predicted the RWN view during the surgery. The RWN visibility and the preoperative HRCT findings showed a high correlation. Drawing the prediction line is a simple and useful way for preoperatively predicting the RWN visibility in cochlear implant surgery.

Fatigue lifetime prediction of a reduced-diameter dental implant system: Numerical and experimental study.

PubMed

Duan, Yuanyuan; Gonzalez, Jorge A; Kulkarni, Pratim A; Nagy, William W; Griggs, Jason A

2018-06-16

To validate the fatigue lifetime of a reduced-diameter dental implant system predicted by three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) by testing physical implant specimens using an accelerated lifetime testing (ALT) strategy with the apparatus specified by ISO 14801. A commercially-available reduced-diameter titanium dental implant system (Straumann Standard Plus NN) was digitized using a micro-CT scanner. Axial slices were processed using an interactive medical image processing software (Mimics) to create 3D models. FEA analysis was performed in ABAQUS, and fatigue lifetime was predicted using fe-safe ® software. The same implant specimens (n=15) were tested at a frequency of 2Hz on load frames using apparatus specified by ISO 14801 and ALT. Multiple step-stress load profiles with various aggressiveness were used to improve testing efficiency. Fatigue lifetime statistics of physical specimens were estimated in a reliability analysis software (ALTA PRO). Fractured specimens were examined using SEM with fractographic technique to determine the failure mode. FEA predicted lifetime was within the 95% confidence interval of lifetime estimated by experimental results, which suggested that FEA prediction was accurate for this implant system. The highest probability of failure was located at the root of the implant body screw thread adjacent to the simulated bone level, which also agreed with the failure origin in physical specimens. Fatigue lifetime predictions based on finite element modeling could yield similar results in lieu of physical testing, allowing the use of virtual testing in the early stages of future research projects on implant fatigue. Copyright © 2018 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A new lifetime estimation model for a quicker LED reliability prediction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamon, B. H.; Mendizabal, L.; Feuillet, G.; Gasse, A.; Bataillou, B.

2014-09-01

LED reliability and lifetime prediction is a key point for Solid State Lighting adoption. For this purpose, one hundred and fifty LEDs have been aged for a reliability analysis. LEDs have been grouped following nine current-temperature stress conditions. Stress driving current was fixed between 350mA and 1A and ambient temperature between 85C and 120°C. Using integrating sphere and I(V) measurements, a cross study of the evolution of electrical and optical characteristics has been done. Results show two main failure mechanisms regarding lumen maintenance. The first one is the typically observed lumen depreciation and the second one is a much more quicker depreciation related to an increase of the leakage and non radiative currents. Models of the typical lumen depreciation and leakage resistance depreciation have been made using electrical and optical measurements during the aging tests. The combination of those models allows a new method toward a quicker LED lifetime prediction. These two models have been used for lifetime predictions for LEDs.

75 FR 12229 - Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Application

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-15

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP10-74-000] Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Application March 5, 2010. Take notice that on March 3, 2010, Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC (Sea Robin), PO Box 4967, Houston, Texas 77210-4967, filed in the above referenced...

RNA-Puzzles Round III: 3D RNA structure prediction of five riboswitches and one ribozyme

PubMed Central

Biesiada, Marcin; Boniecki, Michał J.; Chou, Fang-Chieh; Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R.; Das, Rhiju; Dunin-Horkawicz, Stanisław; Geniesse, Caleb; Kappel, Kalli; Kladwang, Wipapat; Krokhotin, Andrey; Łach, Grzegorz E.; Major, François; Mann, Thomas H.; Pachulska-Wieczorek, Katarzyna; Patel, Dinshaw J.; Piccirilli, Joseph A.; Popenda, Mariusz; Purzycka, Katarzyna J.; Ren, Aiming; Rice, Greggory M.; Santalucia, John; Tandon, Arpit; Trausch, Jeremiah J.; Wang, Jian; Weeks, Kevin M.; Williams, Benfeard; Xiao, Yi; Zhang, Dong; Zok, Tomasz

2017-01-01

RNA-Puzzles is a collective experiment in blind 3D RNA structure prediction. We report here a third round of RNA-Puzzles. Five puzzles, 4, 8, 12, 13, 14, all structures of riboswitch aptamers and puzzle 7, a ribozyme structure, are included in this round of the experiment. The riboswitch structures include biological binding sites for small molecules (S-adenosyl methionine, cyclic diadenosine monophosphate, 5-amino 4-imidazole carboxamide riboside 5′-triphosphate, glutamine) and proteins (YbxF), and one set describes large conformational changes between ligand-free and ligand-bound states. The Varkud satellite ribozyme is the most recently solved structure of a known large ribozyme. All puzzles have established biological functions and require structural understanding to appreciate their molecular mechanisms. Through the use of fast-track experimental data, including multidimensional chemical mapping, and accurate prediction of RNA secondary structure, a large portion of the contacts in 3D have been predicted correctly leading to similar topologies for the top ranking predictions. Template-based and homology-derived predictions could predict structures to particularly high accuracies. However, achieving biological insights from de novo prediction of RNA 3D structures still depends on the size and complexity of the RNA. Blind computational predictions of RNA structures already appear to provide useful structural information in many cases. Similar to the previous RNA-Puzzles Round II experiment, the prediction of non-Watson–Crick interactions and the observed high atomic clash scores reveal a notable need for an algorithm of improvement. All prediction models and assessment results are available at http://ahsoka.u-strasbg.fr/rnapuzzles/. PMID:28138060

Assessment of CAPRI predictions in rounds 3-5 shows progress in docking procedures.

PubMed

Méndez, Raúl; Leplae, Raphaël; Lensink, Marc F; Wodak, Shoshana J

2005-08-01

The current status of docking procedures for predicting protein-protein interactions starting from their three-dimensional (3D) structure is reassessed by evaluating blind predictions, performed during 2003-2004 as part of Rounds 3-5 of the community-wide experiment on Critical Assessment of PRedicted Interactions (CAPRI). Ten newly determined structures of protein-protein complexes were used as targets for these rounds. They comprised 2 enzyme-inhibitor complexes, 2 antigen-antibody complexes, 2 complexes involved in cellular signaling, 2 homo-oligomers, and a complex between 2 components of the bacterial cellulosome. For most targets, the predictors were given the experimental structures of 1 unbound and 1 bound component, with the latter in a random orientation. For some, the structure of the free component was derived from that of a related protein, requiring the use of homology modeling. In some of the targets, significant differences in conformation were displayed between the bound and unbound components, representing a major challenge for the docking procedures. For 1 target, predictions could not go to completion. In total, 1866 predictions submitted by 30 groups were evaluated. Over one-third of these groups applied completely novel docking algorithms and scoring functions, with several of them specifically addressing the challenge of dealing with side-chain and backbone flexibility. The quality of the predicted interactions was evaluated by comparison to the experimental structures of the targets, made available for the evaluation, using the well-agreed-upon criteria used previously. Twenty-four groups, which for the first time included an automatic Web server, produced predictions ranking from acceptable to highly accurate for all targets, including those where the structures of the bound and unbound forms differed substantially. These results and a brief survey of the methods used by participants of CAPRI Rounds 3-5 suggest that genuine progress in the

Retrospective lifetime dietary patterns predict cognitive performance in community-dwelling older Australians.

PubMed

Hosking, Diane E; Nettelbeck, Ted; Wilson, Carlene; Danthiir, Vanessa

2014-07-28

Dietary intake is a modifiable exposure that may have an impact on cognitive outcomes in older age. The long-term aetiology of cognitive decline and dementia, however, suggests that the relevance of dietary intake extends across the lifetime. In the present study, we tested whether retrospective dietary patterns from the life periods of childhood, early adulthood, adulthood and middle age predicted cognitive performance in a cognitively healthy sample of 352 older Australian adults >65 years. Participants completed the Lifetime Diet Questionnaire and a battery of cognitive tests designed to comprehensively assess multiple cognitive domains. In separate regression models, lifetime dietary patterns were the predictors of cognitive factor scores representing ten constructs derived by confirmatory factor analysis of the cognitive test battery. All regression models were progressively adjusted for the potential confounders of current diet, age, sex, years of education, English as native language, smoking history, income level, apoE ɛ4 status, physical activity, other past dietary patterns and health-related variables. In the adjusted models, lifetime dietary patterns predicted cognitive performance in this sample of older adults. In models additionally adjusted for intake from the other life periods and mechanistic health-related variables, dietary patterns from the childhood period alone reached significance. Higher consumption of the 'coffee and high-sugar, high-fat extras' pattern predicted poorer performance on simple/choice reaction time, working memory, retrieval fluency, short-term memory and reasoning. The 'vegetable and non-processed' pattern negatively predicted simple/choice reaction time, and the 'traditional Australian' pattern positively predicted perceptual speed and retrieval fluency. Identifying early-life dietary antecedents of older-age cognitive performance contributes to formulating strategies for delaying or preventing cognitive decline.

Kinetic approach to degradation mechanisms in polymer solar cells and their accurate lifetime predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arshad, Muhammad Azeem; Maaroufi, AbdelKrim

2018-07-01

A beginning has been made in the present study regarding the accurate lifetime predictions of polymer solar cells. Certain reservations about the conventionally employed temperature accelerated lifetime measurements test for its unworthiness of predicting reliable lifetimes of polymer solar cells are brought into light. Critical issues concerning the accelerated lifetime testing include, assuming reaction mechanism instead of determining it, and relying solely on the temperature acceleration of a single property of material. An advanced approach comprising a set of theoretical models to estimate the accurate lifetimes of polymer solar cells is therefore suggested in order to suitably alternate the accelerated lifetime testing. This approach takes into account systematic kinetic modeling of various possible polymer degradation mechanisms under natural weathering conditions. The proposed kinetic approach is substantiated by its applications on experimental aging data-sets of polymer solar materials/solar cells including, P3HT polymer film, bulk heterojunction (MDMO-PPV:PCBM) and dye-sensitized solar cells. Based on the suggested approach, an efficacious lifetime determination formula for polymer solar cells is derived and tested on dye-sensitized solar cells. Some important merits of the proposed method are also pointed out and its prospective applications are discussed.

76 FR 66709 - Trunkline Gas Company, LLC, Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Application

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-27

... Company, LLC, Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Application Take notice that on October 7, 2011, Trunkline Gas Company, LLC (Trunkline) and Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC (Sea Robin), together referred to...), for permission and approval for Trunkline to abandon by sale to Sea Robin and for Sea Robin to acquire...

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 26: Results of the SeaWiFS Data Analysis Round-Robin, July 1994 (DARR-1994)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Siegel, David A.; Obrien, Margaret C.; Sorensen, Jen C.; Konnoff, Daniel A.; Brody, Eric A.; Mueller, James L.; Davis, Curtiss O.; Rhea, W. Joseph

1995-01-01

The accurate determination of upper ocean apparent optical properties (AOP's) is essential for the vicarious calibration of the sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor (SeaWiFS) instrument and the validation of the derived data products. To evaluate the role that data analysis methods have upon values of derived AOP's, the first Data Analysis Round-Robin (DARR-94) workshop was sponsored by the SeaWiFS Project during 21-23 July, 1994. The focus of this intercomparison study was the estimation of the downwelling irradiance spectrum just beneath the sea surface, E(sub d)(0(sup -), lambda); the upwelling nadir radiance just beneath the sea surface, L(sub u)(0(sup -), lambda); and the vertical profile of the diffuse attenuation coefficient spectrum, K(sub d)(z, lambda). In the results reported here, different methodologies from four research groups were applied to an identical set of 10 spectroradiometry casts in order to evaluate the degree to which data analysis methods influence AOP estimation, and whether any general improvements can be made. The overall results of DARR-94 are presented in Chapter 1 and the individual methods of the four groups are presented in Chapters 2-5. The DARR-94 results do not show a clear winner among data analysis methods evaluated. It is apparent, however, that some degree of outlier rejection is required in order to accurately estimate L(sub u)(0(sup -), lambda) or E(sub d)(0(sup -), lambda). Furthermore, the calculation, evaluation and exploitation of confidence intervals for the AOP determinations needs to be explored. That is, the SeaWiFS calibration and validation problem should be recast in statistical terms where the in situ AOP values are statistical estimates with known confidence intervals.

Predicting the Lifetimes of Nuclear Waste Containers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, Fraser

2014-03-01

As for many aspects of the disposal of nuclear waste, the greatest challenge we have in the study of container materials is the prediction of the long-term performance over periods of tens to hundreds of thousands of years. Various methods have been used for predicting the lifetime of containers for the disposal of high-level waste or spent fuel in deep geological repositories. Both mechanical and corrosion-related failure mechanisms need to be considered, although until recently the interactions of mechanical and corrosion degradation modes have not been considered in detail. Failure from mechanical degradation modes has tended to be treated through suitable container design. In comparison, the inevitable loss of container integrity due to corrosion has been treated by developing specific corrosion models. The most important aspect, however, is to be able to justify the long-term predictions by demonstrating a mechanistic understanding of the various degradation modes.

Lifetime Predictions of a Titanium Silicate Glass with Machined Flaws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tucker, Dennis S.; Nettles, Alan T.; Cagle, Holly

2003-01-01

A dynamic fatigue study was performed on a Titanium Silicate glass to assess its susceptibility to delayed failure and to compare the results with those of a previous study. Fracture mechanics techniques were used to analyze the results for the purpose of making lifetime predictions. The material strength and lifetime was seen to increase due to the removal of residual stress through grinding and polishing. Influence on time-to-failure is addressed for the case with and without residual stress present. Titanium silicate glass otherwise known as ultra-low expansion (ULE)* glass is a candidate for use in applications requiring low thermal expansion characteristics such as telescope mirrors. The Hubble Space Telescope s primary mirror was manufactured from ULE glass. ULE contains 7.5% titanium dioxide which in combination with silica results in a homogenous glass with a linear expansion coefficient near zero. delayed failure . This previous study was based on a 230/270 grit surface. The grinding and polishing process reduces the surface flaw size and subsurface damage, and relieves residual stress by removing the material with successively smaller grinding media. This results in an increase in strength of the optic during the grinding and polishing sequence. Thus, a second study was undertaken using samples with a surface finish typically achieved for mirror elements, to observe the effects of surface finishing on the time-to-failure predictions. An allowable stress can be calculated for this material based upon modulus of rupture data; however, this does not take into account the problem of delayed failure, most likely due to stress corrosion, which can significantly shorten lifetime. Fortunately, a theory based on fracture mechanics has been developed enabling lifetime predictions to be made for brittle materials susceptible to delayed failure. Knowledge of the factors governing the rate of subcritical flaw growth in a given environment enables the development of

Failure mechanisms and lifetime prediction methodology for polybutylene pipe in water distribution system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Xiqun

Polybutylene (PB) is a semicrystalline thermoplastics. It has been widely used in potable water distribution piping system. However, field practice shows that failure occurs much earlier than the expected service lifetime. What are the causes and how to appropriately evaluate its lifetime motivate this study. In this thesis, three parts of work have been done. First is the understanding of PB, which includes material thermo and mechanical characterization, aging phenomena and notch sensitivity. The second part analyzes the applicability of the existing lifetime testing method for PB. It is shown that PB is an anomaly in terms of the temperature-lifetime relation because of the fracture mechanism transition across the testing temperature range. The third part is the development of the methodology of lifetime prediction for PB pipe. The fracture process of PB pipe consists of three stages, i.e., crack initiation, slow crack growth (SCG) and crack instability. The practical lifetime of PB pipe is primarily determined by the duration of the first two stages. The mechanism of crack initiation and the quantitative estimation of the time to crack initiation are studied by employing environment stress cracking technique. A fatigue slow crack growth testing method has been developed and applied in the study of SCG. By using Paris-Erdogan equation, a model is constructed to evaluate the time for SCG. As a result, the total lifetime is determined. Through this work, the failure mechanisms of PB pipe has been analyzed and the lifetime prediction methodology has been developed.

78 FR 51182 - Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Request Under Blanket Authorization

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-20

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP13-527-000] Sea Robin... Robin Pipeline Company, LLC (Sea Robin), P. O. Box 4967, Houston, Texas 77210, filed in Docket No. CP13... Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and Sea Robin's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82...

Lifetime testing results and diagnostic performance prediction of linear coolers at Thales Cryogenics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Weijden, H.; Benschop, T.; van de Groep, W.; Willems, D.

2011-06-01

Thales Cryogenics (TCBV) has an extensive background in delivering long-life cryogenic coolers for military, civil and space programs. During the last years many technical improvements have increased the lifetime of coolers resulting in significantly higher MTTF's. Lifetime endurance tests are used to validate these performance increases. An update will be given on lifetime test of a selection of TCBV's coolers. MTTF figures indicate the statistical average lifetimes for a large population of coolers. However, for the user of IR camera's and spectrometers a detailed view on the performance of an individual cooler and the possible impact of its performance degradation during its lifetime is very important. Thales Cryogenics is developing Cooler Diagnostic Software (CDS), which can be implemented in the firmware of its DSP based cooler drive electronics. With this implemented software the monitoring of the main cooler parameters during the lifetime in the equipment will be possible, including the prediction of the expected cooler performance availability. Based on this software it will be possible to analyze the status of the cooler inside the equipment and, supported by the lifetime knowledge at Thales Cryogenics, make essential choices on the maintenance of equipment and the replacement of coolers. In the paper, we will give an overview of potential situations in which such a predictive algorithm can be used. We will present the required interaction with future users to make an optimal interaction and interpretation of the generated data possible.

Biological and Sociocultural Factors during the School Years Predicting Women's Lifetime Educational Attainment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hendrick, C. Emily; Cohen, Alison K.; Deardorff, Julianna; Cance, Jessica D.

2016-01-01

Background: Lifetime educational attainment is an important predictor of health and well-being for women in the United States. In this study, we examine the roles of sociocultural factors in youth and an understudied biological life event, pubertal timing, in predicting women's lifetime educational attainment. Methods: Using data from the National…

The quantitative Faber-Krahn inequality for the Robin Laplacian

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bucur, Dorin; Ferone, Vincenzo; Nitsch, Carlo; Trombetti, Cristina

2018-04-01

We prove a quantitative form of the Faber-Krahn inequality for the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator with Robin boundary conditions. The asymmetry term involves the square power of the Fraenkel asymmetry, multiplied by a constant depending on the Robin parameter, the dimension of the space and the measure of the set.

Applying the ROBINS-I tool to natural experiments: an example from public health.

PubMed

Thomson, Hilary; Craig, Peter; Hilton-Boon, Michele; Campbell, Mhairi; Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal

2018-01-24

A new tool to assess Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) was published in Autumn 2016. ROBINS-I uses the Cochrane-approved risk of bias (RoB) approach and focusses on internal validity. As such, ROBINS-I represents an important development for those conducting systematic reviews which include non-randomised studies (NRS), including public health researchers. We aimed to establish the applicability of ROBINS-I using a group of NRS which have evaluated non-clinical public health natural experiments. Five researchers, all experienced in critical appraisal of non-randomised studies, used ROBINS-I to independently assess risk of bias in five studies which had assessed the health impacts of a domestic energy efficiency intervention. ROBINS-I assessments for each study were entered into a database and checked for consensus across the group. Group discussions were used to identify reasons underpinning lack of consensus for specific questions and bias domains. ROBINS-I helped to systematically articulate sources of bias in NRS. However, the lack of consensus in assessments for all seven bias domains raised questions about ROBINS-I's reliability and applicability for natural experiment studies. The two RoB domains with least consensus were selection (Domain 2) and performance (Domain 4). Underlying the lack of consensus were difficulties in applying an intention to treat or per protocol effect of interest to the studies. This was linked to difficulties in determining whether the intervention status was classified retrospectively at follow-up, i.e. post hoc. The overall risk of bias ranged from moderate to critical; this was most closely linked to the assessment of confounders. The ROBINS-I tool is a conceptually rigorous tool which focusses on risk of bias due to the counterfactual. Difficulties in applying ROBINS-I may be due to poor design and reporting of evaluations of natural experiments. While the quality of reporting may improve in the

Heuristic Modeling for TRMM Lifetime Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jordan, P. S.; Sharer, P. J.; DeFazio, R. L.

1996-01-01

Analysis time for computing the expected mission lifetimes of proposed frequently maneuvering, tightly altitude constrained, Earth orbiting spacecraft have been significantly reduced by means of a heuristic modeling method implemented in a commercial-off-the-shelf spreadsheet product (QuattroPro) running on a personal computer (PC). The method uses a look-up table to estimate the maneuver frequency per month as a function of the spacecraft ballistic coefficient and the solar flux index, then computes the associated fuel use by a simple engine model. Maneuver frequency data points are produced by means of a single 1-month run of traditional mission analysis software for each of the 12 to 25 data points required for the table. As the data point computations are required only a mission design start-up and on the occasion of significant mission redesigns, the dependence on time consuming traditional modeling methods is dramatically reduced. Results to date have agreed with traditional methods to within 1 to 1.5 percent. The spreadsheet approach is applicable to a wide variety of Earth orbiting spacecraft with tight altitude constraints. It will be particularly useful to such missions as the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission scheduled for launch in 1997, whose mission lifetime calculations are heavily dependent on frequently revised solar flux predictions.

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 16: The second SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment, SIRREX-2, June 1993

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Mueller, James L.; Mclean, James T.; Johnson, B. Carol; Westphal, Todd L.; Cooper, John W.

1994-01-01

The results of the second Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-2), which was held at the Center for Hydro-Optics and Remote Sensing (CHORS) at San Diego State University on 14-25 Jun. 1993 are presented. SeaWiFS is an ocean color radiometer that is scheduled for launch in 1994. The SIRREXs are part of the SeaWiFS Calibration and Validation Program that includes the GSFC, CHORS, NIST, and several other laboratories. GSFC maintains the radiometric scales (spectral radiance and irradiance) for the SeaWiFS program using spectral irradiance standards lamps, which are calibrated by NIST. The purpose of each SIRREX is to assure that the radiometric scales which are realized by the laboratories who participate in the SeaWiFS Calibration and Validation Program are correct; that is, the uncertainties of the radiometric scales are such that measurements of normalized water-leaving radiance using oceanographic radiometers have uncertainties of 5%. SIRREX-1 demonstrated, from the internal consistency of the results, that the program goals would not be met without improvements to the instrumentation. The results of SIRREX-2 demonstrate that spectral irradiance scales realized using the GSFC standard irradiance lamp (F269) are consistent with the program goals, as the uncertainty of these measurements is assessed to be about 1%. However, this is not true for the spectral radiance scales, where again the internal consistency of the results is used to assess the uncertainty. This is attributed to inadequate performance and characterization of the instrumentation. For example, spatial nonuniformities, spectral features, and sensitivity to illumination configuration were observed in some of the integrating sphere sources. The results of SIRREX-2 clearly indicate the direction for future work, with the main emphasis on instrument characterization and the assessment of the measurement uncertainties so that the results may be

Biological and Sociocultural Factors During the School Years Predicting Women's Lifetime Educational Attainment.

PubMed

Hendrick, C Emily; Cohen, Alison K; Deardorff, Julianna; Cance, Jessica D

2016-03-01

Lifetime educational attainment is an important predictor of health and well-being for women in the United States. In this study, we examine the roles of sociocultural factors in youth and an understudied biological life event, pubertal timing, in predicting women's lifetime educational attainment. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 cohort (N = 3889), we conducted sequential multivariate linear regression analyses to investigate the influences of macro-level and family-level sociocultural contextual factors in youth (region of country, urbanicity, race/ethnicity, year of birth, household composition, mother's education, and mother's age at first birth) and early menarche, a marker of early pubertal development, on women's educational attainment after age 24. Pubertal timing and all sociocultural factors in youth, other than year of birth, predicted women's lifetime educational attainment in bivariate models. Family factors had the strongest associations. When family factors were added to multivariate models, geographic region in youth, and pubertal timing were no longer significant. Our findings provide additional evidence that family factors should be considered when developing comprehensive and inclusive interventions in childhood and adolescence to promote lifetime educational attainment among girls. © 2016, American School Health Association.

Usefulness of a 50-meter round walking test for fall prediction in the elderly requiring long-term care

PubMed Central

Hachiya, Mizuki; Murata, Shin; Otao, Hiroshi; Ihara, Takehiko; Mizota, Katsuhiko; Asami, Toyoko

2015-01-01

[Purpose] This study aimed to verify the usefulness of a 50-m round walking test developed as an assessment method for walking ability in the elderly. [Subjects] The subjects were 166 elderly requiring long-term care individuals (mean age, 80.5 years). [Methods] In order to evaluate the factors that had affected falls in the subjects in the previous year, we performed the 50-m round walking test, functional reach test, one-leg standing test, and 5-m walking test and measured grip strength and quadriceps strength. [Results] The 50-m round walking test was selected as a variable indicating fall risk based on the results of multiple logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value of the 50-m round walking test for determining fall risk was 0.66 m/sec. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.64. The sensitivity of the cutoff value was 65.7%, the specificity was 63.6%, the positive predictive value was 55.0%, the negative predictive value was 73.3%, and the accuracy was 64.5%. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the 50-m round walking test is a potentially useful parameter for the determination of fall risk in the elderly requiring long-term care. PMID:26834327

Usefulness of a 50-meter round walking test for fall prediction in the elderly requiring long-term care.

PubMed

Hachiya, Mizuki; Murata, Shin; Otao, Hiroshi; Ihara, Takehiko; Mizota, Katsuhiko; Asami, Toyoko

2015-12-01

[Purpose] This study aimed to verify the usefulness of a 50-m round walking test developed as an assessment method for walking ability in the elderly. [Subjects] The subjects were 166 elderly requiring long-term care individuals (mean age, 80.5 years). [Methods] In order to evaluate the factors that had affected falls in the subjects in the previous year, we performed the 50-m round walking test, functional reach test, one-leg standing test, and 5-m walking test and measured grip strength and quadriceps strength. [Results] The 50-m round walking test was selected as a variable indicating fall risk based on the results of multiple logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value of the 50-m round walking test for determining fall risk was 0.66 m/sec. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.64. The sensitivity of the cutoff value was 65.7%, the specificity was 63.6%, the positive predictive value was 55.0%, the negative predictive value was 73.3%, and the accuracy was 64.5%. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the 50-m round walking test is a potentially useful parameter for the determination of fall risk in the elderly requiring long-term care.

77 FR 31378 - Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-25

... robin session to share perspectives regarding any of the previous panel discussion questions [cir] Do... round robin Review agreements and action items for the day Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Status update on BIA..., including updates to subcommittee charge Public round robin session to share perspectives regarding any of...

Why Are Buckyonions Round?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bates, Kevin R.; Scuseria, Gustavo E.

1997-01-01

Multi-layered round carbon particles (onions) containing tens to hundreds of thousands of atoms form during electron irradiation of graphite carbon. However, theoretical models of large icosahedral fullerenes predict highly faceted shapes for molecules with more than a few hundred atoms. This discrepancy in shape may be explained by the presence of defects during the formation of carbon onions. Here, we use the semi-empirical tight-binding method for carbon to simulate the incorporation of pentagon-heptagon defects on to the surface of large icosahedral fullerenes. We show a simple mechanism that results in energetically competitive derivative structures and a global change in molecular shape from faceted to round. Our results provide a plausible explanation of the apparent discrepancy between experimental observations of round buckyonions and theoretical predictions of faceted icosahedral fullerenes.

Why are Buckyonions Round?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bates, Kevin R.; Scuseria, Gustavo E.

1998-01-01

Multi-layered round carbon particles (onions) containing tens to hundreds of thousands of atoms form during electron irradiation of graphite. However. theoretical models or large icosahedral fullerenes predict highly faceted shapes for molecules with more than a few hundred atoms. This discrepancy in shape may be explained by the presence of defects during the formation of carbon onions. Here, we use the semi-empirical tight-binding method for carbon to simulate the incorporation of pentagon-heptagon defects on to the surface of large icosahedral fullerenes. We show a simple mechanism that results in energetically competitive derivative structures and a global change in molecular shape from faceted to round. Our results provide a plausible explanation of the apparent discrepancy between experimental observations or round buckyonions and theoretical predictions of faceted icosahedral fullerenes.

Virchow-Robin space and aquaporin-4: new insights on an old friend.

PubMed

Nakada, Tsutomu

2014-08-28

Recent studies have strongly indicated that the classic circulation model of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is no longer valid. The production of CSF is not only dependent on the choroid plexus but also on water flux in the peri-capillary (Virchow Robin) space. Historically, CSF flow through the Virchow Robin space is known as interstitial flow, the physiological significance of which is now fully understood. This article briefly reviews the modern concept of CSF physiology and the Virchow-Robin space, in particular its functionalities critical for central nervous system neural activities. Water influx into the Virchow Robin space and, hence, interstitial flow is regulated by aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) localized in the endfeet of astrocytes, connecting the intracellular cytosolic fluid space of astrocytes and the Virchow Robin space. Interstitial flow has a functionality equivalent to systemic lymphatics, on which clearance of β-amyloid is strongly dependent. Autoregulation of brain blood flow serves to maintain a constant inner capillary fluid pressure, allowing fluid pressure of the Virchow Robin space to regulate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) based on AQP-4 gating. Excess heat produced by neural activities is effectively removed from the area of activation by increased rCBF by closing AQP-4 channels. This neural flow coupling (NFC) is likely mediated by heat generated proton channels.

Implications of spatial patterns of roosting and movements of American robins for West Nile virus transmission.

PubMed

Benson, Thomas J; Ward, Michael P; Lampman, Richard L; Raim, Arlo; Weatherhead, Patrick J

2012-10-01

The arrival of West Nile virus (WNV) in North America has led to interest in the interaction between birds, the amplification hosts of WNV, and Culex mosquitoes, the primary WNV vectors. American robins (Turdus migratorius) are particularly important amplification hosts of WNV, and because the vector Culex mosquitoes are primarily nocturnal and feed on roosting birds, robin communal roosting behavior may play an important role in the transmission ecology of WNV. Using data from 43 radio-tracked individuals, we determined spatial and temporal patterns of robin roosting behavior, and how these patterns related to the distribution of WNV-infected mosquitoes. Use of the communal roost and fidelity to foraging areas was highly variable both within and among individual robins, and differed markedly from patterns documented in a previous study of robin roosting. Although there were clear seasonal patterns to both robin roosting and WNV occurrence, there was no significant relationship between communal roosting by robins and temporal or spatial patterns of WNV-positive mosquitoes. Our results suggest that, although robins may be important as WNV hosts, communal roosts are not necessarily important for WNV amplification. Other factors, including the availability and distribution of high-quality mosquito habitat and favorable weather for mosquito reproduction, may influence the importance of robin roosts for local WNV amplification and transmission.

77 FR 18242 - Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board Chairs

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-27

..., 2012 [cir] EM Program Update [cir] Recognition of Departing Chairs [cir] EM SSAB Chairs' Round Robin... [cir] EM SSAB Chairs' Round Robin: Cross-Complex Issues Thursday, April 19, 2012 [cir] DOE Headquarters...

Outcomes of Cleft Palate Repair in Patients with Pierre Robin Sequence: A Matched Case-Control Study.

PubMed

Hardwicke, Joseph T; Richards, Helen; Cafferky, Louise; Underwood, Imogen; ter Horst, Britt; Slator, Rona

2016-03-01

Pierre Robin sequence results from a cascade of events that occur during embryologic development and frequently presents with cleft palate. Some studies have shown speech outcomes to be worse in patients with Pierre Robin sequence after cleft palate repair. A cohort of Pierre Robin sequence patients who all required an airway intervention and nasogastric feeding in the neonatal period were identified and speech outcomes assessed at 5 years of age. A cleft- and sex-matched non-Pierre Robin sequence, cleft palate-only comparison group was also identified from the same institution and study period. A total of 24 patients with Pierre Robin sequence that required airway and nutritional support in the neonatal period were matched for age, sex, and cleft type to a group of 24 non-Pierre Robin sequence cleft patients. There was no significant difference in the incidence of oronasal fistula between the groups. Secondary surgery for velopharyngeal incompetence was significantly more (p = 0.017) in the Pierre Robin sequence group, who also had significantly greater nasality (p = 0.031) and cleft speech characteristic (p = 0.023) scores. The authors hypothesize that other factors may exist in Pierre Robin sequence that may lead to poor speech outcomes. The authors would suggest counseling parents of children with Pierre Robin sequence that have required a neonatal airway intervention, that speech development may be poorer than in other children with cleft palate, and that these children will have a significantly higher incidence of secondary speech surgery. Risk, II.

Ultraviolet Radiation Round-Robin Testing of Various Backsheets for Photovoltaic Modules

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

Koehl, Michael; Ballion, Amal; Lee, Yu-Hsien

2015-06-14

Durability testing of materials exposed to natural weathering requires testing of the ultraviolet (UV) stability, especially for polymeric materials. The type approval testing of photovoltaic (PV) modules according to standards IEC 61215 and IEC 61646, which includes a so-called UV preconditioning test with a total UV dose of 15 kWh/m2, does not correspond to the real loads during lifetime. Between 3%-10% of the UV radiation has to be in the spectral range between 280 and 320 nm (UV-B) in the recent editions of the standards. However, the spectral distribution of the radiation source is very important because different samples showmore » very individual spectral sensitivity for the radiation offered. Less than 6% of the intensity of solar radiation exists in the UV range. In the case of an increase of the intensity of the light source for accelerating the UV test, overheating of the samples would have to be prevented more rigorously and the temperature of the samples have to be measured to avoid misinterpretation of the test results.« less

Socioeconomic inequalities in informal payments for health care: An assessment of the 'Robin Hood' hypothesis in 33 African countries.

PubMed

Kankeu, Hyacinthe Tchewonpi; Ventelou, Bruno

2016-02-01

In almost all African countries, informal payments are frequently made when accessing health care. Some literature suggests that the informal payment system could lead to quasi-redistribution among patients, with physicians playing a 'Robin Hood' role, subsidizing the poor at the expense of the rich. We empirically tested this assumption with data from the rounds 3 and 5 of the Afrobarometer surveys conducted in 18 and 33 African countries respectively, from 2005 to 2006 for round 3 and from 2011 to 2013 for round 5. In these surveys, nationally representative samples of people aged 18 years or more were randomly selected in each country, with sizes varying between 1048 and 2400 for round 3 and between 1190 and 2407 for round 5. We used the 'normalized' concentration index, the poor/rich gap and the odds ratio to assess the level of inequality in the payment of bribes to access care at the local public health facility and implemented two decomposition techniques to identify the contributors to the observed inequalities. We obtained that: i) the socioeconomic gradient in informal payments is in favor of the rich in almost all countries, indicating a rather regressive system; ii) this is mainly due to the socioeconomic disadvantage itself, to poor/rich differences in supply side factors like lack of medicines, absence of doctors and long waiting times, as well as regional disparities. Although essentially empirical, the paper highlights the need for African health systems to undergo substantial country-specific reforms in order to better protect the worse-off from financial risk when they seek care. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Robin Hood Comes of Age.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnhouse, Rebecca

2003-01-01

Considers how while some Robin Hood books are clearly intended for young readers, others blur the boundaries, sometimes in ways that help break down artificial boundaries dividing fiction for children from that for adults. Explores the legend's long history to help understand why the story lends itself to such a wide variety of retellings.…

Studies on Mathematical Models of Wet Adhesion and Lifetime Prediction of Organic Coating/Steel by Grey System Theory.

PubMed

Meng, Fandi; Liu, Ying; Liu, Li; Li, Ying; Wang, Fuhui

2017-06-28

A rapid degradation of wet adhesion is the key factor controlling coating lifetime, for the organic coatings under marine hydrostatic pressure. The mathematical models of wet adhesion have been studied by Grey System Theory (GST). Grey models (GM) (1, 1) of epoxy varnish (EV) coating/steel and epoxy glass flake (EGF) coating/steel have been established, and a lifetime prediction formula has been proposed on the basis of these models. The precision assessments indicate that the established models are accurate, and the prediction formula is capable of making precise lifetime forecasting of the coatings.

Aprocta cylindrica (Nematoda) infection in a European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) in Britain.

PubMed

Beckmann, Katie M; Harris, Eileen; Pocknell, Ann M; John, Shinto K; Macgregor, Shaheed K; Cunningham, Andrew A; Lawson, Becki

2014-10-01

A European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) found dead in England had marked blepharitis and periocular alopecia associated with Aprocta cylindrica (Nematoda: Aproctidae) and concurrent mixed fungal infections. Aprocta cylindrica should be considered a differential diagnosis in periocular abnormalities of robins and other insectivorous, migratory passerines in Western Europe.

Multiple lines of evidence risk assessment of American robins exposed to polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFS) and polychlorinated dibenzo-P-dioxins (PCDDS) in the Tittabawassee River floodplain, Midland, Michigan, USA.

PubMed

Tazelaar, Dustin L; Fredricks, Timothy B; Seston, Rita M; Coefield, Sarah J; Bradley, Patrick W; Roark, Shaun A; Kay, Denise P; Newsted, John L; Giesy, John P; Bursian, Steven J; Zwiernik, Matthew J

2013-06-01

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in Tittabawassee River floodplain soils and biota downstream of Midland, Michigan, USA, are greater than regional background concentrations. From 2005 to 2008, a multiple lines of evidence approach was utilized to evaluate the potential for effects of PCDD/DFs on American robins (Turdus migratorius) breeding in the floodplains. A dietary-based assessment indicated there was potential for adverse effects for American robins predicted to have the greatest exposures. Conversely, a tissue-based risk assessment based on site-specific PCDD/DF concentrations in American robin eggs indicated minimal potential for adverse effects. An assessment based on reproductive endpoints indicated that measures of hatch success in study areas were significantly less than those of reference areas. However, there was no dose-response relationship between that endpoint and concentrations of PCDD/DF. Although dietary-based exposure and reproductive endpoint assessments predicted potential for adverse effects to resident American robins, the tissue-based assessment indicates minimal to no potential for adverse effects, which is reinforced by the fact the response was not dose related. It is likely that the dietary assessment is overly conservative given the inherent uncertainties of estimating dietary exposure relative to direct tissue-based assessment measures. Based on the available data, it can be concluded that exposure to PCDD/DFs in the Tittabawassee River floodplain would not likely result in adverse population-level effects to American robins. Copyright © 2013 SETAC.

Development of a new lattice physics code robin for PWR application

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

Zhang, S.; Chen, G.

2013-07-01

This paper presents a description of methodologies and preliminary verification results of a new lattice physics code ROBIN, being developed for PWR application at Shanghai NuStar Nuclear Power Technology Co., Ltd. The methods used in ROBIN to fulfill various tasks of lattice physics analysis are an integration of historical methods and new methods that came into being very recently. Not only these methods like equivalence theory for resonance treatment and method of characteristics for neutron transport calculation are adopted, as they are applied in many of today's production-level LWR lattice codes, but also very useful new methods like the enhancedmore » neutron current method for Dancoff correction in large and complicated geometry and the log linear rate constant power depletion method for Gd-bearing fuel are implemented in the code. A small sample of verification results are provided to illustrate the type of accuracy achievable using ROBIN. It is demonstrated that ROBIN is capable of satisfying most of the needs for PWR lattice analysis and has the potential to become a production quality code in the future. (authors)« less

Studies on Mathematical Models of Wet Adhesion and Lifetime Prediction of Organic Coating/Steel by Grey System Theory

PubMed Central

Meng, Fandi; Liu, Ying; Liu, Li; Li, Ying; Wang, Fuhui

2017-01-01

A rapid degradation of wet adhesion is the key factor controlling coating lifetime, for the organic coatings under marine hydrostatic pressure. The mathematical models of wet adhesion have been studied by Grey System Theory (GST). Grey models (GM) (1, 1) of epoxy varnish (EV) coating/steel and epoxy glass flake (EGF) coating/steel have been established, and a lifetime prediction formula has been proposed on the basis of these models. The precision assessments indicate that the established models are accurate, and the prediction formula is capable of making precise lifetime forecasting of the coatings. PMID:28773073

Robin's Story: Life History of an Exemplary American Female Physical Education Teacher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cazers, Gunars; Curtner-Smith, Matthew D.

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose was to construct the life history of Robin, an exemplary female physical educator, to hear her voice, and to explore ways in which she experienced marginalization. Few life histories of exemplary physical educators have been recounted. Method: Robin's life history was investigated in light of the theory of occupational…

Prediction of the Creep-Fatigue Lifetime of Alloy 617: An Application of Non-destructive Evaluation and Information Integration

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

Vivek Agarwal; Richard Wright; Timothy Roney

A relatively simple method using the nominal constant average stress information and the creep rupture model is developed to predict the creep-fatigue lifetime of Alloy 617, in terms of time to rupture. The nominal constant average stress is computed using the stress relaxation curve. The predicted time to rupture can be converted to number of cycles to failure using the strain range, the strain rate during each cycle, and the hold time information. The predicted creep-fatigue lifetime is validated against the experimental measurements of the creep-fatigue lifetime collected using conventional laboratory creep-fatigue tests. High temperature creep-fatigue tests of Alloy 617more » were conducted in air at 950°C with a tensile hold period of up to 1800s in a cycle at total strain ranges of 0.3% and 0.6%. It was observed that the proposed method is conservative in that the predicted lifetime is less than the experimentally determined values. The approach would be relevant to calculate the remaining useful life to a component like a steam generator that might fail by the creep-fatigue mechanism.« less

Stochastic Analysis of Orbital Lifetimes of Spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sasamoto, Washito; Goodliff, Kandyce; Cornelius, David

2008-01-01

A document discusses (1) a Monte-Carlo-based methodology for probabilistic prediction and analysis of orbital lifetimes of spacecraft and (2) Orbital Lifetime Monte Carlo (OLMC)--a Fortran computer program, consisting of a previously developed long-term orbit-propagator integrated with a Monte Carlo engine. OLMC enables modeling of variances of key physical parameters that affect orbital lifetimes through the use of probability distributions. These parameters include altitude, speed, and flight-path angle at insertion into orbit; solar flux; and launch delays. The products of OLMC are predicted lifetimes (durations above specified minimum altitudes) for the number of user-specified cases. Histograms generated from such predictions can be used to determine the probabilities that spacecraft will satisfy lifetime requirements. The document discusses uncertainties that affect modeling of orbital lifetimes. Issues of repeatability, smoothness of distributions, and code run time are considered for the purpose of establishing values of code-specific parameters and number of Monte Carlo runs. Results from test cases are interpreted as demonstrating that solar-flux predictions are primary sources of variations in predicted lifetimes. Therefore, it is concluded, multiple sets of predictions should be utilized to fully characterize the lifetime range of a spacecraft.

Atmospheric drag model calibrations for spacecraft lifetime prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binebrink, A. L.; Radomski, M. S.; Samii, M. V.

1989-01-01

Although solar activity prediction uncertainty normally dominates decay prediction error budget for near-Earth spacecraft, the effect of drag force modeling errors for given levels of solar activity needs to be considered. Two atmospheric density models, the modified Harris-Priester model and the Jacchia-Roberts model, to reproduce the decay histories of the Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME) and Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) spacecraft in the 490- to 540-kilometer altitude range were analyzed. Historical solar activity data were used in the input to the density computations. For each spacecraft and atmospheric model, a drag scaling adjustment factor was determined for a high-solar-activity year, such that the observed annual decay in the mean semimajor axis was reproduced by an averaged variation-of-parameters (VOP) orbit propagation. The SME (SMM) calibration was performed using calendar year 1983 (1982). The resulting calibration factors differ by 20 to 40 percent from the predictions of the prelaunch ballistic coefficients. The orbit propagations for each spacecraft were extended to the middle of 1988 using the calibrated drag models. For the Jaccia-Roberts density model, the observed decay in the mean semimajor axis of SME (SMM) over the 4.5-year (5.5-year) predictive period was reproduced to within 1.5 (4.4) percent. The corresponding figure for the Harris-Priester model was 8.6 (20.6) percent. Detailed results and conclusions regarding the importance of accurate drag force modeling for lifetime predictions are presented.

Biological and socio-cultural factors during the school years predicting women’s lifetime educational attainment

PubMed Central

Hendrick, C. Emily; Cohen, Alison K.; Deardorff, Julianna

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND Lifetime educational attainment is an important predictor of health and well-being for women in the United States. In the current study, we examine the roles of socio-cultural factors in youth and an understudied biological life event, pubertal timing, in predicting women’s lifetime educational attainment. METHODS Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 cohort (N = 3889), we conducted sequential multivariate linear regression analyses to investigate the influences of macro-level and family-level socio-cultural contextual factors in youth (region of country, urbanicity, race/ethnicity, year of birth, household composition, mother’s education, mother’s age at first birth) and early menarche, a marker of early pubertal development, on women’s educational attainment after age 24. RESULTS Pubertal timing and all socio-cultural factors in youth, other than year of birth, predicted women’s lifetime educational attainment in bivariate models. Family factors had the strongest associations. When family factors were added to multivariate models, geographic region in youth and pubertal timing were no longer significant. CONCLUSION Our findings provide additional evidence that family factors should be considered when developing comprehensive and inclusive interventions in childhood and adolescence to promote lifetime educational attainment among girls. PMID:26830508

Prediction of the lifetime of nitrile-butadiene rubber by FT-IR.

PubMed

Kawashima, Tetsuya; Ogawa, Toshio

2005-12-01

A quantitative measurement method with FT-IR was proposed for a thermal degradation analysis of nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). An NBR film was prepared as a model sample on a barium fluoride (BaF2) crystal plate, which was subjected to a heat treatment. The absorbances of various functional groups were measured directly by FT-IR after thermal degradation at high temperatures. By measuring the absorbances, it was possible to readily determine quantitatively each of the functional groups after the degradation of NBR. By assuming that the NBR lifetime was the point at which the absorbance of a carbon-carbon double bond reaches 45% of that prior to thermal treatment, a method for predicting the lifetime of NBR heated below 150 degrees C was proposed, by using an Arrhenius plot of the heating time versus heating temperature.

Revolution and Education in Late Nineteenth Century France: The Early Career of Paul Robin.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mclaren, Angus

1981-01-01

Discusses the importance of the work of radical educator Paul Robin and the socio-political environment in nineteenth century France which prompted it. Robin advocated free, secular, public education for the working classes which stressed spontaneity, practicality, individualized instruction, and sexual equality. (AM)

A Novel Method for Modeling Neumann and Robin Boundary Conditions in Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics

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

Ryan, Emily M.; Tartakovsky, Alexandre M.; Amon, Cristina

2010-08-26

In this paper we present an improved method for handling Neumann or Robin boundary conditions in smoothed particle hydrodynamics. The Neumann and Robin boundary conditions are common to many physical problems (such as heat/mass transfer), and can prove challenging to model in volumetric modeling techniques such as smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). A new SPH method for diffusion type equations subject to Neumann or Robin boundary conditions is proposed. The new method is based on the continuum surface force model [1] and allows an efficient implementation of the Neumann and Robin boundary conditions in the SPH method for geometrically complex boundaries.more » The paper discusses the details of the method and the criteria needed to apply the model. The model is used to simulate diffusion and surface reactions and its accuracy is demonstrated through test cases for boundary conditions describing different surface reactions.« less

Inter-laboratory calibration of natural gas round robins for δ2H and δ13C using off-line and on-line techniques

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dai, Jinxing; Xia, Xinyu; Li, Zhisheng; Coleman, Dennis D.; Dias, Robert F.; Gao, Ling; Li, Jian; Deev, Andrei; Li, Jin; Dessort, Daniel; Duclerc, Dominique; Li, Liwu; Liu, Jinzhong; Schloemer, Stefan; Zhang, Wenlong; Ni, Yunyan; Hu, Guoyi; Wang, Xiaobo; Tang, Yongchun

2012-01-01

Compound-specific carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of three natural gas round robins were calibrated by ten laboratories carrying out more than 800 measurements including both on-line and off-line methods. Two-point calibrations were performed with international measurement standards for hydrogen isotope ratios (VSMOW and SLAP) and carbon isotope ratios (NBS 19 and L-SVEC CO2). The consensus δ13C values and uncertainties were derived from the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) based on off-line measurements; the consensus δ2H values and uncertainties were derived from MLE of both off-line and on-line measurements, taking the bias of on-line measurements into account. The calibrated consensus values in ‰ relative to VSMOW and VPDB are: NG1 (coal-related gas): Methane: δ2HVSMOW = − 185.1‰ ± 1.2‰, δ13CVPDB = − 34.18‰ ± 0.10‰ Ethane: δ2HVSMOW = − 156.3‰ ± 1.8‰, δ13CVPDB = − 24.66‰ ± 0.11‰ Propane: δ2HVSMOW = − 143.6‰ ± 3.3‰, δ13CVPDB = − 22.21‰ ± 0.11‰ i-Butane: δ13CVPDB = − 21.62‰ ± 0.12‰ n-Butane: δ13CVPDB = − 21.74‰ ± 0.13‰ CO2: δ13CVPDB = − 5.00‰ ± 0.12‰ NG2 (biogas): Methane: δ2HVSMOW = − 237.0‰ ± 1.2‰, δ13CVPDB = − 68.89‰ ± 0.12‰ NG3 (oil-related gas): Methane: δ2HVSMOW = − 167.6‰ ± 1.0‰, δ13CVPDB = − 43.61‰ ± 0.09‰ Ethane: δ2HVSMOW = − 164.1‰ ± 2.4‰, δ13CVPDB = − 40.24‰ ± 0.10‰ Propane: δ2HVSMOW = − 138.4‰ ± 3.0‰, δ13CVPDB = − 33.79‰ ± 0.09‰ All of the assigned values are traceable to the international carbon isotope standard of VPDB and hydrogen isotope standard of VSMOW.

Strength degradation and lifetime prediction of dental zirconia ceramics under cyclic normal loading.

PubMed

Li, Wanzhong; Xu, Yingqiang; He, Huiming; Zhao, Haidan; Sun, Jian; Hou, Yue

2015-01-01

Clinical cases show that zirconia restoration could happen fracture by accident under overloading after using a period of time. The purpose of this study is to research mechanical behavior and predict lifetime of dental zirconia ceramics under cyclic normal contact loading with experiments. Cyclic normal contact loading test and three point bending test are carried on specimens made of two brands of dental zirconia ceramic to obtain flexure strength and damage degree after different number of loading cycles. By means of damage mechanics model, damage degree under different number of contact loading cycles are calculated according to flexure strength, and verified by SEM photographs of cross section morphology of zirconia ceramics specimen phenomenologically. Relation curve of damage degree and number of cycles is fitted by polynomial fitting, then the number of loading cycles can be concluded when the specimen is complete damage. Strength degradation of two brands dental zirconia ceramics are researched in vitro, and prediction method of contact fatigue lifetime is established.

Robin Wood, "Rio Bravo," and Me

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leith, Dick

2011-01-01

The film scholar Robin Wood, who died recently, taught me English during the mid-1960s at Welwyn Garden City High School (now Sir Frederick Osborn Comprehensive). He was one of those teachers who "made a difference". He helped me learn that it was all right for a boy from a working-class home to study stuff such as literature. But it was…

Lifetime prediction for organic coating under alternating hydrostatic pressure by artificial neural network

PubMed Central

Tian, Wenliang; Meng, Fandi; Liu, Li; Li, Ying; Wang, Fuhui

2017-01-01

A concept for prediction of organic coatings, based on the alternating hydrostatic pressure (AHP) accelerated tests, has been presented. An AHP accelerated test with different pressure values has been employed to evaluate coating degradation. And a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) has been established to predict the service property and the service lifetime of coatings. The pressure value (P), immersion time (t) and service property (impedance modulus |Z|) are utilized as the parameters of the network. The average accuracies of the predicted service property and immersion time by the established network are 98.6% and 84.8%, respectively. The combination of accelerated test and prediction method by BP-ANN is promising to evaluate and predict coating property used in deep sea. PMID:28094340

Status of Photovoltaic Calibration and Measurement Standards

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baraona, Cosmo; Bailey, Sheila; Curtis, Henry; Brinker, David; Jenkins, Phillip; Scheiman, David

2001-01-01

The 7th International Workshop on Space Solar Cell Calibration and Measurement was held on September 25-27, 2000 in Girdwood, Alaska. Representatives from eight countries discussed international standards for single and multijunction solar cell measurement and calibration methods, round robin intercomparisons, and irradiation test methods for space solar cells. Progress toward adoption of an ISO standard on single junction cells was made. Agreement was reached to begin work on new standards for multijunction cells and irradiation testing. Progress on present single junction round robin measurements was discussed and future multijunction round robins were planned. The next workshop will be held in Germany in October 2001.

Viscoelastic behavior and lifetime (durability) predictions. [for laminated fiber reinforced plastics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brinson, R. F.

1985-01-01

A method for lifetime or durability predictions for laminated fiber reinforced plastics is given. The procedure is similar to but not the same as the well known time-temperature-superposition principle for polymers. The method is better described as an analytical adaptation of time-stress-super-position methods. The analytical constitutive modeling is based upon a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model developed by Schapery. Time dependent failure models are discussed and are related to the constitutive models. Finally, results of an incremental lamination analysis using the constitutive and failure model are compared to experimental results. Favorable results between theory and predictions are presented using data from creep tests of about two months duration.

A Satellite Mortality Study to Support Space Systems Lifetime Prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fox, George; Salazar, Ronald; Habib-Agahi, Hamid; Dubos, Gregory

2013-01-01

Estimating the operational lifetime of satellites and spacecraft is a complex process. Operational lifetime can differ from mission design lifetime for a variety of reasons. Unexpected mortality can occur due to human errors in design and fabrication, to human errors in launch and operations, to random anomalies of hardware and software or even satellite function degradation or technology change, leading to unrealized economic or mission return. This study focuses on data collection of public information using, for the first time, a large, publically available dataset, and preliminary analysis of satellite lifetimes, both operational lifetime and design lifetime. The objective of this study is the illustration of the relationship of design life to actual lifetime for some representative classes of satellites and spacecraft. First, a Weibull and Exponential lifetime analysis comparison is performed on the ratio of mission operating lifetime to design life, accounting for terminated and ongoing missions. Next a Kaplan-Meier survivor function, standard practice for clinical trials analysis, is estimated from operating lifetime. Bootstrap resampling is used to provide uncertainty estimates of selected survival probabilities. This study highlights the need for more detailed databases and engineering reliability models of satellite lifetime that include satellite systems and subsystems, operations procedures and environmental characteristics to support the design of complex, multi-generation, long-lived space systems in Earth orbit.

New International Program to Asses the Reliability of Emerging Nondestructive Techniques (PARENT)

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

Prokofiev, Iouri; Cumblidge, Stephen E.; Csontos, Aladar A.

2013-01-25

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) established the Program to Assess the Reliability of Emerging Nondestructive Techniques (PARENT) to follow on from the successful Program for the Inspection of Nickel alloy Components (PINC). The goal of the PARENT is to conduct a confirmatory assessment of the reliability of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for detecting and sizing primary water stress corrosion cracks (PWSCC) and applying the lessons learned from PINC to a series of round-robin tests. These open and blind round-robin tests will comprise a new set of typical pressure boundary components including dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) and bottom-mounted instrumentation penetrations. Openmore » round-robin tests will engage research and industry teams worldwide to investigate and demonstrate the reliability of emerging NDE techniques to detect and size flaws with a wide range of lengths, depths, orientations, and locations. Blind round-robin tests will utilize various testing organizations, whose inspectors and procedures are certified by the standards for the nuclear industry in their respective countries, to investigate the ability of established NDE techniques to detect and size flaws whose characteristics range from relatively easy to very difficult for detection and sizing. Blind and open round-robin testing started in late 2011 and early 2012, respectively. This paper will present the work scope with reports on progress, NDE methods evaluated, and project timeline for PARENT.« less

Quadratic forms involving Green's and Robin functions

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

Dubinin, Vladimir N

2009-10-31

General inequalities for quadratic forms with coefficients depending on the values of Green's and Robin functions are obtained. These inequalities cover also the reduced moduli of strips and half-strips. Some applications of the results obtained to extremal partitioning problems and related questions of geometric function theory are discussed. Bibliography: 29 titles.

Mass Spectrometry Theatre: A Model for Big-Screen Instrumental Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allison, John

2008-01-01

Teaching lecture or lab courses in instrumental analysis can be a source of frustration since one can only crowd a small number of students around a single instrument, typically leading to round-robin approaches. Round-robin labs can spread students into multiple labs and limit instructor-student interactions. We discuss "Mass Spectrometry…

A robin perches on a branch at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

A robin perches on a branch in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. Robins range throughout North America, from Alaska to Florida. Although considered a harbinger of spring, they do winter in northern states, frequenting cedar bogs and swamps. They also winter in Florida, where they often can be seen in flocks of hundreds near KSC and the wildlife refuge, which comprises 92,000 acres, ranging from hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods to fresh-water impoundments, salt-water estuaries and brackish marshes. The diverse landscape provides habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles, including such endangered species as Southern bald eagles, wood storks, Florida scrub jays, Atlantic loggerhead and leatherback turtles, osprey, and nearly 5,000 alligators.

Corrosion of silicon integrated circuits and lifetime predictions in implantable electronic devices.

PubMed

Vanhoestenberghe, A; Donaldson, N

2013-06-01

Corrosion is a prime concern for active implantable devices. In this paper we review the principles underlying the concepts of hermetic packages and encapsulation, used to protect implanted electronics, some of which remain widely overlooked. We discuss how technological advances have created a need to update the way we evaluate the suitability of both protection methods. We demonstrate how lifetime predictability is lost for very small hermetic packages and introduce a single parameter to compare different packages, with an equation to calculate the minimum sensitivity required from a test method to guarantee a given lifetime. In the second part of this paper, we review the literature on the corrosion of encapsulated integrated circuits (ICs) and, following a new analysis of published data, we propose an equation for the pre-corrosion lifetime of implanted ICs, and discuss the influence of the temperature, relative humidity, encapsulation and field-strength. As any new protection will be tested under accelerated conditions, we demonstrate the sensitivity of acceleration factors to some inaccurately known parameters. These results are relevant for any application of electronics working in a moist environment. Our comparison of encapsulation and hermetic packages suggests that both concepts may be suitable for future implants.

"Always the Outlaw": The Potential for Subversion of the Metanarrative in Retellings of Robin Hood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gates, Geoffrey

2006-01-01

This paper examines six recent retellings of Robin Hood and concentrates on the representation of class, religion and gender in the texts. The question is asked: "what values do the texts implicitly or explicitly arm?" The idea that Robin Hood retellings are systematic of a socially and politically conservative ideology is interrogated by…

Human and server docking prediction for CAPRI round 30-35 using LZerD with combined scoring functions.

PubMed

Peterson, Lenna X; Kim, Hyungrae; Esquivel-Rodriguez, Juan; Roy, Amitava; Han, Xusi; Shin, Woong-Hee; Zhang, Jian; Terashi, Genki; Lee, Matt; Kihara, Daisuke

2017-03-01

We report the performance of protein-protein docking predictions by our group for recent rounds of the Critical Assessment of Prediction of Interactions (CAPRI), a community-wide assessment of state-of-the-art docking methods. Our prediction procedure uses a protein-protein docking program named LZerD developed in our group. LZerD represents a protein surface with 3D Zernike descriptors (3DZD), which are based on a mathematical series expansion of a 3D function. The appropriate soft representation of protein surface with 3DZD makes the method more tolerant to conformational change of proteins upon docking, which adds an advantage for unbound docking. Docking was guided by interface residue prediction performed with BindML and cons-PPISP as well as literature information when available. The generated docking models were ranked by a combination of scoring functions, including PRESCO, which evaluates the native-likeness of residues' spatial environments in structure models. First, we discuss the overall performance of our group in the CAPRI prediction rounds and investigate the reasons for unsuccessful cases. Then, we examine the performance of several knowledge-based scoring functions and their combinations for ranking docking models. It was found that the quality of a pool of docking models generated by LZerD, that is whether or not the pool includes near-native models, can be predicted by the correlation of multiple scores. Although the current analysis used docking models generated by LZerD, findings on scoring functions are expected to be universally applicable to other docking methods. Proteins 2017; 85:513-527. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Using the Concept of Transient Complex for Affinity Predictions in CAPRI Rounds 20–27 and Beyond

PubMed Central

Qin, Sanbo; Zhou, Huan-Xiang

2013-01-01

Predictions of protein-protein binders and binding affinities have traditionally focused on features pertaining to the native complexes. In developing a computational method for predicting protein-protein association rate constants, we introduced the concept of transient complex after mapping the interaction energy surface. The transient complex is located at the outer boundary of the bound-state energy well, having near-native separation and relative orientation between the subunits but not yet formed most of the short-range native interactions. We found that the width of the binding funnel and the electrostatic interaction energy of the transient complex are among the features predictive of binders and binding affinities. These ideas were very promising for the five affinity-related targets (T43–45, 55, and 56) of CAPRI rounds 20–27. For T43, we ranked the single crystallographic complex as number 1 and were one of only two groups that clearly identified that complex as a true binder; for T44, we ranked the only design with measurable binding affinity as number 4. For the nine docking targets, continuing on our success in previous CAPRI rounds, we produced 10 medium-quality models for T47 and acceptable models for T48 and T49. We conclude that the interaction energy landscape and the transient complex in particular will complement existing features in leading to better prediction of binding affinities. PMID:23873496

Severe inbreeding depression and no evidence of purging in an extremely inbred wild species--the Chatham Island black robin.

PubMed

Kennedy, Euan S; Grueber, Catherine E; Duncan, Richard P; Jamieson, Ian G

2014-04-01

Although evidence of inbreeding depression in wild populations is well established, the impact of genetic purging in the wild remains controversial. The contrasting effects of inbreeding depression, fixation of deleterious alleles by genetic drift, and the purging of deleterious alleles via natural selection mean that predicting fitness outcomes in populations subjected to prolonged bottlenecks is not straightforward. We report results from a long-term pedigree study of arguably the world's most inbred wild species of bird: the Chatham Island black robin Petroica traversi, in which conditions were ideal for purging to occur. Contrary to expectations, black robins showed a strong, negative relationship between inbreeding and juvenile survival, yielding lethal equivalents (2B) of 6.85. We also determined that the negative relationship between inbreeding and survival did not appear to be mediated by levels of ancestral inbreeding and may be attributed in part to unpurged lethal recessives. Although the black robin demographic history provided ideal conditions for genetic purging, our results show no clear evidence of purging in the major life-history trait of juvenile survival. Our results also show no evidence of fixation of deleterious alleles in juvenile survival, but do confirm that continued high levels of contemporary inbreeding in a historically inbred population could lead to additional severe inbreeding depression. © 2013 The Author(s). Evolution © 2013 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

75 FR 49926 - Arena Energy, L.P. v. Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Complaint

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-16

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. RP10-1045-000] Arena Energy, L.P. v. Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Complaint August 3, 2010. Take notice that on... against Sea Robin Pipeline Company, LLC (Respondent) alleging that the Respondent impermissibly terminated...

Fostering and framing international social research on alcohol and other drugs: a tribute to Robin Room.

PubMed

Giesbrecht, Norman; Rosenqvist, Pia

2014-11-01

This commentary concentrates on three aspects of Robin Room's research history: the extent and scope of his research, his role as a builder of research milieus and his importance for the creation of research networks. It is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis, but rather illustrative. A supplementary table provides information on 24 international research projects that Robin Room led or where he played a significant role. In addition to looking at his scientific production history as reflected in databases, when preparing this essay the authors consulted 38 researchers who had worked or presently work with him in various projects, groups or in the research institutes where has held leadership positions. We posed questions pertaining to: major research issues over the past 50 years, the involvement of Robin Room in various projects, the ways in which these projects had contributed to social science or practice and Robin's contributions to the creation of research milieus. © 2014 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Human and Server Docking Prediction for CAPRI Round 30–35 Using LZerD with Combined Scoring Functions

PubMed Central

Peterson, Lenna X.; Kim, Hyungrae; Esquivel-Rodriguez, Juan; Roy, Amitava; Han, Xusi; Shin, Woong-Hee; Zhang, Jian; Terashi, Genki; Lee, Matt; Kihara, Daisuke

2016-01-01

We report the performance of protein-protein docking predictions by our group for recent rounds of the Critical Assessment of Prediction of Interactions (CAPRI), a community-wide assessment of state-of-the-art docking methods. Our prediction procedure uses a protein-protein docking program named LZerD developed in our group. LZerD represents a protein surface with 3D Zernike descriptors (3DZD), which are based on a mathematical series expansion of a 3D function. The appropriate soft representation of protein surface with 3DZD makes the method more tolerant to conformational change of proteins upon docking, which adds an advantage for unbound docking. Docking was guided by interface residue prediction performed with BindML and cons-PPISP as well as literature information when available. The generated docking models were ranked by a combination of scoring functions, including PRESCO, which evaluates the native-likeness of residues’ spatial environments in structure models. First, we discuss the overall performance of our group in the CAPRI prediction rounds and investigate the reasons for unsuccessful cases. Then, we examine the performance of several knowledge-based scoring functions and their combinations for ranking docking models. It was found that the quality of a pool of docking models generated by LZerD, i.e. whether or not the pool includes near-native models, can be predicted by the correlation of multiple scores. Although the current analysis used docking models generated by LZerD, findings on scoring functions are expected to be universally applicable to other docking methods. PMID:27654025

The Surgical Treatment of Robin Sequence.

PubMed

Greathouse, Shawn Travis; Costa, Melinda; Ferrera, Alessandra; Tahiri, Youssef; Tholpady, Sunil S; Havlik, Robert J; Flores, Roberto L

2016-10-01

We present an outcomes analysis of the surgical treatment of Robin sequence including all infants and comorbid conditions treated by tongue-lip adhesion (TLA) or mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO). A 19-year single-institution, multisurgeon retrospective review of all syndromic and nonsyndromic neonates with Robin sequence treated with TLA (1994-2004) or MDO (2004-2013) was performed. Comorbid conditions were recorded in all patients. Outcomes include incidence of tracheostomy, improvement in obstructive breathing, and surgical complications. Need for repeat distraction and conversion from TLA to MDO were included as secondary end-points. Polysomnography data were recorded preoperatively at 1 month and 1 year as a measure of airway improvement. Seventy-four MDO patients and 15 TLA patients during the study period met inclusion criteria. There was no significant difference in mean age at intervention (32.1 ± 29.0 vs 35.5 ± 32.1 days), birth weight (2.9 ± 0.7 vs 3.2 ± 0.6 kg), prematurity (23.0 vs 35.7%), or intrauterine growth restriction (31.1 vs 15.4%). Central nervous system anomalies (24.3% vs 0.0%; P < 0.04) and gastrostomy tubes (66.2% vs 33.3%; P < 0.03) were present more frequently in MDO patients versus TLA patients. Rates of other organ system anomalies were similar between the groups. The success rate was significantly higher in the MDO group (90.5% vs 60.0%; P < 0.008). Postoperative tracheostomies occurred in 8.1% of the MDO group and 33.3% of the TLA group (P < 0.02). Preoperative apnea-hyponea index was similar between the two groups (38.3 vs 38.1). The apnea-hyponea index was significantly improved in the MDO group at 1 month (4.0 vs 21.7; P < 0.002) and 1 year (5.7 vs 20.5; P < 0.005). Surgical complications were statistically less in the MDO group (20.3 vs 53.3%; P < 0.02). In the heterogeneous population of Robin sequence, MDO demonstrates superior outcomes measures at 1 month and 1 year compared to TLA. Fewer complications occurred in

62. Detail of bellmouth looking southeast. Photo by Robin Lee ...

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

62. Detail of bellmouth looking southeast. Photo by Robin Lee Tedder, Puget Power, 1989. - Puget Sound Power & Light Company, White River Hydroelectric Project, 600 North River Avenue, Dieringer, Pierce County, WA

Don Quixote, Machiavelli, and Robin Hood: public health practice, past and present.

PubMed

Mullan, F

2000-05-01

Since the mid-19th century, when the first formal health departments were established in the United States, commissioners, directors, and secretaries of public health have functioned as senior members of the staffs of public executives, mayors, governors, and presidents. They have provided important political, managerial, and scientific leadership to agencies of government that have played increasingly important roles in national life, from the sanitary revolution of the 19th century to the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the control of tobacco use today. Although public health officials come from a variety of backgrounds and oversee agencies of varied size and composition, there are philosophical themes that describe and define the commonality of their work. These themes are captured metaphorically by 3 celebrated figures: Don Quixote, Machiavelli, and Robin Hood. By turns, the public health official functions as a determined idealist (Don Quixote), a cunning political strategist (Machiavelli), and an agent who redistributes resources from the wealthier sectors of society to the less well off (Robin Hood.) All 3 personae are important, but, it is argued, Robin Hood is the most endangered.

STK/Lifetime as a Replacement for Heritage Orbital Lifetime Software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dove, Edwin

2004-01-01

The Flight Dynamics Analysis Branch (FDAB) of NASNGSFC is tasked with determining the orbital lifetime of several developmental and operational satellites, which include the Hubble Space Telescope. A DOS based program developed by the FDAB many years ago, called PC Lifetime, is used to determine a satellite s lifetime and could soon be in need of a replacement. STK s Lifetime Object Tool is a possible candidate. Due to the reduced support of the PC Lifetime program, and the growing incompatibility of older programs with new operating systems, a comparative analysis was done to determine if STWLifetime could meet the stringent requirements that were laid before it. The use of highly accurate numerical propagators such as STK s High Precision Orbit Propagator ( OP) and the Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS) provided a basis on which to compare STWLifetime s results. Several test cases were run, but the main four test cases would determine whether or not STWLifetime could be PC- Lifetime s replacement. These four cases include a geotransfer orbit, two circular LEOS, and a Poiar LEO. Following rigorous testmg procedures, a conclusion will be determined. STK has proved to be a versatile program on many satellite missions and the FDAB has high hopes that it can pass FDAB s requirements for orbital lifetime prediction.

Predicting the Lifetime of Dynamic Networks Experiencing Persistent Random Attacks.

PubMed

Podobnik, Boris; Lipic, Tomislav; Horvatic, Davor; Majdandzic, Antonio; Bishop, Steven R; Eugene Stanley, H

2015-09-21

Estimating the critical points at which complex systems abruptly flip from one state to another is one of the remaining challenges in network science. Due to lack of knowledge about the underlying stochastic processes controlling critical transitions, it is widely considered difficult to determine the location of critical points for real-world networks, and it is even more difficult to predict the time at which these potentially catastrophic failures occur. We analyse a class of decaying dynamic networks experiencing persistent failures in which the magnitude of the overall failure is quantified by the probability that a potentially permanent internal failure will occur. When the fraction of active neighbours is reduced to a critical threshold, cascading failures can trigger a total network failure. For this class of network we find that the time to network failure, which is equivalent to network lifetime, is inversely dependent upon the magnitude of the failure and logarithmically dependent on the threshold. We analyse how permanent failures affect network robustness using network lifetime as a measure. These findings provide new methodological insight into system dynamics and, in particular, of the dynamic processes of networks. We illustrate the network model by selected examples from biology, and social science.

Analysis of the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in Assessing Rounding Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Weijie; Lu, Yanmin

2018-03-01

Most existing Collaborative Filtering (CF) algorithms predict a rating as the preference of an active user toward a given item, which is always a decimal fraction. Meanwhile, the actual ratings in most data sets are integers. In this paper, we discuss and demonstrate why rounding can bring different influences to these two metrics; prove that rounding is necessary in post-processing of the predicted ratings, eliminate of model prediction bias, improving the accuracy of the prediction. In addition, we also propose two new rounding approaches based on the predicted rating probability distribution, which can be used to round the predicted rating to an optimal integer rating, and get better prediction accuracy compared to the Basic Rounding approach. Extensive experiments on different data sets validate the correctness of our analysis and the effectiveness of our proposed rounding approaches.

Association Between ICU Admission During Morning Rounds and Mortality

PubMed Central

Gajic, Ognjen; Morales, Ian J.; Keegan, Mark T.; Peters, Steve G.; Hubmayr, Rolf D.

2009-01-01

Background: No previous study has evaluated the association between admission to ICUs during round time and patient outcome. The objective of this study was to determine the association between round-time ICU admission and patient outcome. Methods: This retrospective study included 49,844 patients admitted from October 1994 to December 2007 to four ICUs (two surgical, one medical, and one multispecialty) of an academic medical center. Of these patients, 3,580 were admitted to the ICU during round time (8:00 am to 10:59 am) and 46,264 were admitted during nonround time (from 1:00 pm to 6:00 am). The medical ICU had 24-h/7-day per week intensivist coverage during the last 2 years of the study. We compared the baseline characteristics and outcome of patients admitted to the ICU between the two groups. Data were abstracted from the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) III database. Results: The round-time and non-round-groups were similar in gender, ethnicity, and age. The predicted hospital mortality rate of the round time group was higher (17.4% vs 12.3% predicted, respectively; p < 0.001). The hospital length of stay was similar between the two groups. The round-time group had a higher hospital mortality rate (16.2% vs 8.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). Most of the round-time ICU admissions and deaths occurred in the medical ICU. Round-time admission was an independent risk factor for hospital death (odds ratio, 1.321; 95% CI, 1.178 to 1.481). This independent association was present for the whole study period except for the last 2 years. Conclusions: Patients admitted to the ICU during morning rounds have higher severity of illness and mortality rates. PMID:19505985

Prospective prediction of first lifetime suicide attempts in a multi-site study of substance users

PubMed Central

Trout, Zoë M.; Hernandez, Evelyn M.; Kleiman, Evan M.; Liu, Richard T.

2017-01-01

Although considerable empirical work has been devoted to identifying risk factors for suicide attempts, most longitudinal research has studied recurrent attempts rather than first lifetime attempts. The present study sought to examine prospective predictors of first lifetime suicide attempts among adults receiving treatment for substance use. Data were drawn from the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study, a study of addiction treatment programs. Data were collected at treatment intake, treatment exit, and one year post-treatment. Patients (n = 3,518) with no lifetime history of suicide attempts at treatment intake were followed at treatment exit and one year post-treatment, when they reported on the occurrence of suicide attempts since the prior assessment. Prospective suicidal behavior was assessed using logistic regression in relation to sociodemographic variables, health-related work impariment, history of psychiatric treatment utilization, history of suicidal ideation, history of depressive symptoms, substance use, and childhood abuse, assessed at intake. Health-related work impairment, history of suicidal ideation, and childhood physical abuse significantly predicted first lifetime attempts in a multivariate analysis. Suicidal ideation, health-related functional impairments, and childhood physical abuse may be particularly important in assessing risk for first lifetime suicide attempts. Findings suggest that future clinical work and research would benefit from considering these factors when identifying individuals at heightened risk of making a first suicide attempt. PMID:27693980

The Lp Robin problem for Laplace equations in Lipschitz and (semi-)convex domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Sibei; Yang, Dachun; Yuan, Wen

2018-01-01

Let n ≥ 3 and Ω be a bounded Lipschitz domain in Rn. Assume that p ∈ (2 , ∞) and the function b ∈L∞ (∂ Ω) is non-negative, where ∂Ω denotes the boundary of Ω. Denote by ν the outward unit normal to ∂Ω. In this article, the authors give two necessary and sufficient conditions for the unique solvability of the Robin problem for the Laplace equation Δu = 0 in Ω with boundary data ∂ u / ∂ ν + bu = f ∈Lp (∂ Ω), respectively, in terms of a weak reverse Hölder inequality with exponent p or the unique solvability of the Robin problem with boundary data in some weighted L2 (∂ Ω) space. As applications, the authors obtain the unique solvability of the Robin problem for the Laplace equation in the bounded (semi-)convex domain Ω with boundary data in (weighted) Lp (∂ Ω) for any given p ∈ (1 , ∞).

EGFR T790M mutation testing of non-small cell lung cancer tissue and blood samples artificially spiked with circulating cell-free tumor DNA: results of a round robin trial.

PubMed

Fassunke, Jana; Ihle, Michaela Angelika; Lenze, Dido; Lehmann, Annika; Hummel, Michael; Vollbrecht, Claudia; Penzel, Roland; Volckmar, Anna-Lena; Stenzinger, Albrecht; Endris, Volker; Jung, Andreas; Lehmann, Ulrich; Zeugner, Silke; Baretton, Gustavo; Kreipe, Hans; Schirmacher, Peter; Kirchner, Thomas; Dietel, Manfred; Büttner, Reinhard; Merkelbach-Bruse, Sabine

2017-10-01

The European Commision (EC) recently approved osimertinib for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR T790M mutations. Besides tissue-based testing, blood samples containing cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be used to interrogate T790M status. Herein, we describe the conditions and results of a round robin trial (RRT) for T790M mutation testing in NSCLC tissue specimens and peripheral blood samples spiked with cell line DNA mimicking tumor-derived ctDNA. The underlying objectives of this two-staged external quality assessment (EQA) approach were (a) to evaluate the accuracy of T790M mutations testing across multiple centers and (b) to investigate if a liquid biopsy-based testing for T790M mutations in spiked blood samples is feasible in routine diagnostic. Based on a successfully completed internal phase I RRT, an open RRT for EGFR T790M mutation testing in tumor tissue and blood samples was initiated. In total, 48 pathology centers participated in the EQA. Of these, 47 (97.9%) centers submitted their analyses within the pre-defined time frame and 44 (tissue), respectively, 40 (plasma) successfully passed the test. The overall success rates in the RRT phase II were 91.7% (tissue) and 83.3% (blood), respectively. Thirty-eight out of 48 participants (79.2%) successfully passed both parts of the RRT. The RRT for blood-based EGFR testing initiated in Germany is, to the best of our knowledge, the first of his kind in Europe. In summary, our results demonstrate that blood-based genotyping for EGFR resistance mutations can be successfully integrated in routine molecular diagnostics complementing the array of molecular methods already available at pathology centers in Germany.

Environmental Assessment for Developing Renewable Energy Enhanced Use Lease Facilities at Robins Air Force Base

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-15

Blufftown is underlain by igneous and metamorphic rocks which are equivalent to those of the Georgia Piedmont. Potable and process waters are produced...Final Environmental Assessment for Developing Renewable Energy Enhanced Use Lease Facilities at Robins Air Force Base...TITLE AND SUBTITLE Final Environmental Assessment for Developing Renewable Energy Enhanced Use Lease Facilities at Robins Air Force Base 5a. CONTRACT

Piezosurgery an Asset in Treatment of Pierre Robin Sequence.

PubMed

Singh, Divya; Gadre, Pushkar; Gadre, Kiran; Ramanojam, Shandilya

2017-03-01

Pierre Robin sequence (formerly a syndrome) is named after the French stomatologist who, in 1923 and 1934, described the problems associated with micrognathia in newborn. It comprises mandibular micrognathia, U-shaped cleft palate, and glossoptosis. The typical symptoms are hypoxaemia, noisy breathing, snoring, stridor, cyanosis, bradycardia, feeding difficulties, and failure to thrive. Distraction osteogenesis has recently been considered as a surgical option for early intervention to lengthen the mandible and relieve respiratory problems. Piezosurgery offers a modality to make precise bone cuts preserving vital structures, minimizing the invasiveness of the surgical procedure, and offering bloodless field. We present case of 1-year-old male malnourished child with Pierre Robin sequence and tracheostomy in situ since day 11 of his birth. The staged treatment plan involving mandibular lengthening in which mandibular osteotomies were performed with the piezoelectric scalpel followed by decannulation of tracheostomy, which has been described in detail in this article.

Unsterblicher Robin Hood--Eine literaturdidaktische Betrachtung und Wertung von zwoelf Lektueretexten (Immortal Robin Hood--A Pedagogical Consideration and Evaluation of Twelve Reading Texts).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoegel, Rolf

1979-01-01

Examines 12 reading texts about Robin Hood, with regard to their content, suitability for various age levels, and language difficulty. The texts are found to be best suited for grades 5 and 6. An evaluation of each text is included. (IFS/WGA)

Superradiance in the BTZ black hole with Robin boundary conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dappiaggi, Claudio; Ferreira, Hugo R. C.; Herdeiro, Carlos A. R.

2018-03-01

We show the existence of superradiant modes of massive scalar fields propagating in BTZ black holes when certain Robin boundary conditions, which never include the commonly considered Dirichlet boundary conditions, are imposed at spatial infinity. These superradiant modes are defined as those solutions whose energy flux across the horizon is towards the exterior region. Differently from rotating, asymptotically flat black holes, we obtain that not all modes which grow up exponentially in time are superradiant; for some of these, the growth is sourced by a bulk instability of AdS3, triggered by the scalar field with Robin boundary conditions, rather than by energy extraction from the BTZ black hole. Thus, this setup provides an example wherein Bosonic modes with low frequency are pumping energy into, rather than extracting energy from, a rotating black hole.

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Continuous Boundary Force method for Navier-Stokes equations subject to Robin boundary condition

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

Pan, Wenxiao; Bao, Jie; Tartakovsky, Alexandre M.

2014-02-15

Robin boundary condition for the Navier-Stokes equations is used to model slip conditions at the fluid-solid boundaries. A novel Continuous Boundary Force (CBF) method is proposed for solving the Navier-Stokes equations subject to Robin boundary condition. In the CBF method, the Robin boundary condition at boundary is replaced by the homogeneous Neumann boundary condition at the boundary and a volumetric force term added to the momentum conservation equation. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method is used to solve the resulting Navier-Stokes equations. We present solutions for two-dimensional and three-dimensional flows in domains bounded by flat and curved boundaries subject to variousmore » forms of the Robin boundary condition. The numerical accuracy and convergence are examined through comparison of the SPH-CBF results with the solutions of finite difference or finite element method. Taken the no-slip boundary condition as a special case of slip boundary condition, we demonstrate that the SPH-CBF method describes accurately both no-slip and slip conditions.« less

Environmental Assessment for Developing Renewable Energy Enhanced Use Lease Facilities at Robins Air Force Base

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-15

underlain by igneous and metamorphic rocks which are equivalent to those of the Georgia Piedmont. Potable and process waters are produced from the...Final Environmental Assessment for Developing Renewable Energy Enhanced Use Lease Facilities at Robins Air Force Base...RENEWABLE ENERGY ENHANCED USE LEASE FACILITIES AT ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S

Artificial neural networks for AC losses prediction in superconducting round filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leclerc, J.; Makong Hell, L.; Lorin, C.; Masson, P. J.

2016-06-01

An extensive and fast method to estimate superconducting AC losses within a superconducting round filament carrying an AC current and subjected to an elliptical magnetic field (both rotating and oscillating) is presented. Elliptical fields are present in rotating machine stators and being able to accurately predict AC losses in fully superconducting machines is paramount to generating realistic machine designs. The proposed method relies on an analytical scaling law (ASL) combined with two artificial neural network (ANN) estimators taking 9 input parameters representing the superconductor, external field and transport current characteristics. The ANNs are trained with data generated by finite element (FE) computations with a commercial software (FlexPDE) based on the widely accepted H-formulation. After completion, the model is validated through comparison with additional randomly chosen data points and compared for simple field configurations to other predictive models. The loss estimation discrepancy is about 3% on average compared to the FEA analysis. The main advantages of the model compared to FE simulations is the fast computation time (few milliseconds) which allows it to be used in iterated design processes of fully superconducting machines. In addition, the proposed model provides a higher level of fidelity than the scaling laws existing in literature usually only considering pure AC field.

First results from negative ion beam extraction in ROBIN in surface mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandya, Kaushal; Gahlaut, Agrajit; Yadav, Ratnakar K.; Bhuyan, Manas; Bandyopadhyay, Mainak; Das, B. K.; Bharathi, P.; Vupugalla, Mahesh; Parmar, K. G.; Tyagi, Himanshu; Patel, Kartik; Bhagora, Jignesh; Mistri, Hiren; Prajapati, Bhavesh; Pandey, Ravi; Chakraborty, Arun. K.

2017-08-01

ROBIN, the first step in the Indian R&D program on negative ion beams has reached an important milestone, with the production of negative ions in the surface conversion mode through Cesium (Cs) vapor injection into the source. In the present set-up, negative hydrogen ion beam extraction is effected through an extraction area of ˜73.38 cm2 (146 apertures of 8mm diameter). The three grid electrostatic accelerator system of ROBIN is fed by high voltage DC power supplies (Extraction Power Supply System: 11kV, 35A and Acceleration Power Supply System: 35kV, 15A). Though, a considerable reduction of co-extracted electron current is usually observed during surface mode operation, in order to increase the negative ion current, various other parameters such as plasma grid temperature, plasma grid bias, extraction to acceleration voltage ratio, impurity control and Cs recycling need to be optimized. In the present experiments, to control and to understand the impurity behavior, a Cryopump (14,000 l/s for Hydrogen) is installed along with a Residual Gas Analyzer (RGA). To characterize the source plasma, two sets of Langmuir probes are inserted through the diagnostic flange ports available at the extraction plane. To characterize the beam properties, thermal differential calorimeter, Doppler Shift Spectroscopy and electrical current measurements are implemented in ROBIN. In the present set up, all the negative ion beam extraction experiments have been performed by varying different experimental parameters e.g. RF power (30-70 kW), source operational pressure (0.3 - 0.6Pa), plasma grid bias voltage, extraction & acceleration voltage combination etc. The experiments in surface mode operation is resulted a reduction of co-extracted electron current having electron to ion ratio (e/i) ˜2 whereas the extracted negative ion current density was increased. However, further increase in negative ion current density is expected to be improved after a systematic optimization of the

Don Quixote, Machiavelli, and Robin Hood: public health practice, past and present.

PubMed Central

Mullan, F

2000-01-01

Since the mid-19th century, when the first formal health departments were established in the United States, commissioners, directors, and secretaries of public health have functioned as senior members of the staffs of public executives, mayors, governors, and presidents. They have provided important political, managerial, and scientific leadership to agencies of government that have played increasingly important roles in national life, from the sanitary revolution of the 19th century to the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the control of tobacco use today. Although public health officials come from a variety of backgrounds and oversee agencies of varied size and composition, there are philosophical themes that describe and define the commonality of their work. These themes are captured metaphorically by 3 celebrated figures: Don Quixote, Machiavelli, and Robin Hood. By turns, the public health official functions as a determined idealist (Don Quixote), a cunning political strategist (Machiavelli), and an agent who redistributes resources from the wealthier sectors of society to the less well off (Robin Hood.) All 3 personae are important, but, it is argued, Robin Hood is the most endangered. PMID:10800417

Prevalence of filarioid nematodes and trypanosomes in American robins and house sparrows, Chicago USA.

PubMed

Hamer, Gabriel L; Anderson, Tavis K; Berry, Garrett E; Makohon-Moore, Alvin P; Crafton, Jeffrey C; Brawn, Jeffrey D; Dolinski, Amanda C; Krebs, Bethany L; Ruiz, Marilyn O; Muzzall, Patrick M; Goldberg, Tony L; Walker, Edward D

2013-12-01

Hosts are commonly infected with a suite of parasites, and interactions among these parasites can affect the size, structure, and behavior of host-parasite communities. As an important step to understanding the significance of co-circulating parasites, we describe prevalence of co-circulating hemoparasites in two important avian amplification hosts for West Nile virus (WNV), the American robin (Turdus migratorius) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus), during the 2010-2011 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Rates of nematode microfilariemia were 1.5% of the robins (n = 70) and 4.2% of the house sparrows (n = 72) collected during the day and 11.1% of the roosting robins (n = 63) and 0% of the house sparrows (n = 11) collected at night. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of the 18S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes from these parasites resolved two clades of filarioid nematodes. Microscopy revealed that 18.0% of American robins (n = 133) and 16.9% of house sparrows (n = 83) hosted trypanosomes in the blood. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences from the 18s rRNA gene revealed that the trypanosomes fall within previously described avian trypanosome clades. These results document hemoparasites in the blood of WNV hosts in a center of endemic WNV transmission, suggesting a potential for direct or indirect interactions with the virus.

The Male-Female Wage Gap: Lifetime Earnings Losses. Briefing Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartmann, Heidi; Whittaker, Julie

Currently, the median full-time woman worker earns 74.4 percent of the annual earnings of the median man. Over their lifetime, young women stand to lose a great deal of money due to differences in the wages for women and men. Estimates are that the average 25-year-old woman who works full time year round for 40 years will earn $523,000 less than…

A Giant Heart Tumor in Neonate with Clinical Signs of Pierre - Robin Syndrome

PubMed Central

Bejiqi, Ramush; Retkoceri, Ragip; Xhema-Bejiqi, Hana; Bejiqi, Rinor; Maloku, Arlinda

2017-01-01

Introduction: Pierre Robin syndrome is a congenital condition of facial abnormalities in humans. The three main features are: cleft palate, retrognathia and glossoptosis. Rarely heart tumors are associated with syndromes, mostly are isolated. Case report: In this presentation we describe a 3-weeks-old girl with Pierre-Robin syndrome and giant left ventricle tumor, diagnosed initially by transthoracic echocardiography. The purpose of this report is to review the literature on the fetuses and neonates with cardiac tumors in an attempt to determine the various ways which cardiac tumors differ clinically and morphologically in this age group. PMID:28790548

Performance of MDockPP in CAPRI rounds 28-29 and 31-35 including the prediction of water-mediated interactions.

PubMed

Xu, Xianjin; Qiu, Liming; Yan, Chengfei; Ma, Zhiwei; Grinter, Sam Z; Zou, Xiaoqin

2017-03-01

Protein-protein interactions are either through direct contacts between two binding partners or mediated by structural waters. Both direct contacts and water-mediated interactions are crucial to the formation of a protein-protein complex. During the recent CAPRI rounds, a novel parallel searching strategy for predicting water-mediated interactions is introduced into our protein-protein docking method, MDockPP. Briefly, a FFT-based docking algorithm is employed in generating putative binding modes, and an iteratively derived statistical potential-based scoring function, ITScorePP, in conjunction with biological information is used to assess and rank the binding modes. Up to 10 binding modes are selected as the initial protein-protein complex structures for MD simulations in explicit solvent. Water molecules near the interface are clustered based on the snapshots extracted from independent equilibrated trajectories. Then, protein-ligand docking is employed for a parallel search for water molecules near the protein-protein interface. The water molecules generated by ligand docking and the clustered water molecules generated by MD simulations are merged, referred to as the predicted structural water molecules. Here, we report the performance of this protocol for CAPRI rounds 28-29 and 31-35 containing 20 valid docking targets and 11 scoring targets. In the docking experiments, we predicted correct binding modes for nine targets, including one high-accuracy, two medium-accuracy, and six acceptable predictions. Regarding the two targets for the prediction of water-mediated interactions, we achieved models ranked as "excellent" in accordance with the CAPRI evaluation criteria; one of these two targets is considered as a difficult target for structural water prediction. Proteins 2017; 85:424-434. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Prevalence of filarioid nematodes and trypanosomes in American robins and house sparrows, Chicago USA☆

PubMed Central

Hamer, Gabriel L.; Anderson, Tavis K.; Berry, Garrett E.; Makohon-Moore, Alvin P.; Crafton, Jeffrey C.; Brawn, Jeffrey D.; Dolinski, Amanda C.; Krebs, Bethany L.; Ruiz, Marilyn O.; Muzzall, Patrick M.; Goldberg, Tony L.; Walker, Edward D.

2012-01-01

Hosts are commonly infected with a suite of parasites, and interactions among these parasites can affect the size, structure, and behavior of host–parasite communities. As an important step to understanding the significance of co-circulating parasites, we describe prevalence of co-circulating hemoparasites in two important avian amplification hosts for West Nile virus (WNV), the American robin (Turdus migratorius) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus), during the 2010–2011 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Rates of nematode microfilariemia were 1.5% of the robins (n = 70) and 4.2% of the house sparrows (n = 72) collected during the day and 11.1% of the roosting robins (n = 63) and 0% of the house sparrows (n = 11) collected at night. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of the 18S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes from these parasites resolved two clades of filarioid nematodes. Microscopy revealed that 18.0% of American robins (n = 133) and 16.9% of house sparrows (n = 83) hosted trypanosomes in the blood. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences from the 18s rRNA gene revealed that the trypanosomes fall within previously described avian trypanosome clades. These results document hemoparasites in the blood of WNV hosts in a center of endemic WNV transmission, suggesting a potential for direct or indirect interactions with the virus. PMID:24533314

HRCT Correlation with Round Window Identification during Cochlear Implantation in Children.

PubMed

Pendem, Sai Kiran; Rangasami, Rajeswaran; Arunachalam, Ravi Kumar; Mohanarangam, Venkata Sai Pulivadulu; Natarajan, Paarthipan

2014-01-01

To determine the accuracy of High Resolution Computer Tomography (HRCT) temporal bone measurements in predicting the actual visualization of round window niche as viewed through posterior tympanotomy (i.e. facial recess). This is a prospective study of 37 cochlear implant candidates, aged between 1and 6 years, who were referred for HRCT temporal bone during the period December 2013 to July 2014. Cochlear implantation was done in 37 children (25 in the right ear and 12 in the left ear). The distance between the short process of incus and the round window niche and the distance between the oval window and the round window niche were measured preoperatively on sub-millimeter (0.7 mm) HRCT images. We classified the visibility of round window niche based on the surgical view (i.e. through posterior tympanotomy) during surgery into three types: 1) Type 1- fully visible, 2) Type 2- partially visible, and 3) Type 3- difficult to visualize. The preoperative HRCT measurements were used to predict the type of visualization of round window niche before surgery and correlated with the findings during surgery. The mean and standard deviation for the distance between the short process of incus and the round window niche and for the distance between the oval window and the round window niche for Types 1, 2, and 3 were 8.5 ± 0.2 mm and 3.2 ± 0.2 mm, 8.0 ± 0.4 mm and 3.8 ± 0.2 mm, 7.5 ± 0.2 mm and 4.4 ± 0.2 mm respectively, and showed statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) between them. The preoperative HRCT measurements had a sensitivity and specificity of 92.3% and 96.2%, respectively, in determining the actual visualization of round window niche. This study shows preoperative HRCT temporal bone measurements are useful in predicting the actual visualization of round window niche as viewed through posterior tympanotomy.

Development of a lifetime prediction model for lithium-ion batteries based on extended accelerated aging test data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ecker, Madeleine; Gerschler, Jochen B.; Vogel, Jan; Käbitz, Stefan; Hust, Friedrich; Dechent, Philipp; Sauer, Dirk Uwe

2012-10-01

Battery lifetime prognosis is a key requirement for successful market introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles. This work aims at the development of a lifetime prediction approach based on an aging model for lithium-ion batteries. A multivariable analysis of a detailed series of accelerated lifetime experiments representing typical operating conditions in hybrid electric vehicle is presented. The impact of temperature and state of charge on impedance rise and capacity loss is quantified. The investigations are based on a high-power NMC/graphite lithium-ion battery with good cycle lifetime. The resulting mathematical functions are physically motivated by the occurring aging effects and are used for the parameterization of a semi-empirical aging model. An impedance-based electric-thermal model is coupled to the aging model to simulate the dynamic interaction between aging of the battery and the thermal as well as electric behavior. Based on these models different drive cycles and management strategies can be analyzed with regard to their impact on lifetime. It is an important tool for vehicle designers and for the implementation of business models. A key contribution of the paper is the parameterization of the aging model by experimental data, while aging simulation in the literature usually lacks a robust empirical foundation.

Ward round template: enhancing patient safety on ward rounds.

PubMed

Gilliland, Niall; Catherwood, Natalie; Chen, Shaouyn; Browne, Peter; Wilson, Jacob; Burden, Helena

2018-01-01

Concerns had been raised at clinical governance regarding the safety of our inpatient ward rounds with particular reference to: documentation of clinical observations and National Early Warning Score (NEWS), compliance with Trust guidance for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment, antibiotic stewardship, palliative care and treatment escalation plans (TEP). This quality improvement project was conceived to ensure these parameters were considered and documented during the ward round, thereby improving patient care and safety. These parameters were based on Trust patient safety guidance and CQUIN targets. The quality improvement technique of plan-do-study-act (PDSA) was used in this project. We retrospectively reviewed ward round entries to record baseline measurements, based on the above described parameters, prior to making any changes. Following this, the change applied was the introduction of a ward round template to include the highlighted important baseline parameters. Monthly PDSA cycles are performed, and baseline measurements are re-examined, then relevant changes were made to the ward round template. Documentation of baseline measurements was poor prior to introduction of the ward round template; this improved significantly following introduction of a standardised ward round template. Following three cycles, documentation of VTE risk assessments increased from 14% to 92%. Antibiotic stewardship documentation went from 0% to 100%. Use of the TEP form went from 29% to 78%. Following introduction of the ward round template, compliance improved significantly in all safety parameters. Important safety measures being discussed on ward rounds will lead to enhanced patient safety and will improve compliance to Trust guidance and comissioning for quality and innovation (CQUIN) targets. Ongoing change implementation will focus on improving compliance with usage of the template on all urology ward rounds.

Generation mechanism of hydroxyl radical species and its lifetime prediction during the plasma-initiated ultraviolet (UV) photolysis

PubMed Central

Attri, Pankaj; Kim, Yong Hee; Park, Dae Hoon; Park, Ji Hoon; Hong, Young J.; Uhm, Han Sup; Kim, Kyoung-Nam; Fridman, Alexander; Choi, Eun Ha

2015-01-01

Through this work, we have elucidated the mechanism of hydroxyl radicals (OH•) generation and its life time measurements in biosolution. We observed that plasma-initiated ultraviolet (UV) photolysis were responsible for the continues generation of OH• species, that resulted in OH• to be major reactive species (RS) in the solution. The density and lifetime of OH• species acted inversely proportional to each other with increasing depth inside the solution. The cause of increased lifetime of OH• inside the solution is predicted using theoretical and semiempirical calculations. Further, to predict the mechanism of conversion of hydroxide ion (OH−) to OH• or H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and electron, we determined the current inside the solution of different pH. Additionally, we have investigated the critical criterion for OH• interaction on cancer cell inducing apoptosis under effective OH• exposure time. These studies are innovative in the field of plasma chemistry and medicine. PMID:25790968

Modelling impacts of performance on the probability of reproducing, and thereby on productive lifespan, allow prediction of lifetime efficiency in dairy cows.

PubMed

Phuong, H N; Blavy, P; Martin, O; Schmidely, P; Friggens, N C

2016-01-01

Reproductive success is a key component of lifetime efficiency - which is the ratio of energy in milk (MJ) to energy intake (MJ) over the lifespan, of cows. At the animal level, breeding and feeding management can substantially impact milk yield, body condition and energy balance of cows, which are known as major contributors to reproductive failure in dairy cattle. This study extended an existing lifetime performance model to incorporate the impacts that performance changes due to changing breeding and feeding strategies have on the probability of reproducing and thereby on the productive lifespan, and thus allow the prediction of a cow's lifetime efficiency. The model is dynamic and stochastic, with an individual cow being the unit modelled and one day being the unit of time. To evaluate the model, data from a French study including Holstein and Normande cows fed high-concentrate diets and data from a Scottish study including Holstein cows selected for high and average genetic merit for fat plus protein that were fed high- v. low-concentrate diets were used. Generally, the model consistently simulated productive and reproductive performance of various genotypes of cows across feeding systems. In the French data, the model adequately simulated the reproductive performance of Holsteins but significantly under-predicted that of Normande cows. In the Scottish data, conception to first service was comparably simulated, whereas interval traits were slightly under-predicted. Selection for greater milk production impaired the reproductive performance and lifespan but not lifetime efficiency. The definition of lifetime efficiency used in this model did not include associated costs or herd-level effects. Further works should include such economic indicators to allow more accurate simulation of lifetime profitability in different production scenarios.

The Multiscale Robin Coupled Method for flows in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guiraldello, Rafael T.; Ausas, Roberto F.; Sousa, Fabricio S.; Pereira, Felipe; Buscaglia, Gustavo C.

2018-02-01

A multiscale mixed method aiming at the accurate approximation of velocity and pressure fields in heterogeneous porous media is proposed. The procedure is based on a new domain decomposition method in which the local problems are subject to Robin boundary conditions. The domain decomposition procedure is defined in terms of two independent spaces on the skeleton of the decomposition, corresponding to interface pressures and fluxes, that can be chosen with great flexibility to accommodate local features of the underlying permeability fields. The well-posedness of the new domain decomposition procedure is established and its connection with the method of Douglas et al. (1993) [12], is identified, also allowing us to reinterpret the known procedure as an optimized Schwarz (or Two-Lagrange-Multiplier) method. The multiscale property of the new domain decomposition method is indicated, and its relation with the Multiscale Mortar Mixed Finite Element Method (MMMFEM) and the Multiscale Hybrid-Mixed (MHM) Finite Element Method is discussed. Numerical simulations are presented aiming at illustrating several features of the new method. Initially we illustrate the possibility of switching from MMMFEM to MHM by suitably varying the Robin condition parameter in the new multiscale method. Then we turn our attention to realistic flows in high-contrast, channelized porous formations. We show that for a range of values of the Robin condition parameter our method provides better approximations for pressure and velocity than those computed with either the MMMFEM and the MHM. This is an indication that our method has the potential to produce more accurate velocity fields in the presence of rough, realistic permeability fields of petroleum reservoirs.

Modified round block mastopexy versus traditional round block mastopexy.

PubMed

Sterodimas, A; Nicaretta, B; Boriani, F

2015-01-01

Breast ptosis may be caused by several factors, including significant weight loss, pregnancy, long breastfeeding periods, and involution of the postmenopausal breast tissue. The authors performed a prospective study to evaluate patient satisfaction and the rate of complications after modified round block mastopexy versus traditional round block mastopexy. Forty-four patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for undergoing round block mastopexy in a prospective randomized controlled study performed from 2007 to 2008. All the patients received polyurethane silicone implants. Group A included patients who underwent the traditional round block technique described by Benelli. Group B included patients who underwent the traditional round block and 4 cardinal glando-glandular permanent sutures. The overall satisfaction with body appearance after breast mastopexy was rated on a scale of 1 (poor), 2 (fair), 3 (good), 4 (very good), and 5 (excellent). Group A patient ages ranged from 28 to 52 years and in Group B ranged from 29 to 49 years. The mean implant volume was 215 cc in both Groups. The complication and satisfaction rates for both Groups are reported. The combination of the cardinal glandulo-glandular sutures along with the traditional round block appears to be key to preventing the areolar enlargement and persistent breast ptosis. The satisfaction rates in patients who underwent the modified round mastopexy appear superior when compared to the traditional round block mastopexy. Furhter long-term follow-up need to be performed in order to confirm the favorable results seen in this series of cases.

Prediction of field emitter cathode lifetime based on measurement of I- V curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bormashov, V. S.; Nikolski, K. N.; Baturin, A. S.; Sheshin, E. P.

2003-06-01

A technique is presented, which allows the prediction of field emitter cathode lifetime without long-term direct measurements of cathode parameters stability. This technique is based on periodic measurements of cathode I- V characteristics. Moreover, it allows performing a post-experiment optimization for the appropriate choice of the feedback system to provide a stable operation during a long time. The proposed technique was applied to study the emission properties of reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) and thermo-enlarged graphite (TEG). For the given cathodes, the characteristic time of the cathode destruction was estimated.

US/UK second level panel discussions on the health and value of: Ageing and lifetime predictions (u)

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

Castro, Richard G

2011-01-18

Many healthy physics, engineering, and materials exchanges are being accomplished in ageing and lifetime prediction that directly supports US and UK Stockpile Management Programs. Lifetime assessment studies of silicon foams under compression - Joint AWE/LANLlLLNL study of compression set in stress cushions completed. Provides phenomenological prediction out to 50 years. Polymer volatile out-gassing studies - New exchange on the out-gassing of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) using isotopic {sup 13}C labeling studies to interrogate mechanistic processes. Infra-red (IR) gas cell analytical capabilities developed by AWE will be used to monitor polymer out-gassing profiles. Pu Strength ageing Experiments and Constitutive Modeling -more » In recently compared modeling strategies for ageing effects on Pu yield strength at high strain rates, a US/UK consensus was reached on the general principle that the ageing effect is additive and not multiplicative. The fundamental mechanisms for age-strengthening in Pu remains unknown. Pu Surface and Interface Reactions - (1) US/UK secondment resulted in developing a metal-metal oxide model for radiation damaged studies consistent with a Modified Embedded Atom Method (MEAM) potential; and (2) Joint US/UK collaboration to study the role of impurities in hydride initiation. Detonator Ageing (wide range of activities) - (1) Long-term ageing study with field trials at Pantex incorporating materials from LANL, LLNL, SNL and AWE; (2) Characterization of PETN growth to detonation process; (3) Detonator performance modeling; and (4) Performance fault tree analysis. Benefits are a unified approach to lifetime prediction that Includes: materials characterization and the development of ageing models through improved understanding of the relationship between materials properties, ageing properties and detonator performance.« less

Predicting the breakdown strength and lifetime of nanocomposites using a multi-scale modeling approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yanhui; Zhao, He; Wang, Yixing; Ratcliff, Tyree; Breneman, Curt; Brinson, L. Catherine; Chen, Wei; Schadler, Linda S.

2017-08-01

It has been found that doping dielectric polymers with a small amount of nanofiller or molecular additive can stabilize the material under a high field and lead to increased breakdown strength and lifetime. Choosing appropriate fillers is critical to optimizing the material performance, but current research largely relies on experimental trial and error. The employment of computer simulations for nanodielectric design is rarely reported. In this work, we propose a multi-scale modeling approach that employs ab initio, Monte Carlo, and continuum scales to predict the breakdown strength and lifetime of polymer nanocomposites based on the charge trapping effect of the nanofillers. The charge transfer, charge energy relaxation, and space charge effects are modeled in respective hierarchical scales by distinctive simulation techniques, and these models are connected together for high fidelity and robustness. The preliminary results show good agreement with the experimental data, suggesting its promise for use in the computer aided material design of high performance dielectrics.

Vortex wakes generated by robins Erithacus rubecula during free flight in a wind tunnel

PubMed Central

Hedenström, A; Rosén, M; Spedding, G.R

2005-01-01

The wakes of two individual robins were measured in digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) experiments conducted in the Lund wind tunnel. Wake measurements were compared with each other, and with previous studies in the same facility. There was no significant individual variation in any of the measured quantities. Qualitatively, the wake structure and its gradual variation with flight speed were exactly as previously measured for the thrush nightingale. A procedure that accounts for the disparate sources of circulation spread over the complex wake structure nevertheless can account for the vertical momentum flux required to support the weight, and an example calculation is given for estimating drag from the components of horizontal momentum flux (whose net value is zero). The measured circulations of the largest structures in the wake can be predicted quite well by simple models, and expressions are given to predict these and other measurable quantities in future bird flight experiments. PMID:16849236

Vortex wakes generated by robins Erithacus rubecula during free flight in a wind tunnel.

PubMed

Hedenström, A; Rosén, M; Spedding, G R

2006-04-22

The wakes of two individual robins were measured in digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) experiments conducted in the Lund wind tunnel. Wake measurements were compared with each other, and with previous studies in the same facility. There was no significant individual variation in any of the measured quantities. Qualitatively, the wake structure and its gradual variation with flight speed were exactly as previously measured for the thrush nightingale. A procedure that accounts for the disparate sources of circulation spread over the complex wake structure nevertheless can account for the vertical momentum flux required to support the weight, and an example calculation is given for estimating drag from the components of horizontal momentum flux (whose net value is zero). The measured circulations of the largest structures in the wake can be predicted quite well by simple models, and expressions are given to predict these and other measurable quantities in future bird flight experiments.

Robin problems with a general potential and a superlinear reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papageorgiou, Nikolaos S.; Rădulescu, Vicenţiu D.; Repovš, Dušan D.

2017-09-01

We consider semilinear Robin problems driven by the negative Laplacian plus an indefinite potential and with a superlinear reaction term which need not satisfy the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz condition. We prove existence and multiplicity theorems (producing also an infinity of smooth solutions) using variational tools, truncation and perturbation techniques and Morse theory (critical groups).

Repulsive Casimir effect from extra dimensions and Robin boundary conditions: From branes to pistons

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

Elizalde, E.; Odintsov, S. D.; Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avanccats

2009-03-15

We evaluate the Casimir energy and force for a massive scalar field with general curvature coupling parameter, subject to Robin boundary conditions on two codimension-one parallel plates, located on a (D+1)-dimensional background spacetime with an arbitrary internal space. The most general case of different Robin coefficients on the two separate plates is considered. With independence of the geometry of the internal space, the Casimir forces are seen to be attractive for special cases of Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions on both plates and repulsive for Dirichlet boundary conditions on one plate and Neumann boundary conditions on the other. For Robinmore » boundary conditions, the Casimir forces can be either attractive or repulsive, depending on the Robin coefficients and the separation between the plates, what is actually remarkable and useful. Indeed, we demonstrate the existence of an equilibrium point for the interplate distance, which is stabilized due to the Casimir force, and show that stability is enhanced by the presence of the extra dimensions. Applications of these properties in braneworld models are discussed. Finally, the corresponding results are generalized to the geometry of a piston of arbitrary cross section.« less

On solving wave equations on fixed bounded intervals involving Robin boundary conditions with time-dependent coefficients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Horssen, Wim T.; Wang, Yandong; Cao, Guohua

2018-06-01

In this paper, it is shown how characteristic coordinates, or equivalently how the well-known formula of d'Alembert, can be used to solve initial-boundary value problems for wave equations on fixed, bounded intervals involving Robin type of boundary conditions with time-dependent coefficients. A Robin boundary condition is a condition that specifies a linear combination of the dependent variable and its first order space-derivative on a boundary of the interval. Analytical methods, such as the method of separation of variables (SOV) or the Laplace transform method, are not applicable to those types of problems. The obtained analytical results by applying the proposed method, are in complete agreement with those obtained by using the numerical, finite difference method. For problems with time-independent coefficients in the Robin boundary condition(s), the results of the proposed method also completely agree with those as for instance obtained by the method of separation of variables, or by the finite difference method.

Airway and Feeding Outcomes of Mandibular Distraction, Tongue-Lip Adhesion, and Conservative Management in Pierre Robin Sequence: A Prospective Study.

PubMed

Khansa, Ibrahim; Hall, Courtney; Madhoun, Lauren L; Splaingard, Mark; Baylis, Adriane; Kirschner, Richard E; Pearson, Gregory D

2017-04-01

Pierre Robin sequence is characterized by mandibular retrognathia and glossoptosis resulting in airway obstruction and feeding difficulties. When conservative management fails, mandibular distraction osteogenesis or tongue-lip adhesion may be required to avoid tracheostomy. The authors' goal was to prospectively evaluate the airway and feeding outcomes of their comprehensive approach to Pierre Robin sequence, which includes conservative management, mandibular distraction osteogenesis, and tongue-lip adhesion. A longitudinal study of newborns with Pierre Robin sequence treated at a pediatric academic medical center between 2010 and 2015 was performed. Baseline feeding and respiratory data were collected. Patients underwent conservative management if they demonstrated sustainable weight gain without tube feeds, and if their airway was stable with positioning alone. Patients who required surgery underwent tongue-lip adhesion or mandibular distraction osteogenesis based on family and surgeon preference. Postoperative airway and feeding data were collected. Twenty-eight patients with Pierre Robin sequence were followed prospectively. Thirty-two percent had a syndrome. Ten underwent mandibular distraction osteogenesis, eight underwent tongue-lip adhesion, and 10 were treated conservatively. There were no differences in days to extubation or discharge, change in weight percentile, requirement for gastrostomy tube, or residual obstructive sleep apnea between the three groups. No patients required tracheostomy. The greatest reduction in apnea-hypopnea index occurred with mandibular distraction osteogenesis, followed by tongue-lip adhesion and conservative management. Careful selection of which patients with Pierre Robin sequence need surgery, and of the most appropriate surgical procedure for each patient, can minimize the need for postprocedure tracheostomy. A comprehensive approach to Pierre Robin sequence that includes conservative management, mandibular distraction

A review of chevron-notched fracture specimens

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, J. C., Jr.

1984-01-01

The historical development of chevron notched fracture specimens is reviewed. Stress intensity factors and load line displacement solutions proposed for some of these specimens are compared. The original bend bar configurations up to the present day short rod and bar specimens are reviewed. The results of an analytical round robin that was conducted on chevron-notched specimens are presented. In the round robin, stress-intensity factors for either the chevron notched round rod or square bar specimens were calculated. The consensus stress intensity factor (compliance) solution for these specimens is assessed. The stress intensity factor solutions proposed for three and four point bend chevron notched specimens are reviewed.

An application of characteristic function in order to predict reliability and lifetime of aeronautical hardware

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Żurek, Józef; Kaleta, Ryszard; Zieja, Mariusz

2016-06-01

The forecasting of reliability and life of aeronautical hardware requires recognition of many and various destructive processes that deteriorate the health/maintenance status thereof. The aging of technical components of aircraft as an armament system proves of outstanding significance to reliability and safety of the whole system. The aging process is usually induced by many and various factors, just to mention mechanical, biological, climatic, or chemical ones. The aging is an irreversible process and considerably affects (i.e. reduces) reliability and lifetime of aeronautical equipment. Application of the characteristic function of the aging process is suggested to predict reliability and lifetime of aeronautical hardware. An increment in values of diagnostic parameters is introduced to formulate then, using the characteristic function and after some rearrangements, the partial differential equation. An analytical dependence for the characteristic function of the aging process is a solution to this equation. With the inverse transformation applied, the density function of the aging of aeronautical hardware is found. Having found the density function, one can determine the aeronautical equipment's reliability and lifetime. The in-service collected or the life tests delivered data are used to attain this goal. Coefficients in this relationship are found using the likelihood function.

An application of characteristic function in order to predict reliability and lifetime of aeronautical hardware

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

Żurek, Józef; Kaleta, Ryszard; Zieja, Mariusz

2016-06-08

The forecasting of reliability and life of aeronautical hardware requires recognition of many and various destructive processes that deteriorate the health/maintenance status thereof. The aging of technical components of aircraft as an armament system proves of outstanding significance to reliability and safety of the whole system. The aging process is usually induced by many and various factors, just to mention mechanical, biological, climatic, or chemical ones. The aging is an irreversible process and considerably affects (i.e. reduces) reliability and lifetime of aeronautical equipment. Application of the characteristic function of the aging process is suggested to predict reliability and lifetime ofmore » aeronautical hardware. An increment in values of diagnostic parameters is introduced to formulate then, using the characteristic function and after some rearrangements, the partial differential equation. An analytical dependence for the characteristic function of the aging process is a solution to this equation. With the inverse transformation applied, the density function of the aging of aeronautical hardware is found. Having found the density function, one can determine the aeronautical equipment’s reliability and lifetime. The in-service collected or the life tests delivered data are used to attain this goal. Coefficients in this relationship are found using the likelihood function.« less

A time-motion study of inpatient rounds using a family-centered rounds model.

PubMed

Bhansali, Priti; Birch, Sarah; Campbell, Joyce K; Agrawal, Dewesh; Hoffner, Wendy; Manicone, Paul; Shah, Kyle; Krieger, Evelina; Ottolini, Mary

2013-01-01

Family-centered rounds (FCR) have become increasingly prevalent in pediatric hospital settings. The objective of our study was to describe time use and discrete events during pediatric inpatient rounds by using a FCR model. We conducted a prospective observational study at Children's National Medical Center between September 2010 and February 2011. Investigators directly observed rounds on hospitalist and neurology services. Events were timed, and key features were recorded by using a Microsoft Access-based program. Associations with increased time spent during rounds were determined by using regression analyses. One hundred fifty-nine rounding encounters were observed. Rounds lasted 7.9 minutes on average per patient. An average of 1.3 minutes was spent between patients during rounds. Eighty-six (54%) encounters occurred outside the patient's room, 3% of the time because of the family's request. Infectious isolation was associated with rounds occurring outside the room (P<.0001). Participation of the parent, location of rounds inside or outside the patient's room, most teaching behaviors, and interruptions were not significantly associated with increased time spent during rounds. Teaching physical examination techniques by allowing multiple trainees to examine the patient was associated with increased rounding time (P= .02). The majority of rounds occurred outside the patient's room, yet rarely at the parent's request. Patients on infectious isolation were more likely to have rounds occur outside the patient's room. Neither parental participation nor most teaching behaviors were associated with increased time spent on rounds. These findings will enrich the evidence base needed to establish FCR best practices.

Dimensions of Intuition: First-Round Validation Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vrugtman, Rosanne

2009-01-01

This study utilized confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), canonical correlation analysis (CCA), regression analysis (RA), and correlation analysis (CA) for first-round validation of the researcher's Dimensions of Intuition (DOI) instrument. The DOI examined 25 personal characteristics and situations purportedly predictive of intuition. Data was…

Chairside CAD/CAM materials. Part 3: Cyclic fatigue parameters and lifetime predictions.

PubMed

Wendler, Michael; Belli, Renan; Valladares, Diana; Petschelt, Anselm; Lohbauer, Ulrich

2018-06-01

Chemical and mechanical degradation play a key role on the lifetime of dental restorative materials. Therefore, prediction of their long-term performance in the oral environment should base on fatigue, rather than inert strength data, as commonly observed in the dental material's field. The objective of the present study was to provide mechanistic fatigue parameters of current dental CAD/CAM materials under cyclic biaxial flexure and assess their suitability in predicting clinical fracture behaviors. Eight CAD/CAM materials, including polycrystalline zirconia (IPS e.max ZirCAD), reinforced glasses (Vitablocs Mark II, IPS Empress CAD), glass-ceramics (IPS e.max CAD, Suprinity PC, Celtra Duo), as well as hybrid materials (Enamic, Lava Ultimate) were evaluated. Rectangular plates (12×12×1.2mm 3 ) with highly polished surfaces were prepared and tested in biaxial cyclic fatigue in water until fracture using the Ball-on-Three-Balls (B3B) test. Cyclic fatigue parameters n and A* were obtained from the lifetime data for each material and further used to build SPT diagrams. The latter were used to compare in-vitro with in-vivo fracture distributions for IPS e.max CAD and IPS Empress CAD. Susceptibility to subcritical crack growth under cyclic loading was observed for all materials, being more severe (n≤20) in lithium-based glass-ceramics and Vitablocs Mark II. Strength degradations of 40% up to 60% were predicted after only 1 year of service. Threshold stress intensity factors (K th ) representing the onset of subcritical crack growth (SCG), were estimated to lie in the range of 0.37-0.44 of K Ic for the lithium-based glass-ceramics and Vitablocs Mark II and between 0.51-0.59 of K Ic for the other materials. Failure distributions associated with mechanistic estimations of strength degradation in-vitro showed to be useful in interpreting failure behavior in-vivo. The parameter K th stood out as a better predictor of clinical performance in detriment to the SCG n

RNA-Puzzles Round II: assessment of RNA structure prediction programs applied to three large RNA structures

PubMed Central

Miao, Zhichao; Adamiak, Ryszard W.; Blanchet, Marc-Frédérick; Boniecki, Michal; Bujnicki, Janusz M.; Chen, Shi-Jie; Cheng, Clarence; Chojnowski, Grzegorz; Chou, Fang-Chieh; Cordero, Pablo; Cruz, José Almeida; Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R.; Das, Rhiju; Ding, Feng; Dokholyan, Nikolay V.; Dunin-Horkawicz, Stanislaw; Kladwang, Wipapat; Krokhotin, Andrey; Lach, Grzegorz; Magnus, Marcin; Major, François; Mann, Thomas H.; Masquida, Benoît; Matelska, Dorota; Meyer, Mélanie; Peselis, Alla; Popenda, Mariusz; Purzycka, Katarzyna J.; Serganov, Alexander; Stasiewicz, Juliusz; Szachniuk, Marta; Tandon, Arpit; Tian, Siqi; Wang, Jian; Xiao, Yi; Xu, Xiaojun; Zhang, Jinwei; Zhao, Peinan; Zok, Tomasz; Westhof, Eric

2015-01-01

This paper is a report of a second round of RNA-Puzzles, a collective and blind experiment in three-dimensional (3D) RNA structure prediction. Three puzzles, Puzzles 5, 6, and 10, represented sequences of three large RNA structures with limited or no homology with previously solved RNA molecules. A lariat-capping ribozyme, as well as riboswitches complexed to adenosylcobalamin and tRNA, were predicted by seven groups using RNAComposer, ModeRNA/SimRNA, Vfold, Rosetta, DMD, MC-Fold, 3dRNA, and AMBER refinement. Some groups derived models using data from state-of-the-art chemical-mapping methods (SHAPE, DMS, CMCT, and mutate-and-map). The comparisons between the predictions and the three subsequently released crystallographic structures, solved at diffraction resolutions of 2.5–3.2 Å, were carried out automatically using various sets of quality indicators. The comparisons clearly demonstrate the state of present-day de novo prediction abilities as well as the limitations of these state-of-the-art methods. All of the best prediction models have similar topologies to the native structures, which suggests that computational methods for RNA structure prediction can already provide useful structural information for biological problems. However, the prediction accuracy for non-Watson–Crick interactions, key to proper folding of RNAs, is low and some predicted models had high Clash Scores. These two difficulties point to some of the continuing bottlenecks in RNA structure prediction. All submitted models are available for download at http://ahsoka.u-strasbg.fr/rnapuzzles/. PMID:25883046

A comparison of the nesting success of mourning doves and American robins in conventionally managed and organic orchards

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fluetsch, K.M.

1992-01-01

A comparative study was undertaken to document more closely the effects of operational pesticide use on non-target avian species. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) and American Robin (Turdus migratorius) nesting activity was monitored in three organic and three conventional orchards during two breeding seasons. Surveys were conducted to characterize the avian community within orchards under both management practices. Organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate pesticides, known to be extremely toxic to birds, were repeatedly sprayed during the peaks in dove and robin breeding activity. Spray card tests revealed that OP pesticides were deposited on 85.5% of the nests tested during routine spray operations. The threat of direct pesticide exposure to eggs, nestlings, and adult birds was considerable. Nest daily survival rates (DSRs) for both doves and robins, were significantly higher in the organic orchards than in the conventional orchards in 1991 and years combined (P < 0.05). Species diversity was significantly greater in the organic orchards (H = 2.43) than in the conventional orchards (H = 1.79). Results suggest that repeated applications of pesticides, within the conventional orchards, directly or indirectly, affected the reproductive success of doves and robins, as well as influenced species diversity within the treated orchards. Organic orchards appear to provide more favorable nesting and foraging habitat for birds than conventional orchards.

Measurement requirements and techniques for degradation studies and lifetime prediction testing of photovoltaic modules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noel, G. T.; Sliemers, F. A.; Derringer, G. C.; Wood, V. E.; Wilkes, K. E.; Gaines, G. B.; Carmichael, D. C.

1978-01-01

Tests of weathering and aging behavior are being developed to characterize the degradation and predict the lifetimes of low-cost photovoltaic arrays. Environmental factors which affect array performance include UV radiation, thermal energy, water, oxygen (generally involved in synergistic effects with UV radiation or high temperatures), physical stress, pollutants (oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide and ozone), abrasives and dirt. A survey of photovoltaic array testing has shown the need to establish quantitative correlations between certain measurable properties (carbonyl formation, glass transition temperature, and molecular weight change) and modes of degradation and failure.

Adhesion scratch testing - A round-robin experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perry, A. J.; Valli, J.; Steinmann, P. A.

1988-01-01

Six sets of samples, TiN coated by chemical or physical vapor deposition methods (CVD or PVD) onto cemented carbide or high-speed steel (HSS), and TiC coated by CVD onto cemented carbide have been scratch tested using three types of commercially available scratch adhesion tester. With exception of one cemented carbide set, the reproducibility of the critical loads for any given set with a given stylus is excellent, about + or - 5 percent, and is about + or - 20 percent for different styli. Any differences in critical loads recorded for any given sample set can be attributed to the condition of the stylus (clean, new, etc.), the instrument used, the stylus itself (friction coefficient, etc.), and the sample set itself. One CVD set showed remarkably large differences in critical loads for different styli, which is thought to be related to a mechanical interaction between stylus and coating which is enhanced by a plastic deformability in the film related to the coating microstructure. The critical load for TiN on HSS increases with coating thickness, and differences in frictional conditions led to a systematic variation in the critical loads depending on the stylus used.

Round Robin Fatigue Crack Growth Testing Results

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-01

testing was accomplished, in accordance with ASTM E647, using two different capacity SATEC frames-a 20 kip test frame for the 7075-T6 panels and a 55 kip...Equipment and Setup a. SATEC b. 20 kip (7075-T6); 55 kip (2024-T351) c. Test control hardware/software i. Hardware: Teststar Ilm ii. Software: Station...5c. WROGRK M UN LEMBERTNME 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS( ES ) S. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER Center for A44rcraft

Performance-based brake testers : round robin study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-11-01

In the early 1990s, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration initiated research to evaluate various types of performance-based brake testing technologies for application to commercial vehicle inspections. The purpose of the research was to det...

Asphalt Content by Ignition Round Robin Study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-01-01

The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) has developed a test method to : determine the asphalt content of hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures by ignition. In : the ignition method, a HMA sample is subjected to 5380C (lOOO0F) in a furnace to : ig...

The ontogeny of Robin sequence.

PubMed

Logjes, Robrecht J H; Breugem, Corstiaan C; Van Haaften, Gijs; Paes, Emma C; Sperber, Geoffrey H; van den Boogaard, Marie-José H; Farlie, Peter G

2018-04-25

The triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and concomitant airway obstruction defined as "Robin sequence" (RS) is caused by oropharyngeal developmental events constrained by a reduced stomadeal space. This sequence of abnormal embryonic development also results in an anatomical configuration that might predispose the fetus to a cleft palate. RS is heterogeneous and many different etiologies have been described including syndromic, RS-plus, and isolated forms. For an optimal diagnosis, subsequent treatment and prognosis, a thorough understanding of the embryology and pathogenesis is necessary. This manuscript provides an update about our current understanding of the development of the mandible, tongue, and palate and possible mechanisms involved in the development of RS. Additionally, we provide the reader with an up-to-date summary of the different etiologies of this phenotype and link this to the embryologic, developmental, and genetic mechanisms. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

No added value of age at menopause and the lifetime cumulative number of menstrual cycles for cardiovascular risk prediction in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Atsma, Femke; van der Schouw, Yvonne T; Grobbee, Diederick E; Hoes, Arno W; Bartelink, Marie-Louise E L

2008-11-12

The aim of the present study was to investigate the added value of age at menopause and the lifetime cumulative number of menstrual cycles in cardiovascular risk prediction in postmenopausal women. This study included 971 women. The ankle-arm index was used as a proxy for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The ankle-arm index was calculated for each leg by dividing the highest ankle systolic blood pressure by the highest brachial systolic blood pressure. A cut-off value of 0.95 was used to differentiate between low and high risk women. Three cardiovascular risk models were constructed. In the initial model all classical predictors for cardiovascular disease were investigated. This model was then extended by age at menopause or the lifetime cumulative number of menstrual cycles to test their added value for cardiovascular risk prediction. Differences in discriminative power between the models were investigated by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The mean age was 66.0 (+/-5.6) years. The 6 independent predictors for cardiovascular disease were age, systolic blood pressure, total to HDL cholesterol ratio, current smoking, glucose level, and body mass index > or =30 kg/m(2). The ROC area was 0.69 (0.64-0.73) and did not change when age at menopause or the lifetime cumulative number of menstrual cycles was added. The findings in this study among postmenopausal women did not support the view that age at menopause or a refined estimation of lifetime endogenous estrogen exposure would improve cardiovascular risk prediction as approximated by the ankle-arm index.

The Wheels of Stress Go 'Round and 'Round

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brey, Rebecca A.; Clark, Susan E.

2012-01-01

"The Wheels of Stress Go Round and Round" teaching idea uses three activity wheels to reinforce stress-related content and concepts. After presenting a definition of stress, the instructor assists students in identifying stressors, and aids in formulating a list of negative, reactive behaviors and a list of positive coping mechanisms. Using…

CF6 jet engine diagnostics program. High pressure turbine roundness/clearance investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howard, W. D.; Fasching, W. A.

1982-01-01

The effects of high pressure turbine clearance changes on engine and module performance was evaluated in addition to the measurement of CF6-50C high pressure turbine Stage 1 tip clearance and stator out-of-roundness during steady-state and transient operation. The results indicated a good correlation of the analytical model of round engine clearance response with measured data. The stator out-of-roundness measurements verified that the analytical technique for predicting the distortion effects of mechanical loads is accurate, whereas the technique for calculating the effects of certain circumferential thermal gradients requires some modifications. A potential for improvement in roundness was established in the order of 0.38 mm (0.015 in.), equivalent to 0.86 percent turbine efficiency which translates to a cruise SFC improvement of 0.36 percent. The HP turbine Stage 1 tip clearance performance derivative was established as 0.44 mm (17 mils) per percent of turbine efficiency at take-off power, somewhat smaller, therefore, more sensitive than predicted from previous investigations.

An assessment of DDT and other chlorinated compounds and the reproductive success of American robins (Turdus migratonrius) breeding in fruit orchards.

PubMed

Gill, Harpreet; Wilson, Laurie K; Cheng, Kimberly M; Elliott, John E

2003-01-01

Although DDT was banned in the 1970s, American robins (Turdus migratorius) breeding in fruit orchards of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, continue to be contaminated with DDT and its metabolites. The objectives of our study were (1) to assess organochlorine (OC) contamination in robins breeding in Okanagan orchards (1993-1995, 1997-1998) and (2) to determine if exposure affected reproductive success when compared to robins from non-orchard habitat (lower mainland, British Columbia). Robins in orchards had total DDT egg residues of 48.64 mg/kg (geometric mean; n = 92) while those in non-orchard habitat had 1.10 mg/kg (geometric mean; n = 26), wet weight. The probability of nest survival during the incubation period was 96.7% (confidence interval: 95.7-97.5%; n = 165) in orchard habitat and 96.7% (confidence interval: 94.6-98.1%; n = 28) in non-orchard habitat. During the nestling period the probability of nest survival was 98.2% (confidence interval: 97.2-98.9%; n = 123) in orchard habitat and 96.2% (confidence interval: 92.8-98.0%; n = 34) in non-orchard habitat. Clutch (p < 0.0001) and brood size (p = 0.0133) were larger in orchards (n = 150 and n = 93, respectively) compared to non-orchard nests (n = 42 and n = 23, respectively) with no difference in fledge rate. DDE (r2 = 0.11, p = 0.0030, n = 68) and dieldrin (r2 = 0.29, p < 0.0001, n = 68) were negatively correlated with fledge rate in robin eggs collected from orchard habitat, however, low r2 values signify minimal biological significance. Although American robins nesting in Okanagan orchards are exposed to high OC levels, reproductive success does not appear to be negatively impacted.

Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracks in Nickel Alloy Dissimilar Metal Welds: Detection and Sizing Using Established and Emerging Nondestructive Examination Techniques

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

Braatz, Brett G.; Cumblidge, Stephen E.; Doctor, Steven R.

2012-12-31

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established the Program to Assess the Reliability of Emerging Nondestructive Techniques (PARENT) as a follow-on to the international cooperative Program for the Inspection of Nickel Alloy Components (PINC). The goal of PINC was to evaluate the capabilities of various nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques to detect and characterize surface-breaking primary water stress corrosion cracks in dissimilar-metal welds (DMW) in bottom-mounted instrumentation (BMI) penetrations and small-bore (≈400-mm diameter) piping components. A series of international blind round-robin tests were conducted by commercial and university inspection teams. Results from these tests showed that a combination of conventional andmore » phased-array ultrasound techniques provided the highest performance for flaw detection and depth sizing in dissimilar metal piping welds. The effective detection of flaws in BMIs by eddy current and ultrasound shows that it may be possible to reliably inspect these components in the field. The goal of PARENT is to continue the work begun in PINC and apply the lessons learned to a series of open and blind international round-robin tests that will be conducted on a new set of piping components including large-bore (≈900-mm diameter) DMWs, small-bore DMWs, and BMIs. Open round-robin testing will engage universities and industry worldwide to investigate the reliability of emerging NDE techniques to detect and accurately size flaws having a wide range of lengths, depths, orientations, and locations. Blind round-robin testing will invite testing organizations worldwide, whose inspectors and procedures are certified by the standards for the nuclear industry in their respective countries, to investigate the ability of established NDE techniques to detect and size flaws whose characteristics range from easy to very difficult to detect and size. This paper presents highlights of PINC and reports on the plans and progress

Empirical membrane lifetime model for heavy duty fuel cell systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macauley, Natalia; Watson, Mark; Lauritzen, Michael; Knights, Shanna; Wang, G. Gary; Kjeang, Erik

2016-12-01

Heavy duty fuel cells used in transportation system applications such as transit buses expose the fuel cell membranes to conditions that can lead to lifetime-limiting membrane failure via combined chemical and mechanical degradation. Highly durable membranes and reliable predictive models are therefore needed in order to achieve the ultimate heavy duty fuel cell lifetime target of 25,000 h. In the present work, an empirical membrane lifetime model was developed based on laboratory data from a suite of accelerated membrane durability tests. The model considers the effects of cell voltage, temperature, oxygen concentration, humidity cycling, humidity level, and platinum in the membrane using inverse power law and exponential relationships within the framework of a general log-linear Weibull life-stress statistical distribution. The obtained model is capable of extrapolating the membrane lifetime from accelerated test conditions to use level conditions during field operation. Based on typical conditions for the Whistler, British Columbia fuel cell transit bus fleet, the model predicts a stack lifetime of 17,500 h and a membrane leak initiation time of 9200 h. Validation performed with the aid of a field operated stack confirmed the initial goal of the model to predict membrane lifetime within 20% of the actual operating time.

Rounding the Regression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marland, Eric; Bossé, Michael J.; Rhoads, Gregory

2018-01-01

Rounding is a necessary step in many mathematical processes. We are taught early in our education about significant figures and how to properly round a number. So when we are given a data set and asked to find a regression line, we are inclined to offer the line with rounded coefficients to reflect our model. However, the effects are not as…

Polymer damage mitigation---predictive lifetime models of polymer insulation degradation and biorenewable thermosets through cationic polymerization for self-healing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hondred, Peter Raymond

Over the past 50 years, the industrial development and applications for polymers and polymer composites has become expansive. However, as with any young technology, the techniques for predicting material damage and resolving material failure are in need of continued development and refinement. This thesis work takes two approaches to polymer damage mitigation---material lifetime prediction and spontaneous damage repair through self-healing while incorporating bio-renewable feedstock. First, material lifetime prediction offers the benefit of identifying and isolating material failures before the effects of damage results in catastrophic failure. Second, self-healing provides a systematic approach to repairing damaged polymer composites, specifically in applications where a hands-on approach or removing the part from service are not feasible. With regard to lifetime prediction, we investigated three specific polymeric materials---polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE), and Kapton. All three have been utilized extensively in the aerospace field as a wire insulation coating. Because of the vast amount of electrical wiring used in aerospace constructions and the potential for electrical and thermal failure, this work develops mathematical models for both the thermal degradation kinetics as well as a lifetime prediction model for electrothermal breakdown. Isoconversional kinetic methods, which plot activation energy as a function of the extent of degradation, present insight into the development each kinetic model. The models for PTFE, ETFE, and Kapton are one step, consecutive three-step, and competitive and consecutive five-step respectively. Statistical analysis shows that an nth order autocatalytic reaction best defined the reaction kinetics for each polymer's degradation. Self-healing polymers arrest crack propagation through the use of an imbedded adhesive that reacts when cracks form. This form of damage mitigation focuses on

Pretest Round Robin Analysis of 1:4-Scale Prestressed Concrete Containment Vessel Model

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

HESSHEIMER,MICHAEL F.; LUK,VINCENT K.; KLAMERUS,ERIC W.

The purpose of the program is to investigate the response of representative scale models of nuclear containment to pressure loading beyond the design basis accident and to compare analytical predictions to measured behavior. This objective is accomplished by conducting static, pneumatic overpressurization tests of scale models at ambient temperature. This research program consists of testing two scale models: a steel containment vessel (SCV) model (tested in 1996) and a prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) model, which is the subject of this paper.

Measurements and predictions of the 6s6p{sup 1,3}P{sub 1} lifetimes in the Hg isoelectronic sequence

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

Curtis, L. J.; Irving, R. E.; Henderson, M.

2001-04-01

Experimental and theoretical values for the lifetimes of the 6s6p{sup 1}P{sub 1} and {sup 3}P{sub 1} levels in the Hg isoelectronic sequence are examined in the context of a data-based isoelectronic systematization. New beam-foil measurements for lifetimes in Pb III and Bi IV are reported and included in a critical evaluation of the available database. These results are combined with ab initio theoretical calculations and linearizing parametrizations to make predictive extrapolations for ions with 84{<=}Z{le}92.

Using individual-condition measures to predict the long-term importance of habitat extent for population persistence.

PubMed

Cosgrove, Anita J; McWhorter, Todd J; Maron, Martine

2017-10-01

Habitat loss and fragmentation are causing widespread population declines, but identifying how and when to intervene remains challenging. Predicting where extirpations are likely to occur and implementing management actions before losses result may be more cost-effective than trying to reestablish lost populations. Early indicators of pressure on populations could be used to make such predictions. Previous work conducted in 2009 and 2010 identified that the presence of Eastern Yellow Robins (Eopsaltria australis) in 42 sites in a fragmented region of eastern Australia was unrelated to woodland extent within 500 m of a site, but the robins' heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratios (an indicator of chronic stress) were elevated at sites with low levels of surrounding woodland. We resurveyed these 42 sites in 2013 and 2014 for robin presence to determine whether the H:L ratios obtained in 2009 and 2010 predicted the locations of extirpations and whether the previous pattern in H:L ratios was an early sign that woodland extent would become an important predictor of occupancy. We also surveyed for robins at 43 additional sites to determine whether current occupancy could be better predicted by landscape context at a larger scale, relevant to dispersal movements. At the original 42 sites, H:L ratios and extirpations were not related, although only 4 extirpations were observed. Woodland extent within 500 m had become a strong predictor of occupancy. Taken together, these results provide mixed evidence as to whether patterns of individual condition can reveal habitat relationships that become evident as local shifts in occupancy occur but that are not revealed by a single snapshot of species distribution. Across all 85 sites, woodland extent at scales relevant to dispersal (5 km) was not related to occurrence. We recommend that conservation actions focus on regenerating areas of habitat large enough to support robin territories rather than increasing connectivity within the

Compliance and Verification of Standards and Labelling Programs in China: Lessons Learned

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

Saheb, Yamina; Zhou, Nan; Fridley, David

2010-06-11

After implementing several energy efficiency standards and labels (30 products covered by MEPS, 50 products covered by voluntary labels and 19 products by mandatory labels), the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) is now implementing verification and compliance mechanism to ensure that the energy information of labeled products comply with the requirements of their labels. CNIS is doing so by organizing check testing on a random basis for room air-conditioners, refrigerators, motors, heaters, computer displays, ovens, and self -ballasted lamps. The purpose of the check testing is to understand the implementation of the Chinese labeling scheme and help local authoritiesmore » establishing effective compliance mechanisms. In addition, to ensure robustness and consistency of testing results, CNIS has coordinated a round robin testing for room air conditioners. Eight laboratories (Chinese (6), Australian (1) and Japanese (1)) have been involved in the round robin testing and tests were performed on four sets of samples selected from manufacturer?s production line. This paper describes the methodology used in undertaking both check and round robin testing, provides analysis of testing results and reports on the findings. The analysis of both check and round robin testing demonstrated the benefits of a regularized verification and monitoring system for both laboratories and products such as (i) identifying the possible deviations between laboratories to correct them, (ii) improving the quality of testing facilities, (iii) ensuring the accuracy and reliability of energy label information in order to strength the social credibility of the labeling program and the enforcement mechanism in place.« less

Compliance and Verification of Standards and Labeling Programs in China: Lessons Learned

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

Saheb, Yamina; Zhou, Nan; Fridley, David

2010-08-01

After implementing several energy efficiency standards and labels (30 products covered by MEPS, 50 products covered by voluntary labels and 19 products by mandatory labels), the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) is now implementing verification and compliance mechanism to ensure that the energy information of labeled products comply with the requirements of their labels. CNIS is doing so by organizing check testing on a random basis for room air-conditioners, refrigerators, motors, heaters, computer displays, ovens, and self -ballasted lamps. The purpose of the check testing is to understand the implementation of the Chinese labeling scheme and help local authoritiesmore » establishing effective compliance mechanisms. In addition, to ensure robustness and consistency of testing results, CNIS has coordinated a round robin testing for room air conditioners. Eight laboratories (Chinese (6), Australian (1) and Japanese (1)) have been involved in the round robin testing and tests were performed on four sets of samples selected from manufacturer's production line. This paper describes the methodology used in undertaking both check and round robin testing, provides analysis of testing results and reports on the findings. The analysis of both check and round robin testing demonstrated the benefits of a regularized verification and monitoring system for both laboratories and products such as (i) identifying the possible deviations between laboratories to correct them, (ii) improving the quality of testing facilities, (iii) ensuring the accuracy and reliability of energy label information in order to strength the social credibility of the labeling program and the enforcement mechanism in place.« less

SSME lifetime prediction and verification, integrating environments, structures, materials: The challenge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ryan, R. S.; Salter, L. D.; Young, G. M., III; Munafo, P. M.

1985-01-01

The planned missions for the space shuttle dictated a unique and technology-extending rocket engine. The high specific impulse requirements in conjunction with a 55-mission lifetime, plus volume and weight constraints, produced unique structural design, manufacturing, and verification requirements. Operations from Earth to orbit produce severe dynamic environments, which couple with the extreme pressure and thermal environments associated with the high performance, creating large low cycle loads and high alternating stresses above endurance limit which result in high sensitivity to alternating stresses. Combining all of these effects resulted in the requirements for exotic materials, which are more susceptible to manufacturing problems, and the use of an all-welded structure. The challenge of integrating environments, dynamics, structures, and materials into a verified SSME structure is discussed. The verification program and developmental flight results are included. The first six shuttle flights had engine performance as predicted with no failures. The engine system has met the basic design challenges.

Benchmarking of Touschek Beam Lifetime Calculations for the Advanced Photon Source

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

Xiao, A.; Yang, B.

2017-06-25

Particle loss from Touschek scattering is one of the most significant issues faced by present and future synchrotron light source storage rings. For example, the predicted, Touschek-dominated beam lifetime for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) Upgrade lattice in 48-bunch, 200-mA timing mode is only ~ 2 h. In order to understand the reliability of the predicted lifetime, a series of measurements with various beam parameters was performed on the present APS storage ring. This paper first describes the entire process of beam lifetime measurement, then compares measured lifetime with the calculated one by applying the measured beam parameters. The resultsmore » show very good agreement.« less

Learning from Instructional Rounds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

City, Elizabeth A.

2011-01-01

Instructional rounds are a disciplined way for educators to work together to improve a school's instructional core. The practice combines three common elements of improvement: classroom observation, an improvement strategy, and a network. Instructional rounds differ from supervision and evaluation in that people doing rounds learn something…

Instructional Rounds in Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, John E.

2012-01-01

"Instructional Rounds in Action" is an invaluable guide for those involved in implementing instructional rounds as the foundation and framework for systemic improvement in schools. Over the past few years, districts across the United States, Canada, and Australia have begun implementing "instructional rounds," a set of ideas…

Numerical solution of Boltzmann tranport equation for TEA CO 2 laser having nitrogen-lean gas mixtures to predict laser characteristics and gas lifetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Manoj; Khare, Jai; Nath, A. K.

2007-02-01

Selective laser isotope separation by TEA CO 2 laser often needs short tail-free pulses. Using laser mixtures having very little nitrogen almost tail free laser pulses can be generated. The laser pulse characteristics and its gas lifetime is an important issue for long-term laser operation. Boltzmann transport equation is therefore solved numerically for TEA CO 2 laser gas mixtures having very little nitrogen to predict electron energy distribution function (EEDF). The distribution function is used to calculate various excitation and dissociation rate of CO 2 to predict laser pulse characteristics and laser gas lifetime, respectively. Laser rate equations have been solved with the calculated excitation rates for numerically evaluated discharge current and voltage profiles to calculate laser pulse shape. The calculated laser pulse shape and duration are in good agreement with the measured laser characteristics. The gas lifetime is estimated by integrating the equation governing the dissociation of CO 2. An experimental study of gas lifetime was carried out using quadrapole mass analyzer for such mixtures to estimate the O 2 being produced due to dissociation of CO 2 in the pulse discharge. The theoretically calculated O 2 concentration in the laser gas mixture matches with experimentally observed value. In the present TEA CO 2 laser system, for stable discharge the O 2 concentration should be below 0.2%.

The spirit of St Louis: the contributions of Lee N. Robins to North American psychiatric epidemiology.

PubMed

Campbell, Nancy D

2014-08-01

This article takes up the history of North American psychiatric epidemiology with reference to production of knowledge concerning sociopathic or antisocial personality disorder and drug dependence, abuse, and/or addiction. These overlapping arenas provide a microcosm within which to explore the larger shift of postwar psychiatric epidemiology from community studies based on psychological scales to studies based on specific diagnostic criteria. This paper places the figure of sociologist Lee Nelken Robins within the context of the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri. The St Louis research group--to which Robins was both marginal and central--developed the basis for specific diagnostic criteria and was joined by Robert Spitzer, Jean Endicott and other architects of DSM-III in reorienting American psychiatry towards medical, biological and epidemiological models. Robins was a key linchpin working at the nexus of the psychiatric epidemiological and sociological drug addiction research networks. This article situates her work within the broader set of societal and governmental transformations leading to the technologically sophisticated turn in American psychiatric epidemiology and research on the aetiology of drug abuse and mental health and illness. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2013; all rights reserved.

Multivariate regression model for partitioning tree volume of white oak into round-product classes

Treesearch

Daniel A. Yaussy; David L. Sonderman

1984-01-01

Describes the development of multivariate equations that predict the expected cubic volume of four round-product classes from independent variables composed of individual tree-quality characteristics. Although the model has limited application at this time, it does demonstrate the feasibility of partitioning total tree cubic volume into round-product classes based on...

Substance abuse among high-risk sexual offenders: do measures of lifetime history of substance abuse add to the prediction of recidivism over actuarial risk assessment instruments?

PubMed

Looman, Jan; Abracen, Jeffrey

2011-03-01

There has been relatively little research on the degree to which measures of lifetime history of substance abuse add to the prediction of risk based on actuarial measures alone among sexual offenders. This issue is of relevance in that a history of substance abuse is related to relapse to substance using behavior. Furthermore, substance use has been found to be related to recidivism among sexual offenders. To investigate whether lifetime history of substance abuse adds to prediction over and above actuarial instruments alone, several measures of substance abuse were administered in conjunction with the Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (SORAG). The SORAG was found to be the most accurate actuarial instrument for the prediction of serious recidivism (i.e., sexual or violent) among the sample included in the present investigation. Complete information, including follow-up data, were available for 250 offenders who attended the Regional Treatment Centre Sex Offender Treatment Program (RTCSOTP). The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) were used to assess lifetime history of substance abuse. The results of logistic regression procedures indicated that both the SORAG and the MAST independently added to the prediction of serious recidivism. The DAST did not add to prediction over the use of the SORAG alone. Implications for both the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders are discussed.

Prediction of suicidal behavior in clinical research by lifetime suicidal ideation and behavior ascertained by the electronic Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

PubMed

Mundt, James C; Greist, John H; Jefferson, James W; Federico, Michael; Mann, J John; Posner, Kelly

2013-09-01

To evaluate whether lifetime suicidal ideation with intention to act and/or suicidal behaviors reported at baseline predict risk of prospectively reporting suicidal behavior during subsequent study participation. Data from studies using the electronic Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (eC-SSRS) to prospectively monitor suicidal ideation and behaviors between September 2009 and May 2011 were analyzed. Studies included patients with major depressive disorder, insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, and fibromyalgia. Records for 35,224 eC-SSRS assessments were extracted. Incomplete assessments and eC-SSRS records from patients missing a baseline assessment or with no prospective follow-up assessments were excluded. Baseline lifetime eC-SSRS reports were categorized as negative (no lifetime ideation with intent to act or prior suicidal behavior) or positive (lifetime ideation with intent to act but no prior behavior, no ideation with intent to act but prior behavior, or both lifetime ideation with intent and prior behavior). 3,776 patients completed a baseline and 1 or more follow-up assessments. The mean follow-up period was 64 days. Of patients with negative lifetime reports, 2.4% subsequently reported suicidal behavior during study participation, compared to 12.0% of patients with lifetime ideation with intent only (OR = 5.55; 95% CI, 2.65-11.59), 9.6% of patients with lifetime behavior only (OR = 4.33; 95% CI, 2.94-6.39), and 18.3% of patients with both (OR = 9.13; 95% CI, 6.47-12.88). Sensitivity and specificity of positive reports for identifying suicidal behaviors were 0.67 and 0.76, respectively. Patients reporting lifetime suicidal ideation with intent to act and/or prior suicidal behavior at baseline are 4 to 9 times more likely to prospectively report suicidal behavior during study participation. © Copyright 2013 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Requiem for the grand round.

PubMed

Stanyon, Maham; Khan, Shahid Anis

2015-02-01

The time-honoured tradition of Grand Round is firmly rooted in medical education, but has little evidence for its effectiveness or its impact on patient management. A mode of didactic teaching, Grand Round has lost its appeal in modern medical education with dwindling attendance at Grand Rounds worldwide. Once a platform for eminence-based medicine and a cross fertilisation of medical ideas, emphasis on sub-specialisation and clinical governance, combined with rota, trainee engagement and attendance failures has made Grand Round obsolete. To survive, Grand Round must have evidence for its effectiveness in medical education. It must be able to compete with other forms of teaching and adapt by using technology to reach trainees. Engaging the audience and encouraging participation needs to be woven into the fabric of the modern Grand Round, alongside learning clinical skills and developing clinical reasoning. Understanding the needs of today's trainees and their involvement in formulating the Grand Round programme is vital. Attendance at Grand Round is a recognised measure of its success and will be used in its evaluation. Questions still remain regarding the future of Grand Round. Its survival will depend upon its ability to change with time and reclaim its place as a credible tool to promote learning. © 2015 Royal College of Physicians.

Does lifetime exposure to hormones predict pretreatment cognitive function in women before adjuvant therapy for breast cancer?

PubMed Central

Bender, Catherine M.; Sereika, Susan M.; Ryan, Christopher M.; Brufsky, Adam M.; Puhalla, Shannon; Berga, Sarah L.

2013-01-01

Objective Women with breast cancer have been found to have poorer cognitive function before the initiation of systemic adjuvant therapy than their age- and education-matched counterparts. The basis for this may partly include hormone exposure during the course of a woman’s life. Methods We compared cognitive function between postmenopausal women with breast cancer before the initiation of systemic adjuvant therapy and healthy age- and education-matched postmenopausal women and examined whether factors related to lifetime exposure to hormones predicted cognitive function before therapy. Results We found that, compared with healthy women, women with breast cancer had poorer memory (P = 0.05) and attention (P = 0.006). Controlling for the covariates age and estimated verbal intelligence, we found that factors related to greater lifetime hormone exposure (oral contraceptive use, greater years since menopause, and longer duration of hormone therapy) predicted cognitive function (executive function, verbal learning and memory, attention, psychomotor efficiency, and visual sustained attention) in women with and without breast cancer but did not explain the differences in cognitive function observed at pretreatment in women with breast cancer. Conclusions Other factors may explain the poorer pretreatment cognitive function in women with breast cancer, including persistent effects of surgical operation and anesthesia, sleep problems, and tumor-related factors. Additional studies are needed to explicate the basis of poorer pretherapy cognitive function in this population. PMID:23481123

Intensive treatment of speech disorders in robin sequence: a case report.

PubMed

Pinto, Maria Daniela Borro; Pegoraro-Krook, Maria Inês; Andrade, Laura Katarine Félix de; Correa, Ana Paula Carvalho; Rosa-Lugo, Linda Iris; Dutka, Jeniffer de Cássia Rillo

2017-10-23

To describe the speech of a patient with Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) and severe speech disorders before and after participating in an Intensive Speech Therapy Program (ISTP). The ISTP consisted of two daily sessions of therapy over a 36-week period, resulting in a total of 360 therapy sessions. The sessions included the phases of establishment, generalization, and maintenance. A combination of strategies, such as modified contrast therapy and speech sound perception training, were used to elicit adequate place of articulation. The ISTP addressed correction of place of production of oral consonants and maximization of movement of the pharyngeal walls with a speech bulb reduction program. Therapy targets were addressed at the phonetic level with a gradual increase in the complexity of the productions hierarchically (e.g., syllables, words, phrases, conversation) while simultaneously addressing the velopharyngeal hypodynamism with speech bulb reductions. Re-evaluation after the ISTP revealed normal speech resonance and articulation with the speech bulb. Nasoendoscopic assessment indicated consistent velopharyngeal closure for all oral sounds with the speech bulb in place. Intensive speech therapy, combined with the use of the speech bulb, yielded positive outcomes in the rehabilitation of a clinical case with severe speech disorders associated with velopharyngeal dysfunction in Pierre Robin Sequence.

Lifetime prediction for the subsurface crack propagation using three-dimensional dynamic FEA model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Yuan; Chen, Yun-Xia; Liu, Le

2017-03-01

The subsurface crack propagation is one of the major interests for gear system research. The subsurface crack propagation lifetime is the number of cycles remaining for a spall to appear, which can be obtained through either stress intensity factor or accumulated plastic strain analysis. In this paper, the heavy loads are applied to the gear system. When choosing stress intensity factor, the high compressive stress suppresses Mode I stress intensities and severely reduces Mode II stress intensities in the heavily loaded lubricated contacts. Such that, the accumulated plastic strain is selected to calculate the subsurface crack propagation lifetime from the three-dimensional FEA model through ANSYS Workbench transient analysis. The three-dimensional gear FEA dynamic model with the subsurface crack is built through dividing the gears into several small elements. The calculation of the total cycles of the elements is proposed based on the time-varying accumulated plastic strain, which then will be used to calculate the subsurface crack propagation lifetime. During this process, the demonstration from a subsurface crack to a spall can be uncovered. In addition, different sizes of the elements around the subsurface crack are compared in this paper. The influences of the frictional coefficient and external torque on the crack propagation lifetime are also discussed. The results show that the lifetime of crack propagation decreases significantly when the external load T increasing from 100 N m to 150 N m. Given from the distributions of the accumulated plastic strain, the lifetime shares no significant difference when the frictional coefficient f ranging in 0.04-0.06.

Enhancing battery efficiency for pervasive health-monitoring systems based on electronic textiles.

PubMed

Zheng, Nenggan; Wu, Zhaohui; Lin, Man; Yang, Laurence Tianruo

2010-03-01

Electronic textiles are regarded as one of the most important computation platforms for future computer-assisted health-monitoring applications. In these novel systems, multiple batteries are used in order to prolong their operational lifetime, which is a significant metric for system usability. However, due to the nonlinear features of batteries, computing systems with multiple batteries cannot achieve the same battery efficiency as those powered by a monolithic battery of equal capacity. In this paper, we propose an algorithm aiming to maximize battery efficiency globally for the computer-assisted health-care systems with multiple batteries. Based on an accurate analytical battery model, the concept of weighted battery fatigue degree is introduced and the novel battery-scheduling algorithm called predicted weighted fatigue degree least first (PWFDLF) is developed. Besides, we also discuss our attempts during search PWFDLF: a weighted round-robin (WRR) and a greedy algorithm achieving highest local battery efficiency, which reduces to the sequential discharging policy. Evaluation results show that a considerable improvement in battery efficiency can be obtained by PWFDLF under various battery configurations and current profiles compared to conventional sequential and WRR discharging policies.

Lifetime suicide attempts in juvenile assessment center youth.

PubMed

Nolen, Scott; McReynolds, Larkin S; DeComo, Robert E; John, Reni; Keating, Joseph M; Wasserman, Gail A

2008-01-01

To describe suicide risk in youth seen at a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), we examined relationships among self-reported lifetime attempts and demographic, justice, and psychiatric data via logistic regression. Similar to other settings, youth reporting lifetime attempts were more likely to be older, female, not living with both parents and currently arrested for a violent or felony crime. Mood, substance use, and behavior disorder each increased prediction substantially. Anxiety Disorder was associated with elevated attempt rates for boys only. JACs need to develop protocols for identifying suicide risk; further, since suicide history predicts future attempts, Anxiety Disordered boys may be at particular risk.

Principal Eigenvalue Minimization for an Elliptic Problem with Indefinite Weight and Robin Boundary Conditions

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

Hintermueller, M., E-mail: hint@math.hu-berlin.de; Kao, C.-Y., E-mail: Ckao@claremontmckenna.edu; Laurain, A., E-mail: laurain@math.hu-berlin.de

2012-02-15

This paper focuses on the study of a linear eigenvalue problem with indefinite weight and Robin type boundary conditions. We investigate the minimization of the positive principal eigenvalue under the constraint that the absolute value of the weight is bounded and the total weight is a fixed negative constant. Biologically, this minimization problem is motivated by the question of determining the optimal spatial arrangement of favorable and unfavorable regions for a species to survive. For rectangular domains with Neumann boundary condition, it is known that there exists a threshold value such that if the total weight is below this thresholdmore » value then the optimal favorable region is like a section of a disk at one of the four corners; otherwise, the optimal favorable region is a strip attached to the shorter side of the rectangle. Here, we investigate the same problem with mixed Robin-Neumann type boundary conditions and study how this boundary condition affects the optimal spatial arrangement.« less

Increase in suicides the months after the death of Robin Williams in the US

PubMed Central

Santaella-Tenorio, Julian; Keyes, Katherine M.

2018-01-01

Investigating suicides following the death of Robin Williams, a beloved actor and comedian, on August 11th, 2014, we used time-series analysis to estimate the expected number of suicides during the months following Williams’ death. Monthly suicide count data in the US (1999–2015) were from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER). Expected suicides were calculated using a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving averages model to account for both the seasonal patterns and autoregression. Time-series models indicated that we would expect 16,849 suicides from August to December 2014; however, we observed 18,690 suicides in that period, suggesting an excess of 1,841 cases (9.85% increase). Although excess suicides were observed across gender and age groups, males and persons aged 30–44 had the greatest increase in excess suicide events. This study documents associations between Robin Williams’ death and suicide deaths in the population thereafter. PMID:29415016

Lifetime prediction of InGaZnO thin film transistor for the application of display device and BEOL-transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sang Min; Cho, Won Ju; Yu, Chong Gun; Park, Jong Tae

2018-04-01

In this work, the lifetime prediction models of amorphous InGaZnO thin film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) were suggested for the application of display device and BEOL (Back End Of line) transistors with embedded a-IGZO TFTs. Four different types of test devices according to the active layer thickness, source/drain electrode materials and thermal treatments have been used to verify the suggested model. The device lifetimes under high gate bias stress and hot carrier stress were extracted through fittings of the stretched-exponential equation for threshold voltage shifts and the current estimation method for drain current degradations. Our suggested lifetime prediction models could be used in any kinds of structures of a-IGZO TFTs for the application of display device and BEOL transistors. The a-IGZO TFTs with embedded ITO local conducting layer under source/drain is better for BEOL transistor application and a-IGZO TFTs with InGaZnO thin film as source/drain electrodes may be better for the application of display devices. From 1983 to 1985, he was a Researcher at Gold-Star Semiconductor, Inc., Korea, where he worked on the development of SRAM. He joined the Department of Electronics Engineering, University of Incheon, Incheon, Korea, in 1987, where he is a Professor. As a visiting scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, in 1991, he conducted research in hot carrier reliability of CMOS. As a visiting scholar at University of California, Davis, in 2001, he conducted research on the device structure of Nano-scale SOI CMOS. His recent interests are device structure and reliability of Nano-scale CMOS devices, flash memory, and thin film transistors.

FACS selection of valuable mutant mouse round spermatids and strain rescue via round spermatid injection.

PubMed

Zhu, Lian; Zhou, Wei; Kong, Peng-Cheng; Wang, Mei-Shan; Zhu, Yan; Feng, Li-Xin; Chen, Xue-Jin; Jiang, Man-Xi

2015-06-01

Round spermatid injection (ROSI) into mammalian oocytes can result in the development of viable embryos and offspring. One current limitation to this technique is the identification of suitable round spermatids. In the current paper, round spermatids were selected from testicular cells with phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and ROSI was performed in two strains of mice. The rates of fertilization, embryonic development and offspring achieved were the same in all strains. Significantly, round spermatids selected by PCM and FACS were effectively used to rescue the infertile Pten-null mouse. The current results indicate that FACS selection of round spermatids can not only provide high-purity and viable round spermatids for use in ROSI, but also has no harmful effects on the developmental capacity of subsequently fertilized embryos. It was concluded that round spermatids selected by FACS are useful for mouse strain rederivation and rescue of infertile males; ROSI should be considered as a powerful addition to the armamentarium of assisted reproduction techniques applicable in the mouse.

The ontogeny of food-caching behaviour in New Zealand robins (Petroica longipes).

PubMed

Clark, Lisabertha L; Shaw, Rachael C

2018-06-01

Hoarding or caching behaviour is a widely-used paradigm for examining a range of cognitive processes in birds, such as social cognition and spatial memory. However, much is still unknown about how caching develops in young birds, especially in the wild. Studying the ontogeny of caching in the wild will help researchers to identify the mechanisms that shape this advantageous foraging strategy. We examined the ontogeny of food caching behaviour in a wild New Zealand passerine, the North Island robin (Petroica longipes). For 12-weeks following fledging, we observed 34 juveniles to examine the development of caching and cache retrieval. Additionally, we compared the caching behaviour of juveniles at 12 weeks post-fledging to 35 adult robins to determine whether juveniles had developed adult-like caching behaviour by this age. Juveniles began caching mealworms shortly after achieving foraging independency. Multivariate analyses revealed that caching rate increased and handling time decreased with increasing age. Juveniles spontaneously began retrieving caches as soon as they had begun to cache and their retrieval rates then remained constant throughout their ensuing development. Likewise, the number of sites used by juveniles did not change with age. Juvenile sex, caregiver sex and the duration of post-fledging parental care did not influence the development of caching, cache retrieval, the number of cache sites used and the time juveniles spent handling mealworms. At 12 weeks post-fledging, juveniles demonstrated levels of caching, cache retrieval and cache site usage that were comparable to adults. However, juvenile prey handling time was still longer than adults. The spontaneous emergence of cache retrieval and the consistency in the number of cache sites used throughout development suggests that these aspects of caching in North Island robins are likely to be innate, but that age and experience have an important role in the development of adult caching behaviours

Cost-Effectiveness of Three Rounds of Mammography Breast Cancer Screening in Iranian Women

PubMed Central

Haghighat, Shahpar; Akbari, Mohammad Esmaeil; Yavari, Parvin; Javanbakht, Mehdi; Ghaffari, Shahram

2016-01-01

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Iranian women as is worldwide. Mammography screening has been introduced as a beneficial method for reducing mortality and morbidity of this disease. Objectives We developed an analytical model to assess the cost effectiveness of an organized mammography screening program in Iran for early detection of the breast cancer. Patients and Methods This study is an economic evaluation of mammography screening program among Iranian woman aged 40 - 70 years. A decision tree and Markov model were applied to estimate total quality adjusted life years (QALY) and lifetime costs. Results The results revealed that the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of mammography screening in Iranian women in the first round was Int. $ 37,350 per QALY gained. The model showed that the ICER in the second and third rounds of screening program were Int. $ 141,641 and Int. $ 389,148 respectively. Conclusions Study results identified that mammography screening program was cost-effective in 53% of the cases, but incremental cost per QALY in the second and third rounds of screening are much higher than the accepted payment threshold of Iranian health system. Thus, evaluation of other screening strategies would be useful to identify more cost-effective program. Future studies with new national data can improve the accuracy of our finding and provide better information for health policy makers for decision making. PMID:27366315

Inquiry in the Round? Education Rounds in an Teacher Residency Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reagan, Emilie Mitescu; Roegman, Rachel; Goodwin, A. Lin

2017-01-01

In education, the Rounds model provides opportunities for engaging educators as communities of learners who examine instructional issues for purposes of understanding and improving them. Over the past 10 years, Rounds have been implemented in school-based experiences in teacher preparation programs across the nation. Yet despite recent interest,…

ROBIN, a Telepresence Robot to Support Older Users Monitoring and Social Inclusion: Development and Evaluation.

PubMed

Cortellessa, Gabriella; Fracasso, Francesca; Sorrentino, Alessandra; Orlandini, Andrea; Bernardi, Giulio; Coraci, Luca; De Benedictis, Riccardo; Cesta, Amedeo

2018-02-01

This article describes an enhanced telepresence robot named ROBIN, part of a telecare system derived from the GIRAFFPLUS project for supporting and monitoring older adults at home. ROBIN is integrated in a sensor-rich environment that aims to continuously monitor physical and psychological wellbeing of older persons living alone. The caregivers (formal/informal) can communicate through it with their assisted persons. Long-term trials in real houses highlighted several user requirements that inspired improvements on the robotic platform. The enhanced telepresence robot was assessed by users to test its suitability to support social interaction and provide motivational feedback on health-related aspects. Twenty-five users (n = 25) assessed the new multimodal interaction capabilities and new communication services. A psychophysiological approach was adopted to investigate aspects like engagement, usability, and affective impact, as well as the possible role of individual differences on the quality of human-robot interaction. ROBIN was overall judged usable, the interaction with/through it resulted pleasant and the required workload was limited, thus supporting the idea of using it as a central component for remote assistance and social participation. Open-minded users tended to have a more positive interaction with it. This work describes an enabling technology for remote assistance and social communication. It highlights the importance of being compliant with users' needs to develop solutions easy to use and able to foster their social connections. The role of personality appeared to be relevant for the interaction, underscoring a clear role of the service personalization.

The return of bedside rounds: an educational intervention.

PubMed

Gonzalo, Jed D; Chuang, Cynthia H; Huang, Grace; Smith, Christopher

2010-08-01

Bedside rounds have decreased in frequency on teaching services. Perceived barriers toward bedside rounds are inefficiency and patient and house staff lack of preference for this mode of rounding. To evaluate the impact of a bedside rounding intervention on the frequency of bedside rounding, duration of patient encounters and rounding sessions, and patient and resident attitudes toward bedside rounds. A pre- and postintervention design, with a bedside rounding workshop midway through two consecutive internal medicine rotations, with daily resident interviews, patient surveys, and an end-of-the-year survey given to all Medicine house staff. Medicine house staff and medicine patients. Frequency of bedside rounds, duration of new patient encounters and rounding sessions, and patient and house staff attitudes regarding bedside rounds. Forty-four residents completed the bedside rounding workshop. Comparing the preintervention and postintervention phases, bedside rounds increased from <1% to 41% (p < 0.001). The average duration of walk rounding encounters was 16 min, and average duration of bedside rounding encounters was 15 min (p = 0.42). Duration of rounds was 95 and 98 min, respectively (p = 0.52). Patients receiving bedside rounds preferred bedside rounds (99% vs. 83%, p = 0.03) and perceived more time spent at the bedside by their team (p < 0.001). One hundred twelve house staff (71%) responded, with 73% reporting that bedside rounds are better for patient care. House staff performing bedside rounds were less likely to believe that bedside rounds were more educational (53% vs. 78%, p = 0.01). Bedside rounding increased after an educational intervention, and the time to complete bedside rounding encounters was similar to alternative forms of rounding. Patients preferred bedside rounds and perceived more time spent at the bedside when receiving bedside rounds. Medicine residents performing bedside rounds were less likely to believe bedside rounds were more

The Return of Bedside Rounds: An Educational Intervention

PubMed Central

Gonzalo, Jed D.; Chuang, Cynthia H.; Huang, Grace

2010-01-01

Background Bedside rounds have decreased in frequency on teaching services. Perceived barriers toward bedside rounds are inefficiency and patient and house staff lack of preference for this mode of rounding. Objectives To evaluate the impact of a bedside rounding intervention on the frequency of bedside rounding, duration of patient encounters and rounding sessions, and patient and resident attitudes toward bedside rounds. Design A pre- and postintervention design, with a bedside rounding workshop midway through two consecutive internal medicine rotations, with daily resident interviews, patient surveys, and an end-of-the-year survey given to all Medicine house staff. Participants Medicine house staff and medicine patients. Measures Frequency of bedside rounds, duration of new patient encounters and rounding sessions, and patient and house staff attitudes regarding bedside rounds. Results Forty-four residents completed the bedside rounding workshop. Comparing the preintervention and postintervention phases, bedside rounds increased from <1% to 41% (p < 0.001). The average duration of walk rounding encounters was 16 min, and average duration of bedside rounding encounters was 15 min (p = 0.42). Duration of rounds was 95 and 98 min, respectively (p = 0.52). Patients receiving bedside rounds preferred bedside rounds (99% vs. 83%, p = 0.03) and perceived more time spent at the bedside by their team (p < 0.001). One hundred twelve house staff (71%) responded, with 73% reporting that bedside rounds are better for patient care. House staff performing bedside rounds were less likely to believe that bedside rounds were more educational (53% vs. 78%, p = 0.01). Conclusions Bedside rounding increased after an educational intervention, and the time to complete bedside rounding encounters was similar to alternative forms of rounding. Patients preferred bedside rounds and perceived more time spent at the bedside when receiving bedside rounds. Medicine

SIRTF thermal design modifications to increase lifetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrick, S. W.

1993-01-01

An effort was made to increase the predicted lifetime of the SIRTF dewar by lowering the exterior shell temperature, increasing the radiated energy from the vapor cooled shields and reconfiguring the vapor cooled shields. The lifetime increases can be used to increase the scientific return from the mission and as a trade-off against mass and cost. This paper describes the configurations studied, the steady state thermal model used, the analytical methods and the results of the analysis. Much of the heat input to the outside dewar shell is radiative heat transfer from the solar panel. To lower the shell temperature, radiative cooled shields were placed between the solar panel and the dewar shell and between the bus and the dewar shell. Analysis showed that placing a radiator on the outer vapor cooled shield had a significant effect on lifetime. Lengthening the distance between the outer shell and the point where the vapor cooled shields are attached to the support straps also improved lifetime.

Lifetime prediction and reliability estimation methodology for Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerators by gaseous contamination accelerated degradation testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Fubin; Tan, Yuanyuan; Jiang, Zhenhua; Chen, Xun; Wu, Yinong; Zhao, Peng

2017-12-01

Lifetime and reliability are the two performance parameters of premium importance for modern space Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerators (SPTRs), which are required to operate in excess of 10 years. Demonstration of these parameters provides a significant challenge. This paper proposes a lifetime prediction and reliability estimation method that utilizes accelerated degradation testing (ADT) for SPTRs related to gaseous contamination failure. The method was experimentally validated via three groups of gaseous contamination ADT. First, the performance degradation model based on mechanism of contamination failure and material outgassing characteristics of SPTRs was established. Next, a preliminary test was performed to determine whether the mechanism of contamination failure of the SPTRs during ADT is consistent with normal life testing. Subsequently, the experimental program of ADT was designed for SPTRs. Then, three groups of gaseous contamination ADT were performed at elevated ambient temperatures of 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C, respectively and the estimated lifetimes of the SPTRs under normal condition were obtained through acceleration model (Arrhenius model). The results show good fitting of the degradation model with the experimental data. Finally, we obtained the reliability estimation of SPTRs through using the Weibull distribution. The proposed novel methodology enables us to take less than one year time to estimate the reliability of the SPTRs designed for more than 10 years.

Round Cell Tumors: Classification and Immunohistochemistry.

PubMed

Sharma, Shweta; Kamala, R; Nair, Divya; Ragavendra, T Raju; Mhatre, Swapnil; Sabharwal, Robin; Choudhury, Basanta Kumar; Rana, Vivek

2017-01-01

Round cell tumors as the name suggest are comprised round cells with increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. This group of tumor includes entities such as peripheral neuroectodermal tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, Wilms' tumor, and desmoplastic small round cell tumor. These round cells tumors are characterized by typical histological pattern, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic features that can help in differential diagnosis. The present article describes the classification and explains the histopathology and immunohistochemistry of some important round cell tumors.

Electromigration model for the prediction of lifetime based on the failure unit statistics in aluminum metallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jong Ho; Ahn, Byung Tae

2003-01-01

A failure model for electromigration based on the "failure unit model" was presented for the prediction of lifetime in metal lines.The failure unit model, which consists of failure units in parallel and series, can predict both the median time to failure (MTTF) and the deviation in the time to failure (DTTF) in Al metal lines. The model can describe them only qualitatively. In our model, both the probability function of the failure unit in single grain segments and polygrain segments are considered instead of in polygrain segments alone. Based on our model, we calculated MTTF, DTTF, and activation energy for different median grain sizes, grain size distributions, linewidths, line lengths, current densities, and temperatures. Comparisons between our results and published experimental data showed good agreements and our model could explain the previously unexplained phenomena. Our advanced failure unit model might be further applied to other electromigration characteristics of metal lines.

Remaining lifetime modeling using State-of-Health estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beganovic, Nejra; Söffker, Dirk

2017-08-01

Technical systems and system's components undergo gradual degradation over time. Continuous degradation occurred in system is reflected in decreased system's reliability and unavoidably lead to a system failure. Therefore, continuous evaluation of State-of-Health (SoH) is inevitable to provide at least predefined lifetime of the system defined by manufacturer, or even better, to extend the lifetime given by manufacturer. However, precondition for lifetime extension is accurate estimation of SoH as well as the estimation and prediction of Remaining Useful Lifetime (RUL). For this purpose, lifetime models describing the relation between system/component degradation and consumed lifetime have to be established. In this contribution modeling and selection of suitable lifetime models from database based on current SoH conditions are discussed. Main contribution of this paper is the development of new modeling strategies capable to describe complex relations between measurable system variables, related system degradation, and RUL. Two approaches with accompanying advantages and disadvantages are introduced and compared. Both approaches are capable to model stochastic aging processes of a system by simultaneous adaption of RUL models to current SoH. The first approach requires a priori knowledge about aging processes in the system and accurate estimation of SoH. An estimation of SoH here is conditioned by tracking actual accumulated damage into the system, so that particular model parameters are defined according to a priori known assumptions about system's aging. Prediction accuracy in this case is highly dependent on accurate estimation of SoH but includes high number of degrees of freedom. The second approach in this contribution does not require a priori knowledge about system's aging as particular model parameters are defined in accordance to multi-objective optimization procedure. Prediction accuracy of this model does not highly depend on estimated SoH. This model

Year-Round versus Traditional Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyttle, LeighAnne

2011-01-01

This document serves as a literature review for the practicality and cost effectiveness of traditional versus year-round school systems. The differences in year-round and traditional schools are many, as the debate lingers on which type is best for students' learning. Generally conclusive, the literature indicates that year-round schools' benefits…

What Do Teachers Do When They Say They Are Doing Learning Rounds? Scotland's Experience of Instructional Rounds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Philpott, Carey; Oates, Catriona

2015-01-01

This paper reports on research into the practice of learning rounds in Scotland. Learning rounds are a form of collaborative professional development for teachers based on the instructional rounds practice developed in the USA. In recent years learning rounds have gained high profile official support within education in Scotland. The research…

Novel round cells in urine sediment and their clinical implications.

PubMed

Shukuya, Kenichi; Ogura, Sayoko; Tokuhara, Yasunori; Okubo, Shigeo; Yatomi, Yutaka; Tozuka, Minoru; Shimosawa, Tatsuo

2016-06-01

Voided urine contains a variety of cells from the kidney and urinary tract and urinalysis provides us various information by investigating cellular components. We investigated urine sediment from renal impaired patients. We found 'round cell' to be distinct from known cells in sediment and is close to proximal convoluted tubule-derived cells based on morphology and molecular marker expression (GGT1 but not podocalyxin). Also it was positive for undifferentiated cell markers, including PAX2, WT1, OSR1, and SIX2. They were observed in end-stage renal failure patients and the number of cells was correlated with the severity of chronic kidney disease. A prospective analysis revealed that patients who had more round cells were more likely to require hemodialysis within a year. Round cells are a novel marker that can be used to predict the need for hemodialysis. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Playing Doctor with Education: Considerations in Using Medical Rounds as a Model for Instructional Rounds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roegman, Rachel; Riehl, Carolyn

2012-01-01

This article examines the literature on medical rounds to inform the recent move toward instructional rounds as a practice of districtwide improvement and professional learning for superintendents and administrators. Based on the practice of medical rounds as a method for creating shared norms and understandings about medicine and patient care,…

Sink fast and swim harder! Round-trip cost-of-transport for buoyant divers.

PubMed

Miller, Patrick J O; Biuw, Martin; Watanabe, Yuuki Y; Thompson, Dave; Fedak, Mike A

2012-10-15

Efficient locomotion between prey resources at depth and oxygen at the surface is crucial for breath-hold divers to maximize time spent in the foraging layer, and thereby net energy intake rates. The body density of divers, which changes with body condition, determines the apparent weight (buoyancy) of divers, which may affect round-trip cost-of-transport (COT) between the surface and depth. We evaluated alternative predictions from external-work and actuator-disc theory of how non-neutral buoyancy affects round-trip COT to depth, and the minimum COT speed for steady-state vertical transit. Not surprisingly, the models predict that one-way COT decreases (increases) when buoyancy aids (hinders) one-way transit. At extreme deviations from neutral buoyancy, gliding at terminal velocity is the minimum COT strategy in the direction aided by buoyancy. In the transit direction hindered by buoyancy, the external-work model predicted that minimum COT speeds would not change at greater deviations from neutral buoyancy, but minimum COT speeds were predicted to increase under the actuator disc model. As previously documented for grey seals, we found that vertical transit rates of 36 elephant seals increased in both directions as body density deviated from neutral buoyancy, indicating that actuator disc theory may more closely predict the power requirements of divers affected by gravity than an external work model. For both models, minor deviations from neutral buoyancy did not affect minimum COT speed or round-trip COT itself. However, at body-density extremes, both models predict that savings in the aided direction do not fully offset the increased COT imposed by the greater thrusting required in the hindered direction.

Relationships between body roundness with body fat and visceral adipose tissue emerging from a new geometrical model

PubMed Central

Thomas, Diana M.; Bredlau, Carl; Bosy-Westphal, Anja; Mueller, Manfred; Shen, Wei; Gallagher, Dympna; Maeda, Yuna; McDougall, Andrew; Peterson, Courtney M.; Ravussin, Eric; Heymsfield, Steven B.

2013-01-01

Objective To develop a new geometrical index that combines height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) and relate this index to total and visceral body fat. Design and Methods Subject data were pooled from three databases that contained demographic, anthropometric, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured fat mass, and magnetic resonance imaging measured visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume. Two elliptical models of the human body were developed. Body roundness was calculated from the model using a well-established constant arising from the theory. Regression models based on eccentricity and other variables were used to predict % body fat and % VAT. Results A body roundness index (BRI) was derived to quantify the individual body shape in a height-independent manner. Body roundness slightly improved predictions of % body fat and % VAT compared to the traditional metrics of body mass index (BMI), WC, or HC. On this basis, healthy body roundness ranges were established. An automated graphical program simulating study results was placed at http://www.pbrc.edu/bodyroundness. Conclusions Body roundness index, a new shape measure, is a predictor of % body fat and % VAT and can be applied as a visual tool for health status evaluations. PMID:23519954

Multi-scale computational study of the mechanical regulation of cell mitotic rounding in epithelia

PubMed Central

Xu, Zhiliang; Zartman, Jeremiah J.; Alber, Mark

2017-01-01

Mitotic rounding during cell division is critical for preventing daughter cells from inheriting an abnormal number of chromosomes, a condition that occurs frequently in cancer cells. Cells must significantly expand their apical area and transition from a polygonal to circular apical shape to achieve robust mitotic rounding in epithelial tissues, which is where most cancers initiate. However, how cells mechanically regulate robust mitotic rounding within packed tissues is unknown. Here, we analyze mitotic rounding using a newly developed multi-scale subcellular element computational model that is calibrated using experimental data. Novel biologically relevant features of the model include separate representations of the sub-cellular components including the apical membrane and cytoplasm of the cell at the tissue scale level as well as detailed description of cell properties during mitotic rounding. Regression analysis of predictive model simulation results reveals the relative contributions of osmotic pressure, cell-cell adhesion and cortical stiffness to mitotic rounding. Mitotic area expansion is largely driven by regulation of cytoplasmic pressure. Surprisingly, mitotic shape roundness within physiological ranges is most sensitive to variation in cell-cell adhesivity and stiffness. An understanding of how perturbed mechanical properties impact mitotic rounding has important potential implications on, amongst others, how tumors progressively become more genetically unstable due to increased chromosomal aneuploidy and more aggressive. PMID:28531187

Leading Instructional Rounds in Education: A Facilitator?'s Guide. Instructional Rounds Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fowler-Finn, Thomas

2013-01-01

Instructional rounds is a powerful form of professional learning aimed at helping schools and systems develop the capacity to educate all children to high levels. In this practical book, Thomas Fowler-Finn, an experienced consultant who has worked closely with the Harvard team that pioneered instructional rounds, discusses how facilitators can…

Accelerated lifetime test of vibration isolator made of Metal Rubber material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ao, Hongrui; Ma, Yong; Wang, Xianbiao; Chen, Jianye; Jiang, Hongyuan

2017-01-01

The Metal Rubber material (MR) is a kind of material with nonlinear damping characteristics for its application in the field of aerospace, petrochemical industry and so on. The study on the lifetime of MR material is impendent to its application in engineering. Based on the dynamic characteristic of MR, the accelerated lifetime experiments of vibration isolators made of MR working under random vibration load were conducted. The effects of structural parameters of MR components on the lifetime of isolators were studied and modelled with the fitting curves of degradation data. The lifetime prediction methods were proposed based on the models.

Numerical reconstruction of unknown Robin inclusions inside a heat conductor by a non-iterative method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Gen; Wang, Haibing

2017-05-01

Consider the problem of reconstructing unknown Robin inclusions inside a heat conductor from boundary measurements. This problem arises from active thermography and is formulated as an inverse boundary value problem for the heat equation. In our previous works, we proposed a sampling-type method for reconstructing the boundary of the Robin inclusion and gave its rigorous mathematical justification. This method is non-iterative and based on the characterization of the solution to the so-called Neumann- to-Dirichlet map gap equation. In this paper, we give a further investigation of the reconstruction method from both the theoretical and numerical points of view. First, we clarify the solvability of the Neumann-to-Dirichlet map gap equation and establish a relation of its solution to the Green function associated with an initial-boundary value problem for the heat equation inside the Robin inclusion. This naturally provides a way of computing this Green function from the Neumann-to-Dirichlet map and explains what is the input for the linear sampling method. Assuming that the Neumann-to-Dirichlet map gap equation has a unique solution, we also show the convergence of our method for noisy measurements. Second, we give the numerical implementation of the reconstruction method for two-dimensional spatial domains. The measurements for our inverse problem are simulated by solving the forward problem via the boundary integral equation method. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the efficiency and stability of the proposed method. By using a finite sequence of transient input over a time interval, we propose a new sampling method over the time interval by single measurement which is most likely to be practical.

Metabolizable energy in Chinese tallow fruit for Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Cardinals, and American Robins

USGS Publications Warehouse

Baldwin, M.J.; Barrow, W.C.; Jeske, C.; Rohwer, F.C.

2008-01-01

The invasive exotic Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) produces an abundant fruit crop, which is primarily bird-dispersed. The fruit pulp of tallow is lipid-rich, high in saturated fatty acids, and consumed by many bird species. Long-chained fatty acids can be difficult for many birds to digest and we investigated the ability of tallow consumers to assimilate energy in the pulp. We used the total collection method and compared apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of tallow fruit for three species of birds with differing fruit composition in their natural diets. All birds exhibited nitrogen deficits and lost body mass during the trials. Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) lost more mass (8.73%/day) than Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata) (5.29%/day) and American Robins (Turdus migratorius) (5.48%/day), and had larger nitrogen deficits (-120.1 mg N/g diet) than both species as well (-36.4 mg N/g diet and -68.9 mg N/g diet, respectively). Food intake relative to metabolic body mass was highest in Yellow-rumped Warblers (0.70 g-dry/g 0.75??day). Northern Cardinal and American Robin food intake was lower and did not differ from each other (both species: 0.13 g-dry/g 0.75??day). Nitrogen corrected values of AME were used to make species comparisons. Yellow-rumped-Warblers exhibited the highest values of AME (30.00 kJ/g), followed by American Robins (23.90 kJ/g), and Northern Cardinals (14.34 kJ/g). We suggest tallow may be an important winter food source for Yellow-rumped Warblers where their ranges overlap.

Forced cubic Schrödinger equation with Robin boundary data: large-time asymptotics

PubMed Central

Kaikina, Elena I.

2013-01-01

We consider the initial-boundary-value problem for the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, formulated on a half-line with inhomogeneous Robin boundary data. We study traditionally important problems of the theory of nonlinear partial differential equations, such as the global-in-time existence of solutions to the initial-boundary-value problem and the asymptotic behaviour of solutions for large time. PMID:24204185

Lifetime mental disorders and suicidal behaviour in South Africa.

PubMed

Khasakhala, L; Sorsdahl, K R; Harder, V S; Williams, D R; Stein, D J; Ndetei, D M

2011-05-01

There is relatively little data on the relationship between lifetime mental disorders and suicidal behaviour in low and middle income countries. This study examines the relationship between lifetime mental disorders, and subsequent suicide ideation, plans, and suicide attempts in South Africa. A national survey of 4185 South African adults was conducted using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to generate psychiatric diagnoses and suicidal behaviour. Bivariate, multivariate and discrete-time survival analyses were employed to investigate the associations between mental disorders and subsequent suicide ideation, plans, and attempts. Sixty-one percent of people who seriously considered killing themselves at some point in their lifetime reported having a prior DSM-IV disorder. Mental disorders predict the onset of suicidal ideation, but have weaker effects in predicting suicide plans or attempts. After controlling for comorbid mental disorders, PTSD was the strongest predictor of suicidal ideation and attempts. There is a relationship between number of mental disorders and suicidal behaviour, with comorbidity having significantly sub-additive effects. Consistent with data from the developed world, mental disorders are strong predictors of suicidal behaviour, and these associations are more often explained by the prediction of ideation, rather than the prediction of attempts amongst ideators. This suggests some universality of the relevant mechanisms underlying the genesis of suicidal thoughts, and the progression to suicide attempts.

Team situation awareness and the anticipation of patient progress during ICU rounds.

PubMed

Reader, Tom W; Flin, Rhona; Mearns, Kathryn; Cuthbertson, Brian H

2011-12-01

The ability of medical teams to develop and maintain team situation awareness (team SA) is crucial for patient safety. Limited research has investigated team SA within clinical environments. This study reports the development of a method for investigating team SA during the intensive care unit (ICU) round and describes the results. In one ICU, a sample of doctors and nurses (n = 44, who combined to form 37 different teams) were observed during 34 morning ward rounds. Following the clinical review of each patient (n = 105), team members individually recorded their anticipations for expected patient developments over 48 h. Patient-outcome data were collected to determine the accuracy of anticipations. Anticipations were compared among ICU team members, and the degree of consensus was used as a proxy measure of team SA. Self-report and observational data measured team-member involvement and communication during patient reviews. For over half of 105 patients, ICU team members formed conflicting anticipations as to whether patients would deteriorate within 48 h. Senior doctors were most accurate in their predictions. Exploratory analysis found that team processes did not predict team SA. However, the involvement of junior and senior trainee doctors in the patient decision-making process predicted the extent to which those team members formed team SA with senior doctors. A new method for measuring team SA during the ICU round was successfully employed. A number of areas for future research were identified, including refinement of the situation awareness and teamwork measures.

Predictive data-based exposition of 5s5p{sup 1,3}P{sub 1} lifetimes in the Cd isoelectronic sequence

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

Curtis, L. J.; Matulioniene, R.; Ellis, D. G.

2000-11-01

Experimental and theoretical values for the lifetimes of the 5s5p{sup 1}P{sub 1} and {sup 3}P{sub 1} levels in the Cd isoelectronic sequence are examined in the context of a data-based isoelectronic systematization. Lifetime and energy-level data are combined to account for the effects of intermediate coupling, thereby reducing the data to a regular and slowly varying parametric mapping. This empirically characterizes small contributions due to spin-other-orbit interaction, spin dependences of the radial wave functions, and configuration interaction, and yields accurate interpolative and extrapolative predictions. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations are used to verify the regularity of these trends, and to examine themore » extent to which they can be extrapolated to high nuclear charge.« less

Life cycle monitoring of lithium-ion polymer batteries using cost-effective thermal infrared sensors with applications for lifetime prediction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xunfei; Malik, Anav; Hsieh, Sheng-Jen

2017-05-01

Lithium-ion batteries have become indispensable parts of our lives for their high-energy density and long lifespan. However, failure due to from abusive usage conditions, flawed manufacturing processes, and aging and adversely affect battery performance and even endanger people and property. Therefore, battery cells that are failing or reaching their end-of-life need to be replaced. Traditionally, battery lifetime prediction is achieved by analyzing data from current, voltage and impedance sensors. However, such a prognostic system is expensive to implement and requires direct contact. In this study, low-cost thermal infrared sensors were used to acquire thermographic images throughout the entire lifetime of small scale lithium-ion polymer batteries (410 cycles). The infrared system (non-destructive) took temperature readings from multiple batteries during charging and discharging cycles of 1C. Thermal characteristics of the batteries were derived from the thermographic images. A time-dependent and spatially resolved temperature mapping was obtained and quantitatively analyzed. The developed model can predict cycle number using the first 10 minutes of surface temperature data acquired through infrared imaging at the beginning of the cycle, with an average error rate of less than 10%. This approach can be used to correlate thermal characteristics of the batteries with life cycles, and to propose cost-effective thermal infrared imaging applications in battery prognostic systems.

High-order finite-volume solutions of the steady-state advection-diffusion equation with nonlinear Robin boundary conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Zhi; Zhang, Qinghai

2017-09-01

We propose high-order finite-volume schemes for numerically solving the steady-state advection-diffusion equation with nonlinear Robin boundary conditions. Although the original motivation comes from a mathematical model of blood clotting, the nonlinear boundary conditions may also apply to other scientific problems. The main contribution of this work is a generic algorithm for generating third-order, fourth-order, and even higher-order explicit ghost-filling formulas to enforce nonlinear Robin boundary conditions in multiple dimensions. Under the framework of finite volume methods, this appears to be the first algorithm of its kind. Numerical experiments on boundary value problems show that the proposed fourth-order formula can be much more accurate and efficient than a simple second-order formula. Furthermore, the proposed ghost-filling formulas may also be useful for solving other partial differential equations.

Effect of out-of-roundness on the performance of a diesel engine connecting-rod bearing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vijayaraghavan, D.; Brewe, D. E.; Keith, T. G., Jr.

1993-01-01

In this paper, the dynamic performance of the Ruston and Hornsby VEB diesel engine connecting-rod bearing with circular and out-of-round profiles is analyzed. The effect of cavitation is considered by using a cavitation algorithm, which mimics JFO boundary conditions. The effect of mass inertia is accounted for by solving coupled nonlinear equations of motion. The journal profiles considered are circular, elliptical, semi-elliptical, and three lobe epicycloid. The predicted journal trajectory and other performance parameters for one complete load cycle are presented for all of the out-of-round profiles and are also compared with the predictions for the circular bearing.

Effect of out-of-roundness on the performance of a diesel engine connecting-rod bearing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vijayaraghavan, D.; Brewe, D. E.; Keith, T. G., Jr.

1991-01-01

In this paper, the dynamic performance of the Ruston and Hornsby VEB diesel engine connecting-rod bearing with circular and out-of-round profiles is analyzed. The effect of cavitation is considered by using a cavitation algorithm, which mimics JFO boundary conditions. The effect of mass inertia is accounted for by solving coupled nonlinear equations of motion. The journal profiles considered are circular, elliptical, semi-elliptical, and three lobe epicycloid. The predicted journal trajectory and other performance parameters for one complete load cycle are presented for all of the out-of-round profiles and are also compared with the predictions for the circular bearing.

Ward rounds, participants, roles and perceptions: literature review.

PubMed

Walton, Victoria; Hogden, Anne; Johnson, Julie; Greenfield, David

2016-05-09

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to classify and describe the purpose of ward rounds, who attends each round and their role, and participants' perception of each other's role during the respective ward rounds. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review of face-to-face ward rounds in medical wards was conducted. Peer reviewed journals and government publications published between 2000 and 2014 were searched. Articles were classified according to the type of round described in the study. Purposes were identified using keywords in the description of why the round was carried out. Descriptions of tasks and interactions with team members defined participant roles. Findings - Eight round classifications were identified. The most common were the generalised ward; multidisciplinary; and consultant rounds. Multidisciplinary rounds were the most collaborative round. Medical officers were the most likely discipline to attend any round. There was limited reference to allied health clinicians and patient involvement on rounds. Perceptions attendees held of each other reiterated the need to continue to investigate teamwork. Practical implications - A collaborative approach to care planning can occur by ensuring clinicians and patients are aware of different ward round processes and their role in them. Originality/value - Analysis fulfils a gap in the literature by identifying and analysing the different ward rounds being undertaken in acute medical wards. It identifies the complexities in the long established routine hospital processes of the ward round.

Physically based DC lifetime model for lead zirconate titanate films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garten, Lauren M.; Hagiwara, Manabu; Ko, Song Won; Trolier-McKinstry, Susan

2017-09-01

Accurate lifetime predictions for Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 thin films are critical for a number of applications, but current reliability models are not consistent with the resistance degradation mechanisms in lead zirconate titanate. In this work, the reliability and lifetime of chemical solution deposited (CSD) and sputtered Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 thin films are characterized using highly accelerated lifetime testing (HALT) and leakage current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Temperature dependent HALT results and impedance spectroscopy show activation energies of approximately 1.2 eV for the CSD films and 0.6 eV for the sputtered films. The voltage dependent HALT results are consistent with previous reports, but do not clearly indicate what causes device failure. To understand more about the underlying physical mechanisms leading to degradation, the I-V data are fit to known conduction mechanisms, with Schottky emission having the best-fit and realistic extracted material parameters. Using the Schottky emission equation as a base, a unique model is developed to predict the lifetime under highly accelerated testing conditions based on the physical mechanisms of degradation.

Lifetime hormonal factors may predict late-life depression in women

PubMed Central

Ryan, Joanne; Carrière, Isabelle; Scali, Jacqueline; Ritchie, Karen; Ancelin, Marie-Laure

2008-01-01

Background Fluctuating hormone levels are known to influence a woman’s mood and well-being. This study aimed to determine whether lifetime hormonal markers are associated with late-life depression symptoms among elderly community-dwelling women. Method Detailed reproductive histories of 1013 women aged 65 years and over were obtained using questionnaires and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multivariate logistic regression models were generated to determine whether any lifetime endogenous or exogenous hormonal factors were associated with late-life depression. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 17%. Age at menopause was associated with depressive symptoms, but only among women with a lower education level. For these women, an earlier age at menopause increased their risk of late-life depression (linear effect, OR=0.95, 95%CI: 0.91–0.99). The odds of late-life depression were also increased for women who were past (OR=1.6, 95%CI: 1.1–2.5), but not current hormonal replacement users. On the other hand, long-term oral contraceptive use (≥10 years) was protective against depression (OR=0.3, 95%CI: 0.1–0.9). These associations remained significant even after extensive adjustment for a range of potential confounding factors, including socio-demographic factors, mental and physical incapacities, antidepressant use and past depression. The other factors examined, including age at first menses, parity, age at childbirth and surgical menopause, were not associated with late-life depressive symptoms. Conclusions Lifetime hormonal factors that are significantly associated with depression symptoms in later life have been identified. Further work is needed to determine how potential hormonal interventions could be used in the treatment of late-life depression in certain sub-groups of women. PMID:18533067

Sensitivity to carbon dioxide in subjects with a single lifetime panic attack: possible clinical "bedside" predictive test for panic disorder after a first attack.

PubMed

Berzak, Elina; Reznik, Mila; Narsia, Oxana; Benjamin, Jonathan

2004-01-01

There is currently no way of knowing whether a patient who has recently had a single panic attack has incipient panic disorder. Sensitivity to carbon dioxide (CO2) is lower in healthy volunteers than in panic disorder patients. If this is also true of people who experience a single lifetime panic attack, it could be used as a prognostic test. Subjects with a single lifetime panic attack and subjects with panic disorder received an inhalation of 35% CO2. Subjects completed the panic symptoms scale (PSS), and also stated whether they considered that they had experienced an attack. None of 14 subjects with a single lifetime panic attack, compared to 7 of 17 subjects with panic disorder (P=.009), had an attack. The PSS also distinguished between the groups. The 35% CO2 challenge warrants further investigation as a predictive test after a first panic attack.

Understanding the prevalence of lifetime abstinence from alcohol: An ecological study.

PubMed

Probst, Charlotte; Manthey, Jakob; Rehm, Jürgen

2017-09-01

The level of alcohol consumption and related burden in a country are strongly impacted by the prevalence of abstinence from alcohol use. The objective of this study was to characterize the association of lifetime abstinence from alcohol use with economic wealth (as measured in the gross domestic product [GDP]) and Muslim religion on a country level. An ecological study was performed using aggregate data of 183 countries for the year 2010. Lifetime abstinence among men and women was predicted using fractional response regression models with the natural logarithm of GDP-PPP (purchasing power parity) and the proportion of Muslim population as predictors. The models were further adjusted by the country's median age and World Health Organization region. Precision of prediction was investigated. Descriptive analyses showed a strong negative association between GDP-PPP and lifetime abstinence in countries without a Muslim majority and a GDP-PPP up to 20,000 international dollars. Regression models confirmed the negative association with GDP-PPP and showed a strong positive association between lifetime abstinence and the proportion of Muslim population. Stratified sensitivity analyses showed that in countries without a Muslim majority only GDP-PPP showed a statistically significant association whereas in Muslim majority countries only the proportion of Muslims was associated with the prevalence of lifetime abstinence. Particularly in countries with a lower GDP and without Muslim majority the prevalence of lifetime abstinence from alcohol use is strongly negatively associated with GDP-PPP. Future research should analyze the accordance in trends of GDP and lifetime abstinence over time. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measuring ward round quality in urology.

PubMed

Darbyshire, Daniel; Barrett, Charlotte; Ross, David; Shackley, David

2015-01-01

Ward rounds are the traditional process by which clinical information is interpreted and management plans made in the inpatient setting and the only time during which patient-doctor interaction can reliably occur. Efforts to improve quality and safety have started looking at the ward round but this has mainly been in the acute medical setting. To begin the quality improvement process for Urological ward rounds. Twenty indicators thought to relate to quality were recorded for every weekday ward round by the Urology team for one month. Twenty ward rounds, 93 patient encounters, were reviewed. A consultant was present for 37% of the patient encounters. 84% of observation charts were reviewed; drug charts 28% and antibiotics 70%. Plans were communicated to the doctors, patient and nursing staff. All notes were typed directly onto the electronic system, 20% of notes were checked by the lead clinician. Mean time per patient was 6 minutes. By starting a discussion about ward rounds we aim to align the process with the broader values of the organisation. Ward rounds can be the cornerstone of delivering safe, clean and personal care and measuring this process is vital to understanding efforts to improve them.

Re-calibration of the magnetic compass in hand-raised European robins (Erithacus rubecula)

PubMed Central

Alert, Bianca; Michalik, Andreas; Thiele, Nadine; Bottesch, Michael; Mouritsen, Henrik

2015-01-01

Migratory birds can use a variety of environmental cues for orientation. A primary calibration between the celestial and magnetic compasses seems to be fundamental prior to a bird’s first autumn migration. Releasing hand-raised or rescued young birds back into the wild might therefore be a problem because they might not have established a functional orientation system during their first calendar year. Here, we test whether hand-raised European robins that did not develop any functional compass before or during their first autumn migration could relearn to orient if they were exposed to natural celestial cues during the subsequent winter and spring. When tested in the geomagnetic field without access to celestial cues, these birds could orient in their species-specific spring migratory direction. In contrast, control birds that were deprived of any natural celestial cues throughout remained unable to orient. Our experiments suggest that European robins are still capable of establishing a functional orientation system after their first autumn. Although the external reference remains speculative, most likely, natural celestial cues enabled our birds to calibrate their magnetic compass. Our data suggest that avian compass systems are more flexible than previously believed and have implications for the release of hand-reared migratory birds. PMID:26388258

Numerical modeling of the traction process in the treatment for Pierre-Robin Sequence.

PubMed

Słowiński, Jakub J; Czarnecka, Aleksandra

2016-10-01

The goal of this numerical study was to identify the results of modulated growth simulation of the mandibular bone during traction in Pierre-Robin Sequence (PRS) treatment. Numerical simulation was conducted in the Ansys 16.2 environment. Two FEM (finite elements method) models of a newborn's mandible (a spatial and a flat model) were developed. The procedure simulated a 20-week traction period. The adopted growth measure was mandibular length increase, defined as the distance between the Co-Pog anatomic points used in cephalometric analysis. The simulation calculations conducted on the developed models showed that modulation had a significant influence on the pace of bone growth. In each of the analyzed cases, growth modulation resulted in an increase in pace. The largest value of increase was 6.91 mm. The modulated growth with the most beneficial load variant increased the basic value of the growth by as much as 24.6%, and growth with the least beneficial variant increased by 7.4%. Traction is a simple, minimally invasive and inexpensive procedure. The proposed algorithm may enable the development of a helpful forecasting tool, which could be of real use to doctors working on Pierre-Robin Sequence and other mandibular deformations in children. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bioresorbable distraction device for the treatment of airway problems for infants with Robin sequence.

PubMed

Breugem, Corstiaan; Paes, Emma; Kon, Moshe; Mink van der Molen, Aebele B; van der Molen, Aebele B Mink

2012-08-01

Pierre Robin sequence is a well known craniofacial entity. There are numerous ways to treat the respiratory insufficiency, but sometimes surgical intervention is needed. Tracheotomy could be associated with morbidity, and distraction osteogenesis has been established as a stable method to obtain a safe airway. Distraction osteogenesis has traditionally been performed with an external device. In this manuscript we describe the feasibility of an internal bioresorbable device. Retrospective descriptive study was performed in a tertiary academic children's hospital. After multidisciplinary team consultation, 12 consecutive patients with Robin sequence were treated with this internal distraction device. The mean age at surgery was 32 days, and the average amount of mandibular distraction was 18 mm. All patients were extubated after an average of 7.5 days after the surgery. The average length of stay in the hospital was 17 days after surgery. There were no major surgical complications. A tracheotomy was prevented in all our patients, and complications were limited. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the influence that internal distraction has on the growth of the mandible and teeth. The internal distraction system seems safe for infants with micrognathia and has certain benefits when compared to the external distractor.

Needed Research in Year-Round Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parks, David J.; Leffel, Linda G.

The current literature on year-round education is replete with feasibility studies; reports on operational programs; and thoughtful consideration of the potential effects of year-round education on the community, school, family, and child. Lay boards of education are frequently asked to make decisions on whether to implement year-round programs on…

Differences by Ending Rounds and Other Rounds in Time-Motion Analysis of Mixed Martial Arts: Implications for Assessment and Training.

PubMed

Miarka, Bianca; Brito, Ciro J; Moreira, Danilo G; Amtmann, John

2018-02-01

Miarka, B, Brito, CJ, Moreira, DG, and Amtmann, J. Differences by ending rounds and other rounds in time-motion analysis of mixed martial arts: implications for assessment and training. J Strength Cond Res 32(2): 534-544, 2018-This study aimed to support training program development through the comparison of performance analysis of professionals mixed martial art (MMA) athletes in the bouts that were not finished by points. Using digital recordings of each bout, we analyzed 1,564 rounds (678 bouts) which were separated by ending and other rounds. Our results indicated that knockout/technical knockout is the main outcome that defines the ending round (≈60%); however, there is a higher frequency of ending by submission on the first and second rounds (>30%). Bouts ending during the first or second rounds had shorter total time and standing combat with low intensity than ending in the third round (91.5 ± 71.4, 93.4 ± 67.5, and 143.2 ± 87.4; for low intensity in the first, second, and third rounds, respectively; p ≤ 0.05), whereas standing combat time with high intensity was longer in the last round in comparison to bouts that finished in the first or second rounds (7.4 ± 9.2, 9.7 ± 18.0, and 17.7 ± 29.1 for high intensity in the first, second, and third rounds, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). The lower time dedicated to low-intensity stand-up combat actions, regardless of round, and forcefulness of the actions in groundwork in the first and second rounds seem to be elements that increase the probability of success in professional MMA bouts; these factors have essential implications related to training program design.

Relative quantity judgments between discrete spatial arrays by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and New Zealand robins (Petroica longipes).

PubMed

Garland, Alexis; Beran, Michael J; McIntyre, Joseph; Low, Jason

2014-08-01

Quantity discrimination for items spread across spatial arrays was investigated in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and North Island New Zealand robins (Petroica longipes), with the aim of examining the role of spatial separation on the ability of these 2 species to sum and compare nonvisible quantities which are both temporally and spatially separated, and to assess the likely mechanism supporting such summation performance. Birds and chimpanzees compared 2 sets of discrete quantities of items that differed in number. Six quantity comparisons were presented to both species: 1v2, 1v3, 1v5, 2v3, 2v4, and 2v5. Each was distributed 1 at a time across 2 7-location arrays. Every individual item was viewed 1 at a time and hidden, with no more than a single item in each location of an array, in contrast to a format where all items were placed together into 2 single locations. Subjects responded by selecting 1 of the 2 arrays and received the entire quantity of food items hidden within that array. Both species performed better than chance levels. The ratio of items between sets was a significant predictor of performance in the chimpanzees, but it was not significant for robins. Instead, the absolute value of the smaller quantity of items presented was the significant factor in robin responses. These results suggest a species difference for this task when considering various dimensions such as ratio or total number of items in quantity comparisons distributed across discrete 7-location arrays.

Developing non-technical ward-round skills.

PubMed

Harvey, Rachel; Mellanby, Edward; Dearden, Effie; Medjoub, Karima; Edgar, Simon

2015-10-01

Conducting clinical 'rounds' is one of the most onerous and important duties that every junior doctor is expected to perform. There is evidence that newly qualified doctors are not adequately prepared by their undergraduate experiences for this task. The aim of this study was to analyse the challenges pertaining to non-technical skills that students would face during ward rounds, and to create a model that facilitates the transition from medical student to doctor. A total of 217 final-year medical students completed a simulated ward round. Free-text responses were analysed using template analysis applying an a priori template developed from the literature by the research team. This drew on the generic categories of non-technical skills suggested by Flin et al. Ninety-seven per cent of students agreed or strongly agreed that the simulated ward round improved their insight into the challenges of ward rounds and their perceived ability to work efficiently as an active member of the ward round. The responding students (206) submitted written feedback describing the learning that they planned to use: 800 learning points were recorded, and all could be categorised into one of seven non-technical skills. Conducting clinical 'rounds' is one of the most onerous and important duties that every junior doctor is expected to perform We believe that improved task efficiency and insight into the challenges of the ward round gained by medical students will lead to an enhancement in performance during clinical rounds, and will have a positive impact on patient safety. We would suggest that undergraduate medical schools consider this model in the preparation for the clinical practice element of the curriculum. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Lifetime of a Chemically Bound Helium Compound

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chaban, Galina M.; Lundell, Jan; Gerber, R. Benny; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The rare-gas atoms are chemically inert, to an extent unique among all elements. This is due to the stable electronic structure of the atoms. Stable molecules with chemically bound rare-gas atoms are, however, known. A first such compound, XePtF6, W2S prepared in 1962 and since then a range of molecules containing radon, xenon and krypton have been obtained. Most recently, a first stable chemically bound compound of argon was prepared, leaving neon and helium as the only elements for which stable chemically bound molecules are not yet known. Electronic structure calculations predict that a metastable species HHeF exists, but significance of the result depends on the unknown lifetime. Here we report quantum dynamics calculations of the lifetime of HHeF, using accurate interactions computed from electronic structure theory. HHeF is shown to disintegrate by tunneling through energy barriers into He + HF and H + He + F the first channel greatly dominating. The lifetime of HHeF is more than 120 picoseconds, that of DHeF is 14 nanoseconds. The relatively long lifetimes are encouraging for the preparation prospects of this first chemically bound helium compound.

Implementing iRound: A Computer-Based Auditing Tool.

PubMed

Brady, Darcie

Many hospitals use rounding or auditing as a tool to help identify gaps and needs in quality and process performance. Some hospitals are also using rounding to help improve patient experience. It is known that purposeful rounding helps improve Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores by helping manage patient expectations, provide service recovery, and recognize quality caregivers. Rounding works when a standard method is used across the facility, where data are comparable and trustworthy. This facility had a pen-and-paper process in place that made data reporting difficult, created a silo culture between departments, and most audits and rounds were completed differently on each unit. It was recognized that this facility needed to standardize the rounding and auditing process. The tool created by the Advisory Board called iRound was chosen as the tool this facility would use for patient experience rounds as well as process and quality rounding. The success of the iRound tool in this facility depended on several factors that started many months before implementation to current everyday usage.

Airway and feeding problems in infants with Fairbairn-Robin triad deformities.

PubMed

du Plessis, Susanna M; van den Berg, Hester J S; Bütow, Kurt W; Hoogendijk, Christiaan F

2013-01-01

The majority of patients with Pierre Robin sequence in the subdivision Fairbairn- Robin triad (FRT), are born with glossoptosis, retro-/micrognathia and cleft or agenesis of the palate leading to feeding difficulties and airway obstruction. There is limited literature on these problems, and on methods used to address them. Community nurses in the Facial Cleft Deformity Clinic evaluate associated airway obstruction and feeding problems and devise nursing interactions to address these. This retrospective study examined the incidence of airway and feeding difficulties in the neonatal, pre-surgical period, as well as the surgical and nutritional management of these infants. Retrospective records of 215 infants with FRT were examined and data on incidence, airway and feeding difficulties and surgical and nutritional management was collected. Descriptive statistics, including average and percentage values, were compiled. The incidence of FRT amongst the cleft palate patients was 6.0%, with 37.7% of these having feeding difficulties. However, surgical interventions such as glossopexy (5.6%), distraction osteogenesis (0.9%) and tracheotomy (2.3%) for airway management were seldom required. Most of the infants who had upper airway obstruction and feeding problems were handled by means of suction and drinking plates, along with additional specific feeding aids. This reduced airway obstruction in 70.6%, and feeding problems in 62.4% of these infants. Based on this study’s finding the introduction of the suction and drinking plate and the use of specific types of feeding devices and surgical management can improve growth and development in infants with FRT.

NDE Techniques Used in PARENT Open Round Robin Testing

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

Meyer, Ryan M.

2014-11-05

This is a draft technical letter report for NRC client describing the NDE techniques used in the open testing portion of the Program to Assess the Reliability of Emerging Nondestructive Techniques (PARENT).

Limited Round Robin Asphalt Content Test Using Troxler Furnace

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-11-01

The Asphalt Content by Ignition test can be used to determine the asphalt content of a hot mix asphalt (HMA). This test, developed by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), burns the asphalt binder from a mix and thus allows the determina...

Consolidated Canadian Results to the HEU Round Robin Exercise

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-11-01

Niemeyer S, Dudder GB. "Model action plan for nuclear forensics and nuclear attribution." Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Report UCRL -TR...section 8.) including special warning terms if applicable) Defence R&D Canada - Ottawa 3701 Carling Avenue UNCLASSIFIED Ottawa, ON K IA 0Z4 3. TITLE (the...development. Include the address.) DRDC Ottawa 3701 Carling Avenue K I AOZ4 9a. PROJECT OR GRANT NO. (if appropriate, the applicable research 9b. CONTRACT

Relationships between body roundness with body fat and visceral adipose tissue emerging from a new geometrical model.

PubMed

Thomas, Diana M; Bredlau, Carl; Bosy-Westphal, Anja; Mueller, Manfred; Shen, Wei; Gallagher, Dympna; Maeda, Yuna; McDougall, Andrew; Peterson, Courtney M; Ravussin, Eric; Heymsfield, Steven B

2013-11-01

To develop a new geometrical index that combines height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) and relate this index to total and visceral body fat. Subject data were pooled from three databases that contained demographic, anthropometric, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured fat mass, and magnetic resonance imaging measured visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume. Two elliptical models of the human body were developed. Body roundness was calculated from the model using a well-established constant arising from the theory. Regression models based on eccentricity and other variables were used to predict %body fat and %VAT. A body roundness index (BRI) was derived to quantify the individual body shape in a height-independent manner. Body roundness slightly improved predictions of %body fat and %VAT compared to the traditional metrics of body mass index (BMI), WC, or HC. On this basis, healthy body roundness ranges were established. An automated graphical program simulating study results was placed at http://www.pbrc.edu/bodyroundness. BRI, a new shape measure, is a predictor of %body fat and %VAT and can be applied as a visual tool for health status evaluations. Copyright © 2013 The Obesity Society.

Inversion of Robin coefficient by a spectral stochastic finite element approach

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

Jin Bangti; Zou Jun

2008-03-01

This paper investigates a variational approach to the nonlinear stochastic inverse problem of probabilistically calibrating the Robin coefficient from boundary measurements for the steady-state heat conduction. The problem is formulated into an optimization problem, and mathematical properties relevant to its numerical computations are investigated. The spectral stochastic finite element method using polynomial chaos is utilized for the discretization of the optimization problem, and its convergence is analyzed. The nonlinear conjugate gradient method is derived for the optimization system. Numerical results for several two-dimensional problems are presented to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the stochastic finite element method.

Mechanical grading of round timber beams

Treesearch

David W. Green; Thomas M. Gorman; James W. Evans; Joseph F. Murphy

2006-01-01

Current procedures used to sort round timber beams into structural grades rely on visual grading methods and property assignments based on modification of clear wood properties. This study provides the technical basis for mechanical grading of 228 mm (9 in.) diameter round timbers. Test results on 225 round Engelmann spruce–alpine fir–lodgepole pine beams demonstrate...

Long-Term Results of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis with a Resorbable Device in Infants with Robin Sequence: Effects on Developing Molars and Mandibular Growth.

PubMed

Paes, Emma C; Bittermann, Gerhard K P; Bittermann, Dirk; Muradin, Marvick M; van Hogezand, Rose; Etty, Erika; Mink van der Molen, Aebele B; Kon, Moshe; Breugem, Corstiaan C

2016-02-01

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis with a unidirectional resorbable device is an effective treatment option for severe upper airway obstruction in infants with Robin sequence. Long-term effects, especially with regard to tooth development and mandibular outgrowth, are not known. Robin sequence infants with a follow-up of greater than or equal to 5 years were included. Baseline characteristics were extracted from medical records. Panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs were analyzed and patients were recalled for physical examination. Ten infants underwent mandibular distraction osteogenesis at a mean age of 3.7 months (median, 19 months; range, 11 days to 27 months). Mean length of follow-up was 6.8 years (range, 5.0 to 7.9 years). Ten Robin sequence infants without mandibular distraction osteogenesis (mean length of follow-up, 7.4 years; range, 6.7 to 8.9 years) were the controls. Shape anomalies, positional changes, and root malformations of molars were seen significantly more often than in the control group (p = 0.007, p = 0.009, and p = 0.043, respectively). Mandibular length was shorter (p = 0.030), but mandibular ramus height was comparable (p = 0.838) with that of the non-mandibular distraction osteogenesis group. Compared with healthy controls, all Robin sequence infants had a significantly shorter mandible. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis with a resorbable system reveals overall good short- and long-term results, but the effects on developing molars and mandibular outgrowth likely necessitate secondary procedures. This factor should be considered when deciding on treatment options and counseling of parents. Therapeutic, III.

Choroidal Round Hyporeflectivities in Geographic Atrophy.

PubMed

Corbelli, Eleonora; Sacconi, Riccardo; De Vitis, Luigi Antonio; Carnevali, Adriano; Rabiolo, Alessandro; Querques, Lea; Bandello, Francesco; Querques, Giuseppe

2016-01-01

In geographic atrophy (GA), choroidal vessels typically appear on structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) as hyperreflective round areas with highly reflective borders. We observed that some GA eyes show choroidal round hyporeflectivities with highly reflective borders beneath the atrophy, and futher investigated the charcteristcs by comparing structural OCT, indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and OCT angiography (OCT-A). Round hyporeflectivities were individuated from a pool of patients with GA secondary to non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration consecutively presenting between October 2015 and March 2016 at the Medical Retina & Imaging Unit of the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele. Patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including ICGA, structural OCT and OCT-A. The correspondence between choroidal round hyporeflectivities beneath GA on structural OCT and ICGA and OCT-A imaging were analyzed. Fifty eyes of 26 consecutive patients (17 females and 9 males; mean age 76.8±6.2 years) with GA were included. Twenty-nine round hyporeflectivities have been found by OCT in choroidal layers in 21 eyes of 21 patients (42.0%; estimated prevalence of 57.7%). All 29 round hyporeflectivities showed constantly a hyperreflective border and a backscattering on structural OCT, and appeared as hypofluorescent in late phase ICGA and as dark foci with non detectable flow in the choroidal segmentation of OCT-A. Interestingly, the GA area was greater in eyes with compared to eyes without round hyporeflectivities (9.30±5.74 and 5.57±4.48mm2, respectively; p = 0.01). Our results suggest that most round hyporeflectivities beneath GA may represent non-perfused or hypo-perfused choroidal vessels with non-detectable flow.

Factors Motivating and Hindering Information and Communication Technologies Action Competence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kurt, Adile Askim; Akbulut, Yavuz; Odabasi, H. Ferhan; Ceylan, Beril; Kuzu, Elif Bugra; Donmez, Onur; Izmirli, Ozden Sahin

2013-01-01

Information and Communication Technologies Action Competence (ICTAC) can be defined as "individuals' motivation and capacity to voluntarily employ their ICT skills for initiating or taking part in civic actions". Since academic staff and teachers in ICT related fields have crucial roles in training action-competent individuals, this…

Round window plugging in the treatment of superior semicircular canal dehiscence.

PubMed

Succar, Eric F; Manickam, Periakaruppan V; Wing, Sara; Walter, Jeffrey; Greene, Joseph S; Azeredo, William J

2018-06-01

Objectives were to describe the use of round window plugging for superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome and review further recommendations regarding the procedure based on our experience and to compare results with recent literature on round window plugging. Retrospective case series. Fourteen patients underwent round window plugging for superior semicircular canal dehiscence at our institution from 2012 to 2015. All patients underwent the same surgical procedure. Available pre- and postoperative data were reviewed. Fourteen patient charts were reviewed. Symptoms of autophony improved in nine of 14 (64%) patients. Symptoms of pressure-induced vertigo improved in seven of 12 (58%) patients. Hennebert's sign that was positive preoperatively only improved in one of six (17%) patients. A positive preoperative vestibular evoked myogenic potential improved in only one of six (17%) patients. Six of 13 (46%) patients had increased air conduction thresholds postoperatively. Round window plugging has been described as a less-invasive treatment for patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Although the procedure did benefit some of our patients, successful outcomes were not predictable. Improvement in at least one objective finding was seen in only 21% of the patients studied. Hennebert's sign and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials that were positive preoperatively only improved in 17% of patients. At our institution, round window plugging is no longer considered a reasonable treatment option for most patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence. We recommend that further study on this topic follow a standardized pre- and postoperative assessment. 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1445-1452, 2018. © 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Influence of Deposition Pressure on the Properties of Round Pyramid Textured a-Si:H Solar Cells for Maglev.

PubMed

Lee, Jaehyeong; Choi, Wonseok; Lee, Kyuil; Lee, Daedong; Kang, Hyunil

2016-05-01

HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) photovoltaic cells is one of the highest efficiencies in the commercial solar cells. The pyramid texturization for reducing surface reflectance of HIT solar cells silicon wafers is widely used. For the low leakage current and high shunt of solar cells, the intrinsic amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) on substrate must be uniformly thick of pyramid structure. However, it is difficult to control the thickness in the traditional pyramid texturing process. Thus, we textured the intrinsic a-Si:H thin films with the round pyramidal structure by using HNO3, HF, and CH3COOH solution. The characteristics of round pyramid a-Si:H solar cells deposited at pressure of 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mTorr by PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) was investigated. The lifetime, open circuit voltage, fill factor and efficiency of a-Si:H solar cells were investigated with respect to various deposition pressure.

Perspective: a business school view of medical interprofessional rounds: transforming rounding groups into rounding teams.

PubMed

Bharwani, Aleem M; Harris, G Chad; Southwick, Frederick S

2012-12-01

An effective interprofessional medical team can efficiently coordinate health care providers to achieve the collective outcome of improving each patient's health. To determine how current teams function, four groups of business students independently observed interprofessional work rounds on four different internal medicine services in a typical academic hospital and also interviewed the participants. In all instances, caregivers had formed working groups rather than working teams. Participants consistently exhibited parallel interdependence (individuals working alone and assuming their work would be coordinated with other caregivers) rather than reciprocal interdependence (individuals working together to actively coordinate patient care), the hallmark of effective teams. With one exception, the organization was hierarchical, with the senior attending physician possessing the authority. The interns exclusively communicated with the attending physician in one-on-one conversations that excluded all other members of the team. Although nurses and pharmacists were often present, they never contributed their ideas and rarely spoke.The authors draw on these observations to form recommendations for enhancing interprofessional rounding teams. These are to include the bedside nurse, pharmacist, and case manager as team members, begin with a formal team launch that encourages active participation by all team members, use succinct communication protocols, conduct work rounds in a quiet, distraction-free environment, have teams remain together for longer durations, and receive teamwork training and periodic coaching. High-performing businesses have effectively used teams for decades to achieve their goals, and health care professionals should follow this example.

A new species of Proctophyllodes Robin, 1877 from the Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Cardinalidae) from North America

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A new species of the megadiverse feather mite genus Proctophyllodes Robin, P. pirangae, is described from the Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea (Gmelin, 1789) and the Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson, 1811) (Passeriformes: Cardinalidae) from North America....

Patient Safety Leadership WalkRounds.

PubMed

Frankel, Allan; Graydon-Baker, Erin; Neppl, Camilla; Simmonds, Terri; Gustafson, Michael; Gandhi, Tejal K

2003-01-01

In the WalkRounds concept, a core group, which includes the senior executives and/or vice presidents, conducts weekly visits to different areas of the hospital. The group, joined by one or two nurses in the area and other available staff, asks specific questions about adverse events or near misses and about the factors or systems issues that led to these events. ANALYSIS OF EVENTS: Events in the Walkrounds are entered into a database and classified according to the contributing factors. The data are aggregated by contributing factors and priority scores to highlight the root issues. The priority scores are used to determine QI pilots and make best use of limited resources. Executives are surveyed quarterly about actions they have taken as a direct result of WalkRounds and are asked what they have learned from the rounds. As of September 2002, 47 Patient Safety Leadership WalkRounds visited a total of 48 different areas of the hospital, with 432 individual comments. The WalkRounds require not only knowledgeable and invested senior leadership but also a well-organized support structure. Quality and safety personnel are needed to collect data and maintain a database of confidential information, evaluate the data from a systems approach, and delineate systems-based actions to improve care delivery. Comments of frontline clinicians and executives suggested that WalkRounds helps educate leadership and frontline staff in patient safety concepts and will lead to cultural changes, as manifested in more open discussion of adverse events and an improved rate of safety-based changes.

Studies of turbulent round jets through experimentation, simulation, and modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keedy, Ryan

This thesis studies the physics of the turbulent round jet. In particular, it focuses on three different problems that have the turbulent round jet as their base flow. The first part of this thesis examines a compressible turbulent round jet at its sonic condition. We investigate the shearing effect such a jet has when impinging on a solid surface that is perpendicular to the flow direction. We report on experiments to evaluate the jet's ability to remove different types of explosive particles from a glass surface. Theoretical analysis revealed trends and enabled modeling to improve the predictability of particle removal for various jet conditions. The second part of thesis aims at developing a non-intrusive measurement technique for free-shear turbulent flows in nature. Most turbulent jet investigations in the literature, both in the laboratory and in the field, required specialized intrusive instrumentation and/or complex optical setups. There are many situations in naturally-occurring flows where the environment may prove too hostile or remote for existing instrumentation. We have developed a methodology for analyzing video of the exterior of a naturally-occurring flow and calculating the flow velocity. We found that the presence of viscosity gradients affects the velocity analysis. While these effects produce consistent, predictable changes, we became interested in the mechanism by which the viscosity gradients affect the mixing and development of the turbulent round jet. We conducted a stability analysis of the axisymmetric jet when a viscosity gradient is present. Finally, the third problem addressed in this thesis is the growth of liquid droplets by condensation in a turbulent round jet. A vapor-saturated turbulent jet issues into a cold, dry environment. The resulting mixing produces highly inhomogeneous regions of supersaturation, where droplets grow and evaporate. Non-linear interactions between the droplet growth rate and the supersaturation field make

Positron annihilation lifetime and photoluminescence studies on single crystalline ZnO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, A.; Chakrabarti, Mahuya; Ray, S. K.; Bhowmick, D.; Sanyal, D.

2011-04-01

The room temperature positron annihilation lifetime for single crystalline ZnO has been measured as 164 ± 1 ps. The single component lifetime value is very close to but higher than the theoretically predicted value of ~ 154 ps. Photoluminescence study (at 10 K) indicates the presence of hydrogen and other defects, mainly acceptor related, in the crystal. Defects related to a lower open volume than zinc vacancies, presumably a complex with two hydrogen atoms, are the major trapping sites in the sample. The bulk positron lifetime in ZnO is expected to be a little less than 164 ps.

Positron annihilation lifetime and photoluminescence studies on single crystalline ZnO.

PubMed

Sarkar, A; Chakrabarti, Mahuya; Ray, S K; Bhowmick, D; Sanyal, D

2011-04-20

The room temperature positron annihilation lifetime for single crystalline ZnO has been measured as 164 ± 1 ps. The single component lifetime value is very close to but higher than the theoretically predicted value of ~154 ps. Photoluminescence study (at 10 K) indicates the presence of hydrogen and other defects, mainly acceptor related, in the crystal. Defects related to a lower open volume than zinc vacancies, presumably a complex with two hydrogen atoms, are the major trapping sites in the sample. The bulk positron lifetime in ZnO is expected to be a little less than 164 ps.

Maximizing efficiency on trauma surgeon rounds.

PubMed

Ramaniuk, Aliaksandr; Dickson, Barbara J; Mahoney, Sean; O'Mara, Michael S

2017-01-01

Rounding by trauma surgeons is a complex multidisciplinary team-based process in the inpatient setting. Implementation of lean methodology aims to increase understanding of the value stream and eliminate nonvalue-added (NVA) components. We hypothesized that analysis of trauma rounds with education and intervention would improve surgeon efficacy. Level 1 trauma center with 4300 admissions per year. Average non-intensive care unit census was 55. Five full-time attending trauma surgeons were evaluated. Value-added (VA) and NVA components of rounding were identified. The components of each patient interaction during daily rounds were documented. Summary data were presented to the surgeons. An action plan of improvement was provided at group and individual interventions. Change plans were presented to the multidisciplinary team. Data were recollected 6 mo after intervention. The percent of interactions with NVA components decreased (16.0% to 10.7%, P = 0.0001). There was no change between the two periods in time of evaluation of individual patients (4.0 and 3.5 min, P = 0.43). Overall time to complete rounds did not change. There was a reduction in the number of interactions containing NVA components (odds ratio = 2.5). The trauma surgeons were able to reduce the NVA components of rounds. We did not see a decrease in rounding time or individual patient time. This implies that surgeons were able to reinvest freed time into patient care, or that the NVA components were somehow not increasing process time. Direct intervention for isolated improvements can be effective in the rounding process, and efforts should be focused upon improving the value of time spent rather than reducing time invested. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Plasma cholinesterase inhibition in the clay-colored robin (Turdus grayi) exposed to diazinon in maradol papaya crops in Yucatan, Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cobos, V.M.; Mora, M.A.; Escalona, G.

2006-01-01

The use of organophosphorous pesticides in agriculture can result in intoxication of birds foraging in sprayed crops. Effects on birds resulting from pesticide intoxication are varied and include behavioral and reproductive effects, including death. One widely used insecticide in Maradol papaya crops is diazinon which has been associated with various incidents of intoxication and death of wild birds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of diazinon application to papaya crops on plasma cholinesterase activity of the clay-colored robin (Turdus grayi). We captured clay-colored robins foraging in a papaya crop the following day after the field had been sprayed with diazinon at a dose of 1.5 kg/ha during March and May, respectively. We took a blood sample from the brachialis vein of the birds captured and measured plasma enzymatic activity. The plasma samples from birds used as controls were taken during the same time period and were analyzed in a similar way. Enzymatic activity of males was greater than that of females (53,52%) and mean cholinesterase inhibition was 49.43%. Cholinesterase inhibition was greater during May than in March probably due to more continuous exposure and ingestion of the insecticide through food and possible absorption through the skin. This degree of enzymatic inhibition is possibly affecting the behavior of the clay-colored robin and could result in death in severe cases.

Predictors of round window accessibility for adult cochlear implantation based on pre-operative CT scan: a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Park, Edward; Amoodi, Hosam; Kuthubutheen, Jafri; Chen, Joseph M; Nedzelski, Julian M; Lin, Vincent Y W

2015-05-28

Cochlear implantation has become a mainstream treatment option for patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. During cochlear implant, there are key surgical steps which are influenced by anatomical variations between each patient. The aim of this study is to determine if there are potential predictors of difficulties that may be encountered during the cortical mastoidectomy, facial recess approach and round window access in cochlear implant surgery based upon pre-operative temporal bone CT scan. Fifty seven patients undergoing unilateral cochlear implantation were analyzed. Difficulty with 1) cortical mastoidectomy, 2) facial recess approach, and 3) round window access were scored intra-operatively by the surgeon in a blinded fashion (1 = "easy", 2 = "moderate", 3 = "difficult"). Pre-operative temporal bone CT scans were analyzed for 1) degree of mastoid aeration; 2) location of the sigmoid sinus; 3) height of the tegmen; 4) the presence of air cells in the facial recess, and 5) degree of round window bony overhang. Poor mastoid aeration and lower tegmen position, but not the location of sigmoid sinus, are associated with greater difficulty with the cortical mastoidectomy. Presence of an air cell around the facial nerve was predictive of easier facial recess access. However, the degree of round window bony overhang was not predictive of difficulty associated with round window access. Certain parameters on the pre-operative temporal bone CT scan may be useful in predicting potential difficulties encountered during the key steps involved in cochlear implant surgery.

Adolescent conscientiousness predicts lower lifetime unemployment.

PubMed

Egan, Mark; Daly, Michael; Delaney, Liam; Boyce, Christopher J; Wood, Alex M

2017-04-01

Existing research on Big Five personality and unemployment has relied on personality measures elicited after the respondents had already spent years in the labor market, an experience that could change personality. We clarify the direction of influence by using the British Cohort Study (N = 4,206) to examine whether conscientiousness and other Big Five personality traits at age 16-17 predict unemployment over age 16-42. Our hypothesis that higher conscientiousness in adolescence would predict lower unemployment was supported. In analyses controlling for intelligence, gender, and parental socioeconomic status, the less conscientious (-1 SD) had a predicted probability of unemployment twice as high (3.4% vs. 1.7%) as the highly conscientious (+1 SD), an effect size comparable to intelligence. Mediation analysis revealed that academic motivation and educational attainment explained only 8.9% of this association. Fostering conscientiousness in early life may be an effective way to reduce unemployment throughout adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

In the Round: Supporting Teachers' Authentic Professional Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strand, Matt

2013-01-01

This is a study of teachers' authentic professional learning at a public school in Poudre School District in northern Colorado. At Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, teachers and administrators have developed a form of school-based instructional rounds referred to herein as PLC rounds (professional learning community rounds). In PLC rounds,…

Two-Step Fair Scheduling of Continuous Media Streams over Error-Prone Wireless Channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Soohyun; Lee, Jin Wook; Park, Taejoon; Jo, Tae-Chang

In wireless cellular networks, streaming of continuous media (with strict QoS requirements) over wireless links is challenging due to their inherent unreliability characterized by location-dependent, bursty errors. To address this challenge, we present a two-step scheduling algorithm for a base station to provide streaming of continuous media to wireless clients over the error-prone wireless links. The proposed algorithm is capable of minimizing the packet loss rate of individual clients in the presence of error bursts, by transmitting packets in the round-robin manner and also adopting a mechanism for channel prediction and swapping.

Lifetime experience with (classic) psychedelics predicts pro-environmental behavior through an increase in nature relatedness.

PubMed

Forstmann, Matthias; Sagioglou, Christina

2017-08-01

In a large-scale ( N = 1487) general population online study, we investigated the relationship between past experience with classic psychedelic substances (e.g. LSD, psilocybin, mescaline), nature relatedness, and ecological behavior (e.g. saving water, recycling). Using structural equation modeling we found that experience with classic psychedelics uniquely predicted self-reported engagement in pro-environmental behaviors, and that this relationship was statistically explained by people's degree of self-identification with nature. Our model controlled for experiences with other classes of psychoactive substances (cannabis, dissociatives, empathogens, popular legal drugs) as well as common personality traits that usually predict drug consumption and/or nature relatedness (openness to experience, conscientiousness, conservatism). Although correlational in nature, results suggest that lifetime experience with psychedelics in particular may indeed contribute to people's pro-environmental behavior by changing their self-construal in terms of an incorporation of the natural world, regardless of core personality traits or general propensity to consume mind-altering substances. Thereby, the present research adds to the contemporary literature on the beneficial effects of psychedelic substance use on mental wellbeing, hinting at a novel area for future research investigating their potentially positive effects on a societal level. Limitations of the present research and future directions are discussed.

Ethics rounds: An appreciated form of ethics support.

PubMed

Silén, Marit; Ramklint, Mia; Hansson, Mats G; Haglund, Kristina

2016-03-01

Ethics rounds are one way to support healthcare personnel in handling ethically difficult situations. A previous study in the present project showed that ethics rounds did not result in significant changes in perceptions of how ethical issues were handled, that is, in the ethical climate. However, there was anecdotal evidence that the ethics rounds were viewed as a positive experience and that they stimulated ethical reflection. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how the ethics rounds were experienced and why the intervention in the form of ethics rounds did not succeed in improving the ethical climate for the staff. An exploratory and descriptive design with a qualitative approach was adopted, using individual interviews. A total of 11 healthcare personnel, working in two different psychiatry outpatient clinics and with experience of participating in ethics rounds, were interviewed. The study was based on informed consent and was approved by one of the Swedish Regional Ethical Review Boards. The participants were generally positive about the ethics rounds. They had experienced changes by participating in the ethics rounds in the form of being able to see things from different perspectives as well as by gaining insight into ethical issues. However, these changes had not affected daily work. A crucial question is whether or not increased reflection ability among the participants is a good enough outcome of ethics rounds and whether this result could have been measured in patient-related outcomes. Ethics rounds might foster cooperation among the staff and this, in turn, could influence patient care. By listening to others during ethics rounds, a person can learn to see things from a new angle. Participation in ethics rounds can also lead to better insight concerning ethical issues. © The Author(s) 2014.

Lifetime risks for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: multivariable risk stratification.

PubMed

Vlak, Monique H M; Rinkel, Gabriel J E; Greebe, Paut; Greving, Jacoba P; Algra, Ale

2013-06-01

The overall incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) in western populations is around 9 per 100 000 person-years, which confers to a lifetime risk of around half per cent. Risk factors for aSAH are usually expressed as relative risks and suggest that absolute risks vary considerably according to risk factor profiles, but such estimates are lacking. We aimed to estimate incidence and lifetime risks of aSAH according to risk factor profiles. We used data from 250 patients admitted with aSAH and 574 sex-matched and age-matched controls, who were randomly retrieved from general practitioners files. We determined independent prognostic factors with multivariable logistic regression analyses and assessed discriminatory performance using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Based on the prognostic model we predicted incidences and lifetime risks of aSAH for different risk factor profiles. The four strongest independent predictors for aSAH, namely current smoking (OR 6.0; 95% CI 4.1 to 8.6), a positive family history for aSAH (4.0; 95% CI 2.3 to 7.0), hypertension (2.4; 95% CI 1.5 to 3.8) and hypercholesterolaemia (0.2; 95% CI 0.1 to 0.4), were used in the final prediction model. This model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.76). Depending on sex, age and the four predictors, the incidence of aSAH ranged from 0.4/100 000 to 298/100 000 person-years and lifetime risk between 0.02% and 7.2%. The incidence and lifetime risk of aSAH in the general population varies widely according to risk factor profiles. Whether persons with high risks benefit from screening should be assessed in cost-effectiveness studies.

ROBIN: a platform for evaluating automatic target recognition algorithms: II. Protocols used for evaluating algorithms and results obtained on the SAGEM DS database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duclos, D.; Lonnoy, J.; Guillerm, Q.; Jurie, F.; Herbin, S.; D'Angelo, E.

2008-04-01

Over the five past years, the computer vision community has explored many different avenues of research for Automatic Target Recognition. Noticeable advances have been made and we are now in the situation where large-scale evaluations of ATR technologies have to be carried out, to determine what the limitations of the recently proposed methods are and to determine the best directions for future works. ROBIN, which is a project funded by the French Ministry of Defence and by the French Ministry of Research, has the ambition of being a new reference for benchmarking ATR algorithms in operational contexts. This project, headed by major companies and research centers involved in Computer Vision R&D in the field of Defense (Bertin Technologies, CNES, ECA, DGA, EADS, INRIA, ONERA, MBDA, SAGEM, THALES) recently released a large dataset of several thousands of hand-annotated infrared and RGB images of different targets in different situations. Setting up an evaluation campaign requires us to define, accurately and carefully, sets of data (both for training ATR algorithms and for their evaluation), tasks to be evaluated, and finally protocols and metrics for the evaluation. ROBIN offers interesting contributions to each one of these three points. This paper first describes, justifies and defines the set of functions used in the ROBIN competitions and relevant for evaluating ATR algorithms (Detection, Localization, Recognition and Identification). It also defines the metrics and the protocol used for evaluating these functions. In the second part of the paper, the results obtained by several state-of-the-art algorithms on the SAGEM DS database (a subpart of ROBIN) are presented and discussed

Year-Round School. Research Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Karen

2009-01-01

Despite the numerous advantages of a year-round schedule, there are significant political hurdles to its implementation. The most successful year-round schools are those where leaders worked closely with staff and families to maximize the benefits, minimize the costs, and build support for modifying the traditional school calendar. The research on…

16 CFR 460.11 - Rounding off R-values.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Rounding off R-values. 460.11 Section 460.11... INSULATION § 460.11 Rounding off R-values. R-values shown in labels, fact sheets, ads, or other promotional materials must be rounded to the nearest tenth. However, R-values of 10 or more may be rounded to the...

BMPR1B mutation causes Pierre Robin sequence

PubMed Central

Yao, Xu; Zhang, Rong; Yang, Hui; Zhao, Rui; Guo, Jihong; Jin, Ke; Mei, Haibo; Luo, Yongqi; Zhao, Liu; Tu, Ming; Zhu, Yimin

2017-01-01

Background We investigated a large family with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). Aim of the study This study aims to determine the genetic cause of PRS. Results The reciprocal translocation t(4;6)(q22;p21) was identified to be segregated with PRS in a three-generation family. Whole-genome sequencing and Sanger sequencing successfully detected breakpoints in the intragenic regions of BMRP1B and GRM4. We hypothesized that PRS in this family was caused by (i) haploinsufficiency for BMPR1B or (ii) a gain of function mechanism mediated by the BMPR1B-GRM4 fusion gene. In an unrelated family, we identified another BMPR1B-splicing mutation that co-segregated with PRS. Conclusion We detected two BMPR1B mutations in two unrelated PRS families, suggesting that BMPR1B disruption is probably a cause of human PRS. Methods GTG banding, comparative genomic hybridization, whole-genome sequencing, and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify the gene causing PRS. PMID:28418932

Lifetime physical activity and female stress urinary incontinence.

PubMed

Nygaard, Ingrid E; Shaw, Janet M; Bardsley, Tyler; Egger, Marlene J

2015-07-01

We sought to estimate whether moderate/severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in middle-aged women is associated with overall lifetime physical activity (including leisure, household, outdoor, and occupational), as well as lifetime leisure (recreational), lifetime strenuous, and strenuous activity during the teen years. Recruitment for this case-control study was conducted in primary-care-level family medicine and gynecology clinics. A total of 1538 enrolled women ages 39-65 years underwent a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification examination to assess vaginal support. Based on Incontinence Severity Index scores, cases had moderate/severe and controls had no/mild SUI. We excluded 349 with vaginal descent at/below the hymen (pelvic organ prolapse), 194 who did not return questionnaires, and 110 with insufficient activity data for analysis. In all, 213 cases were frequency matched 1:1 by age group to controls. Physical activity was measured using the Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire, in which women recall activity from menarche to present. We created separate multivariable logistic regression models for activity measures. SUI odds increased slightly with overall lifetime activity (odds ratio [OR], 1.20 per 70 additional metabolic equivalent of task-h/wk; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.41), and were not associated with lifetime strenuous activity (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.99-1.25). In quintile analysis of lifetime leisure activity, which demonstrated a nonlinear pattern, all quintiles incurred about half the odds of SUI compared to reference (second quintile; P = .009). Greater strenuous activity in teen years modestly increased SUI odds (OR, 1.37 per 7 additional h/wk; 95% CI, 1.09-1.71); OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.15-2.66 in sensitivity analysis adjusting for measurement error. The predicted probability of SUI rose linearly in women exceeding 7.5 hours of strenuous activity/wk during teen years. Teen strenuous activity had a similar effect on SUI odds when

Patterns of participation over four rounds of annual fecal immunochemical test-based screening for colorectal cancer: what predicts rescreening?

PubMed

Osborne, Joanne M; Wilson, Carlene; Duncan, Amy; Cole, Stephen R; Flight, Ingrid; Turnbull, Deborah; Hughes, Donna L; Young, Graeme P

2017-08-01

Participation at the recommended intervals is critical for screening to be effective in reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence. This study describes patterns of screening participation over four rounds of fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) to identify whether demographic variables and prior screening satisfaction are significantly associated with patterns of re-participation. Baseline surveys were mailed to 4000 South Australians randomly selected from the electoral-roll. Respondents (n = 1928/48.2%) were offered four annual FIT rounds. Screening participation and satisfaction at each round were recorded. Study participation was 58.5, 66.9, 73.1 and 71.4% respectively over four rounds. Three participation patterns were described: consistent participation (43.1%), consistent non-participation (26.4%) and inconsistent participation (changeable; 30.5%), including intermittent and sustained change patterns. Sustained change described those who changed participatory behavior and then maintained for at least two rounds (n = 375/19.5%). Older people, and those not working were most likely to sustain participation. Younger invitees, especially men, were more likely to change participatory behavior and sustain the change. People with higher disadvantage, less education, not working and with no prior (pre-trial) screening experience were more likely to start participating and drop out. People dissatisfied with a prior screening test, including finding aspects embarrassing or unpleasant, were also more likely not to participate in annual screening or to drop out. The findings identify those at risk of non- or inconsistent participation in rescreening. They should aid targeting of interventions for demographic groups at risk and ensuring screening experiences are not perceived as unpleasant or difficult.

Anesthesiology leadership rounding: identifying opportunities for improvement.

PubMed

Gravenstein, Dietrich; Ford, Susan; Enneking, F Kayser

2012-01-01

Rounding that includes participation of individuals with authority to implement changes has been advocated as important to the transformation of an institution into a high-quality and safe organization. We describe a Department of Anesthesiology's experience with leadership rounding. The Department Chair or other senior faculty designate, a quality coordinator, up to four residents, the ward charge nurse, and patient nurses participated in rounds at bedsides. During a 23-month period, 14 significant opportunities to improve care were identified. Nurses identified 5 of these opportunities, primary team physicians 2, the rounding team 4, and patients or their family members another 3. The anesthesiology service had sole or shared responsibility for 10 improvements. A variety of organizations track specific measures across all phases of the patient experience to gauge quality of care. Chart auditing tools for detecting threats to safety are often used. These measures and tools missed opportunities for improvement that were discovered only through rounding. We conclude that the introduction of leadership rounding by an anesthesiology service can identify opportunities for improving quality that are not captured by conventional efforts.

Time-dependent breakdown of fiber networks: Uncertainty of lifetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattsson, Amanda; Uesaka, Tetsu

2017-05-01

Materials often fail when subjected to stresses over a prolonged period. The time to failure, also called the lifetime, is known to exhibit large variability of many materials, particularly brittle and quasibrittle materials. For example, a coefficient of variation reaches 100% or even more. Its distribution shape is highly skewed toward zero lifetime, implying a large number of premature failures. This behavior contrasts with that of normal strength, which shows a variation of only 4%-10% and a nearly bell-shaped distribution. The fundamental cause of this large and unique variability of lifetime is not well understood because of the complex interplay between stochastic processes taking place on the molecular level and the hierarchical and disordered structure of the material. We have constructed fiber network models, both regular and random, as a paradigm for general material structures. With such networks, we have performed Monte Carlo simulations of creep failure to establish explicit relationships among fiber characteristics, network structures, system size, and lifetime distribution. We found that fiber characteristics have large, sometimes dominating, influences on the lifetime variability of a network. Among the factors investigated, geometrical disorders of the network were found to be essential to explain the large variability and highly skewed shape of the lifetime distribution. With increasing network size, the distribution asymptotically approaches a double-exponential form. The implication of this result is that, so-called "infant mortality," which is often predicted by the Weibull approximation of the lifetime distribution, may not exist for a large system.

Riding on the Back of a Giant: Adding Malta to the "5 Cultures" Study by Robin Alexander

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peresso, Randolph

2017-01-01

This paper focuses on the methodology adopted for Malta+5, which builds on Robin Alexander's work by comparing the five pedagogical cultures he studied to the one in Malta. It reflects critically on the research process adopted in this study, and shows how, despite the very limited experience and resources, applying the methodology, frameworks and…

Summary of Round Table Session and Appendixes

Treesearch

1992-01-01

The round table session was designed for interaction between the presenters and other round table participants. Twelve round tables, each capable of holding 10 participants were set up in one room. Presenters for the sessions were encouraged to lead discussions on one of many topics in these areas: a research idea that the presenter was just formulating; an unpublished...

Ball mounting fixture for a roundness gage

DOEpatents

Gauler, Allen L.; Pasieka, Donald F.

1983-01-01

A ball mounting fixture for a roundness gage is disclosed. The fixture includes a pair of chuck assemblies oriented substantially transversely with respect to one another and mounted on a common base. Each chuck assembly preferably includes a rotary stage and a wobble plate affixed thereto. A ball chuck affixed to each wobble plate is operable to selectively support a ball to be measured for roundness, with the wobble plate permitting the ball chuck to be tilted to center the ball on the axis of rotation of the rotary stage. In a preferred embodiment, each chuck assembly includes a vacuum chuck operable to selectively support the ball to be measured for roundness. The mounting fixture enables a series of roundness measurements to be taken with a conventional rotating gagehead roundness instrument, which measurements can be utilized to determine the sphericity of the ball.

Evaluation of Fire Test Methods for Aircraft Thermal Acoustical Insulation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-09-01

This report presents the results of laboratory round robin flammability testing performed on thermal acoustical insulation blankets and the films used as insulation coverings. This work was requested by the aircraft industry as a result of actual inc...

On Their Own: Preparing Students for a Lifetime

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ennis, Catherine D.

2010-01-01

Physical education should prepare students to participate in physical activity for a lifetime. Unfortunately, many adults are sedentary, while others regularly drop out and back in to physical activity in response to life events. This article summarizes research examining adolescent profiles that predict who is more or less likely to participate…

Planetary Taxonomy: Label Round Bodies "Worlds"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Margot, Jean-Luc; Levison, H. F.

2009-05-01

The classification of planetary bodies is as important to Astronomy as taxonomy is to other sciences. The etymological, historical, and IAU definitions of planet rely on a dynamical criterion, but some authors prefer a geophysical criterion based on "roundness". Although the former criterion is superior when it comes to classifying newly discovered objects, the conflict need not exist if we agree to identify the subset of "round" planetary objects as "worlds". This addition to the taxonomy would conveniently recognize that "round" objects such as Earth, Europa, Titan, Triton, and Pluto share some common planetary-type processes regardless of their distance from the host star. Some of these worlds are planets, others are not. Defining how round is round and handling the inevitable transition objects are non-trivial tasks. Because images at sufficient resolution are not available for the overwhelming majority of newly discovered objects, the degree of roundness is not a directly observable property and is inherently problematic as a basis for classification. We can tolerate some uncertainty in establishing the "world" status of a newly discovered object, and still establish its planet or satellite status with existing dynamical criteria. Because orbital parameters are directly observable, and because mass can often be measured either from orbital perturbations or from the presence of companions, the dynamics provide a robust and practical planet classification scheme. It may also be possible to determine which bodies are dynamically dominant from observations of the population magnitude/size distribution.

ROBIN: a platform for evaluating automatic target recognition algorithms: I. Overview of the project and presentation of the SAGEM DS competition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duclos, D.; Lonnoy, J.; Guillerm, Q.; Jurie, F.; Herbin, S.; D'Angelo, E.

2008-04-01

The last five years have seen a renewal of Automatic Target Recognition applications, mainly because of the latest advances in machine learning techniques. In this context, large collections of image datasets are essential for training algorithms as well as for their evaluation. Indeed, the recent proliferation of recognition algorithms, generally applied to slightly different problems, make their comparisons through clean evaluation campaigns necessary. The ROBIN project tries to fulfil these two needs by putting unclassified datasets, ground truths, competitions and metrics for the evaluation of ATR algorithms at the disposition of the scientific community. The scope of this project includes single and multi-class generic target detection and generic target recognition, in military and security contexts. From our knowledge, it is the first time that a database of this importance (several hundred thousands of visible and infrared hand annotated images) has been publicly released. Funded by the French Ministry of Defence (DGA) and by the French Ministry of Research, ROBIN is one of the ten Techno-vision projects. Techno-vision is a large and ambitious government initiative for building evaluation means for computer vision technologies, for various application contexts. ROBIN's consortium includes major companies and research centres involved in Computer Vision R&D in the field of defence: Bertin Technologies, CNES, ECA, DGA, EADS, INRIA, ONERA, MBDA, SAGEM, THALES. This paper, which first gives an overview of the whole project, is focused on one of ROBIN's key competitions, the SAGEM Defence Security database. This dataset contains more than eight hundred ground and aerial infrared images of six different vehicles in cluttered scenes including distracters. Two different sets of data are available for each target. The first set includes different views of each vehicle at close range in a "simple" background, and can be used to train algorithms. The second set

Carbon-hydrogen activation of cycloalkanes by cyclopentadienylcarbonylrhodium--a lifetime enigma.

PubMed

Pitts, Amanda L; Wriglesworth, Alisdair; Sun, Xue-Zhong; Calladine, James A; Zarić, Snežana D; George, Michael W; Hall, Michael B

2014-06-18

Carbon-hydrogen bond activation reactions of four cycloalkanes (C5H10, C6H12, C7H14, and C8H16) by the Cp'Rh(CO) fragments (Cp' = η(5)-C5H5 (Cp) or η(5)-C5Me5 (Cp*)) were modeled theoretically by combining density functional and coupled cluster theories, and their reaction rates were measured by fast time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. The reaction has two steps, starting with the formation of a σ-complex intermediate, followed by oxidative addition of the C-H bond by the rhodium. A range of σ-complex stabilities among the electronically unique C-H bonds in a cycloalkane were calculated and are related to the individual strengths of the C-H bond's interactions with the Rh fragment and the steric repulsion that is incurred upon forming the specific σ-complex. The unexpectedly large increase in the lifetimes of the σ-complexes from cyclohexane to cycloheptane was predicted to be due to the large range of stabilities of the different σ-complexes found for cycloheptane. The reaction lifetimes were simulated with two mechanisms, with and without migrations among the different σ-complexes, to determine if ring migrations prior to C-H activation were influencing the rate. Both mechanisms predicted similar lifetimes for cyclopentane, cyclohexane, and, to a lesser extent, cycloheptane, suggesting ring migrations do not have a large impact on the rate of C-H activation for these cycloalkanes. For cyclooctane, the inclusion of ring migrations in the reaction mechanism led to a more accurate prediction of the lifetime, indicating that ring migrations did have an effect on the rate of C-H activation for this alkane, and that migration among the σ-complexes is faster than the C-H activation for this larger cycloalkane.

Kinetically Controlled Lifetimes in Redox-Responsive Transient Supramolecular Hydrogels.

PubMed

Wojciechowski, Jonathan P; Martin, Adam D; Thordarson, Pall

2018-02-28

It remains challenging to program soft materials to show dynamic, tunable time-dependent properties. In this work, we report a strategy to design transient supramolecular hydrogels based on kinetic control of competing reactions. Specifically, the pH-triggered self-assembly of a redox-active supramolecular gelator, N,N'-dibenzoyl-l-cystine (DBC) in the presence of a reducing agent, which acts to disassemble the system. The lifetimes of the transient hydrogels can be tuned simply by pH or reducing agent concentration. We find through kinetic analysis that gel formation hinders the ability of the reducing agent and enables longer transient hydrogel lifetimes than would be predicted. The transient hydrogels undergo clean cycles, with no kinetically trapped aggregates observed. As a result, multiple transient hydrogel cycles are demonstrated and can be predicted. This work contributes to our understanding of designing transient assemblies with tunable temporal control.

Patient-Centered Bedside Rounds and the Clinical Examination.

PubMed

Lichstein, Peter R; Atkinson, Hal H

2018-05-01

Bedside hospital rounds promote patient-centered care in teaching and nonteaching settings. Patients and families prefer bedside rounds and provider acceptance is increasing. Efficient bedside rounds with an interprofessional team or with learners requires preparation of the patient and the rounding team. Bedside "choreography" provides structure and sets expectations for time spent in the room. By using relationship-centered communication, rounds can be both patient proximate and patient centered. The clinical examination can be integrated into the flow of the presentation and case discussion. Patient and provider experience can be enhanced through investing time at the bedside. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differentiating corporal punishment from physical abuse in the prediction of lifetime aggression.

PubMed

King, Alan R; Ratzak, Abrianna; Ballantyne, Sage; Knutson, Shane; Russell, Tiffany D; Pogalz, Colton R; Breen, Cody M

2018-05-01

Corporal punishment and parental physical abuse often co-occur during upbringing, making it difficult to differentiate their selective impacts on psychological functioning. Associations between corporal punishment and a number of lifetime aggression indicators were examined in this study after efforts to control the potential influence of various forms of co-occurring maltreatment (parental physical abuse, childhood sexual abuse, sibling abuse, peer bullying, and observed parental violence). College students (N = 1,136) provided retrospective self-reports regarding their history of aggression and levels of exposure to childhood corporal punishment and maltreatment experiences. Analyses focused on three hypotheses: 1) The odds of experiencing childhood physical abuse would be higher among respondents reporting frequent corporal punishment during upbringing; 2) Corporal punishment scores would predict the criterion aggression indices after control of variance associated with childhood maltreatment; 3) Aggression scores would be higher among respondents classified in the moderate and elevated corporal punishment risk groups. Strong support was found for the first hypothesis since the odds of childhood physical abuse recollections were higher (OR = 65.3) among respondents who experienced frequent (>60 total disciplinary acts) corporal punishment during upbringing. Partial support was found for the second and third hypotheses. Dimensional and categorical corporal punishment scores were associated significantly with half of the criterion measures. These findings support efforts to dissuade reliance on corporal punishment to manage child behavior. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ball mounting fixture for a roundness gage

DOEpatents

Gauler, A.L.; Pasieka, D.F.

1983-11-15

A ball mounting fixture for a roundness gage is disclosed. The fixture includes a pair of chuck assemblies oriented substantially transversely with respect to one another and mounted on a common base. Each chuck assembly preferably includes a rotary stage and a wobble plate affixed thereto. A ball chuck affixed to each wobble plate is operable to selectively support a ball to be measured for roundness, with the wobble plate permitting the ball chuck to be tilted to center the ball on the axis of rotation of the rotary stage. In a preferred embodiment, each chuck assembly includes a vacuum chuck operable to selectively support the ball to be measured for roundness. The mounting fixture enables a series of roundness measurements to be taken with a conventional rotating gagehead roundness instrument, which measurements can be utilized to determine the sphericity of the ball. 6 figs.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF ROUNDS FIRED IN STOCHASTIC DUELS

DTIC Science & Technology

This paper continues the development of the theory of Stochastic Duels to include the distribution of the number of rounds fired. Most generally...the duel between two contestants who fire at each other with constant kill probabilities per round is considered. The time between rounds fired may be...at the beginning of the duel may be limited and is a discrete random variable. Besides the distribution of rounds fired, its first two moments and

Enrichment Activities for Geometry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Usiskin, Zalman

1983-01-01

Enrichment activities that teach about geometry as they instruct in geometry are given for some significant topics. The facets of geometry included are tessellations, round robin tournaments, geometric theorems on triangles, and connections between geometry and complex numbers. (MNS)

Lifetime measurement of neutron-rich even-even molybdenum isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ralet, D.; Pietri, S.; Rodríguez, T.; Alaqeel, M.; Alexander, T.; Alkhomashi, N.; Ameil, F.; Arici, T.; Ataç, A.; Avigo, R.; Bäck, T.; Bazzacco, D.; Birkenbach, B.; Boutachkov, P.; Bruyneel, B.; Bruce, A. M.; Camera, F.; Cederwall, B.; Ceruti, S.; Clément, E.; Cortés, M. L.; Curien, D.; De Angelis, G.; Désesquelles, P.; Dewald, M.; Didierjean, F.; Domingo-Pardo, C.; Doncel, M.; Duchêne, G.; Eberth, J.; Gadea, A.; Gerl, J.; Ghazi Moradi, F.; Geissel, H.; Goigoux, T.; Goel, N.; Golubev, P.; González, V.; Górska, M.; Gottardo, A.; Gregor, E.; Guastalla, G.; Givechev, A.; Habermann, T.; Hackstein, M.; Harkness-Brennan, L.; Henning, G.; Hess, H.; Hüyük, T.; Jolie, J.; Judson, D. S.; Jungclaus, A.; Knoebel, R.; Kojouharov, I.; Korichi, A.; Korten, W.; Kurz, N.; Labiche, M.; Lalović, N.; Louchart-Henning, C.; Mengoni, D.; Merchán, E.; Million, B.; Morales, A. I.; Napoli, D.; Naqvi, F.; Nyberg, J.; Pietralla, N.; Podolyák, Zs.; Pullia, A.; Prochazka, A.; Quintana, B.; Rainovski, G.; Reese, M.; Recchia, F.; Reiter, P.; Rudolph, D.; Salsac, M. D.; Sanchis, E.; Sarmiento, L. G.; Schaffner, H.; Scheidenberger, C.; Sengele, L.; Singh, B. S. Nara; Singh, P. P.; Stahl, C.; Stezowski, O.; Thoele, P.; Valiente Dobon, J. J.; Weick, H.; Wendt, A.; Wieland, O.; Winfield, J. S.; Wollersheim, H. J.; Zielinska, M.; PreSPEC Collaboration

2017-03-01

Background: In the neutron-rich A ≈100 mass region, rapid shape changes as a function of nucleon number as well as coexistence of prolate, oblate, and triaxial shapes are predicted by various theoretical models. Lifetime measurements of excited levels in the molybdenum isotopes allow the determination of transitional quadrupole moments, which in turn provides structural information regarding the predicted shape change. Purpose: The present paper reports on the experimental setup, the method that allowed one to measure the lifetimes of excited states in even-even molybdenum isotopes from mass A =100 up to mass A =108 , and the results that were obtained. Method: The isotopes of interest were populated by secondary knock-out reaction of neutron-rich nuclei separated and identified by the GSI fragment separator at relativistic beam energies and detected by the sensitive PreSPEC-AGATA experimental setup. The latter included the Lund-York-Cologne calorimeter for identification, tracking, and velocity measurement of ejectiles, and AGATA, an array of position sensitive segmented HPGe detectors, used to determine the interaction positions of the γ ray enabling a precise Doppler correction. The lifetimes were determined with a relativistic version of the Doppler-shift-attenuation method using the systematic shift of the energy after Doppler correction of a γ -ray transition with a known energy. This relativistic Doppler-shift-attenuation method allowed the determination of mean lifetimes from 2 to 250 ps. Results: Even-even molybdenum isotopes from mass A =100 to A =108 were studied. The decays of the low-lying states in the ground-state band were observed. In particular, two mean lifetimes were measured for the first time: τ =29 .7-9.1+11.3 ps for the 4+ state of 108Mo and τ =3 .2-0.7+0.7 ps for the 6+ state of 102Mo. Conclusions: The reduced transition strengths B (E 2 ) , calculated from lifetimes measured in this experiment, compared to beyond

Improving nurse-physician teamwork through interprofessional bedside rounding.

PubMed

Henkin, Stanislav; Chon, Tony Y; Christopherson, Marie L; Halvorsen, Andrew J; Worden, Lindsey M; Ratelle, John T

2016-01-01

Teamwork between physicians and nurses has a positive association with patient satisfaction and outcomes, but perceptions of physician-nurse teamwork are often suboptimal. To improve nurse-physician teamwork in a general medicine inpatient teaching unit by increasing face-to-face communication through interprofessional bedside rounds. From July 2013 through October 2013, physicians (attendings and residents) and nurses from four general medicine teams in a single nursing unit participated in bedside rounding, which involved the inclusion of nurses in morning rounds with the medicine teams at the patients' bedside. Based on stakeholder analysis and feedback, a checklist for key patient care issues was created and utilized during bedside rounds. To assess the effect of bedside rounding on nurse-physician teamwork, a survey of selected items from the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) was administered to participants before and after the implementation of bedside rounds. The number of pages to the general medicine teams was also measured as a marker of physician-nurse communication. Participation rate in bedside rounds across the four medicine teams was 58%. SAQ response rates for attendings, residents, and nurses were 36/36 (100%), 73/73 (100%), and 32/73 (44%) prior to implementation of bedside rounding and 36 attendings (100%), 72 residents (100%), and 14 (19%) nurses after the implementation of bedside rounding, respectively. Prior to bedside rounding, nurses provided lower teamwork ratings (percent agree) than residents and attendings on all SAQ items; but after the intervention, the difference remained significant only on SAQ item 2 ("In this clinical area, it is not difficult to speak up if I perceive a problem with patient care", 64% for nurses vs 79% for residents vs 94% for attendings, P=0.02). Also, resident responses improved on SAQ item 1 ("Nurse input is well received in this area", 62% vs 82%, P=0.01). Increasing face-to-face communication through

Rounded atelectasis of the lung: A pictorial review

PubMed Central

Sobocińska, Magdalena; Sobociński, Bartosz; Jarzemska, Agnieszka; Serafin, Zbigniew

2014-01-01

Summary Rounded atelectasis of the lung is well described in medical literature, but still difficult to diagnose. Since lesions give no clinical symptoms in patients, radiologists are often the first to recognize the round lesion in an X-ray picture or a CT scan. Rounded atelectasis is an atypical form of lung collapse that usually occurs adjacent to scarred pleura and can be mistaken for lung cancer. Patients with rounded atelectasis have a history of asbestos exposure or pleural effusion due to various causes. When characteristic imaging findings are present, the diagnosis is rarely dubious and no further investigation is necessary. However, differential diagnosis of rounded atelectasis poses a challenge to pulmonary specialists and radiologists. PMID:25045412

Stress-Intensity Factors along Three-Dimensional Elliptical Crack Fronts

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-05-01

The objective of the present investigation is to determine the mode I stress-intensity factors along two symmetric surface cracks emanating from a centrally located hole in a rectangular plate (the so-called Round Robin Problem) using the domain inte...

Multi-Laboratory Validation of Estrone (E1) ELISA Methods

EPA Science Inventory

This project is a round-robin evaluation of commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technology to quantitatively or qualitatively measure the hormone estrone (E1) in combined animal feeding operation (CAFO) receiving streams. ELISA is meant to be a simpl...

Consensus statement on round window vibroplasty.

PubMed

Beltrame, Achille M; Todt, Ingo; Sprinzl, Georg; Profant, Milan; Schwab, Burkhard

2014-10-01

This study aimed to review current knowledge regarding implantation of the Vibrant Soundbridge floating mass transducer (FMT) at the round window (round window vibroplasty) as well as to form a consensus on steps for a reliable, stable surgical procedure. Review of the literature and experimental observations by the authors. Round window (RW) vibroplasty has been established as a reliable procedure that produces good and stable results for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss. The experience gained over the past few years of the authors' more than 200 implantations has led to consensus on several key points: (1) a wide and bloodless access to the middle ear with facial nerve monitoring, (2) the careful and correct identification and exposure of the round window membrane, (3) a good setup for efficient energy transition of the FMT, namely, perpendicular placement of the FMT with no contact to bone and the placement of cartilage behind the FMT to create a preloaded "spring" function, and (4) 4 points of FMT fixation: a rim of the round window bony overhang left intact both anterior and posterior to the FMT, conductor link stabilization, and cartilage behind the FMT. In addition, the FMT should be covered with soft tissue. © The Author(s) 2014.

Intrinsic to extrinsic phonon lifetime transition in a GaAs-AlAs superlattice.

PubMed

Hofmann, F; Garg, J; Maznev, A A; Jandl, A; Bulsara, M; Fitzgerald, E A; Chen, G; Nelson, K A

2013-07-24

We have measured the lifetimes of two zone-center longitudinal acoustic phonon modes, at 320 and 640 GHz, in a 14 nm GaAs/2 nm AlAs superlattice structure. By comparing measurements at 296 and 79 K we separate the intrinsic contribution to phonon lifetime determined by phonon-phonon scattering from the extrinsic contribution due to defects and interface roughness. At 296 K, the 320 GHz phonon lifetime has approximately equal contributions from intrinsic and extrinsic scattering, whilst at 640 GHz it is dominated by extrinsic effects. These measurements are compared with intrinsic and extrinsic scattering rates in the superlattice obtained from first-principles lattice dynamics calculations. The calculated room-temperature intrinsic lifetime of longitudinal phonons at 320 GHz is in agreement with the experimentally measured value of 0.9 ns. The model correctly predicts the transition from predominantly intrinsic to predominantly extrinsic scattering; however the predicted transition occurs at higher frequencies. Our analysis indicates that the 'interfacial atomic disorder' model is not entirely adequate and that the observed frequency dependence of the extrinsic scattering rate is likely to be determined by a finite correlation length of interface roughness.

Evaluation of the Dark-Medium Objective Lens in Counting Asbestos Fibers by Phase-Contrast Microscopy

PubMed Central

Lee, Eun Gyung; Nelson, John H.; Kashon, Michael L.; Harper, Martin

2015-01-01

A Japanese round-robin study revealed that analysts who used a dark-medium (DM) objective lens reported higher fiber counts from American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) chrysotile samples than those using a standard objective lens, but the cause of this difference was not investigated at that time. The purpose of this study is to determine any major source of this difference by performing two sets of round-robin studies. For the first round-robin study, 15 AIHA PAT samples (five each of chrysotile and amosite generated by water-suspended method, and five chrysotile generated by aerosolization method) were prepared with relocatable cover slips and examined by nine laboratories. A second round-robin study was then performed with six chrysotile field sample slides by six out of nine laboratories who participated in the first round-robin study. In addition, two phase-shift test slides to check analysts’ visibility and an eight-form diatom test plate to compare resolution between the two objectives were examined. For the AIHA PAT chrysotile reference slides, use of the DM objective resulted in consistently higher fiber counts (1.45 times for all data) than the standard objective (P-value < 0.05), regardless of the filter generation (water-suspension or aerosol) method. For the AIHA PAT amosite reference and chrysotile field sample slides, the fiber counts between the two objectives were not significantly different. No statistically significant differences were observed in the visibility of blocks of the test slides between the two objectives. Also, the DM and standard objectives showed no pattern of differences in viewing the fine lines and/or dots of each species images on the eight-form diatom test plate. Among various potential factors that might affect the analysts’ performance of fiber counts, this study supports the greater contrast caused by the different phase plate absorptions as the main cause of high counts for

Spatial anatomy of the round ligament, gallbladder, and intrahepatic vessels in patients with right-sided round ligament of the liver.

PubMed

Ibukuro, Kenji; Takeguchi, Takaya; Fukuda, Hozumi; Abe, Shoko; Tobe, Kimiko

2016-11-01

To analyze the vascular structure of the liver in patients with a right-sided round ligament. We reviewed 16 patients with a right-sided round ligament and 3 polysplenia and situs inversus patients with a left-sided round ligament who underwent multidetector row CT with contrast media. The patient population consisted of 13 men and 6 women (mean 62 years). We analyzed the axial and volume-rendered images for the location of the round ligament, gallbladder, portal veins, hepatic veins, and hepatic artery. The following imaging findings for the patients with polysplenia and situs inversus were horizontally reversed. The prevalence of a right-sided round ligament with and without polysplenia was 75 and 0.11 %, respectively. The gallbladder was located to the right, below, and left of the round ligament in 27.7, 38.8 and 33.3 %, respectively. Independent branching of the right posterior portal vein was noted in 57.8 %. PV4 was difficult to identify in 36.8 %. The middle hepatic vein was located to the left of the round ligament. Two branching patterns for the lateral and medial branches of the right anterior hepatic artery were noted: the common (44.4 %) and separated types (55.5 %). Both of the right anterior hepatic artery and portal vein ramified into two segments; the lateral segment with many branches and the medial segment with a few branches. The right-sided round ligament divided the right anterior section into the lateral and medial segments based on the portal vein and hepatic artery anatomy.

Lifetime Prediction for Degradation of Solar Mirrors using Step-Stress Accelerated Testing (Presentation)

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

Lee, J.; Elmore, R.; Kennedy, C.

This research is to illustrate the use of statistical inference techniques in order to quantify the uncertainty surrounding reliability estimates in a step-stress accelerated degradation testing (SSADT) scenario. SSADT can be used when a researcher is faced with a resource-constrained environment, e.g., limits on chamber time or on the number of units to test. We apply the SSADT methodology to a degradation experiment involving concentrated solar power (CSP) mirrors and compare the results to a more traditional multiple accelerated testing paradigm. Specifically, our work includes: (1) designing a durability testing plan for solar mirrors (3M's new improved silvered acrylic "Solarmore » Reflector Film (SFM) 1100") through the ultra-accelerated weathering system (UAWS), (2) defining degradation paths of optical performance based on the SSADT model which is accelerated by high UV-radiant exposure, and (3) developing service lifetime prediction models for solar mirrors using advanced statistical inference. We use the method of least squares to estimate the model parameters and this serves as the basis for the statistical inference in SSADT. Several quantities of interest can be estimated from this procedure, e.g., mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) and warranty time. The methods allow for the estimation of quantities that may be of interest to the domain scientists.« less

A Single Lab Test to Aid Pierre Robin Sequence Severity Diagnosis.

PubMed

Fahradyan, Artur; Azadgoli, Beina; Tsuha, Michaela; Urata, Mark M; Francis, Stacey H

2018-01-01

The workup of patients with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) consists of a physical examination, O 2 saturation, and polysomnography to determine the severity of respiratory obstruction and need for surgery. We suggest that capillary blood gas (CBG) may be a better physiologic representation of airway obstruction and should be routinely used in the management of patients with PRS. This is a multicenter study based on a retrospective review of medical records. The study was performed at tertiary care centers. Patients with PRS <1 year old underwent mandibular distraction osteogenesis. Using successful treatment outcome as a reference standard, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the accuracy of the diagnostic test and values for the best sensitivity and specificity to determine the need for surgical intervention. Of 73 patients, 48 had sporadic PRS, 23 had syndromes, 2 had micrognathia, not otherwise specified. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis was performed in 62 patients at a mean age of 39 days. The mean initial Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) in nonsurgical versus surgical groups was 10 versus 31 ( P = .063), pH 7.41 versus 7.34 ( P = .003), pCO 2 43 versus 56 ( P < .001), and HCO 3 27 versus 30 ( P = .022). The ROC curve showed that pCO 2 of 49.5 has the best specificity (100%) and sensitivity (72.6%) profile in terms of need for definitive airway. A simple CBG heel stick may better predict the physiologic effects of obstructive apnea; therefore, it should be added to the algorithm of PRS workup.

Substance Abuse among High-Risk Sexual Offenders: Do Measures of Lifetime History of Substance Abuse Add to the Prediction of Recidivism over Actuarial Risk Assessment Instruments?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Looman, Jan; Abracen, Jeffrey

2011-01-01

There has been relatively little research on the degree to which measures of lifetime history of substance abuse add to the prediction of risk based on actuarial measures alone among sexual offenders. This issue is of relevance in that a history of substance abuse is related to relapse to substance using behavior. Furthermore, substance use has…

7 CFR 1405.7 - Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 10 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Uruguay Round Agreements Act. 1405.7 Section 1405.7... Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In the event the outlays by the United States for domestic support measures will exceed, in any required reporting period, the allowable levels under the Uruguay Round Agreements...

7 CFR 1405.7 - Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 10 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Uruguay Round Agreements Act. 1405.7 Section 1405.7... Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In the event the outlays by the United States for domestic support measures will exceed, in any required reporting period, the allowable levels under the Uruguay Round Agreements...

7 CFR 1405.7 - Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 10 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Uruguay Round Agreements Act. 1405.7 Section 1405.7... Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In the event the outlays by the United States for domestic support measures will exceed, in any required reporting period, the allowable levels under the Uruguay Round Agreements...

7 CFR 1405.7 - Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 10 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Uruguay Round Agreements Act. 1405.7 Section 1405.7... Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In the event the outlays by the United States for domestic support measures will exceed, in any required reporting period, the allowable levels under the Uruguay Round Agreements...

7 CFR 1405.7 - Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 10 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Uruguay Round Agreements Act. 1405.7 Section 1405.7... Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In the event the outlays by the United States for domestic support measures will exceed, in any required reporting period, the allowable levels under the Uruguay Round Agreements...

Round-robin pretest analyses of a 1:6-scale reinforced concrete containment model subject to static internal pressurization

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

Clauss, D.B.

Analyses of a 1:6-scale reinforced concrete containment model that will be tested to failure at Sandia National Laboratories in the spring of 1987 were conducted by the following organizations in the United States and Europe: Sandia National Laboratories (USA), Argonne National Laboratory (USA), Electric Power Research Institute (USA), Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (France), HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (UK), Comitato Nazionale per la ricerca e per lo sviluppo dell'Energia Nucleare e delle Energie Alternative (Italy), UK Atomic Energy Authority, Safety and Reliability Directorate (UK), Gesellschaft fuer Reaktorsicherheit (FRG), Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA), and Central Electricity Generating Board (UK). Each organization wasmore » supplied with a standard information package, which included construction drawings and actual material properties for most of the materials used in the model. Each organization worked independently using their own analytical methods. This report includes descriptions of the various analytical approaches and pretest predictions submitted by each organization. Significant milestones that occur with increasing pressure, such as damage to the concrete (cracking and crushing) and yielding of the steel components, and the failure pressure (capacity) and failure mechanism are described. Analytical predictions for pressure histories of strain in the liner and rebar and displacements are compared at locations where experimental results will be available after the test. Thus, these predictions can be compared to one another and to experimental results after the test.« less

Design of Round-trip Trajectories to Near-Earth Asteroids Utilizing a Lunar Flyby

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hernandez, Sonia; Barbee, Brent W.

2011-01-01

There are currently over 7,700 known Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs), and more are being discovered on a continual basis. Current models predict that the actual order of magnitude of the NEA population may range from 10' to 10 6 . The close proximity of NEA orbits to Earth's orbit makes it possible to design short duration round-trip trajectories to NEAs under the proper conditions. In previous work, 59 potentially accessible NEAs were identified for missions that depart Earth between the years 2016 and 2050 and have round-trip flight times of a year or less. We now present a new method for designing round-trip trajectories to NEAs in which the Moon's gravity aids the outbound trajectory via a lunar flyby. In some cases this gravity assist can reduce the overall spacecraft propellant required for the mission, which in turn can allow NEAs to be reached which would otherwise be inaccessible to a given mission architecture. Results are presented for a specific case study on NEA 2003 LN6.

Round-robin analysis of the behavior of a 1:6-scale reinforced concrete containment model pressurized to failure: Posttest evaluations

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

Clauss, D.B.

A 1:6-scale model of a reinforced concrete containment building was pressurized incrementally to failure at a remote site at Sandia National Laboratories. The response of the model was recorded with more than 1000 channels of data (primarily strain and displacement measurements) at 37 discrete pressure levels. The primary objective of this test was to generate data that could be used to validate methods for predicting the performance of containment buildings subject to loads beyond their design basis. Extensive analyses were conducted before the test to predict the behavior of the model. Ten organizations in Europe and the US conducted independentmore » analyses of the model and contributed to a report on the pretest predictions. Predictions included structural response at certain predetermined locations in the model as well as capacity and failure mode. This report discusses comparisons between the pretest predictions and the experimental results. Posttest evaluations that were conducted to provide additional insight into the model behavior are also described. The significance of the analysis and testing of the 1:6-scale model to performance evaluations of actual containments subject to beyond design basis loads is also discussed. 70 refs., 428 figs., 24 tabs.« less

Out of Round

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-10-26

This unnamed crater in Terra Cimmeria is not as round in shape as other craters. Major landslides have occurred on the crater rim, resulting in the final shape as seen by NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy.

PubMed

Dysli, Chantal; Wolf, Sebastian; Berezin, Mikhail Y; Sauer, Lydia; Hammer, Martin; Zinkernagel, Martin S

2017-09-01

Imaging techniques based on retinal autofluorescence have found broad applications in ophthalmology because they are extremely sensitive and noninvasive. Conventional fundus autofluorescence imaging measures fluorescence intensity of endogenous retinal fluorophores. It mainly derives its signal from lipofuscin at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium. Fundus autofluorescence, however, can not only be characterized by the spatial distribution of the fluorescence intensity or emission spectrum, but also by a characteristic fluorescence lifetime function. The fluorescence lifetime is the average amount of time a fluorophore remains in the excited state following excitation. Fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) is an emerging imaging modality for in vivo measurement of lifetimes of endogenous retinal fluorophores. Recent reports in this field have contributed to our understanding of the pathophysiology of various macular and retinal diseases. Within this review, the basic concept of fluorescence lifetime imaging is provided. It includes technical background information and correlation with in vitro measurements of individual retinal metabolites. In a second part, clinical applications of fluorescence lifetime imaging and fluorescence lifetime features of selected retinal diseases such as Stargardt disease, age-related macular degeneration, choroideremia, central serous chorioretinopathy, macular holes, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal artery occlusion are discussed. Potential areas of use for fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy will be outlined at the end of this review. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Hearing and the round goby: Understanding the auditory system of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belanger, Andrea J.; Higgs, Dennis M.

2005-04-01

The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), is an invasive species in the Great Lakes watershed. Adult round gobies show behavioral responses to conspecific vocalizations but physiological investigations have not yet been conducted to quantify their hearing abilities. We have been examining the physiological and morphological development of the auditory system in the round goby. Various frequencies (100 Hz to 800 Hz and conspecific sounds), at various intensities (120 dB to 170 dB re 1 Pa) were presented to juveniles and adults and their auditory brain-stem responses (ABR) were recorded. Round gobies only respond physiologically to tones from 100-600 Hz, with threshold varying between 145 to 155 dB re 1 Pa. The response threshold to conspecific sounds was 140 dB re 1 Pa. There was no significant difference in auditory threshold between sizes of fish for either tones or conspecific sounds. Saccular epithelia were stained using phalloidin and there was a trend towards an increase in both hair cell number and density with an increase in fish size. These results represent a first attempt to quantify auditory abilities in this invasive species. This is an important step in understanding their reproductive physiology, which could potentially aid in their population control. [Funded by NSERC.

Improved performance in CAPRI round 37 using LZerD docking and template-based modeling with combined scoring functions.

PubMed

Peterson, Lenna X; Shin, Woong-Hee; Kim, Hyungrae; Kihara, Daisuke

2018-03-01

We report our group's performance for protein-protein complex structure prediction and scoring in Round 37 of the Critical Assessment of PRediction of Interactions (CAPRI), an objective assessment of protein-protein complex modeling. We demonstrated noticeable improvement in both prediction and scoring compared to previous rounds of CAPRI, with our human predictor group near the top of the rankings and our server scorer group at the top. This is the first time in CAPRI that a server has been the top scorer group. To predict protein-protein complex structures, we used both multi-chain template-based modeling (TBM) and our protein-protein docking program, LZerD. LZerD represents protein surfaces using 3D Zernike descriptors (3DZD), which are based on a mathematical series expansion of a 3D function. Because 3DZD are a soft representation of the protein surface, LZerD is tolerant to small conformational changes, making it well suited to docking unbound and TBM structures. The key to our improved performance in CAPRI Round 37 was to combine multi-chain TBM and docking. As opposed to our previous strategy of performing docking for all target complexes, we used TBM when multi-chain templates were available and docking otherwise. We also describe the combination of multiple scoring functions used by our server scorer group, which achieved the top rank for the scorer phase. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Nondestructive monitoring of fatigue damage evolution in austenitic stainless steel by positron-lifetime measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holzwarth, Uwe; Schaaff, Petra

2004-03-01

Positron-lifetime measurements have been performed on austenitic stainless steel during (i) stress- and (ii) strain-controlled fatigue experiments for different applied stress and strain amplitudes, respectively. For this purpose a generator-detector assembly with a 72Se/72As positron generator [maximum activity 25 μCi (0.9 MBq)] has been mounted on mechanical testing machines in order to measure the positron lifetime without removing the specimens from the load train. The average positron lifetime has been determined by a β+-γ coincidence. The feasibility to use the average positron lifetime for monitoring the evolution of fatigue damage and to predict early failure has been examined. In strain- and stress-controlled experiments the average positron lifetime shows a pronounced increase within the first 10% and 40% of the fatigue life, respectively. In stress-controlled experiments the average positron lifetime at failure depends significantly on the applied stress amplitude. In strain-controlled experiments significantly different positron lifetimes for different applied plastic strain amplitudes are obtained within the first 1.000 fatigue cycles, whereas differences get wiped out during further cycling until failure.

Application of the NEXT Ion Thruster Lifetime Assessment to Thruster Throttling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

VanNoord, Jonathan L.; Herman, Daniel A.

2010-01-01

Ion thrusters are low thrust, high specific impulse devices with typical operational lifetimes of 10,000 to 30,000 hr over a range of throttling conditions. The NEXT ion thruster is the latest generation of ion thrusters under development. The NEXT ion thruster currently has a qualification level propellant throughput requirement of 450 kg of xenon, which corresponds to roughly 22,000 hr of operation at the highest input power throttling point. This paper will provide a brief review the previous life assessment predictions for various throttling conditions. A further assessment will be presented examining the anticipated accelerator grid hole wall erosion and related electron backstreaming limit. The continued assessment of the NEXT ion thruster indicates that the first failure mode across the throttling range is expected to be in excess of 36,000 hr of operation from charge exchange induced groove erosion. It is at this duration that the groove is predicted to penetrate the accelerator grid possibly resulting in structural failure. Based on these lifetime and mission assessments, a throttling approach is presented for the Long Duration Test to demonstrate NEXT thruster lifetime and validate modeling.

A priori collaboration in population imaging: The Uniform Neuro-Imaging of Virchow-Robin Spaces Enlargement consortium.

PubMed

Adams, Hieab H H; Hilal, Saima; Schwingenschuh, Petra; Wittfeld, Katharina; van der Lee, Sven J; DeCarli, Charles; Vernooij, Meike W; Katschnig-Winter, Petra; Habes, Mohamad; Chen, Christopher; Seshadri, Sudha; van Duijn, Cornelia M; Ikram, M Kamran; Grabe, Hans J; Schmidt, Reinhold; Ikram, M Arfan

2015-12-01

Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS), or perivascular spaces, are compartments of interstitial fluid enclosing cerebral blood vessels and are potential imaging markers of various underlying brain pathologies. Despite a growing interest in the study of enlarged VRS, the heterogeneity in rating and quantification methods combined with small sample sizes have so far hampered advancement in the field. The Uniform Neuro-Imaging of Virchow-Robin Spaces Enlargement (UNIVRSE) consortium was established with primary aims to harmonize rating and analysis (www.uconsortium.org). The UNIVRSE consortium brings together 13 (sub)cohorts from five countries, totaling 16,000 subjects and over 25,000 scans. Eight different magnetic resonance imaging protocols were used in the consortium. VRS rating was harmonized using a validated protocol that was developed by the two founding members, with high reliability independent of scanner type, rater experience, or concomitant brain pathology. Initial analyses revealed risk factors for enlarged VRS including increased age, sex, high blood pressure, brain infarcts, and white matter lesions, but this varied by brain region. Early collaborative efforts between cohort studies with respect to data harmonization and joint analyses can advance the field of population (neuro)imaging. The UNIVRSE consortium will focus efforts on other potential correlates of enlarged VRS, including genetics, cognition, stroke, and dementia.

The role of lifetime anxiety history in the course of bipolar spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Titone, Madison K; Freed, Rachel D; O'Garro-Moore, Jared K; Gepty, Andrew; Ng, Tommy H; Stange, Jonathan P; Abramson, Lyn Y; Alloy, Lauren B

2018-06-01

Individuals with bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD) frequently meet criteria for comorbid anxiety disorders, and anxiety may be an important factor in the etiology and course of BSDs. The current study examined the association of lifetime anxiety disorders with prospective manic/hypomanic versus major depressive episodes. Participants were 244 young adults (aged 17-26) with milder forms of BSDs (i.e., bipolar-II, cyclothymia, BD-NOS). First, bivariate analyses assessed differences in baseline clinical characteristics between participants with and without DSM-IV anxiety diagnoses. Second, negative binomial regression analyses tested whether lifetime anxiety predicted number of manic/hypomanic or major depressive episodes developed during the study. Third, survival analyses evaluated whether lifetime anxiety predicted time to onset of manic/hypomanic and major depressive episodes. Results indicated that anxiety history was associated with greater illness severity at baseline. Over follow-up, anxiety history predicted fewer manic/hypomanic episodes, but did not predict number of major depressive episodes. Anxiety history also was associated with longer time to onset of manic/hypomanic episodes, but shorter time to onset of depressive episodes. Findings corroborate past studies implicating anxiety disorders as salient influences on the course of BSDs. Moreover, results extend prior research by indicating that anxiety disorders may be linked with reduced manic/hypomanic phases of illness. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PAs reduce rounding interruptions in the pediatric intensive care unit.

PubMed

Hascall, Rebecca L; Perkins, R Serene; Kmiecik, Lauren; Gupta, Priya R; Shelak, Carolyn F; Demirel, Shaban; Buchholz, Mark T

2018-06-01

We investigated the proportion of encounters that were interrupted during family-centered rounds in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to determine whether the use of a physician assistant (PA) significantly affected the proportion of interrupted encounters. We evaluated 2,657 rounding encounters in our 24-bed regional referral unit. The duration of each rounding encounter and total rounding duration were recorded. The presence or absence of a PA during each rounding encounter, the occurrence of an interruption, and other potential predictors of interruptions were recorded. The presence of a PA during PICU rounds was significantly associated (P < .001) with a 35.4% lower likelihood of an interruption. Family-centered rounds in the PICU are less likely to be interrupted when a PA is present. PAs help physicians and improve rounding efficiency by safely and effectively handling certain interruptions.

Extending RosettaDock with water, sugar, and pH for prediction of complex structures and affinities for CAPRI rounds 20-27.

PubMed

Kilambi, Krishna Praneeth; Pacella, Michael S; Xu, Jianqing; Labonte, Jason W; Porter, Justin R; Muthu, Pravin; Drew, Kevin; Kuroda, Daisuke; Schueler-Furman, Ora; Bonneau, Richard; Gray, Jeffrey J

2013-12-01

Rounds 20-27 of the Critical Assessment of PRotein Interactions (CAPRI) provided a testing platform for computational methods designed to address a wide range of challenges. The diverse targets drove the creation of and new combinations of computational tools. In this study, RosettaDock and other novel Rosetta protocols were used to successfully predict four of the 10 blind targets. For example, for DNase domain of Colicin E2-Im2 immunity protein, RosettaDock and RosettaLigand were used to predict the positions of water molecules at the interface, recovering 46% of the native water-mediated contacts. For α-repeat Rep4-Rep2 and g-type lysozyme-PliG inhibitor complexes, homology models were built and standard and pH-sensitive docking algorithms were used to generate structures with interface RMSD values of 3.3 Å and 2.0 Å, respectively. A novel flexible sugar-protein docking protocol was also developed and used for structure prediction of the BT4661-heparin-like saccharide complex, recovering 71% of the native contacts. Challenges remain in the generation of accurate homology models for protein mutants and sampling during global docking. On proteins designed to bind influenza hemagglutinin, only about half of the mutations were identified that affect binding (T55: 54%; T56: 48%). The prediction of the structure of the xylanase complex involving homology modeling and multidomain docking pushed the limits of global conformational sampling and did not result in any successful prediction. The diversity of problems at hand requires computational algorithms to be versatile; the recent additions to the Rosetta suite expand the capabilities to encompass more biologically realistic docking problems. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evidence for predatory control of the invasive round goby

USGS Publications Warehouse

Madenjian, C.P.; Stapanian, M.A.; Witzel, L.D.; Einhouse, D.W.; Pothoven, S.A.; Whitford, H.L.

2011-01-01

We coupled bioenergetics modeling with bottom trawl survey results to evaluate the capacity of piscivorous fish in eastern Lake Erie to exert predatory control of the invading population of round goby Neogobius melanostomus. In the offshore (>20 m deep) waters of eastern Lake Erie, burbot Lota lota is a native top predator, feeding on a suite of prey fishes. The round goby invaded eastern Lake Erie during the late 1990s, and round goby population size increased dramatically during 1999–2004. According to annual bottom trawl survey results, round goby abundance in offshore waters peaked in 2004, but then declined during 2004–2008. Coincidentally, round goby became an important component of burbot diet beginning in 2003. Using bottom trawling and gill netting, we estimated adult burbot abundance and age structure in eastern Lake Erie during 2007. Diet composition and energy density of eastern Lake Erie burbot were also determined during 2007. This information, along with estimates of burbot growth, burbot mortality, burbot water temperature regime, and energy densities of prey fish from the literature, were incorporated into a bioenergetics model application to estimate annual consumption of round goby by the adult burbot population. Results indicated that the adult burbot population in eastern Lake Erie annually consumed 1,361 metric tons of round goby. Based on the results of bottom trawling, we estimated the biomass of yearling and older round goby in offshore waters eastern Lake Erie during 2007–2008 to be 2,232 metric tons. Thus, the adult burbot population was feeding on round goby at an annual rate equal to 61% of the estimated round goby standing stock. We concluded that the burbot population had high potential to exert predatory control on round goby in offshore waters of eastern Lake Erie.

The Round-Robin Mock Interview: Maximum Learning in Minimum Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marks, Melanie; O'Connor, Abigail H.

2006-01-01

Interview skills is critical to a job seeker's success in obtaining employment. However, learning interview skills takes time. This article offers an activity for providing students with interview practice while sacrificing only a single classroom period. The authors begin by reviewing relevant literature. Then, they outline the process of…

A Round Robin evaluation of AMSR-E soil moisture retrievals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mittelbach, Heidi; Hirschi, Martin; Nicolai-Shaw, Nadine; Gruber, Alexander; Dorigo, Wouter; de Jeu, Richard; Parinussa, Robert; Jones, Lucas A.; Wagner, Wolfgang; Seneviratne, Sonia I.

2014-05-01

Large-scale and long-term soil moisture observations based on remote sensing are promising data sets to investigate and understand various processes of the climate system including the water and biochemical cycles. Currently, the ESA Climate Change Initiative for soil moisture develops and evaluates a consistent global long-term soil moisture data set, which is based on merging passive and active remotely sensed soil moisture. Within this project an inter-comparison of algorithms for AMSR-E and ASCAT Level 2 products was conducted separately to assess the performance of different retrieval algorithms. Here we present the inter-comparison of AMSR-E Level 2 soil moisture products. These include the public data sets from University of Montana (UMT), Japan Aerospace and Space Exploration Agency (JAXA), VU University of Amsterdam (VUA; two algorithms) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). All participating algorithms are applied to the same AMSR-E Level 1 data set. Ascending and descending paths of scaled surface soil moisture are considered and evaluated separately in daily and monthly resolution over the 2007-2011 time period. Absolute values of soil moisture as well as their long-term anomalies (i.e. removing the mean seasonal cycle) and short-term anomalies (i.e. removing a five weeks moving average) are evaluated. The evaluation is based on conventional measures like correlation and unbiased root-mean-square differences as well as on the application of the triple collocation method. As reference data set, surface soil moisture of 75 quality controlled soil moisture sites from the International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN) are used, which cover a wide range of vegetation density and climate conditions. For the application of the triple collocation method, surface soil moisture estimates from the Global Land Data Assimilation System are used as third independent data set. We find that the participating algorithms generally display a better performance for the descending compared to the ascending paths. A first classification of the sites defined by geographical locations show that the algorithms have a very similar average performance. Further classifications of the sites by land cover types and climate regions will be conducted which might result in a more diverse performance of the algorithms.

26 CFR 49.4264(e)-1 - Round trips.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Round trips. 49.4264(e)-1 Section 49.4264(e)-1... TAXES FACILITIES AND SERVICES EXCISE TAXES Transportation of Persons § 49.4264(e)-1 Round trips. (a) In general. For purposes of the regulations in this subpart, a round trip shall be considered to consist of...

26 CFR 49.4264(e)-1 - Round trips.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Round trips. 49.4264(e)-1 Section 49.4264(e)-1... TAXES FACILITIES AND SERVICES EXCISE TAXES Transportation of Persons § 49.4264(e)-1 Round trips. (a) In general. For purposes of the regulations in this subpart, a round trip shall be considered to consist of...

26 CFR 49.4264(e)-1 - Round trips.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Round trips. 49.4264(e)-1 Section 49.4264(e)-1... TAXES FACILITIES AND SERVICES EXCISE TAXES Transportation of Persons § 49.4264(e)-1 Round trips. (a) In general. For purposes of the regulations in this subpart, a round trip shall be considered to consist of...

Probabilistic fatigue methodology for six nines reliability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Everett, R. A., Jr.; Bartlett, F. D., Jr.; Elber, Wolf

1990-01-01

Fleet readiness and flight safety strongly depend on the degree of reliability that can be designed into rotorcraft flight critical components. The current U.S. Army fatigue life specification for new rotorcraft is the so-called six nines reliability, or a probability of failure of one in a million. The progress of a round robin which was established by the American Helicopter Society (AHS) Subcommittee for Fatigue and Damage Tolerance is reviewed to investigate reliability-based fatigue methodology. The participants in this cooperative effort are in the U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM) and the rotorcraft industry. One phase of the joint activity examined fatigue reliability under uniquely defined conditions for which only one answer was correct. The other phases were set up to learn how the different industry methods in defining fatigue strength affected the mean fatigue life and reliability calculations. Hence, constant amplitude and spectrum fatigue test data were provided so that each participant could perform their standard fatigue life analysis. As a result of this round robin, the probabilistic logic which includes both fatigue strength and spectrum loading variability in developing a consistant reliability analysis was established. In this first study, the reliability analysis was limited to the linear cumulative damage approach. However, it is expected that superior fatigue life prediction methods will ultimately be developed through this open AHS forum. To that end, these preliminary results were useful in identifying some topics for additional study.

Measurement and Perturbation of Morphogen Lifetime: Effects on Gradient Shape

PubMed Central

Drocco, Jeffrey A.; Grimm, Oliver; Tank, David W.; Wieschaus, Eric

2011-01-01

Protein lifetime is of critical importance for most biological processes and plays a central role in cell signaling and embryonic development, where it impacts the absolute concentration of signaling molecules and, potentially, the shape of morphogen gradients. Early conceptual and mathematical models of gradient formation proposed that steady-state gradients are established by an equilibration between the lifetime of a morphogen and its rates of synthesis and diffusion, though whether gradients in fact reach steady state before being read out is a matter of controversy. In any case, this class of models predicts that protein lifetime is a key determinant of both the time to steady state and the spatial extent of a gradient. Using a method that employs repeated photoswitching of a fusion of the morphogen Bicoid (Bcd) and the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Dronpa, we measure and modify the lifetime of Dronpa-Bcd in living Drosophila embryos. We find that the lifetime of Bcd is dynamic, changing from 50 min before mitotic cycle 14 to 15 min during cellularization. Moreover, by measuring total quantities of Bcd over time, we find that the gradient does not reach steady state. Finally, using a nearly continuous low-level conversion to the dark state of Dronpa-Bcd to mimic the effect of increased degradation, we demonstrate that perturbation of protein lifetime changes the characteristic length of the gradient, providing direct support for a mechanism based on synthesis, diffusion, and degradation. PMID:22004733

Language Disorders from a Developmental Perspective: Essays in Honor of Robin S. Chapman. New Directions in Communication Disorders Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paul, Rhea, Ed.

2006-01-01

The last 25 years have witnessed an explosion of research at the intersection of typical language development and child language disorders. A pioneer in bringing these fields of study together is Robin S. Chapman, Emerita, University of Wisconsin. This contributed volume honors her with chapters written by former students and colleagues, who track…

Roundness calibration standard

DOEpatents

Burrus, Brice M.

1984-01-01

A roundness calibration standard is provided with a first arc constituting the major portion of a circle and a second arc lying between the remainder of the circle and the chord extending between the ends of said first arc.

Not Round Crater

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-08-07

Not all images are round as shown by NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Here, the surface likely had fractures or preexisting tectonic features that diverted some of the impact stresses along those features and resulted in the straighter east and north

Generalised Pareto distribution: impact of rounding on parameter estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pasarić, Z.; Cindrić, K.

2018-05-01

Problems that occur when common methods (e.g. maximum likelihood and L-moments) for fitting a generalised Pareto (GP) distribution are applied to discrete (rounded) data sets are revealed by analysing the real, dry spell duration series. The analysis is subsequently performed on generalised Pareto time series obtained by systematic Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The solution depends on the following: (1) the actual amount of rounding, as determined by the actual data range (measured by the scale parameter, σ) vs. the rounding increment (Δx), combined with; (2) applying a certain (sufficiently high) threshold and considering the series of excesses instead of the original series. For a moderate amount of rounding (e.g. σ/Δx ≥ 4), which is commonly met in practice (at least regarding the dry spell data), and where no threshold is applied, the classical methods work reasonably well. If cutting at the threshold is applied to rounded data—which is actually essential when dealing with a GP distribution—then classical methods applied in a standard way can lead to erroneous estimates, even if the rounding itself is moderate. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the theoretical location parameter for the series of excesses. The other solution is to add an appropriate uniform noise to the rounded data ("so-called" jittering). This, in a sense, reverses the process of rounding; and thereafter, it is straightforward to apply the common methods. Finally, if the rounding is too coarse (e.g. σ/Δx 1), then none of the above recipes would work; and thus, specific methods for rounded data should be applied.

Reviving post-take surgical ward round teaching.

PubMed

Force, Jade; Thomas, Ian; Buckley, Frances

2014-04-01

Learning in the clinical environment is an important feature of medical education. Ward-round teaching leads to relevant, applied and lasting learning of knowledge, skills and attitudes; however, on fast-paced ward rounds in specialties such as general surgery, the student experience is often suboptimal, and teaching can be overlooked. Clinical teaching fellows (CTFs) are postgraduate doctors ranging from foundation year-2 (FY2) level through to specialty trainees, who have elected to spend up to 2 years out of the programme to teach medical undergraduates. This article explores whether CTFs can successfully support the regular delivery of undergraduate medical teaching on the busy post-take surgical ward round (PTSWR). The CTFs at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, planned and facilitated weekly, structured teaching sessions to accompany the PTSWR. This educational intervention was evaluated using pre- and post-intervention student questionnaires. The questionnaires focused on student enjoyment and depth of learning using Likert scales and free-text components. Students were also asked about barriers to learning on typical PTSWRs. The consultant surgeons leading on these rounds were issued separate questionnaires, to gauge their evaluation of CTF support. The main barrier to effective undergraduate ward round teaching was a lack of time on the part of clinical staff. Ward rounds accompanied by CTF support significantly increased student enjoyment (p < 0.0001) and perceived learning (p < 0.0001). Consultant surgeons were supportive of the teaching initiative. Support from CTFs on busy PTSWRs optimised student satisfaction, and was welcomed by clinical staff. CTF support could be widened to other busy ward rounds, e.g. acute medical takes, to enhance student learning and reduce the teaching burden on clinical faculty staff. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Rounding, work intensification and new public management.

PubMed

Willis, Eileen; Toffoli, Luisa; Henderson, Julie; Couzner, Leah; Hamilton, Patricia; Verrall, Claire; Blackman, Ian

2016-06-01

In this study, we argue that contemporary nursing care has been overtaken by new public management strategies aimed at curtailing budgets in the public hospital sector in Australia. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 15 nurses from one public acute hospital with supporting documentary evidence, we demonstrate what happens to nursing work when management imposes rounding as a risk reduction strategy. In the case study outlined rounding was introduced across all wards in response to missed care, which in turn arose as a result of work intensification produced by efficiency, productivity, effectiveness and accountability demands. Rounding is a commercially sponsored practice consistent with new public management. Our study illustrates the impact that new public management strategies such as rounding have on how nurses work, both in terms of work intensity and in who controls their labour. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Computerized Analysis of MR and Ultrasound Images of Breast Lesions

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-07-01

Although general rules for the differentiation between benign and malignant mammographically identified breast lesions exist, considerable...round-robin runs yielded A(sub z) values of 0.94 and 0.87 in the task of distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions in the entire database

Computerized Analysis of MR and Ultrasound Images of Breast Lesions

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-07-01

Although general rules for the differentiation between benign and malignant mammographically identified breast lesions exist, considerable...round-robin runs yielded Az values of 0.94 and 0.87 in the task of distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions in the entire database and the

[Academic origin of round magnetic needle and standardization operation].

PubMed

Cheng, Yan-Ting; Zhang, Tian-Sheng; Meng, Li-Qiang; Shi, Rui-Qi; Ji, Lai-Xi

2014-07-01

The origin and development of round magnetic needle was explored, and the structure of round magnetic needle was introduced in detail, including the handle, the body and the tip of the needle. The clinical opera tion of round magnetic needle were standardized from the aspects of the methods of holding needle, manipulation skill, tapping position, strength of manipulation, application scope and matters needing attention, which laid foundation for the popularization and application of round magnetic needle.

Rating competitors before tournament starts: How it's affecting team progression in a soccer tournament

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusof, Muhammad Mat; Sulaiman, Tajularipin; Khalid, Ruzelan; Hamid, Mohamad Shukri Abdul; Mansor, Rosnalini

2014-12-01

In professional sporting events, rating competitors before tournament start is a well-known approach to distinguish the favorite team and the weaker teams. Various methodologies are used to rate competitors. In this paper, we explore four ways to rate competitors; least squares rating, maximum likelihood strength ratio, standing points in large round robin simulation and previous league rank position. The tournament metric we used to evaluate different types of rating approach is tournament outcome characteristics measure. The tournament outcome characteristics measure is defined by the probability that a particular team in the top 100q pre-tournament rank percentile progress beyond round R, for all q and R. Based on simulation result, we found that different rating approach produces different effect to the team. Our simulation result shows that from eight teams participate in knockout standard seeding, Perak has highest probability to win for tournament that use the least squares rating approach, PKNS has highest probability to win using the maximum likelihood strength ratio and the large round robin simulation approach, while Perak has the highest probability to win a tournament using previous league season approach.

Round pneumonia in an adult.

PubMed

Zhang, Yi; Yu, Yong-Sheng; Tang, Zheng-Hao; Chen, Xiao-Hua; Zang, Guo-Qing

2014-01-01

Round pneumonia is an uncommon form of pulmonary infection usually found in children. It may resemble pulmonary neoplasm on radiographs. We present a case of round pneumonia in a 43-year-old male with a history of smoking and a family history of lung cancer. The patient was treated with antibiotics for more than two weeks, after which the infection resolved completely both clinically and radiologically. Clinicians should consider this uncommon type of pneumonia in the differential diagnosis of spherical pulmonary masses to avoid unnecessary diagnostic tests.

Local quantum transformations requiring infinite rounds of classical communication.

PubMed

Chitambar, Eric

2011-11-04

In this Letter, we investigate the number of measurement and communication rounds needed to implement certain tasks by local quantum operations and classical communication (LOCC), a relatively unexplored topic. To demonstrate the possible strong dependence on the round number, we consider the problem of converting three-qubit entanglement into two-qubit form, specifically in the random distillation setting of [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 260501 (2007)]. We find that the number of LOCC rounds needed for a transformation can depend on the amount of entanglement distilled. In fact, for a wide range of transformations, the required number of rounds is infinite (unbounded). This represents the first concrete example of a task needing an infinite number of rounds to implement.

Lifetime of heavy hypernuclei and its implications on the weak ΛN interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassing, W.; Jarczyk, L.; Kamys, B.; Kulessa, P.; Ohm, H.; Pysz, K.; Rudy, Z.; Schult, O. W. B.; Ströher, H.

The lifetime of the Λ-hyperon in heavy hypernuclei measured in proton-Au, -Bi and -U collisions by the COSY-13 Collaboration at COSY-Jülich has been analyzed to yield τΛ = (145+/-11) ps. This value for τΛ is compatible with the lifetime extracted from antiproton annihilation on Bi and U targets, albeit much more accurate. Theoretical models based on the meson exchange picture and assuming the validity of the phenomenological ΔI = 1/2 rule predict the lifetime of heavy hypernuclei to be significantly larger (2-3 standard deviations). Such large differences indicate that at least one of the assumptions in these models is not fulfilled. A much better reproduction of the lifetimes of heavy hypernuclei is achieved in the phase space model, if the ΔI = 1/2 rule is discarded in the nonmesonic Λ decay.

No difference in the graft shift between a round and a rounded rectangular femoral tunnel for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an experimental study.

PubMed

Takata, Yasushi; Nakase, Junsuke; Oshima, Takeshi; Shimozaki, Kengo; Asai, Kazuki; Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki

2018-05-16

We developed a novel technique of creating a rounded rectangular femoral bone tunnel for anatomical, single-bundle, autologous hamstring tendon anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Although this tunnel has many advantages, its non-circular shape has raised concerns regarding excessive graft shift within the bone tunnel. This study aimed to compare the graft shift between round and rounded rectangular tunnels using a graft diameter tester for simulating the femoral bone tunnel. Seven semitendinosus tendon grafts harvested from fresh-frozen cadavers were prepared by removing all excess soft tissue. The two ends of a double-fold hamstring tendon were sutured using a baseball stitch and then looped over a TightRope (Arthrex Co., Ltd., Naples, Florida, USA) to make a fourfold graft. The diameter of the graft was standardized to 8 mm using a round graft diameter tester. A round and an original rounded rectangular graft diameter tester were used for simulating the respective femoral bone tunnels. The graft was inserted into the tunnel, with the TightRope positioned on the outside of the tunnel. The distal end of the graft was tensioned to 40 N at an angle of 75° to reproduce the most severe graft bending angle. Digital photographs of the tunnel aperture taken at each simulated tunnel and the range of graft shift in the simulated tunnel were analyzed by ImageJ software. Statistical analyses were performed using the Tukey test. P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. There were no significant differences between the round and the rounded rectangular tunnel groups (P > 0.05) in terms of graft shift, gap area, and graft shift ratio. In a simulated ACL reconstruction, there is no difference in the graft shift between a round and a rounded rectangular bone tunnel.

The Robin Hood method - A novel numerical method for electrostatic problems based on a non-local charge transfer

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

Lazic, Predrag; Stefancic, Hrvoje; Abraham, Hrvoje

2006-03-20

We introduce a novel numerical method, named the Robin Hood method, of solving electrostatic problems. The approach of the method is closest to the boundary element methods, although significant conceptual differences exist with respect to this class of methods. The method achieves equipotentiality of conducting surfaces by iterative non-local charge transfer. For each of the conducting surfaces, non-local charge transfers are performed between surface elements, which differ the most from the targeted equipotentiality of the surface. The method is tested against analytical solutions and its wide range of application is demonstrated. The method has appealing technical characteristics. For the problemmore » with N surface elements, the computational complexity of the method essentially scales with N {sup {alpha}}, where {alpha} < 2, the required computer memory scales with N, while the error of the potential decreases exponentially with the number of iterations for many orders of magnitude of the error, without the presence of the Critical Slowing Down. The Robin Hood method could prove useful in other classical or even quantum problems. Some future development ideas for possible applications outside electrostatics are addressed.« less

Configurational entropy as a lifetime predictor and pattern discriminator for oscillons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gleiser, Marcelo; Stephens, Michelle; Sowinski, Damian

2018-05-01

Oscillons are long-lived, spherically symmetric, attractor scalar field configurations that emerge as certain field configurations evolve in time. It has been known for many years that there is a direct correlation between the initial configuration's shape and the resulting oscillon lifetime: a shape memory. In this paper, we use an information-entropic measure of spatial complexity known as differential configurational entropy (DCE) to obtain estimates of oscillon lifetimes in scalar field theories with symmetric and asymmetric double-well potentials. The time-dependent DCE is built from the Fourier transform of the two-point correlation function of the energy density of the scalar field configuration. We obtain a scaling law correlating oscillon lifetimes and measures obtained from its evolving DCE. For the symmetric double well, for example, we show that we can apply DCE to predict an oscillon's lifetime with an average accuracy of 6% or better. We also show that the DCE acts as a pattern discriminator, able to distinguish initial configurations that evolve into long-lived oscillons from other nonperturbative short-lived fluctuations.

Pinhole shifting lifetime imaging microscopy

PubMed Central

Ramshesh, Venkat K.; Lemasters, John J.

2009-01-01

Lifetime imaging microscopy is a powerful tool to probe biological phenomena independent of luminescence intensity and fluorophore concentration. We describe time-resolved imaging of long-lifetime luminescence with an unmodified commercial laser scanning confocal/multiphoton microscope. The principle of the measurement is displacement of the detection pinhole to collect delayed luminescence from a position lagging the rasting laser beam. As proof of principle, luminescence from microspheres containing europium (Eu3+), a red emitting probe, was compared to that of short-lifetime green-fluorescing microspheres and/or fluorescein and rhodamine in solution. Using 720-nm two-photon excitation and a pinhole diameter of 1 Airy unit, the short-lifetime fluorescence of fluorescein, rhodamine and green microspheres disappeared much more rapidly than the long-lifetime phosphorescence of Eu3+ microspheres as the pinhole was repositioned in the lagging direction. In contrast, repositioning of the pinhole in the leading and orthogonal directions caused equal loss of short- and long-lifetime luminescence. From measurements at different lag pinhole positions, a lifetime of 270 μs was estimated for the Eu3+ microspheres, consistent with independent measurements. This simple adaptation is the basis for quantitative 3-D lifetime imaging microscopy. PMID:19123648

Phage display screening without repetitious selection rounds.

PubMed

't Hoen, Peter A C; Jirka, Silvana M G; Ten Broeke, Bradley R; Schultes, Erik A; Aguilera, Begoña; Pang, Kar Him; Heemskerk, Hans; Aartsma-Rus, Annemieke; van Ommen, Gertjan J; den Dunnen, Johan T

2012-02-15

Phage display screenings are frequently employed to identify high-affinity peptides or antibodies. Although successful, phage display is a laborious technology and is notorious for identification of false positive hits. To accelerate and improve the selection process, we have employed Illumina next generation sequencing to deeply characterize the Ph.D.-7 M13 peptide phage display library before and after several rounds of biopanning on KS483 osteoblast cells. Sequencing of the naive library after one round of amplification in bacteria identifies propagation advantage as an important source of false positive hits. Most important, our data show that deep sequencing of the phage pool after a first round of biopanning is already sufficient to identify positive phages. Whereas traditional sequencing of a limited number of clones after one or two rounds of selection is uninformative, the required additional rounds of biopanning are associated with the risk of losing promising clones propagating slower than nonbinding phages. Confocal and live cell imaging confirms that our screen successfully selected a peptide with very high binding and uptake in osteoblasts. We conclude that next generation sequencing can significantly empower phage display screenings by accelerating the finding of specific binders and restraining the number of false positive hits. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Leadership rounds to reduce health care-associated infections.

PubMed

Knobloch, Mary Jo; Chewning, Betty; Musuuza, Jackson; Rees, Susan; Green, Christopher; Patterson, Erin; Safdar, Nasia

2018-03-01

Evidence-based guidelines exist to reduce health care-associated infections (HAIs). Leadership rounds are one tool leaders can use to ensure compliance with guidelines, but have not been studied specifically for the reduction of HAIs. This study examines HAI leadership rounds at one facility. We explored unit-based HAI leadership rounds led by 2 hospital leaders at a large academic hospital. Leadership rounds were observed on 19 units, recorded, and coded to identify themes. Themes were linked to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and used to guide interviews with frontline staff members. Staff members disclosed unit-specific problems and readily engaged in problem-solving with top hospital leaders. These themes appeared over 350 times within 22 rounds. Findings revealed that leaders used words that demonstrated fallibility and modeled curiosity, 2 factors associated with learning climate and psychologic safety. These 2 themes appeared 115 and 142 times, respectively. The flexible nature of the rounds appeared to be conducive for reflection and evaluation, which was coded 161 times. Each interaction between leaders and frontline staff can foster psychologic safety, which can lead to open problem-solving to reduce barriers to implementation. Discovering specific communication and structural factors that contribute to psychologic safety may be powerful in reducing HAIs. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Lifetime Estimation of the Upper Stage of GSAT-14 in Geostationary Transfer Orbit.

PubMed

Jeyakodi David, Jim Fletcher; Sharma, Ram Krishan

2014-01-01

The combination of atmospheric drag and lunar and solar perturbations in addition to Earth's oblateness influences the orbital lifetime of an upper stage in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). These high eccentric orbits undergo fluctuations in both perturbations and velocity and are very sensitive to the initial conditions. The main objective of this paper is to predict the reentry time of the upper stage of the Indian geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle, GSLV-D5, which inserted the satellite GSAT-14 into a GTO on January 05, 2014, with mean perigee and apogee altitudes of 170 km and 35975 km. Four intervals of near linear variation of the mean apogee altitude observed were used in predicting the orbital lifetime. For these four intervals, optimal values of the initial osculating eccentricity and ballistic coefficient for matching the mean apogee altitudes were estimated with the response surface methodology using a genetic algorithm. It was found that the orbital lifetime from these four time spans was between 144 and 148 days.

Lifetime Estimation of the Upper Stage of GSAT-14 in Geostationary Transfer Orbit

PubMed Central

Jeyakodi David, Jim Fletcher; Sharma, Ram Krishan

2014-01-01

The combination of atmospheric drag and lunar and solar perturbations in addition to Earth's oblateness influences the orbital lifetime of an upper stage in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). These high eccentric orbits undergo fluctuations in both perturbations and velocity and are very sensitive to the initial conditions. The main objective of this paper is to predict the reentry time of the upper stage of the Indian geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle, GSLV-D5, which inserted the satellite GSAT-14 into a GTO on January 05, 2014, with mean perigee and apogee altitudes of 170 km and 35975 km. Four intervals of near linear variation of the mean apogee altitude observed were used in predicting the orbital lifetime. For these four intervals, optimal values of the initial osculating eccentricity and ballistic coefficient for matching the mean apogee altitudes were estimated with the response surface methodology using a genetic algorithm. It was found that the orbital lifetime from these four time spans was between 144 and 148 days. PMID:27437491

Modelling the effect of round window stiffness on residual hearing after cochlear implantation.

PubMed

Elliott, Stephen J; Ni, Guangjian; Verschuur, Carl A

2016-11-01

Preservation of residual hearing after cochlear implantation is now considered an important goal of surgery. However, studies indicate an average post-operative hearing loss of around 20 dB at low frequencies. One factor which may contribute to post-operative hearing loss, but which has received little attention in the literature to date, is the increased stiffness of the round window, due to the physical presence of the cochlear implant, and to its subsequent thickening or to bone growth around it. A finite element model was used to estimate that there is approximately a 100-fold increase in the round window stiffness due to a cochlear implant passing through it. A lumped element model was then developed to study the effects of this change in stiffness on the acoustic response of the cochlea. As the round window stiffness increases, the effects of the cochlear and vestibular aqueducts become more important. An increase of round window stiffness by a factor of 10 is predicted to have little effect on residual hearing, but increasing this stiffness by a factor of 100 reduces the acoustic sensitivity of the cochlea by about 20 dB, below 1 kHz, in reasonable agreement with the observed loss in residual hearing after implantation. It is also shown that the effect of this stiffening could be reduced by incorporating a small gas bubble within the cochlear implant. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quasi-Static Analysis of Round LaRC THUNDER Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Joel F.

2007-01-01

An analytic approach is developed to predict the shape and displacement with voltage in the quasi-static limit of round LaRC Thunder Actuators. The problem is treated with classical lamination theory and Von Karman non-linear analysis. In the case of classical lamination theory exact analytic solutions are found. It is shown that classical lamination theory is insufficient to describe the physical situation for large actuators but is sufficient for very small actuators. Numerical results are presented for the non-linear analysis and compared with experimental measurements. Snap-through behavior, bifurcation, and stability are presented and discussed.

Lifetime physical activity and calcium intake related to bone density in young women.

PubMed

Wallace, Lorraine Silver; Ballard, Joyce E

2002-05-01

Osteoporosis is a significant public health problem associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Our aim in this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between lifetime physical activity and calcium intake and bone mineral density (BMD) and BMC (bone mineral content) in 42 regularly menstruating Caucasian women (age 21.26+/-1.91 years, BMI 23.83+/-5.85). BMD and BMC at the lumbar spine (L2-L4), hip (femoral neck, trochanter, total), and total body were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Lifetime history of physical activity and calcium intake was obtained by a structured interview using valid and reliable instruments. Measures of both lifetime physical activity and calcium intake were highly correlated. In stepwise multiple regression analyses, lean mass was the most important and consistent factor for predicting BMD and BMC at all skeletal sites (attributable r2 = 28.8%-78.7%). Lifetime physical activity contributed to 3.0% of the variation in total body BMD, and life-time weight-bearing physical activity explained 15.1% of variance in lumbar spine BMC. Current calcium intake predicted 6% of the variance in BMD at the femoral neck and trochanter. We found lean mass to be a powerful predictor of BMD and BMC in young women. Because lean mass can be modified to some extent by physical activity, public health efforts must be directed at increasing physical activity throughout the lifespan. Furthermore, our results suggest that adequate calcium intake may help to enhance bone mass, thus decreasing the risk of osteoporotic fracture later in life.

Hanging A "round."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Barbara

2000-01-01

Discusses an art project for fifth and sixth grade that was inspired by a Laurel Burch plate with a jungle motif. Explains that students choose a project name, make lists of images associated with their chosen name, and use those images in their round designs. (CMK)

Obstructive Hydrocephalus Secondary to Enlarged Virchow-Robin Spaces: A Rare Cause of Pulsatile Tinnitus.

PubMed

Donaldson, Christopher; Chatha, Gurkirat; Chandra, Ronil V; Goldschlager, Tony

2017-05-01

Obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to enlarged Virchow-Robin Spaces (VRS) is a rare entity, with only a few cases reported in the literature. Presenting symptoms vary widely from headaches to dizziness. We report a case of a 31-year-old man who presented with pulsatile tinnitus and magnetic resonance imaging showing obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to tumefactive VRS. After a cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedure in the form of an endoscopic third ventriculostomy, he had almost complete resolution of his symptoms. This is the first case of obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to enlarged VRS, presenting with pulsatile tinnitus. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Virtual Levels and Role Models: N-Level Structural Equations Model of Reciprocal Ratings Data.

PubMed

Mehta, Paras D

2018-01-01

A general latent variable modeling framework called n-Level Structural Equations Modeling (NL-SEM) for dependent data-structures is introduced. NL-SEM is applicable to a wide range of complex multilevel data-structures (e.g., cross-classified, switching membership, etc.). Reciprocal dyadic ratings obtained in round-robin design involve complex set of dependencies that cannot be modeled within Multilevel Modeling (MLM) or Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) frameworks. The Social Relations Model (SRM) for round robin data is used as an example to illustrate key aspects of the NL-SEM framework. NL-SEM introduces novel constructs such as 'virtual levels' that allows a natural specification of latent variable SRMs. An empirical application of an explanatory SRM for personality using xxM, a software package implementing NL-SEM is presented. Results show that person perceptions are an integral aspect of personality. Methodological implications of NL-SEM for the analyses of an emerging class of contextual- and relational-SEMs are discussed.

The state of nuclear forensics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kristo, Michael J.; Tumey, Scott J.

2013-01-01

Nuclear terrorism has been identified as one of the most serious security threats facing the world today. Many countries, including the United States, have incorporated nuclear forensic analysis as a component of their strategy to prevent nuclear terrorism. Nuclear forensics involves the laboratory analysis of seized illicit nuclear materials or debris from a nuclear detonation to identify the origins of the material or weapon. Over the years, a number of forensic signatures have been developed to improve the confidence with which forensic analysts can draw conclusions. These signatures are validated and new signatures are discovered through research and development programs and in round-robin exercises among nuclear forensic laboratories. The recent Nuclear Smuggling International Technical Working Group Third Round Robin Exercise and an on-going program focused on attribution of uranium ore concentrate provide prime examples of the current state of nuclear forensics. These case studies will be examined and the opportunities for accelerator mass spectrometry to play a role in nuclear forensics will be discussed.

Fault tolerant and lifetime control architecture for autonomous vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogdanov, Alexander; Chen, Yi-Liang; Sundareswaran, Venkataraman; Altshuler, Thomas

2008-04-01

Increased vehicle autonomy, survivability and utility can provide an unprecedented impact on mission success and are one of the most desirable improvements for modern autonomous vehicles. We propose a general architecture of intelligent resource allocation, reconfigurable control and system restructuring for autonomous vehicles. The architecture is based on fault-tolerant control and lifetime prediction principles, and it provides improved vehicle survivability, extended service intervals, greater operational autonomy through lower rate of time-critical mission failures and lesser dependence on supplies and maintenance. The architecture enables mission distribution, adaptation and execution constrained on vehicle and payload faults and desirable lifetime. The proposed architecture will allow managing missions more efficiently by weighing vehicle capabilities versus mission objectives and replacing the vehicle only when it is necessary.

Experimental and Analytical Determination of the Geometric Far Field for Round Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koch, L. Danielle; Bridges, James E.; Brown, Clifford E.; Khavaran, Abbas

2005-01-01

An investigation was conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center using a set of three round jets operating under unheated subsonic conditions to address the question: "How close is too close?" Although sound sources are distributed at various distances throughout a jet plume downstream of the nozzle exit, at great distances from the nozzle the sound will appear to emanate from a point and the inverse-square law can be properly applied. Examination of normalized sound spectra at different distances from a jet, from experiments and from computational tools, established the required minimum distance for valid far-field measurements of the sound from subsonic round jets. Experimental data were acquired in the Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory at the NASA Glenn Research Center. The WIND computer program solved the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations for aerodynamic computations; the MGBK jet-noise prediction computer code was used to predict the sound pressure levels. Results from both the experiments and the analytical exercises indicated that while the shortest measurement arc (with radius approximately 8 nozzle diameters) was already in the geometric far field for high-frequency sound (Strouhal number >5), low-frequency sound (Strouhal number <0.2) reached the geometric far field at a measurement radius of at least 50 nozzle diameters because of its extended source distribution.

Discretization vs. Rounding Error in Euler's Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borges, Carlos F.

2011-01-01

Euler's method for solving initial value problems is an excellent vehicle for observing the relationship between discretization error and rounding error in numerical computation. Reductions in stepsize, in order to decrease discretization error, necessarily increase the number of steps and so introduce additional rounding error. The problem is…

Australia: round module handling and cotton classing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Round modules of seed cotton produced via on-board module building harvesters are the reality of the cotton industry, worldwide. Although round modules have been available to the industry for almost a decade, there is still no consensus on the best method to handle the modules, particularly when th...

A case study of healthcare providers' goals during interprofessional rounds.

PubMed

Prystajecky, Michael; Lee, Tiffany; Abonyi, Sylvia; Perry, Robert; Ward, Heather

2017-07-01

Daily interprofessional rounds enhance collaboration among healthcare providers and improve hospital performance measures. However, it is unclear how healthcare providers' goals influence the processes and outcomes of interprofessional rounds. The purpose of this case study was to explore the goals of healthcare providers attending interprofessional rounds in an internal medicine ward. The second purpose was to explore the challenges encountered by healthcare providers while pursuing these goals. Three focus groups were held with healthcare providers of diverse professional backgrounds. Focus group field notes and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. The data indicated that there was no consensus among healthcare providers regarding the goals of interprofessional rounds. Discharge planning and patient care delivery were perceived as competing priorities during rounds, which limited the participation of healthcare providers. Nevertheless, study participants identified goals of rounds that were relevant to most care providers: developing shared perspectives of patients through direct communication, promoting collaborative decision making, coordinating care, and strengthening interprofessional relationships. Challenges in achieving the goals of interprofessional rounds included inconsistent attendance, exchange of irrelevant information, variable participation by healthcare providers, and inconsistent leadership. The findings of this study underscore the importance of shared goals in the context of interprofessional rounding.

"Walking" Along a Free Rotating Bicycle Wheel (Round and Round)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Güémez, J.; Fiolhais, M.

2015-01-01

We describe the kinematics, dynamics, and also some energy issues related to Marta mouse's motion when she walks on top of a horizontal bicycle wheel, which is free to rotate like a merry-go-round, as presented recently by Paul Hewitt in the "Figuring Physics" section of this journal. The situation is represented in Fig. 1, which was…

The Effect of Family Presence on Rounding Duration in the PICU.

PubMed

Gupta, Priya R; Perkins, R Serene; Hascall, Rebecca L; Shelak, Carolyn F; Demirel, Shaban; Buchholz, Mark T

2017-02-01

The incorporation of family-centered rounds has become standard in PICUs across the United States. We compared rounding times in our institution, with and without family members present, to determine the effect on total rounding time and work flow. This observational study of a convenience sample was conducted over a 17-month period (May 2014-October 2015), accounting for typical seasonal variation in the PICU. The individual patient rounding times for 2657 encounters were recorded. The presence of family members, intubation status, physician assistant participation, interruptions during rounds, attending physician's full- or part-time status, and patient census were documented. The effect of family presence on per-patient rounding time was analyzed, while controlling for influential variables. Family members were present during 1743 of 2657 (66%) rounding encounters. The average per-patient rounding time with and without family members present was 8.6 minutes and 7.3 minutes, respectively, a difference of 1.3 minutes per patient. In statistical models that accounted for other influential variables, the presence of family members was associated with a highly significant (20.4%, P < .001) increase in the per-patient rounding time. The presence of family members increases per-patient rounding times in the PICU. Family presence on rounds may have benefits that outweigh the additional time required to complete each patient interaction. Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Accelerated Life Testing and Service Lifetime Prediction for PV Technologies in the Twenty-First Century

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

Czanderna, A. W.; Jorgensen, G. J.

The purposes of this paper are to (1) discuss the necessity for conducting accelerated life testing (ALT) in the early stages of developing new photovoltaic (PV) technologies, (2) elucidate the crucial importance for combining ALT with real-time testing (RTT) in terrestrial environments for promising PV technologies for the 21st century, and (3) outline the essential steps for making a service lifetime prediction (SLP) for any PV technology. The specific objectives are to (a) illustrate the essential need for ALT of complete, encapsulated multilayer PV devices, (b) indicate the typical causes of degradation in PV stacks, (c) elucidate the complexity associatedmore » with quantifying the durability of the devices, (d) explain the major elements that constitute a generic SLP methodology, (e) show how the introduction of the SLP methodology in the early stages of new device development can reduce the cost of technology development, and (f) outline the procedure for combining the results of ALT and RTT, establishing degradation mechanisms, using sufficient numbers of samples, and applying the SLP methodology to produce a SLP for existing or new PV technologies.« less

Migratory connectivity and effects of winter temperatures on migratory behaviour of the European robin Erithacus rubecula: a continent-wide analysis.

PubMed

Ambrosini, Roberto; Cuervo, José Javier; du Feu, Chris; Fiedler, Wolfgang; Musitelli, Federica; Rubolini, Diego; Sicurella, Beatrice; Spina, Fernando; Saino, Nicola; Møller, Anders Pape

2016-05-01

Many partially migratory species show phenotypically divergent populations in terms of migratory behaviour, with climate hypothesized to be a major driver of such variability through its differential effects on sedentary and migratory individuals. Based on long-term (1947-2011) bird ringing data, we analysed phenotypic differentiation of migratory behaviour among populations of the European robin Erithacus rubecula across Europe. We showed that clusters of populations sharing breeding and wintering ranges varied from partial (British Isles and Western Europe, NW cluster) to completely migratory (Scandinavia and north-eastern Europe, NE cluster). Distance migrated by birds of the NE (but not of the NW) cluster decreased through time because of a north-eastwards shift in the wintering grounds. Moreover, when winter temperatures in the breeding areas were cold, individuals from the NE cluster also migrated longer distances, while those of the NW cluster moved over shorter distances. Climatic conditions may therefore affect migratory behaviour of robins, although large geographical variation in response to climate seems to exist. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2016 British Ecological Society.

An overview of service lifetime prediction (SLP)

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

Jorgensen, G.

This report describes the need for service life prediction for photovoltaic cells and associated devices, coatings, and other related technologies. Information regarding outdoor exposure tests is given.

Validation of the Nurses' Perception of Patient Rounding Scale: An Exploratory Study of the Influence of Shift Work on Nurses' Perception of Patient Rounding.

PubMed

Neville, Kathleen; DiBona, Courtney; Mahler, Maureen

2016-01-01

Hourly rounds have re-emerged as standard practice among nurses in acute care settings, and there is the need to identify nurses' perceptions regarding this practice. Further use of the Nurses' Perception of Patient Rounding Scale (NPPRS) is needed to further validate this new instrument. In addition, there exists a dearth of literature that examines the impact of hours worked and shift on nurses' perceptions of patient rounding. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore nurses' perception of the required practice of patient rounding, to examine the influence of nurses' shift on nurses' perception of rounding practice, and to provide additional psychometric support for the NPPRS. The NPPRS, a 42-item scale in 5-point Likert format, and a demographic information sheet were used in the study. The NPPRS yields three subscales: communication, patient benefits, and nurse benefits. Using a convenience sample of anonymous nurse participants, 76 nurses from five medical-surgical units at a medical center in the northeast corridor of the United States participated in the study. Further psychometric support for the NPPRS was demonstrated. Excellent reliability coefficients via Cronbach's alpha for the total scale (0.91) and each of the subscales were obtained. A statistically significant difference was noted among nurses working 8 hours versus 12 hours or combined 8- and 12-hour workloads. Perceptions of nurse benefits were statistically significantly higher for nurses working 8 hours. In addition, results indicated that nurses perceived rounding to be more beneficial to their own practice than to patients. Analyses revealed that leadership support was instrumental in successful rounding practice. Further support for the NPPRS was obtained through this study. Strong nursing leadership, supportive of rounding, is essential for successful rounding. Further research should examine the efficacy of nurse rounding-developed protocols specific to the shift and unit of

Strength of small-diameter round and tapered bending members

Treesearch

Ron Wolfe; Joe Murphy

2005-01-01

An early focus on structural use of processed rather than round timber resulted in an underestimation of the structural advantages of retaining the natural form of small-diameter round timber. In the round and tapered form, timbers are not susceptible to the strength-reducing effects of diving grain and exposed juvenile wood. Fiber continuity around knots on the...

Strategies for improving family engagement during family-centered rounds.

PubMed

Kelly, Michelle M; Xie, Anping; Carayon, Pascale; DuBenske, Lori L; Ehlenbach, Mary L; Cox, Elizabeth D

2013-04-01

Family-centered rounds (FCR) are recommended as standard practice in the pediatric inpatient setting; however, limited data exist on best practices promoting family engagement during rounds. To identify strategies to enhance family engagement during FCR using a recognized systems engineering approach. In this qualitative study, stimulated recall interviews using video-recorded rounding sessions were conducted with participants representing the various stakeholders on rounds (15 parents/children and 22 healthcare team [HCT] members) from 4 inpatient services at a children's hospital in Wisconsin. On video review, participants were asked to provide strategies that would increase family engagement on FCR. Qualitative content analysis of interview transcripts was performed in an iterative process. We identified 21 categories of strategies corresponding to 2 themes related to the structure and process of FCR. Strategies related to the structure of FCR were associated with all five recognized work system elements: people (HCT composition), tasks (HCT roles), organization (scheduling of rounds and HCT training), environment (location of rounds and HCT positioning), and tools and technologies (computer use). Strategies related to the FCR process were associated with three rounding phases: before (HCT and family preparation), during (eg, introductions, presentation content, communication style), and after (follow-up) FCR. We identified a range of strategies to enhance family engagement during FCR. These strategies both confirm prior work on the importance of the content and style of communication on rounds and highlight other factors within the hospital work system, like scheduling and computer use, which may affect family engagement in care. Copyright © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Importance of factors determining the effective lifetime of a mass, long-lasting, insecticidal net distribution: a sensitivity analysis

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) reduce malaria transmission by protecting individuals from infectious bites, and by reducing mosquito survival. In recent years, millions of LLINs have been distributed across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Over time, LLINs decay physically and chemically and are destroyed, making repeated interventions necessary to prevent a resurgence of malaria. Because its effects on transmission are important (more so than the effects of individual protection), estimates of the lifetime of mass distribution rounds should be based on the effective length of epidemiological protection. Methods Simulation models, parameterised using available field data, were used to analyse how the distribution's effective lifetime depends on the transmission setting and on LLIN characteristics. Factors considered were the pre-intervention transmission level, initial coverage, net attrition, and both physical and chemical decay. An ensemble of 14 stochastic individual-based model variants for malaria in humans was used, combined with a deterministic model for malaria in mosquitoes. Results The effective lifetime was most sensitive to the pre-intervention transmission level, with a lifetime of almost 10 years at an entomological inoculation rate of two infectious bites per adult per annum (ibpapa), but of little more than 2 years at 256 ibpapa. The LLIN attrition rate and the insecticide decay rate were the next most important parameters. The lifetime was surprisingly insensitive to physical decay parameters, but this could change as physical integrity gains importance with the emergence and spread of pyrethroid resistance. Conclusions The strong dependency of the effective lifetime on the pre-intervention transmission level indicated that the required distribution frequency may vary more with the local entomological situation than with LLIN quality or the characteristics of the distribution system. This highlights the need for malaria monitoring both

Importance of factors determining the effective lifetime of a mass, long-lasting, insecticidal net distribution: a sensitivity analysis.

PubMed

Briët, Olivier J T; Hardy, Diggory; Smith, Thomas A

2012-01-13

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) reduce malaria transmission by protecting individuals from infectious bites, and by reducing mosquito survival. In recent years, millions of LLINs have been distributed across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Over time, LLINs decay physically and chemically and are destroyed, making repeated interventions necessary to prevent a resurgence of malaria. Because its effects on transmission are important (more so than the effects of individual protection), estimates of the lifetime of mass distribution rounds should be based on the effective length of epidemiological protection. Simulation models, parameterised using available field data, were used to analyse how the distribution's effective lifetime depends on the transmission setting and on LLIN characteristics. Factors considered were the pre-intervention transmission level, initial coverage, net attrition, and both physical and chemical decay. An ensemble of 14 stochastic individual-based model variants for malaria in humans was used, combined with a deterministic model for malaria in mosquitoes. The effective lifetime was most sensitive to the pre-intervention transmission level, with a lifetime of almost 10 years at an entomological inoculation rate of two infectious bites per adult per annum (ibpapa), but of little more than 2 years at 256 ibpapa. The LLIN attrition rate and the insecticide decay rate were the next most important parameters. The lifetime was surprisingly insensitive to physical decay parameters, but this could change as physical integrity gains importance with the emergence and spread of pyrethroid resistance. The strong dependency of the effective lifetime on the pre-intervention transmission level indicated that the required distribution frequency may vary more with the local entomological situation than with LLIN quality or the characteristics of the distribution system. This highlights the need for malaria monitoring both before and during intervention

Bridging Theory to Practice with Classroom Rounds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bowman, Connie L.; Herrelko, Janet M.

2014-01-01

Pre-service candidates' perceptions of how to teach were challenged after going through the process of Classroom Rounds, the process that was used in this study. Classroom Rounds consisted of a pre-conference meeting with an inservice teacher, followed by a classroom observation of that teacher, and finally a discussion focusing on proven…

FilterGate, or Knowing What We're Walling In or Walling Out.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolinsky, Art

2001-01-01

Discusses problems with Internet filtering when it results in erroneously blocked Web sites. Topics include the Children's Online Protection Act (CIPA); blocking all sites on an Internet Service Provider (ISP) through Round Robin DNS; blocking by URL or by IP number; and questioning the need for filters. (LRW)

77 FR 76515 - Osage Negotiated Rulemaking Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-28

... sign-up sheet at the meeting for those wishing to speak during the public comment period. The meeting... and Introduction; (2) Overview of prior meeting and action tracking; (3) Members' round robin to share... subcommittee activities; (5) Future Committee activities; (6) Public comments which will be scheduled for 45...

A MULTI-LABORATORY EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR DETECTING ENTERIC VIRUSES IN SOILS

EPA Science Inventory

Two candidate methods for the recovery and detection of viruses in soil were subjected to round robin comparative testing by members of the American Society for Testing and Materials D19:24:04:04 Subcommittee Task Group. Selection of the methods, designated “Berg” and “Goyal,” wa...

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTROSPRAY LC/MS LIBRARY IDENTIFICATION PROTOCOL FOR THE SCREENING OF ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER

EPA Science Inventory

A significant number (80%) of organic contaminants that represent health risks in drinking water are better suited to screening by LC/MS rather than GC/MS analysis. We report progress with the draft Library System Protocol 1.1 from a round robin of private, state and federal lab...

Organized colorectal cancer screening in Serbia - the first round within 2013-2014.

PubMed

Banković Lazarević, Dušica; Krivokapić, Zoran; Barišić, Goran; Jovanović, Verica; Ilić, Dragan; Veljković, Marko

2016-04-01

The National Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program was conducted in the Republic of Serbia during 2013-2014 covering the population of both genders, aged 50 to 74 years, in 28 municipalities out of 180, with the target population of 651,445 people. This organized colorectal cancer screening aims to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer in the target population. The aim of this study was to show the results of organized screening for colorectal cancer during the first biannual round in Serbia. General practitioners from the primary health centers, invited target population by letters and by phone to perform immunochemical fecal occult blood test. Persons with a positive test results were referred to the colonoscopy. The database of health insurance and other citizens of the target population was used for invitation for screening in primary health centers. Descriptive statistical analysis of the results in organized colorectal cancer screening in the first round was performed for the key screening indicators. In the first round, a total of 99,592 persons were invited. The participation rate was 62.5%. Colonoscopy was performed in 1,554 persons. Adenomas were found in 586 persons (0.9% of all the tested), e.g. 37.7 % of all colonoscopied. In 129 persons colorectal cancer was diagnosed (0.2% of all the tested), e.g. 8.3% of all the colonoscopied. In the left half of the colon (rectum, sigmoid and descending colon) there were 70.4% diagnosed polyps and 77.3% carcinomas, while 29.6% of polyps and 22.7% carcinomas were found in the proximal parts of the colon. In the first round of the organized colorectal cancer screening in Serbia the participation rate of the targeted population was high and gave encouraging result. It was expected that in the forthcoming rounds even higher coverage of the target population would be accomplished. A positive predictive value of the completed colonoscopies showed that further work on observing the stages of diagnosed adenomas

Use of electrical barriers to deter movement of round goby

USGS Publications Warehouse

Savino, Jacqueline F.; Jude, David J.; Kostich, Melissa J.; Coutant, Charles C.

2001-01-01

An electrical barrier was chosen as a possible means to deter movement of round goby Neogobius melanostomus. Feasibility studies in a 2.1-m donut-shaped tank determined the electrical parameters necessary to inhibit round goby from crossing the 1-m stretch of the benthic, electrical barrier. Increasing electrical pulse duration and voltage increased effectiveness of the barrier in deterring round goby movement through the barrier. Differences in activity of round goby during daytime and nocturnal tests did not change the effectiveness of the barrier. In field verification studies, an electrical barrier was placed between two blocking nets in the Shiawassee River, Michigan. The barrier consisted of a 6-m wide canvas on which were laid four cables carrying the electrical current. Seven experiments were conducted, wherein 25 latex paint-marked round goby were introduced upstream of the electrical barrier and recovered 24 h later upstream, on, and downstream of the barrier. During control studies, round goby moved across the barrier within 20 min from release upstream. With the barrier on and using the prescribed electrical settings shown to inhibit passage in the laboratory, the only marked round goby found below the barrier were dead. At reduced pulse durations, a few round goby (mean one/test) were found alive, but debilitated, below the barrier. The electrical barrier could be incorporated as part of a program in reducing movement of adult round goby through artificial connections between watersheds.

Prenatal exposure to testosterone interacts with lifetime physical abuse to predict anger rumination and cognitive flexibility among incarcerated methamphetamine users.

PubMed

Herschl, Laura C; Highland, Krista B; McChargue, Dennis E

2012-01-01

The present pilot study hypothesized that degree of exposure to prenatal testosterone interacts with a history of lifetime physical abuse (LPA) to predict the cognitive (anger rumination) and behavioral (intimate partner and interpersonal violence) components of aggression within incarcerated methamphetamine (MA) users. In addition, we hypothesized that the degree of exposure to prenatal testosterone interacts with LPA to predict cognitive flexibility (Stroop Color-Word performance). Male inmate MA users (N = 60) completed neuropsychological and paper/pencil tests. Hand photocopies were also obtained to index prenatal testosterone exposure. Five covariate-adjusted moderation models were tested using anger rumination, intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, interpersonal violence perpetration (before and while incarcerated), and Stroop Color-Word T-score as the criteria, prenatal testosterone exposure as the predictor, and LPA as the moderator. Results indicated that, in individuals with a history of LPA, exposure to higher levels of prenatal testosterone exposure predicted greater anger rumination, lower Stroop Color-Word test T-scores, and lower frequencies of IPV perpetration. Findings were not significant in individuals without a history of LPA. This research suggests that biochemical and psychosocial vulnerabilities influence anger rumination and cognitive flexibility, which may render incarcerated MA users at greater risk to relapse or recidivate upon release from prison. Copyright © American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Quality Teaching Rounds in Mathematics Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prieto, Elena; Howley, Peter; Holmes, Kathryn; Osborn, Judy-anne; Roberts, Malcolm; Kepert, Andrew

2015-01-01

The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of an implementation of teaching rounds as a practice-based approach to pre-service teacher education in mathematics. The teaching rounds implemented in the study utilised the NSW Quality Teaching model pedagogical framework as a tool for learning about and reflecting…

Relationship between resist outgassing and EUV witness sample contamination in NXE outgas qualification using electrons and EUV photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pollentier, I.; Tirumala Venkata, A.; Gronheid, R.

2014-04-01

EUV photoresists are considered as a potential source of optics contamination, since they introduce irradiation-induced outgassing in the EUV vacuum environment. Therefore, before these resists can be used on e.g. ASML NXE:3100 or NXE:3300, they need to be tested in dedicated equipment according to a well-defined procedure, which is based on exposing a witness sample (WS) in the vicinity of a simultaneously exposed resist as it outgasses. Different system infrastructures are used at multiple sites (e.g. NIST, CNSE, Sematech, EIDEC, and imec) and were calibrated to each other by a detailed test plan. Despite this detailed tool qualifications, a first round robin comparison of identical materials showed inconsistent outgas test results, and required further investigation by a second round robin. Since the resist exposure mode is different at the various locations (some sites are using EUV photons while others use E-gun electrons), this difference has always a point of concern for variability of test results. In this work we compare the outgas test results from EUV photon and electron exposure using the resist materials of the second round robin. Since the imec outgas tester allows both exposure methods on the resist, a within-system comparison is possible and showed limited variation between photon and electron exposure mode. Therefore the system-to-system variability amongst the different outgas test sites is expected to be related to other parameters than the electron/photon exposure mode. Initial work showed that the variability might be related to temperature, E-gun emission excursion, and/or residual outgassing scaled by different wafer areas at the different sites.

Stable Early Maternal Report of Behavioral Inhibition Predicts Lifetime Social Anxiety Disorder in Adolescence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chronis-Tuscano, Andrea; Degnan, Kathryn Amey; Pine, Daniel S.; Perez-Edgar, Koraly; Henderson, Heather A.; Diaz, Yamalis; Raggi, Veronica L.; Fox, Nathan A.

2009-01-01

The odds of a lifetime diagnosis of social anxiety disorder increased by 3.79 times for children who had a stable report of behavioral inhibition from their mothers. This finding has important implications for the early identification and prevention of social anxiety disorder.

Use of foreslope rounding by departments of transportation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-09-11

"To enhance driver safety, departments of transportation sometimes round the foreslopes of highway shoulders at the : intersection of the shoulder and its side slope. WisDOT was interested in learning about foreslope rounding practices : used by othe...

Electronic Printed Ward Round Proformas: Freeing Up Doctors' Time.

PubMed

Fernandes, Darren; Eneje, Philip

2017-01-01

The role of a junior doctor involves preparing for the morning ward round. At a time when there are gaps on rotas and doctors' time is more stretched, this can be a source of significant delay and thus a loss of working time. We therefore looked at ways in which we could make the ward round a more efficient place by introducing specific electronic, printed ward round proformas. We used the average time taken to write proformas per patient and the average time taken per patient on the ward round. This would then enable us to make fair comparisons with future changes that were made using the plan, do, study, and act principles of quality improvement. Our baseline measurement found that the average time taken to write up the proforma for each patient was 1 minute 9 seconds and that the average time taken per patient on the ward round was 8 minutes 30 seconds. With the changes we made during our 3 PDSA cycles and the implementation of an electronic, printed ward round proforma, we found that we were able to reduce the average time spent per patient on the ward round to 6 minutes 32 seconds, an improvement of 1 min 58 seconds per patient. The project has thus enabled us to reduce the time taken per patient during the ward round. This improved efficiency will enable patients to be identified earlier for discharge. It will also aid in freeing up the time of junior doctors, allowing them to complete discharge letters sooner, order investigations earlier and enable them to complete their allocated tasks within contracted hours.

Year-Round Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McChesney, Jim

1996-01-01

One avenue being explored as a way to cut costs while maintaining the quality of programs and services is year-round education (YRE). In most cases, the known benefits and drawbacks of an existing component of traditional scheduling must be weighed against the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of YRE. The five articles reviewed in this…

19 CFR 159.3 - Rounding of fractions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Rounding of fractions. 159.3 Section 159.3 Customs... (CONTINUED) LIQUIDATION OF DUTIES General Provisions § 159.3 Rounding of fractions. (a) Value. In the... cents or more, the lower fractions shall be dropped, and if it is necessary to take up as whole dollars...

Powder-driven-nail connections for round timber

Treesearch

Ronald W. Wolfe; KugBo Shim; Marshall Begel

2003-01-01

In an effort to encourage the development of value-added engineered applications for small diameter round timber, research is being conducted at the US Forest Products Laboratory to develop and verify design guidelines for connections with specific application to round timbers. The objective of this work is to provide potential users with a number of viable connection...

Statistical approaches to lifetime measurements with restricted observation times

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, X. C.; Zeng, Q.; Litvinov, Yu. A.; Tu, X. L.; Walker, P. M.; Wang, M.; Wang, Q.; Yue, K.; Zhang, Y. H.

2017-09-01

Two generic methods based on frequentism and Bayesianism are presented in this work aiming to adequately estimate decay lifetimes from measured data, while accounting for restricted observation times in the measurements. All the experimental scenarios that can possibly arise from the observation constraints are treated systematically and formulas are derived. The methods are then tested against the decay data of bare isomeric 44+94mRu, which were measured using isochronous mass spectrometry with a timing detector at the CSRe in Lanzhou, China. Applying both methods in three distinct scenarios yields six different but consistent lifetime estimates. The deduced values are all in good agreement with a prediction based on the neutral-atom value modified to take the absence of internal conversion into account. Potential applications of such methods are discussed.

Effectiveness of piscicides for controlling round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schreier, Theresa M.; Dawson, V.K.; Larson, W.

2008-01-01

Round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) were introduced to the Great Lakes presumably as a result of ballast water releases from seagoing freighters returning from European water bodies. These unwelcome fish have become established in the Great Lakes region and are expanding their range to suitable portions of other interior drainage basins including the Mississippi River traversing the central United States and the Trent-Severn waterway spanning south-central Ontario. If the invasion continues, use of chemical toxicants as a control measure may be necessary. Toxicity tests of the currently registered piscicides antimycin, rotenone, 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), and Bayluscide?? were conducted with three fish species native to the Great Lakes and round gobies collected from the Illinois Waterway. Tests indicated that round gobies are sensitive to all of the piscicides, however, the level of sensitivity is similar to that of the native fish species tested. Therefore, currently registered piscicides have limited potential to selectively remove round gobies. Bottom-release formulations of Bayluscide?? and antimycin were also evaluated as control agents for the normally bottom-dwelling round goby. Avoidance behavior tests demonstrated that the round goby did not react to the presence of either chemical. Therefore, the bottom-release formulations may have some application for the selective removal of round gobies, and may be one of the few tools presently available to fishery managers to help limit the range expansion of this invasive fish.

A Teaching Polygon Makes Learning a Community Enterprise

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colgan, Mark; DeLong, Matt

2015-01-01

In order to strengthen departmental collegiality and improve teaching, our mathematics department instituted a Teaching Polygon. Building on the faculty development idea of Teaching Squares, each member of our department visited one class taught by every other department member in a round-robin fashion during the school year. The visits were…

Colorectal cancer in a second round after a negative faecal immunochemical test.

PubMed

Bujanda, Luis; Sarasqueta, Cristina; Castells, Antoni; Pellisé, María; Cubiella, Joaquín; Gil, Inés; Cosme, Angel; Arana-Arri, Eunate; Mar, Izaskun; Idigoras, Isabel; Portillo, Isabel

2015-07-01

The faecal immunochemical test is one of the tests recommended by scientific societies for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in average-risk populations. Our aim was to evaluate the characteristics of CRC detected in a second round of screening after negative results in a first round. We studied patients in whom CRC was detected in a screening programme. This programme included asymptomatic individuals between 50 and 69 years old and offered tests every 2 years. A total of 363,792 individuals were invited to participate in the first round of faecal immunochemical test screening and 100,135 individuals in the second round after a first negative result. The screening strategy consisted of faecal testing of a single sample using an automated semiquantitative kit, with a cut-off of 20 μg haemoglobin (Hb)/g faeces. The rate of positive results was 6.9% (16,467/238,647) in the first round and 4.8% (3359/69,193) in the second round (P < 0.0005). Overall, 860 (0.36%) cases of CRC were detected in the first round and 100 (0.14%) in the second round (P < 0.005). The location of the cancer was proximal in 12.5 and 24% of cases detected in the first and second rounds, respectively (P = 0.008). Hb concentrations were higher in the first round (211 vs. 109 μg Hb/g faeces in the second round; P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that, in the second round, CRC diagnosed was more often proximal (hazard ratio vs. first round, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-4.4; P = 0.003) and the concentration of Hb/g faeces was lower (hazard ratio vs. first round, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.5; P = 0.003). The CRC detection rate is lower in the second round of screening. Further, in the second round, CRC detected is more often in a proximal location and Hb concentrations are lower.

Cross-shell excitations from the f p shell: Lifetime measurements in 61Zn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Queiser, M.; Vogt, A.; Seidlitz, M.; Reiter, P.; Togashi, T.; Shimizu, N.; Utsuno, Y.; Otsuka, T.; Honma, M.; Petkov, P.; Arnswald, K.; Altenkirch, R.; Birkenbach, B.; Blazhev, A.; Braunroth, T.; Dewald, A.; Eberth, J.; Fransen, C.; Fu, B.; Hess, H.; Hetzenegger, R.; Hirsch, R.; Jolie, J.; Karayonchev, V.; Kaya, L.; Lewandowski, L.; Müller-Gatermann, C.; Régis, J.-M.; Rosiak, D.; Schneiders, D.; Siebeck, B.; Steinbach, T.; Wolf, K.; Zell, K.-O.

2017-10-01

Lifetimes of excited states in the neutron-deficient nucleus 61Zn were measured employing the recoil-distance Doppler-shift (RDDS) and the electronic fast-timing methods at the University of Cologne. The nucleus of interest was populated as an evaporation residue in 40Ca(24Mg,n 2 p )61Zn and 58Ni(α ,n )61Zn reactions at 67 and 19 MeV, respectively. Five lifetimes were measured for the first time, including the lifetime of the 5 /21- isomer at 124 keV. Short lifetimes from the RDDS analysis are corrected for Doppler-shift attenuation (DSA) in the target and stopper foils. Ambiguous observations in previous measurements were resolved. The obtained lifetimes are compared to predictions from different sets of shell-model calculations in the f p , f5 /2p g9 /2 , and multishell f p -g9 /2d5 /2 model spaces. The band built on the 9 /21+ state exhibits a prolate deformation with β ≈0.24 . Especially, the inclusion of cross-shell excitation into the 1 d5 /2 orbital is found to be decisive for the description of collectivity in the first excited positive-parity band.

Medical student appraisal: electronic resources for inpatient pre-rounding.

PubMed

Sampognaro, P J; Mitchell, S L; Weeks, S R; Khalifian, S; Markman, T M; Uebel, L W; Dattilo, J R

2013-01-01

Pre-rounding is essential to preparing for morning rounds. Despite its importance, pre-rounding is rarely formally taught within the medical school curriculum and more often informally learned by modeling residents. The evolution of mobile applications provides opportunities to optimize this process. To evaluate three options available to medical students while pre-rounding and promote adoption of mobile resources in clinical care. Six medical students formed the evaluation cohort. Students were surveyed to assess pre-rounding practices. Participants utilized paper-based pre-rounding templates for two weeks followed by two weeks of the electronic note-taking service Evernote. A review of mobile applications on the iTunes and Google Play stores was performed, with each application informally reviewed by a single student. The application Scutsheet was selected for formal review by all students. Data was collected from narrative responses supplied by students throughout the evaluation periods and aggregated to assess strengths and limitations of each application. Pre-study responses demonstrated two consistent processes: verbal sign-out of overnight events and template use to organize patient information. The paper-based template was praised for its organization and familiarity amongst residents, but perceived as limited by the requirement of re-copying data into the hospital's electronic medical record (EMR). Evernote excelled due to compatibility across multiple operating systems, including accessibility from clinical workstations and ability to copy notes into the hospital's EMR. Scutsheet allowed for retention of data across multiple hospital days, but was limited by inability to export data or modify the electronic template. Aggregated user feedback identified the abilities to customize templates and copy information into the EMR as two prevailing characteristics that enhanced the efficiency of pre-rounding. Mobile devices offer the potential to enhance pre-rounding

NOx Lifetime During WINTER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kenagy, H. S.; Sparks, T.; Ebben, C. J.; Wooldridge, P. J.; Lopez-Hilfiker, F.; Lee, B. H.; Thornton, J. A.; McDuffie, E. E.; Fibiger, D. L.; Brown, S. S.; Montzka, D. D.; Weinheimer, A. J.; Apel, E. C.; Jaegle, L.; Cohen, R. C.