Sample records for improper input validation

  1. Ultrabroadband photonic internet: safety aspects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalicki, Arkadiusz; Romaniuk, Ryszard

    2008-11-01

    Web applications became most popular medium in the Internet. Popularity, easiness of web application frameworks together with careless development results in high number of vulnerabilities and attacks. There are several types of attacks possible because of improper input validation. SQL injection is ability to execute arbitrary SQL queries in a database through an existing application. Cross-site scripting is the vulnerability which allows malicious web users to inject code into the web pages viewed by other users. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is an attack that tricks the victim into loading a page that contains malicious request. Web spam in blogs. There are several techniques to mitigate attacks. Most important are web application strong design, correct input validation, defined data types for each field and parameterized statements in SQL queries. Server hardening with firewall, modern security policies systems and safe web framework interpreter configuration are essential. It is advised to keep proper security level on client side, keep updated software and install personal web firewalls or IDS/IPS systems. Good habits are logging out from services just after finishing work and using even separate web browser for most important sites, like e-banking.

  2. Test Cases for Modeling and Validation of Structures with Piezoelectric Actuators

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Reaves, Mercedes C.; Horta, Lucas G.

    2001-01-01

    A set of benchmark test articles were developed to validate techniques for modeling structures containing piezoelectric actuators using commercially available finite element analysis packages. The paper presents the development, modeling, and testing of two structures: an aluminum plate with surface mounted patch actuators and a composite box beam with surface mounted actuators. Three approaches for modeling structures containing piezoelectric actuators using the commercially available packages: MSC/NASTRAN and ANSYS are presented. The approaches, applications, and limitations are discussed. Data for both test articles are compared in terms of frequency response functions from deflection and strain data to input voltage to the actuator. Frequency response function results using the three different analysis approaches provided comparable test/analysis results. It is shown that global versus local behavior of the analytical model and test article must be considered when comparing different approaches. Also, improper bonding of actuators greatly reduces the electrical to mechanical effectiveness of the actuators producing anti-resonance errors.

  3. A Mixed-Method Analysis of Reports on 100 Cases of Improper Prescribing of Controlled Substances

    PubMed Central

    DuBois, James M.; Chibnall, John T.; Anderson, Emily E.; Eggers, Michelle; Baldwin, Kari; Vasher, Meghan

    2017-01-01

    Improper prescribing of controlled substances contributes to opioid addictions and deaths by overdose. Studies conducted to-date have largely lacked a theoretical framework and ignored the interaction of individual with environmental factors. We conducted a mixed-method analysis of published reports on 100 cases that occurred in the United States. An average of 17 reports (e.g., from medical boards) per case were coded for 38 dichotomous variables describing the physician, setting, patients, and investigation. A theory on how the case occurred was developed for each case. Explanatory typologies were developed and then validated through hierarchical cluster analysis. Most cases involved physicians who were male (88%), >40 years old (90%), non-board certified (63%), and in small private practices (97%); 54% of cases reported facts about the physician indicative of self-centered personality traits. Three explanatory typologies were validated. Increasing oversight provided by peers and trainees may help prevent improper prescribing of controlled substances. PMID:28663601

  4. SNS Sample Activation Calculator Flux Recommendations and Validation

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

    McClanahan, Tucker C.; Gallmeier, Franz X.; Iverson, Erik B.

    The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) uses the Sample Activation Calculator (SAC) to calculate the activation of a sample after the sample has been exposed to the neutron beam in one of the SNS beamlines. The SAC webpage takes user inputs (choice of beamline, the mass, composition and area of the sample, irradiation time, decay time, etc.) and calculates the activation for the sample. In recent years, the SAC has been incorporated into the user proposal and sample handling process, and instrument teams and users have noticed discrepancies in the predicted activation of their samples.more » The Neutronics Analysis Team validated SAC by performing measurements on select beamlines and confirmed the discrepancies seen by the instrument teams and users. The conclusions were that the discrepancies were a result of a combination of faulty neutron flux spectra for the instruments, improper inputs supplied by SAC (1.12), and a mishandling of cross section data in the Sample Activation Program for Easy Use (SAPEU) (1.1.2). This report focuses on the conclusion that the SAPEU (1.1.2) beamline neutron flux spectra have errors and are a significant contributor to the activation discrepancies. The results of the analysis of the SAPEU (1.1.2) flux spectra for all beamlines will be discussed in detail. The recommendations for the implementation of improved neutron flux spectra in SAPEU (1.1.3) are also discussed.« less

  5. Three Dimensional Vapor Intrusion Modeling: Model Validation and Uncertainty Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akbariyeh, S.; Patterson, B.; Rakoczy, A.; Li, Y.

    2013-12-01

    Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), such as chlorinated solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons, are prevalent groundwater contaminants due to their improper disposal and accidental spillage. In addition to contaminating groundwater, VOCs may partition into the overlying vadose zone and enter buildings through gaps and cracks in foundation slabs or basement walls, a process termed vapor intrusion. Vapor intrusion of VOCs has been recognized as a detrimental source for human exposures to potential carcinogenic or toxic compounds. The simulation of vapor intrusion from a subsurface source has been the focus of many studies to better understand the process and guide field investigation. While multiple analytical and numerical models were developed to simulate the vapor intrusion process, detailed validation of these models against well controlled experiments is still lacking, due to the complexity and uncertainties associated with site characterization and soil gas flux and indoor air concentration measurement. In this work, we present an effort to validate a three-dimensional vapor intrusion model based on a well-controlled experimental quantification of the vapor intrusion pathways into a slab-on-ground building under varying environmental conditions. Finally, a probabilistic approach based on Monte Carlo simulations is implemented to determine the probability distribution of indoor air concentration based on the most uncertain input parameters.

  6. On the Impact of Illustrated Assessment Tool on Paragraph Writing of High School Graduates of Qom, Iran

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bagheridoust, Esmaeil; Husseini, Zahra

    2011-01-01

    Writing as one important skill in language proficiency demands validity, hence high schools are real places in which valid results are needed for high-stake decisions. Unrealistic and non-viable tests result in improper and invalid interpretation and use. Illustrations without any written research have proved their effectiveness in whatsoever…

  7. Experimental validation of ultrasonic NDE simulation software

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dib, Gerges; Larche, Michael; Diaz, Aaron A.; Crawford, Susan L.; Prowant, Matthew S.; Anderson, Michael T.

    2016-02-01

    Computer modeling and simulation is becoming an essential tool for transducer design and insight into ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (UT-NDE). As the popularity of simulation tools for UT-NDE increases, it becomes important to assess their reliability to model acoustic responses from defects in operating components and provide information that is consistent with in-field inspection data. This includes information about the detectability of different defect types for a given UT probe. Recently, a cooperative program between the Electrical Power Research Institute and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was established to validate numerical modeling software commonly used for simulating UT-NDE of nuclear power plant components. In the first phase of this cooperative, extensive experimental UT measurements were conducted on machined notches with varying depth, length, and orientation in stainless steel plates. Then, the notches were modeled in CIVA, a semi-analytical NDE simulation platform developed by the French Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, and their responses compared with the experimental measurements. Discrepancies between experimental and simulation results are due to either improper inputs to the simulation model, or to incorrect approximations and assumptions in the numerical models. To address the former, a variation study was conducted on the different parameters that are required as inputs for the model, specifically the specimen and transducer properties. Then, the ability of simulations to give accurate predictions regarding the detectability of the different defects was demonstrated. This includes the results in terms of the variations in defect amplitude indications, and the ratios between tip diffracted and specular signal amplitudes.

  8. Fault Diagnosis in HVAC Chillers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Choi, Kihoon; Namuru, Setu M.; Azam, Mohammad S.; Luo, Jianhui; Pattipati, Krishna R.; Patterson-Hine, Ann

    2005-01-01

    Modern buildings are being equipped with increasingly sophisticated power and control systems with substantial capabilities for monitoring and controlling the amenities. Operational problems associated with heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems plague many commercial buildings, often the result of degraded equipment, failed sensors, improper installation, poor maintenance, and improperly implemented controls. Most existing HVAC fault-diagnostic schemes are based on analytical models and knowledge bases. These schemes are adequate for generic systems. However, real-world systems significantly differ from the generic ones and necessitate modifications of the models and/or customization of the standard knowledge bases, which can be labor intensive. Data-driven techniques for fault detection and isolation (FDI) have a close relationship with pattern recognition, wherein one seeks to categorize the input-output data into normal or faulty classes. Owing to the simplicity and adaptability, customization of a data-driven FDI approach does not require in-depth knowledge of the HVAC system. It enables the building system operators to improve energy efficiency and maintain the desired comfort level at a reduced cost. In this article, we consider a data-driven approach for FDI of chillers in HVAC systems. To diagnose the faults of interest in the chiller, we employ multiway dynamic principal component analysis (MPCA), multiway partial least squares (MPLS), and support vector machines (SVMs). The simulation of a chiller under various fault conditions is conducted using a standard chiller simulator from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). We validated our FDI scheme using experimental data obtained from different types of chiller faults.

  9. Investigation of sludge re-circulating clarifiers design and optimization through numerical simulation.

    PubMed

    Davari, S; Lichayee, M J

    2003-01-01

    In steam thermal power plants (TPP) with open re-circulating wet cooling towers, elimination of water hardness and suspended solids (SS) is performed in clarifiers. Most of these clarifiers are of high efficiency sludge re-circulating type (SRC) with capacity between 500-1,500 m3/hr. Improper design and/or mal-operation of clarifiers in TPPs results in working conditions below design capacity or production of soft water with improper quality (hardness and S.S.). This causes accumulation of deposits in heat exchangers, condenser tubes, cooling and service water pipes and boiler tubes as well as increasing the ionic load of water at the demineralizing system inlet. It also increases the amount of chemical consumptions and produces more liquid and solid waste. In this regard, a software program for optimal design and simulation of SRCs has been developed. Then design parameters of existing SRCs in four TPPs in Iran were used as inputs to developed software program and resulting technical specifications were compared with existing ones. In some cases improper design was the main cause of poor outlet water quality. In order to achieve proper efficiency, further investigations were made to obtain control parameters as well as design parameters for both mal-designed and/or mal-operated SRCs.

  10. Minimising Backbreak at the Dewan Cement Limestone Quarry Using an Artificial Neural Network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Muhammad, Khan; Shah, Akram

    2017-12-01

    Backbreak, defined as excessive breakage behind the last row of blastholes in blasting operations at a quarry, causes destabilisation of rock slopes, improper fragmentation, minimises drilling efficiency. In this paper an artificial neural network (ANN) is applied to predict backbreak, using 12 input parameters representing various controllable factors, such as the characteristics of explosives and geometrical blast design, at the Dewan Cement limestone quarry in Hattar, Pakistan. This ANN was trained with several model architectures. The 12-2-1 ANN model was selected as the simplest model yielding the best result, with a reported correlation coefficient of 0.98 and 0.97 in the training and validation phases, respectively. Sensitivity analysis of the model suggested that backbreak can be reduced most effectively by reducing powder factor, blasthole inclination, and burden. Field tests were subsequently carried out in which these sensitive parameters were varied accordingly; as a result, backbreak was controlled and reduced from 8 m to less than a metre. The resulting reduction in powder factor (kg of explosives used per m3 of blasted material) also reduced blasting costs.

  11. Testing Integrity Symposium: Issues and Recommendations for Best Practice

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Center for Education Statistics, 2013

    2013-01-01

    Educators, parents, and the public depend on accurate, valid, reliable, and timely information about student academic performance. Testing irregularities--breaches of test security or improper administration of academic testing--undermine efforts to use those data to improve student achievement. Unfortunately, there have been high-profile and…

  12. The Model Analyst’s Toolkit: Scientific Model Development, Analysis, and Validation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-05-20

    biased for a variety of reasons, and neurological and physiological data can be corrupted by broken or improperly used sensors. If it were possible...War and Development Policy. Washington, DC: World Bank and Oxford University Press. Collier, P. and Hoeffler, A. (2004). " Greed and Grievances in

  13. Validation of Chlorine and Oxygen Isotope Ratio Analysis to Differentiate Perchlorate Sources and to Document Perchlorate Biodegradation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-12-01

    UCMR) data Hockley County, TX (s)Improper Cathodic Protection Elevated Storage Tank 32 TX Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant Texarkana ...River Army Depot Texarkana , TX Propellant Handling Monitoring Well 80 UT Alliant Tech Systems Magna, UT Rocket Manufacturing Public Water Supply Well

  14. Computer modeling of multiple-channel input signals and intermodulation losses caused by nonlinear traveling wave tube amplifiers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stankiewicz, N.

    1982-01-01

    The multiple channel input signal to a soft limiter amplifier as a traveling wave tube is represented as a finite, linear sum of Gaussian functions in the frequency domain. Linear regression is used to fit the channel shapes to a least squares residual error. Distortions in output signal, namely intermodulation products, are produced by the nonlinear gain characteristic of the amplifier and constitute the principal noise analyzed in this study. The signal to noise ratios are calculated for various input powers from saturation to 10 dB below saturation for two specific distributions of channels. A criterion for the truncation of the series expansion of the nonlinear transfer characteristic is given. It is found that he signal to noise ratios are very sensitive to the coefficients used in this expansion. Improper or incorrect truncation of the series leads to ambiguous results in the signal to noise ratios.

  15. Copyright Catechism II. Practical Answers to Everyday School Dilemmas. Copyright Series

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Simpson, Carol

    2011-01-01

    This book contains valid, real-world copyright questions posed by real-life educators--all answered by a knowledgeable and experienced school attorney. Poor economic conditions have driven publishers to be more aggressive with pursuing improper use of their copyrighted materials. At the same time, new technologies are complicating old copyright…

  16. Method of validating measurement data of a process parameter from a plurality of individual sensor inputs

    DOEpatents

    Scarola, Kenneth; Jamison, David S.; Manazir, Richard M.; Rescorl, Robert L.; Harmon, Daryl L.

    1998-01-01

    A method for generating a validated measurement of a process parameter at a point in time by using a plurality of individual sensor inputs from a scan of said sensors at said point in time. The sensor inputs from said scan are stored and a first validation pass is initiated by computing an initial average of all stored sensor inputs. Each sensor input is deviation checked by comparing each input including a preset tolerance against the initial average input. If the first deviation check is unsatisfactory, the sensor which produced the unsatisfactory input is flagged as suspect. It is then determined whether at least two of the inputs have not been flagged as suspect and are therefore considered good inputs. If two or more inputs are good, a second validation pass is initiated by computing a second average of all the good sensor inputs, and deviation checking the good inputs by comparing each good input including a present tolerance against the second average. If the second deviation check is satisfactory, the second average is displayed as the validated measurement and the suspect sensor as flagged as bad. A validation fault occurs if at least two inputs are not considered good, or if the second deviation check is not satisfactory. In the latter situation the inputs from each of all the sensors are compared against the last validated measurement and the value from the sensor input that deviates the least from the last valid measurement is displayed.

  17. Measuring and modeling the temporal dynamics of nitrogen balance in an experimental-scale paddy field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tseng, C.; Lin, Y.

    2013-12-01

    Nitrogen balance involves many mechanisms and plays an important role to maintain the function of nature. Fertilizer application in agriculture activity is usually seen as a common and significant nitrogen input to environment. Improper fertilizer application on paddy field can result in great amount of various types of nitrogen losses. Hence, it is essential to understand and quantify the nitrogen dynamics in paddy field for fertilizer management and pollution control. In this study, we develop a model which considers major transformation processes of nitrogen (e.g. volatilization, nitrification, denitrification and plant uptake). In addition, we measured different types of nitrogen in plants, soil and water at plant growth stages in an experimental-scale paddy field in Taiwan. The measurement includes total nitrogen in plants and soil, and ammonium-N (NH4+-N), nitrate-N (NO3--N) and organic nitrogen in water. The measured data were used to calibrate the model parameters and validate the model for nitrogen balance simulation. The results showed that the model can accurately estimate the temporal dynamics of nitrogen balance in paddy field during the whole growth stage. This model might be helpful and useful for future fertilizer management and pollution control in paddy field.

  18. A pilot's assessment of helicopter handling-quality factors common to both agility and instrument flying tasks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gerdes, R. M.

    1980-01-01

    A series of simulation and flight investigations were undertaken to evaluate helicopter flying qualities and the effects of control system augmentation for nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) agility and instrument flying tasks. Handling quality factors common to both tasks were identified. Precise attitude control was determined to be a key requirement for successful accomplishment of both tasks. Factors that degraded attitude controllability were improper levels of control sensitivity and damping, and rotor system cross coupling due to helicopter angular rate and collective pitch input. Application of rate command, attitude command, and control input decouple augmentation schemes enhanced attitude control and significantly improved handling qualities for both tasks. The NOE agility and instrument flying handling quality considerations, pilot rating philosophy, and supplemental flight evaluations are also discussed.

  19. Modeling Regular Replacement for String Constraint Solving

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fu, Xiang; Li, Chung-Chih

    2010-01-01

    Bugs in user input sanitation of software systems often lead to vulnerabilities. Among them many are caused by improper use of regular replacement. This paper presents a precise modeling of various semantics of regular substitution, such as the declarative, finite, greedy, and reluctant, using finite state transducers (FST). By projecting an FST to its input/output tapes, we are able to solve atomic string constraints, which can be applied to both the forward and backward image computation in model checking and symbolic execution of text processing programs. We report several interesting discoveries, e.g., certain fragments of the general problem can be handled using less expressive deterministic FST. A compact representation of FST is implemented in SUSHI, a string constraint solver. It is applied to detecting vulnerabilities in web applications

  20. Assessment of Puerto Rican Children in Bilingual Education Programs in the United States: A Critique of Lloyd M. Dunn's Monograph.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Diaz, Joseph O. Prewitt

    1988-01-01

    Responds to Dunn's paper on Hispanic-Anglo differences in IQ scores. Comments on Dunn's translation of Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised into Castilian Spanish, and concludes this version is inappropriate for mainland Puerto Rican and Mexican-American children due to improper translation and validation methods. Contains 27 references.…

  1. 14 CFR Appendix D to Part 43 - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... group: (1) Radio and electronic equipment—for improper installation and insecure mounting. (2) Wiring...) Systems and components—for improper installation, apparent defects, and unsatisfactory operation. (3...) improper operation. (5) Flight and engine controls—for improper installation and improper operation. (6...

  2. A pilot's assessment of helicopter handling-quality factors common to both agility and instrument flying tasks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gerdes, R. M.

    1980-01-01

    Results from a series of simulation and flight investigations undertaken to evaluate helicopter flying qualities and the effects of control system augmentation for nap-of-the-earth (NOE) agility and instrument flying tasks were analyzed to assess handling-quality factors common to both tasks. Precise attitude control was determined to be a key requirement for successful accomplishment of both tasks. Factors that degraded attitude controllability were improper levels of control sensitivity and damping and rotor-system cross-coupling due to helicopter angular rate and collective pitch input. Application of rate-command, attitude-command, and control-input decouple augmentation schemes enhanced attitude control and significantly improved handling qualities for both tasks. NOE agility and instrument flying handling-quality considerations, pilot rating philosophy, and supplemental flight evaluations are also discussed.

  3. Overview of Heat Addition and Efficiency Predictions for an Advanced Stirling Convertor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, Scott D.; Reid, Terry; Schifer, Nicholas; Briggs, Maxwell

    2011-01-01

    Past methods of predicting net heat input needed to be validated. Validation effort pursued with several paths including improving model inputs, using test hardware to provide validation data, and validating high fidelity models. Validation test hardware provided direct measurement of net heat input for comparison to predicted values. Predicted value of net heat input was 1.7 percent less than measured value and initial calculations of measurement uncertainty were 2.1 percent (under review). Lessons learned during validation effort were incorporated into convertor modeling approach which improved predictions of convertor efficiency.

  4. Insider Alert 1.0 Beta Version

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

    Abbott, Robert

    2004-02-01

    Insider Alert 1.0 Beta Version supports interactive selection and graphical display of data generated by the Sandia Cognitive Framework, which simulates the examination of security data by experts of various specialties. Insider Alert also encompasses the configuration and data files input to the Cognitive Framework for this application. Insider Alert 1.0 Beta Version is a computer program for analyzing data indicative of possible espionage or improper handling of data by employees at Sandia National Laboratories (or other facilities with comparable policies and procedures for managing sensitive information) It prioritizes and displays information for review by security analysts.

  5. Validation of nuclear magnetic resonance structures of proteins and nucleic acids: hydrogen geometry and nomenclature.

    PubMed

    Doreleijers, J F; Vriend, G; Raves, M L; Kaptein, R

    1999-11-15

    A statistical analysis is reported of 1,200 of the 1,404 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-derived protein and nucleic acid structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) before 1999. Excluded from this analysis were the entries not yet fully validated by the PDB and the more than 100 entries that contained < 95% of the expected hydrogens. The aim was to assess the geometry of the hydrogens in the remaining structures and to provide a check on their nomenclature. Deviations in bond lengths, bond angles, improper dihedral angles, and planarity with respect to estimated values were checked. More than 100 entries showed anomalous protonation states for some of their amino acids. Approximately 250,000 (1.7%) atom names differed from the consensus PDB nomenclature. Most of the inconsistencies are due to swapped prochiral labeling. Large deviations from the expected geometry exist for a considerable number of entries, many of which are average structures. The most common causes for these deviations seem to be poor minimization of average structures and an improper balance between force-field constraints for experimental and holonomic data. Some specific geometric outliers are related to the refinement programs used. A number of recommendations for biomolecular databases, modeling programs, and authors submitting biomolecular structures are given.

  6. A Space Acquisition Leading Indicator Based on System Interoperation Maturity

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-12-01

    delivered hardware, improper use of soldering materials, improper installation of thermal blankets , and missing test procedure documentation A poor...office, the first GEO integrated payload and spacecraft successfully completed thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing in November 2009. Program officials...contamination in delivered hardware, improper use of soldering materials, improper installation of thermal blankets , and missing test procedure

  7. 38 CFR 17.503 - Improper disclosure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... Confidentiality of Healthcare Quality Assurance Review Records § 17.503 Improper disclosure. (a) Improper disclosure is the disclosure of confidential and privileged healthcare quality assurance review records or...

  8. 38 CFR 17.503 - Improper disclosure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... Confidentiality of Healthcare Quality Assurance Review Records § 17.503 Improper disclosure. (a) Improper disclosure is the disclosure of confidential and privileged healthcare quality assurance review records or...

  9. 38 CFR 17.503 - Improper disclosure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... Confidentiality of Healthcare Quality Assurance Review Records § 17.503 Improper disclosure. (a) Improper disclosure is the disclosure of confidential and privileged healthcare quality assurance review records or...

  10. 38 CFR 17.503 - Improper disclosure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... Confidentiality of Healthcare Quality Assurance Review Records § 17.503 Improper disclosure. (a) Improper disclosure is the disclosure of confidential and privileged healthcare quality assurance review records or...

  11. 38 CFR 17.503 - Improper disclosure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... Confidentiality of Healthcare Quality Assurance Review Records § 17.503 Improper disclosure. (a) Improper disclosure is the disclosure of confidential and privileged healthcare quality assurance review records or...

  12. 45 CFR 2540.660 - If the final decision determines that I received a financial benefit improperly, will I be...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... financial benefit improperly, will I be required to repay that benefit? 2540.660 Section 2540.660 Public... determines that I received a financial benefit improperly, will I be required to repay that benefit? If it is determined that you received a financial benefit improperly, you may be required to reimburse the program for...

  13. Abuse notation of improper integrals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arfi, E.; Wiryanto, L. H.

    2018-01-01

    In the definition of \\int_ab {f(x)dx} , it was assumed that the interval [a, b] was finite. However, in many application in physics, engineering, economics, and probability we wish to allow a or b (or both) to be infinite or for the other case when f has an infinite discontinuity in [a, b]. In either case the integral is called improper integral. Definition of improper integral is the limit of a definite integral as an endpoint of the interval of integration approaches either a specified real number or ∞ or -∞ or, in some cases, as both endpoints approach limits. Many of the first-year students in ITERA learning about improper integrals make an abuse notation like written improper integral just like standard definite integral. Based on this situation, we tried to change the habits of the students in the writing of improper integrals by providing sufficient understanding and considerable exercises. It turns out this way gives good result, based on the percentage of the value of the midterms to the problem of improper integrals give a fairly good percentage value.

  14. DoD Met Most Requirements of the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act in FY 2014, but Improper Payment Estimates Were Unreliable

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-05-12

    Deficiencies That Affect the Reliability of Estimates ________________________________________6 Statistical Precision Could Be Improved... statistical precision of improper payments estimates in seven of the DoD payment programs through the use of stratified sample designs. DoD improper...payments not subject to sampling, which made the results statistically invalid. We made a recommendation to correct this problem in a previous report;4

  15. Direct determination of one-dimensional interphase structures using normalized crystal truncation rod analysis

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

    Kawaguchi, Tomoya; Liu, Yihua; Reiter, Anthony

    Here, a one-dimensional non-iterative direct method was employed for normalized crystal truncation rod analysis. The non-iterative approach, utilizing the Kramers–Kronig relation, avoids the ambiguities due to an improper initial model or incomplete convergence in the conventional iterative methods. The validity and limitations of the present method are demonstrated through both numerical simulations and experiments with Pt(111) in a 0.1 M CsF aqueous solution. The present method is compared with conventional iterative phase-retrieval methods.

  16. Software Security Knowledge: CWE. Knowing What Could Make Software Vulnerable to Attack

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-05-01

    shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1...Buffer • CWE-642: External Control of Critical State Data • CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path • CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path • CWE...94: Failure to Control Generation of Code (aka ’Code Injection’) • CWE-494: Download of Code Without Integrity Check • CWE-404: Improper Resource

  17. Direct determination of one-dimensional interphase structures using normalized crystal truncation rod analysis

    DOE PAGES

    Kawaguchi, Tomoya; Liu, Yihua; Reiter, Anthony; ...

    2018-04-20

    Here, a one-dimensional non-iterative direct method was employed for normalized crystal truncation rod analysis. The non-iterative approach, utilizing the Kramers–Kronig relation, avoids the ambiguities due to an improper initial model or incomplete convergence in the conventional iterative methods. The validity and limitations of the present method are demonstrated through both numerical simulations and experiments with Pt(111) in a 0.1 M CsF aqueous solution. The present method is compared with conventional iterative phase-retrieval methods.

  18. 48 CFR 3.401 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... for the purpose of securing business, that neither exerts nor proposes to exert improper influence to... contract or contracts through improper influence. Bona fide employee, means a person, employed by a... performance, who neither exerts nor proposes to exert improper influence to solicit or obtain Government...

  19. 20 CFR 656.12 - Improper commerce and payment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Improper commerce and payment. 656.12 Section 656.12 Employees' Benefits EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LABOR....12 Improper commerce and payment. The following provision applies to applications filed under both...

  20. 29 CFR 541.603 - Effect of improper deductions from salary.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 541.603 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR... deductions; the number and geographic location of employees whose salary was improperly reduced; the number... classification working for the same managers responsible for the actual improper deductions. Employees in...

  1. 20 CFR 656.12 - Improper commerce and payment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Improper commerce and payment. 656.12 Section....12 Improper commerce and payment. The following provision applies to applications filed under both... certifications are not articles of commerce. They shall not be offered for sale, barter or purchase by...

  2. 20 CFR 656.12 - Improper commerce and payment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Improper commerce and payment. 656.12 Section....12 Improper commerce and payment. The following provision applies to applications filed under both... certifications are not articles of commerce. They shall not be offered for sale, barter or purchase by...

  3. 20 CFR 656.12 - Improper commerce and payment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Improper commerce and payment. 656.12 Section....12 Improper commerce and payment. The following provision applies to applications filed under both... certifications are not articles of commerce. They shall not be offered for sale, barter or purchase by...

  4. 20 CFR 656.12 - Improper commerce and payment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Improper commerce and payment. 656.12 Section....12 Improper commerce and payment. The following provision applies to applications filed under both... certifications are not articles of commerce. They shall not be offered for sale, barter or purchase by...

  5. Protect Your Back: Guidelines for Safer Lifting.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cantu, Carolyn O.

    2002-01-01

    Examines back injury in teachers and child care providers; includes statistics, common causes of back pain (improper alignment, improper posture, improper lifting, and carrying), and types of back pain (acute and chronic). Focuses on preventing back injury, body mechanics for lifting and carrying, and proper lifting and carrying of children. (SD)

  6. 16 CFR 300.11 - Improper methods of labeling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 16 Commercial Practices 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Improper methods of labeling. 300.11 Section 300.11 Commercial Practices FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION REGULATIONS UNDER SPECIFIC ACTS OF CONGRESS RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE WOOL PRODUCTS LABELING ACT OF 1939 Labeling § 300.11 Improper methods of...

  7. 3 CFR - Finding and Recapturing Improper Payments

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 3 The President 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Finding and Recapturing Improper Payments Presidential Documents Other Presidential Documents Memorandum of March 10, 2010 Finding and Recapturing Improper Payments Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies My Administration is committed to reducing payment errors and eliminating...

  8. 5 CFR 250.103 - Consequences of improper agency actions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Consequences of improper agency actions. 250.103 Section 250.103 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE... Consequences of improper agency actions. If OPM finds that an agency has taken an action contrary to a law...

  9. Syringe Disposal Among Injection Drug Users in San Francisco

    PubMed Central

    Martinez, Alexis N.; Carpenter, Lisa; Geckeler, Dara; Colfax, Grant; Kral, Alex H.

    2011-01-01

    To assess the prevalence of improperly discarded syringes and to examine syringe disposal practices of injection drug users (IDUs) in San Francisco, we visually inspected 1000 random city blocks and conducted a survey of 602 IDUs. We found 20 syringes on the streets we inspected. IDUs reported disposing of 13% of syringes improperly. In multivariate analysis, obtaining syringes from syringe exchange programs was found to be protective against improper disposal, and injecting in public places was predictive of improper disposal. Few syringes posed a public health threat. PMID:20466956

  10. Flight Test Validation of Optimal Input Design and Comparison to Conventional Inputs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Morelli, Eugene A.

    1997-01-01

    A technique for designing optimal inputs for aerodynamic parameter estimation was flight tested on the F-18 High Angle of Attack Research Vehicle (HARV). Model parameter accuracies calculated from flight test data were compared on an equal basis for optimal input designs and conventional inputs at the same flight condition. In spite of errors in the a priori input design models and distortions of the input form by the feedback control system, the optimal inputs increased estimated parameter accuracies compared to conventional 3-2-1-1 and doublet inputs. In addition, the tests using optimal input designs demonstrated enhanced design flexibility, allowing the optimal input design technique to use a larger input amplitude to achieve further increases in estimated parameter accuracy without departing from the desired flight test condition. This work validated the analysis used to develop the optimal input designs, and demonstrated the feasibility and practical utility of the optimal input design technique.

  11. Directed Design of Experiments for Validating Probability of Detection Capability of a Testing System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Generazio, Edward R. (Inventor)

    2012-01-01

    A method of validating a probability of detection (POD) testing system using directed design of experiments (DOE) includes recording an input data set of observed hit and miss or analog data for sample components as a function of size of a flaw in the components. The method also includes processing the input data set to generate an output data set having an optimal class width, assigning a case number to the output data set, and generating validation instructions based on the assigned case number. An apparatus includes a host machine for receiving the input data set from the testing system and an algorithm for executing DOE to validate the test system. The algorithm applies DOE to the input data set to determine a data set having an optimal class width, assigns a case number to that data set, and generates validation instructions based on the case number.

  12. 22 CFR 211.9 - Liability for loss damage or improper distribution of commodities.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... specify how such losses occurred; (E) Obtain copies of port and/or ship records including scale weights... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Liability for loss damage or improper... § 211.9 Liability for loss damage or improper distribution of commodities. (Where the instructions in...

  13. 22 CFR 211.9 - Liability for loss damage or improper distribution of commodities.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... specify how such losses occurred; (E) Obtain copies of port and/or ship records including scale weights... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Liability for loss damage or improper... § 211.9 Liability for loss damage or improper distribution of commodities. (Where the instructions in...

  14. 13 CFR 134.407 - Evidence beyond the record and discovery.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... Agency determination in question may have resulted from bad faith or improper behavior. (1) Prior to any... allegations of bad faith or improper behavior. (2) Upon a determination by the Administrative Law Judge that... specifically limited to the alleged bad faith or improper behavior. (b) A determination by the Administrative...

  15. 13 CFR 134.407 - Evidence beyond the record and discovery.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... Agency determination in question may have resulted from bad faith or improper behavior. (1) Prior to any... allegations of bad faith or improper behavior. (2) Upon a determination by the Administrative Law Judge that... specifically limited to the alleged bad faith or improper behavior. (b) A determination by the Administrative...

  16. 13 CFR 134.407 - Evidence beyond the record and discovery.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... Agency determination in question may have resulted from bad faith or improper behavior. (1) Prior to any... allegations of bad faith or improper behavior. (2) Upon a determination by the Administrative Law Judge that... specifically limited to the alleged bad faith or improper behavior. (b) A determination by the Administrative...

  17. 13 CFR 134.407 - Evidence beyond the record and discovery.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... Agency determination in question may have resulted from bad faith or improper behavior. (1) Prior to any... allegations of bad faith or improper behavior. (2) Upon a determination by the Administrative Law Judge that... specifically limited to the alleged bad faith or improper behavior. (b) A determination by the Administrative...

  18. 22 CFR 171.44 - Improper use of reports.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Improper use of reports. 171.44 Section 171.44 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION AND RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC Ethics in Government Act Provisions § 171.44 Improper use of reports. (a) The Attorney General may...

  19. 48 CFR 52.203-10 - Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Price or Fee Adjustment... Text of Provisions and Clauses 52.203-10 Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity. As prescribed in 3.104-9(b) insert the following clause: Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper...

  20. 14 CFR Appendix D to Part 43 - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... internal tolerances. (4) Engine mount—for cracks, looseness of mounting, and looseness of engine to mount... aircraft and aircraft engine. (b) Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect...) improper operation. (5) Flight and engine controls—for improper installation and improper operation. (6...

  1. 14 CFR Appendix D to Part 43 - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... internal tolerances. (4) Engine mount—for cracks, looseness of mounting, and looseness of engine to mount... aircraft and aircraft engine. (b) Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect...) improper operation. (5) Flight and engine controls—for improper installation and improper operation. (6...

  2. 14 CFR Appendix D to Part 43 - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... internal tolerances. (4) Engine mount—for cracks, looseness of mounting, and looseness of engine to mount... aircraft and aircraft engine. (b) Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect...) improper operation. (5) Flight and engine controls—for improper installation and improper operation. (6...

  3. 14 CFR Appendix D to Part 43 - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... internal tolerances. (4) Engine mount—for cracks, looseness of mounting, and looseness of engine to mount... aircraft and aircraft engine. (b) Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect...) improper operation. (5) Flight and engine controls—for improper installation and improper operation. (6...

  4. 15 CFR 265.21 - Improper use of roads as thoroughfares.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Improper use of roads as thoroughfares... § 265.21 Improper use of roads as thoroughfares. Except as otherwise provided herein, no person shall drive a motor vehicle or bicycle onto the site for the sole purpose of using the roads of the site as a...

  5. DNA barcoding detected improper labelling and supersession of crab food served by restaurants in India.

    PubMed

    Vartak, Vivek Rohidas; Narasimmalu, Rajendran; Annam, Pavan Kumar; Singh, Dhirendra P; Lakra, Wazir S

    2015-01-01

    Detection of improper labelling of raw and processed seafood is of global importance for reducing commercial fraud and enhancing food safety. Crabs are crustaceans with intricate morphological as well as genetic divergence among species and are popular as seafood in restaurants. Owing to the high number of crab species available, it can be difficult to identify those included in particular food dishes, thus increasing the chance of supersession. DNA barcoding is an advanced technology for detecting improper food labelling and has been used successfully to authenticate seafood. This study identified 11 edible crab species from India by classical taxonomy and developed molecular barcodes with the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. These barcodes were used as reference barcodes for detecting any improper labelling of 50 restaurant crab samples. Neighbour-joining tree analysis with COI barcodes showed distinct clusters of restaurant samples with respective reference species. The study demonstrated 100% improper labelling of restaurant samples to cover up acts of inferior crab supersession. DNA barcoding successfully identified 11 edible crabs in accordance with classical taxonomy and discerned improper crab food labelling in restaurants of India. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

  6. Gstruct: a system for extracting schemas from GML documents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Hui; Zhu, Fubao; Guan, Jihong; Zhou, Shuigeng

    2008-10-01

    Geography Markup Language (GML) becomes the de facto standard for geographic information representation on the internet. GML schema provides a way to define the structure, content, and semantic of GML documents. It contains useful structural information of GML documents and plays an important role in storing, querying and analyzing GML data. However, GML schema is not mandatory, and it is common that a GML document contains no schema. In this paper, we present Gstruct, a tool for GML schema extraction. Gstruct finds the features in the input GML documents, identifies geometry datatypes as well as simple datatypes, then integrates all these features and eliminates improper components to output the optimal schema. Experiments demonstrate that Gstruct is effective in extracting semantically meaningful schemas from GML documents.

  7. Understanding Cervicogenic Headache

    PubMed Central

    Chua, Nicholas H L; Suijlekom, Hans V; Wilder-Smith, Oliver H; Vissers, Kris C P

    2012-01-01

    The purported mechanism underlying the development and progression of cervicogenic headache (CEH) is the convergence of sensory inputs at the trigeminocervical nucleus. This mechanism explains the radiation of pain from the neck or the occipitonuchal area and its spread to the oculo-fronto-temporal region; it also explains the recurrent headaches caused by improper neck postures or external pressure to the structures in the neck and the occipital region. These neural connectivity mechanisms involving the trigeminal nucleus are also evident from the eyeblink reflex and findings of quantitative sensory testing (QST). Understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of CEH is important because it will not only provide a better treatment outcome but will also allow practitioners to appreciate the variability of symptomatic presentations in these patients. PMID:24223325

  8. Quantification of construction waste prevented by BIM-based design validation: Case studies in South Korea.

    PubMed

    Won, Jongsung; Cheng, Jack C P; Lee, Ghang

    2016-03-01

    Waste generated in construction and demolition processes comprised around 50% of the solid waste in South Korea in 2013. Many cases show that design validation based on building information modeling (BIM) is an effective means to reduce the amount of construction waste since construction waste is mainly generated due to improper design and unexpected changes in the design and construction phases. However, the amount of construction waste that could be avoided by adopting BIM-based design validation has been unknown. This paper aims to estimate the amount of construction waste prevented by a BIM-based design validation process based on the amount of construction waste that might be generated due to design errors. Two project cases in South Korea were studied in this paper, with 381 and 136 design errors detected, respectively during the BIM-based design validation. Each design error was categorized according to its cause and the likelihood of detection before construction. The case studies show that BIM-based design validation could prevent 4.3-15.2% of construction waste that might have been generated without using BIM. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Momentum-resolved observations of the phonon instability driving geometric improper ferroelectricity in yttrium manganite

    DOE PAGES

    Bansal, Dipanshu; Niedziela, Jennifer L.; Sinclair, Ryan; ...

    2018-01-02

    Magnetoelectrics offer tantalizing opportunities for devices coupling ferroelectricity and magnetism but remain difficult to realize. Breakthrough strategies could circumvent the mutually exclusive origins of magnetism and ferroelectricity by exploiting the interaction of multiple phonon modes in geometric improper and hybrid improper ferroelectrics. Yet, the proposed instability of a zone-boundary phonon mode, driving the emergence of ferroelectricity via coupling to a polar mode, remains to be directly observed. Here, we provide previously missing evidence for this scenario in the archetypal improper ferroelectric, yttrium manganite, through comprehensive scattering measurements of the atomic structure and phonons, supported with first-principles simulations. Our experiments andmore » theoretical modeling resolve the origin of the unusual temperature dependence of the polarization and rule out a reported double-step ferroelectric transition. These results emphasize the critical role of phonon anharmonicity in rationalizing lattice instabilities in improper ferroelectrics and show that including these effects in simulations could facilitate the design of magnetoelectrics.« less

  10. New iron-based multiferroics with improper ferroelectricity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peng, Jin; Zhang, Yang; Lin, Ling-Fang; Lin, Lin; Liu, Meifeng; Liu, Jun-Ming; Dong, Shuai

    2018-06-01

    In this contribution to the special issue on magnetoelectrics and their applications, we focus on some single phase multiferroics, which have been theoretically predicted and/or experimentally discovered by the authors in recent years. In these materials, iron is the common core element. However, these materials are conceptually different from the mostly-studied BiFeO3, since their ferroelectricity is improper. Our reviewed materials are not simply repeating one magnetoelectric mechanism, but cover multiple branches of improper ferroelectricity, including the magnetism-driven ferroelectrics, geometric ferroelectric, as well as electronic ferroelectric driven by charge ordering. In this sense, these iron-based improper ferroelectrics can be an encyclopaedic playground to explore the comprehensive physics of multiferroics and magnetoelectricity. Furthermore, the unique characteristics of iron’s 3d orbitals make some of their magnetoelectric properties quite prominent, comparing with the extensively-studied Mn-based improper multiferroics. In addition, these materials establish the crossover between multiferroics and other fields of functional materials, which enlarges the application scope of multiferroics.

  11. Momentum-resolved observations of the phonon instability driving geometric improper ferroelectricity in yttrium manganite

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

    Bansal, Dipanshu; Niedziela, Jennifer L.; Sinclair, Ryan

    Magnetoelectrics offer tantalizing opportunities for devices coupling ferroelectricity and magnetism but remain difficult to realize. Breakthrough strategies could circumvent the mutually exclusive origins of magnetism and ferroelectricity by exploiting the interaction of multiple phonon modes in geometric improper and hybrid improper ferroelectrics. Yet, the proposed instability of a zone-boundary phonon mode, driving the emergence of ferroelectricity via coupling to a polar mode, remains to be directly observed. Here, we provide previously missing evidence for this scenario in the archetypal improper ferroelectric, yttrium manganite, through comprehensive scattering measurements of the atomic structure and phonons, supported with first-principles simulations. Our experiments andmore » theoretical modeling resolve the origin of the unusual temperature dependence of the polarization and rule out a reported double-step ferroelectric transition. These results emphasize the critical role of phonon anharmonicity in rationalizing lattice instabilities in improper ferroelectrics and show that including these effects in simulations could facilitate the design of magnetoelectrics.« less

  12. Momentum-resolved observations of the phonon instability driving geometric improper ferroelectricity in yttrium manganite.

    PubMed

    Bansal, Dipanshu; Niedziela, Jennifer L; Sinclair, Ryan; Garlea, V Ovidiu; Abernathy, Douglas L; Chi, Songxue; Ren, Yang; Zhou, Haidong; Delaire, Olivier

    2018-01-02

    Magnetoelectrics offer tantalizing opportunities for devices coupling ferroelectricity and magnetism but remain difficult to realize. Breakthrough strategies could circumvent the mutually exclusive origins of magnetism and ferroelectricity by exploiting the interaction of multiple phonon modes in geometric improper and hybrid improper ferroelectrics. Yet, the proposed instability of a zone-boundary phonon mode, driving the emergence of ferroelectricity via coupling to a polar mode, remains to be directly observed. Here, we provide previously missing evidence for this scenario in the archetypal improper ferroelectric, yttrium manganite, through comprehensive scattering measurements of the atomic structure and phonons, supported with first-principles simulations. Our experiments and theoretical modeling resolve the origin of the unusual temperature dependence of the polarization and rule out a reported double-step ferroelectric transition. These results emphasize the critical role of phonon anharmonicity in rationalizing lattice instabilities in improper ferroelectrics and show that including these effects in simulations could facilitate the design of magnetoelectrics.

  13. De-Trending Techniques: Methods for Cleaning Questionable Shock Data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Grillo, Vincent J.

    2010-01-01

    Not all zero shifted acceleration data can De-trended using this technique. DC shifts, improper AC coupling, Circuit noise/EMI/EMR, Equivalent RC circuit gain response/Circuit saturation(Slew Rate Limited), fixture grounding and wiring losses can all contribute to bad shock data being recorded. Some data that is zero-shifted or exhibit large instantaneous velocity shifts is inherently bad and a retest is warranted. Clean Acceleration-Time history data can be bad upon examining the Velocity & Displacement profiles. Laser Vibrometers provide a high level of accuracy for pyrotechnic shock testing. Engineering judgment and experience will determine the validity of Shock data.

  14. Validation of Computational Models in Biomechanics

    PubMed Central

    Henninger, Heath B.; Reese, Shawn P.; Anderson, Andrew E.; Weiss, Jeffrey A.

    2010-01-01

    The topics of verification and validation (V&V) have increasingly been discussed in the field of computational biomechanics, and many recent articles have applied these concepts in an attempt to build credibility for models of complex biological systems. V&V are evolving techniques that, if used improperly, can lead to false conclusions about a system under study. In basic science these erroneous conclusions may lead to failure of a subsequent hypothesis, but they can have more profound effects if the model is designed to predict patient outcomes. While several authors have reviewed V&V as they pertain to traditional solid and fluid mechanics, it is the intent of this manuscript to present them in the context of computational biomechanics. Specifically, the task of model validation will be discussed with a focus on current techniques. It is hoped that this review will encourage investigators to engage and adopt the V&V process in an effort to increase peer acceptance of computational biomechanics models. PMID:20839648

  15. Improper Payments Information Act of 2002: Department of Defense Travel Expenditure Reporting

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-05-31

    military health benefits, and military pay. DOD has reported improper payment information since 2003. The Congress mandated that we consider one facet...Appendix C to OMB Circular No. A-123, Requirements for Effective Measurement and Remediation of Improper Payments (Aug. 10, 2006). 3 See the Related GAO...NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Government Accountability Office,441 G Street NW

  16. Response of a grounded dielectric slab to an impulse line source using leaky modes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Duffy, Dean G.

    1994-01-01

    This paper describes how expansions in leaky (or improper) modes may be used to represent the continuous spectrum in an open radiating waveguide. The technique requires a thorough knowledge of the life history of the improper modes as they migrate from improper to proper Riemann surfaces. The method is illustrated by finding the electric field resulting from an impulsively forced current located in the free space above a grounded dielectric slab.

  17. Embodied energy use in China's infrastructure investment from 1992 to 2007: calculation and policy implications.

    PubMed

    Liu, Hongtao; Xi, Youmin; Ren, Bingqun; Zhou, Heng

    2012-01-01

    Infrastructure has become an important topic in a variety of areas of the policy debate, including energy saving and climate change. In this paper, we use an energy input-output model to evaluate the amounts of China's embodied energy use in infrastructure investment from 1992 to 2007. We also use the structure decomposition model to analyze the factors impacting the embodied energy use in infrastructure investment for the same time period. The results show that embodied energy use in infrastructure investment accounted for a significant proportion of China's total energy use with an increasing trend and reflect that improper infrastructure investment represents inefficient use of energy and other resources. Some quantitative information is provided for further determining the low carbon development potentials of China's economy.

  18. Embodied Energy Use in China's Infrastructure Investment from 1992 to 2007: Calculation and Policy Implications

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Hongtao; Xi, Youmin; Ren, Bingqun; Zhou, Heng

    2012-01-01

    Infrastructure has become an important topic in a variety of areas of the policy debate, including energy saving and climate change. In this paper, we use an energy input-output model to evaluate the amounts of China's embodied energy use in infrastructure investment from 1992 to 2007. We also use the structure decomposition model to analyze the factors impacting the embodied energy use in infrastructure investment for the same time period. The results show that embodied energy use in infrastructure investment accounted for a significant proportion of China's total energy use with an increasing trend and reflect that improper infrastructure investment represents inefficient use of energy and other resources. Some quantitative information is provided for further determining the low carbon development potentials of China's economy. PMID:23365534

  19. 36 CFR 520.6 - Nuisances.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... use of loud, abusive, or otherwise improper language; unwarranted loitering, sleeping or assembly; the creation of any hazard to persons or things; improper disposal of rubbish; spitting; prurient prying; the...

  20. Validating Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) for the AP® Environmental Science Exam

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Reshetar, Rosemary; Kaliski, Pamela; Chajewski, Michael; Lionberger, Karen

    2012-01-01

    This presentation summarizes a pilot study conducted after the May 2011 administration of the AP Environmental Science Exam. The study used analytical methods based on scaled anchoring as input to a Performance Level Descriptor validation process that solicited systematic input from subject matter experts.

  1. Estimating the Area Under ROC Curve When the Fitted Binormal Curves Demonstrate Improper Shape.

    PubMed

    Bandos, Andriy I; Guo, Ben; Gur, David

    2017-02-01

    The "binormal" model is the most frequently used tool for parametric receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The binormal ROC curves can have "improper" (non-concave) shapes that are unrealistic in many practical applications, and several tools (eg, PROPROC) have been developed to address this problem. However, due to the general robustness of binormal ROCs, the improperness of the fitted curves might carry little consequence for inferences about global summary indices, such as the area under the ROC curve (AUC). In this work, we investigate the effect of severe improperness of fitted binormal ROC curves on the reliability of AUC estimates when the data arise from an actually proper curve. We designed theoretically proper ROC scenarios that induce severely improper shape of fitted binormal curves in the presence of well-distributed empirical ROC points. The binormal curves were fitted using maximum likelihood approach. Using simulations, we estimated the frequency of severely improper fitted curves, bias of the estimated AUC, and coverage of 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In Appendix S1, we provide additional information on percentiles of the distribution of AUC estimates and bias when estimating partial AUCs. We also compared the results to a reference standard provided by empirical estimates obtained from continuous data. We observed up to 96% of severely improper curves depending on the scenario in question. The bias in the binormal AUC estimates was very small and the coverage of the CIs was close to nominal, whereas the estimates of partial AUC were biased upward in the high specificity range and downward in the low specificity range. Compared to a non-parametric approach, the binormal model led to slightly more variable AUC estimates, but at the same time to CIs with more appropriate coverage. The improper shape of the fitted binormal curve, by itself, ie, in the presence of a sufficient number of well-distributed points, does not imply unreliable AUC-based inferences. Copyright © 2017 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Risk Factors of Catheter-Related Thrombosis (CRT) in Cancer Patients: A Patient-Level Data (IPD) Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials and Prospective Studies

    PubMed Central

    Saber, W.; Moua, T.; Williams, E. C.; Verso, M.; Agnelli, G.; Couban, S.; Young, A.; De Cicco, M.; Biffi, R.; van Rooden, C. J.; Huisman, M. V.; Fagnani, D.; Cimminiello, C.; Moia, M.; Magagnoli, M.; Povoski, S. P.; Malak, S. F.; Lee, A. Y.

    2010-01-01

    Background Knowledge of independent, baseline risk factors of catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) may help select adult cancer patients at high risk to receive thromboprophylaxis. Objectives We conducted a meta-analysis of individual patient-level data to identify these baseline risk factors. Patients/Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, DARE, Grey literature databases were searched in all languages from 1995-2008. Prospective studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible. Studies were included if original patient-level data were provided by the investigators and if CRT was objectively confirmed with valid imaging. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of 17 prespecified baseline characteristics was conducted. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Results A total sample of 5636 subjects from 5 RCTs and 7 prospective studies was included in the analysis. Among these subjects, 425 CRT events were observed. In multivariate logistic regression, the use of implanted ports as compared with peripherally implanted central venous catheters (PICC), decreased CRT risk (OR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23-0.80), whereas past history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.05-3.92), subclavian venipuncture insertion technique (OR = 2.16; 95% CI, 1.07-4.34), and improper catheter tip location (OR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.22-3.02), increased CRT risk. Conclusions CRT risk is increased with using PICC catheters, previous history of DVT, subclavian venipuncture insertion technique and improper positioning of the catheter tip. These factors may be useful for risk stratifying patients to select those for thromboprophylaxis. Prospective studies are needed to validate these findings. PMID:21040443

  3. 48 CFR 3003.502 - Subcontractor kickbacks.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    .... 3003.502 Section 3003.502 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION REGULATION (HSAR) GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 3003.502 Subcontractor kickbacks. ...

  4. Parametric Improper Integrals, Wallis Formula and Catalan Numbers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dana-Picard, Thierry; Zeitoun, David G.

    2012-01-01

    We present a sequence of improper integrals, for which a closed formula can be computed using Wallis formula and a non-straightforward recurrence formula. This yields a new integral presentation for Catalan numbers.

  5. Parametric improper integrals, Wallis formula and Catalan numbers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dana-Picard, Thierry; Zeitoun, David G.

    2012-06-01

    We present a sequence of improper integrals, for which a closed formula can be computed using Wallis formula and a non-straightforward recurrence formula. This yields a new integral presentation for Catalan numbers.

  6. F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) parameter identification flight test maneuvers for optimal input design validation and lateral control effectiveness

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Morelli, Eugene A.

    1995-01-01

    Flight test maneuvers are specified for the F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV). The maneuvers were designed for open loop parameter identification purposes, specifically for optimal input design validation at 5 degrees angle of attack, identification of individual strake effectiveness at 40 and 50 degrees angle of attack, and study of lateral dynamics and lateral control effectiveness at 40 and 50 degrees angle of attack. Each maneuver is to be realized by applying square wave inputs to specific control effectors using the On-Board Excitation System (OBES). Maneuver descriptions and complete specifications of the time/amplitude points define each input are included, along with plots of the input time histories.

  7. Identification of temporal pathomechanical factors during the tennis serve.

    PubMed

    Martin, Caroline; Kulpa, Richard; Ropars, Mickaël; Delamarche, Paul; Bideau, Benoit

    2013-11-01

    The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to measure the effects of temporal parameters on both ball velocity and upper limb joint kinetics to identify pathomechanical factors during the tennis serve and (b) to validate these pathomechanical factors by comparing injured and noninjured players. The serves of expert tennis players were recorded with an optoelectronic motion capture system. These experts were then followed during two seasons to identify overuse injuries of the upper limb. Correlation coefficients assessed the relationships between temporal parameters, ball velocity, and peaks of upper limb joint kinetics to identify pathomechanical factors. Temporal parameters and ball velocity were compared between injured and noninjured groups. Temporal pathomechanical factors were identified. The timings of peak angular velocities of pelvis longitudinal rotation, upper torso longitudinal rotation, trunk sagittal rotation, and trunk transverse rotation and the duration between instants of shoulder horizontal adduction and external rotation were significantly related to upper limb joint kinetics and ball velocity. Injured players demonstrated later timings of trunk rotations, improper differences in time between instants of shoulder horizontal adduction and external rotation, lower ball velocities, and higher joint kinetics. The findings of this study imply that improper temporal mechanics during the tennis serve can decrease ball velocity, increase upper limb joint kinetics, and thus possibly increase overuse injuries of the upper limb.

  8. 48 CFR 3.104-9 - Contract clauses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... the clauses at— (a) 52.203-8, Cancellation, Rescission, and Recovery of Funds for Illegal or Improper Activity; and (b) 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity. [67 FR 13059, Mar...

  9. 48 CFR 3.104-9 - Contract clauses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... the clauses at— (a) 52.203-8, Cancellation, Rescission, and Recovery of Funds for Illegal or Improper Activity; and (b) 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity. [67 FR 13059, Mar...

  10. 48 CFR 3.104-9 - Contract clauses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... the clauses at— (a) 52.203-8, Cancellation, Rescission, and Recovery of Funds for Illegal or Improper Activity; and (b) 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity. [67 FR 13059, Mar...

  11. 48 CFR 3.104-9 - Contract clauses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... the clauses at— (a) 52.203-8, Cancellation, Rescission, and Recovery of Funds for Illegal or Improper Activity; and (b) 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity. [67 FR 13059, Mar...

  12. 48 CFR 3.104-9 - Contract clauses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... the clauses at— (a) 52.203-8, Cancellation, Rescission, and Recovery of Funds for Illegal or Improper Activity; and (b) 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity. [67 FR 13059, Mar...

  13. Validation diagnostics for defective thermocouple circuits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reed, R. P.

    Thermocouples, properly used under favorable conditions, can measure temperature with an accepted tolerance. However, when improperly applied or exposed to hostile mechanical, chemical, thermal, or radiation environments, they often fail without the error being evident in the temperature record. Conversely, features that appear to be unreasonable in temperature records can be authentic. When hidden failure occurs during measurement, deliberate recording of supplementary information is necessary to distinguish valid from faulty data. Loop resistance change, circuit isolation, isolated noise potential, and other measures can reveal symptoms of developing defects. Monitored continually along with temperature, they can reveal the occurrence, location, and natures of damage incurred during measurement. Special multiterminal branched thermocouple circuits and combinatorial multiplex switching allow detection of dc measurement noise and decalibration. Symptoms of insidious failure, often consequential, are illustrated by examples from field experience in measuring temperature of a propagating retorting front in underground coal gasification.

  14. Validation of MODIS Dust Aerosol Retrieval and Development Ambient Dust Phase Function using PRIDE Data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Remer, Lorraine A.; Lau, William (Technical Monitor)

    2002-01-01

    The PRIDE data set of MODIS aerosol retrievals co-located with sunphotometer measurements provides the basis of MODIS validation in a dust environment. The sunphotometer measurements include AERONET automatic instruments, land-based Microtops instruments, ship-board Microtops instruments and the AATS-6 aboard the Navajo aircraft. Analysis of these data indicate that the MODIS retrieval is within pre-launch estimates of uncertainty within the spectral range of 600-900 nm. However, the MODIS algorithm consistently retrieves smaller particles than reality thus leading to incorrect spectral response outside of the 600-900 nm range and improper size information. Further analysis of MODIS retrievals in other dust environments shows the inconsistencies are due to nonspherical effects in the phase function. These data are used to develop an ambient phase function for dust aerosol to be used for remote sensing purposes.

  15. Precise Geolocation Of Persistent Scatterers Aided And Validated By Lidar DSM

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Ling; Dheenathayalan, Prabu; Hanessen, Ramon

    2013-12-01

    Persistent Scatterers (PS) interferometry results in the de- formation history of time-coherent scatterers. Although several applications focus on smooth, spatially correlated signals, we aim for the detection, identification and analysis of single anomalies. These targets can be indicative of, e.g., strain in structures, potentially leading to the failure of such structures. For the identification and analysis it is of the greatest importance to know the exact position of the effective scattering center, to avoid an improper interpretation of the driving mechanism. Here we present an approach to optimize the geolocation of important scatterers, when necessary aided by an a priori Lidar-derived DSM (AHN-1 data) with 15cm and 5m resolution in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. The DSM is also used to validate the geocoding. We implement our approach on a near-collapse event of a shopping mall in Heerlen, the Netherlands, to generate the precise geolocation of local PS points.

  16. Scoping Review of Research on the Effectiveness of Food-Safety Education Interventions Directed at Consumers.

    PubMed

    Sivaramalingam, Bhairavi; Young, Ian; Pham, Mai T; Waddell, Lisa; Greig, Judy; Mascarenhas, Mariola; Papadopoulos, Andrew

    2015-07-01

    Improper food handling by consumers at home is a major cause of foodborne illness. Therefore, effective education strategies are essential to change consumers' food safety attitudes and behaviors. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and characterize primary literature examining the effectiveness of consumer food-safety education interventions. Ten bibliographic databases were searched using a comprehensive search strategy. Citations were identified; two reviewers screened them for relevance and characterized relevant articles. To ensure results would be applicable to end users, stakeholders were engaged to provide input on the review scope, methods, and results. We identified 246 relevant articles, of which 150 were quantitative, 66 qualitative, and 30 mixed-method research studies. Most studies (64.2%) were published in the United States, using an uncontrolled before-and-after study design (31.3%), and investigated the effectiveness of community-based training sessions and workshops (52.0%). Research gaps were found in the number of randomized controlled studies conducted, academic- and school-based courses and curricula investigated, and interventions targeting high-risk populations (e.g., pregnant women, those who are immunocompromised) and using new media channels (e.g., social media). Key opportunities to enhance the utility of future primary research investigating consumer food-safety interventions include the following: using studies based on behavior-change theories and formative research; engaging the target population in the research; using validated instruments to measures outcomes; and reporting intervention characteristics and outcomes completely. Results of this review can be used to prioritize future primary research and decision-making in this area.

  17. Water vapour correction of the daily 1 km AVHRR global land dataset: Part I validation and use of the Water Vapour input field

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    DeFelice, Thomas P.; Lloyd, D.; Meyer, D.J.; Baltzer, T. T.; Piraina, P.

    2003-01-01

    An atmospheric correction algorithm developed for the 1 km Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) global land dataset was modified to include a near real-time total column water vapour data input field to account for the natural variability of atmospheric water vapour. The real-time data input field used for this study is the Television and Infrared Observational Satellite (TIROS) Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) Pathfinder A global total column water vapour dataset. It was validated prior to its use in the AVHRR atmospheric correction process using two North American AVHRR scenes, namely 13 June and 28 November 1996. The validation results are consistent with those reported by others and entail a comparison between TOVS, radiosonde, experimental sounding, microwave radiometer, and data from a hand-held sunphotometer. The use of this data layer as input to the AVHRR atmospheric correction process is discussed.

  18. A Summary of NASA and USAF Hypergolic Propellant Related Spills and Fires

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nufer, Brian M.

    2009-01-01

    Several unintentional hypergolic fluid related spills, fires, and explosions from the Apollo Program, the Space Shuttle Program, the Titan Program, and a few others have occurred over the past several decades. Spill sites include the following government facilities: Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Johnson Space Center (JSC), White Sands Test Facility (WSTF), Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), Little Rock AFB, and McConnell AFB. Until now, the only method of capturing the lessons learned from these incidents has been "word of mouth" or by studying each individual incident report. The root causes and consequences of the incidents vary drastically; however, certain "themes" can be deduced and utilized for future hypergolic propellant handling. Some of those common "themes" are summarized below: (1) Improper configuration control and internal or external human performance shaping factors can lead to being falsely comfortable with a system (2) Communication breakdown can escalate an incident to a level where injuries occur and/or hardware is damaged (3) Improper propulsion system and ground support system designs can destine a system for failure (4) Improper training of technicians, engineers, and safety personnel can put lives in danger (5) Improper PPE, spill protection, and staging of fire extinguishing equipment can result in unnecessary injuries or hardware damage if an incident occurs (6) Improper procedural oversight, development, and adherence to the procedure can be detrimental and quickly lead to an undesirable incident (7) Improper materials cleanliness or compatibility and chemical reactivity can result in fires or explosions (8) Improper established "back-out" and/or emergency safing procedures can escalate an event The items listed above are only a short list of the issues that should be recognized prior to handling hypergolic fluids or processing vehicles containing hypergolic propellants. The summary of incidents in this report is intended to cover many more issues than those listed above.

  19. Correction to "Energy Transport in the Thermosphere During the Solar Storms of April 2002"

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mlynczak, Martin G.; Martin-Torres, F. Javier; Russell, James M., III

    2007-01-01

    We present corrected computations of the infrared power and energy radiated by nitric oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) during the solar storm event of April 2002. The computations in our previous paper underestimated the radiated power due to improper weighting of the radiated power and energy with respect to area as a function of latitude. We now find that the radiation by NO during the April 2002 storm period accounts for 50% of the estimated energy input to the atmosphere from the solar storm. The prior estimate was 28.5%. Emission computed for CO2 is also correspondingly increased, but the relative roles of CO2 and NO remain unchanged. NO emission enhancement is still, far and away, the dominant infrared response to the solar storms of April 2002.

  20. Lessons Learned Entry: Hypergolic Propellant Related Spills and Fires

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nufer, Brian

    2009-01-01

    The attached report is a compilation of all credible, unintentional hypergolic fluid related spills, fires, and explosions from the Apollo Program, the Space Shuttle Program, Titan Program, and a few other programs. Spill sites include the following government facilities: KSC, JSC, WSTF, VAFB, CCAFS, EAFB, Little Rock AFB, and McConnell AFB. The root causes and consequences of the incidents contained in this document vary drastically; however, certain "themes" can be deduced and utilized for future hypergolic propellant handling. Some of those common "themes" are summarized below: (1) Improper configuration control and complacency can lead to being falsely comfortable with a system (2) Communication breakdown can escalate an incident to a level where injuries occur and/or hardware is damaged (3) Improper propulsion system and ground support system designs can destine a system for failure (4) Improper training of technicians, engineers, and safety personnel can put lives in danger (5) Improper PPE, spill protection, and staging of fire extinguishing equipment can result in unnecessary injuries or hardware damage if an incident occurs (6) Improper procedural oversight, development, and adherence to the procedure can be detrimental and quickly lead to an undesirable incident (7) Improper local cleanliness or compatibility can result in fires or explosions The items listed above are only a short list of the issues that should be recognized prior to handling of hypergolic fluids or processing of vehicles containing hypergolic propellants. The summary of incidents in this report is intended to cover many more issues than those listed above that have been found during nearly the entire spectrum. of hypergolic propellant and/or vehicle processing.

  1. Notification: Audit of CSB's Compliance With Improper Payment Legislation

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    November 17, 2015. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) plans to begin its audit of CSB’s compliance with the improper payments legislation.

  2. 48 CFR 503.570 - Advertising.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Advertising. 503.570 Section 503.570 Federal Acquisition Regulations System GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 503.570 Advertising. ...

  3. 48 CFR 503.570 - Advertising.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Advertising. 503.570 Section 503.570 Federal Acquisition Regulations System GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 503.570 Advertising. ...

  4. 48 CFR 503.570 - Advertising.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Advertising. 503.570 Section 503.570 Federal Acquisition Regulations System GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 503.570 Advertising. ...

  5. 48 CFR 503.570 - Advertising.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Advertising. 503.570 Section 503.570 Federal Acquisition Regulations System GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 503.570 Advertising. ...

  6. 48 CFR 503.570 - Advertising.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Advertising. 503.570 Section 503.570 Federal Acquisition Regulations System GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 503.570 Advertising. ...

  7. 46 CFR 196.25-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Searchlights § 196.25-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a searchlight or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel underway. ...

  8. 46 CFR 196.25-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Searchlights § 196.25-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a searchlight or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel underway. ...

  9. 46 CFR 196.25-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Searchlights § 196.25-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a searchlight or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel underway. ...

  10. 46 CFR 196.25-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Searchlights § 196.25-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a searchlight or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel underway. ...

  11. 46 CFR 196.25-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... Searchlights § 196.25-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a searchlight or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel underway. ...

  12. Report: EPA Can Improve Its Improper Payments Reporting

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Report #12-P-0311, March 1, 2012. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) complied with IPERA in that it reported all required information on improper payments, but EPA can improve the accuracy and completeness of the information.

  13. Input Range Testing for the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hughes, Steven P.

    2007-01-01

    This document contains a test plan for testing input values to the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT). The plan includes four primary types of information, which rigorously define all tests that should be performed to validate that GMAT will accept allowable inputs and deny disallowed inputs. The first is a complete list of all allowed object fields in GMAT. The second type of information, is test input to be attempted for each field. The third type of information is allowable input values for all objects fields in GMAT. The final piece of information is how GMAT should respond to both valid and invalid information. It is VERY important to note that the tests below must be performed for both the Graphical User Interface and the script!! The examples are illustrated using a scripting perspective, because it is simpler to write up. However, the test must be performed for both interfaces to GMAT.

  14. 48 CFR 2103.571 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Section 2103.571 Federal Acquisition Regulations System OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES GROUP LIFE INSURANCE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 2103.571 Contract clause. The clause at 2152.203-70...

  15. 48 CFR 3.502-1 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Definitions. 3.502-1 Section 3.502-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER..., prime contractor employee, subcontractor, or subcontractor employee for the purpose of improperly...

  16. 48 CFR 3.502-1 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Definitions. 3.502-1 Section 3.502-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER..., prime contractor employee, subcontractor, or subcontractor employee for the purpose of improperly...

  17. 48 CFR 3.502-1 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ..., subcontractor, or subcontractor employee for the purpose of improperly obtaining or rewarding favorable... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Definitions. 3.502-1 Section 3.502-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER...

  18. 48 CFR 3.502-1 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Definitions. 3.502-1 Section 3.502-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER..., prime contractor employee, subcontractor, or subcontractor employee for the purpose of improperly...

  19. 46 CFR 78.27-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... § 78.27-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a search light or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel under way. (b...

  20. 46 CFR 78.27-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... § 78.27-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a search light or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel under way. (b...

  1. 46 CFR 78.27-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... § 78.27-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a search light or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel under way. (b...

  2. 46 CFR 78.27-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... § 78.27-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a search light or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel under way. (b...

  3. 46 CFR 78.27-1 - Improper use prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... § 78.27-1 Improper use prohibited. (a) No person shall flash or cause to be flashed the rays of a search light or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilothouse of any vessel under way. (b...

  4. 48 CFR 3003.502-2 - Subcontractor kickbacks.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    .... 3003.502-2 Section 3003.502-2 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION REGULATION (HSAR) GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 3003.502-2 Subcontractor kickbacks. (g) The DHS OIG...

  5. 48 CFR 2103.570 - Misleading, Deceptive, or Unfair Advertising.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES GROUP LIFE INSURANCE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 2103.570 Misleading..., serves as certification of the employee's coverage under the FEGLI Program. Any marketing/advertising...

  6. Errors in reporting on dissolution research: methodological and statistical implications.

    PubMed

    Jasińska-Stroschein, Magdalena; Kurczewska, Urszula; Orszulak-Michalak, Daria

    2017-02-01

    In vitro dissolution testing provides useful information at clinical and preclinical stages of the drug development process. The study includes pharmaceutical papers on dissolution research published in Polish journals between 2010 and 2015. They were analyzed with regard to information provided by authors about chosen methods, performed validation, statistical reporting or assumptions used to properly compare release profiles considering the present guideline documents addressed to dissolution methodology and its validation. Of all the papers included in the study, 23.86% presented at least one set of validation parameters, 63.64% gave the results of the weight uniformity test, 55.68% content determination, 97.73% dissolution testing conditions, and 50% discussed a comparison of release profiles. The assumptions for methods used to compare dissolution profiles were discussed in 6.82% of papers. By means of example analyses, we demonstrate that the outcome can be influenced by the violation of several assumptions or selection of an improper method to compare dissolution profiles. A clearer description of the procedures would undoubtedly increase the quality of papers in this area.

  7. Early Improper Motion Detection in Golf Swings Using Wearable Motion Sensors: The First Approach

    PubMed Central

    Stančin, Sara; Tomažič, Sašo

    2013-01-01

    This paper presents an analysis of a golf swing to detect improper motion in the early phase of the swing. Led by the desire to achieve a consistent shot outcome, a particular golfer would (in multiple trials) prefer to perform completely identical golf swings. In reality, some deviations from the desired motion are always present due to the comprehensive nature of the swing motion. Swing motion deviations that are not detrimental to performance are acceptable. This analysis is conducted using a golfer's leading arm kinematic data, which are obtained from a golfer wearing a motion sensor that is comprised of gyroscopes and accelerometers. Applying the principal component analysis (PCA) to the reference observations of properly performed swings, the PCA components of acceptable swing motion deviations are established. Using these components, the motion deviations in the observations of other swings are examined. Any unacceptable deviations that are detected indicate an improper swing motion. Arbitrarily long observations of an individual player's swing sequences can be included in the analysis. The results obtained for the considered example show an improper swing motion in early phase of the swing, i.e., the first part of the backswing. An early detection method for improper swing motions that is conducted on an individual basis provides assistance for performance improvement. PMID:23752563

  8. Early improper motion detection in golf swings using wearable motion sensors: the first approach.

    PubMed

    Stančin, Sara; Tomažič, Sašo

    2013-06-10

    This paper presents an analysis of a golf swing to detect improper motion in the early phase of the swing. Led by the desire to achieve a consistent shot outcome, a particular golfer would (in multiple trials) prefer to perform completely identical golf swings. In reality, some deviations from the desired motion are always present due to the comprehensive nature of the swing motion. Swing motion deviations that are not detrimental to performance are acceptable. This analysis is conducted using a golfer's leading arm kinematic data, which are obtained from a golfer wearing a motion sensor that is comprised of gyroscopes and accelerometers. Applying the principal component analysis (PCA) to the reference observations of properly performed swings, the PCA components of acceptable swing motion deviations are established. Using these components, the motion deviations in the observations of other swings are examined. Any unacceptable deviations that are detected indicate an improper swing motion. Arbitrarily long observations of an individual player's swing sequences can be included in the analysis. The results obtained for the considered example show an improper swing motion in early phase of the swing, i.e., the first part of the backswing. An early detection method for improper swing motions that is conducted on an individual basis provides assistance for performance improvement.

  9. 48 CFR 203.570-1 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Scope. 203.570-1 Section 203.570-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business...

  10. 7 CFR 52.806 - Color.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROCESSED PRODUCTS THEREOF, AND CERTAIN OTHER PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS 1... cherries that vary markedly from this color due to oxidation, improper processing, or other causes, or that... to oxidation, improper processing, or other causes, or that are undercolored, does not exceed the...

  11. 7 CFR 52.806 - Color.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROCESSED PRODUCTS THEREOF, AND CERTAIN OTHER PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS 1... cherries that vary markedly from this color due to oxidation, improper processing, or other causes, or that... to oxidation, improper processing, or other causes, or that are undercolored, does not exceed the...

  12. [Clinical study of area of Jiangsu province of polycystic ovarian syndrome correlation distribution of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome type and improper diet].

    PubMed

    Feng, Yu; Gao, Yue-Ping

    2014-05-01

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most popular diseases in obstetrics and gynecology research at internal and abroad at present, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in the clinical treatment of the disease have the advantage. Clinical epidemiological study of descriptive research method this research adopts investigation, observation of TCM syndromes and improper diet through 401 cases in Jiangsu Province confirmed PCOS patients, to explore the relationship between TCM syndrome type distribution and improper diet factors, and to provide the clinical basis for further etiology of this disease research. TCM syndrome type distribution of the disease is kidney deficiency, phlegm stagnation syndrome, qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, syndrome of dampness heat of liver channel and is composed of 4 basic syndromes and formed complex syndrome, and the composite and syndrome type (60.85%); combined with the analysis of traditional Chinese medicine dialectical, Pure empirical syndrome this disease (46.88%), followed by the actual card (45.39%), pure deficiency is rare. Improper diet factors associated with the disease, in which improper diet with different TCM syndrome type distribution significantly related. Stagnation of phlegm dampness syndrome is the main syndrome of the disease type, improper diet factors and every syndrome PCOS type distribution is as follows: the partial eclipse fatness greasy with basic syndromes of phlegm dampness stagnation of kidney deficiency syndrome, the nephrasthenia syndrome is less; eating spicy stimulation by basic syndromes of stagnation of Qi and blood stasis; eating cold people the basic certificate type of qi stagnation and blood stasis; The diet of patients are more prone to stagnation of phlegm dampness syndrome.

  13. 5 CFR 250.103 - Consequences of improper agency actions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Consequences of improper agency actions. 250.103 Section 250.103 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN AGENCIES Authority for Personnel Actions in Agencies § 250.103...

  14. EPA Settlement with UConn Resolves Improper PCB Disposal Activity

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The University of Connecticut has taken steps to ensure its PCB waste is properly disposed of in the future to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it improperly disposed of PCBs during a 2013 renovation project at its Storr

  15. 7 CFR 52.806 - Color.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... AND THE EGG PRODUCTS INSPECTION ACT PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROCESSED PRODUCTS THEREOF, AND... uniform in that the number of cherries that vary markedly from this color due to oxidation, improper... cherries that vary markedly from this color due to oxidation, improper processing, or other causes, or that...

  16. 7 CFR 52.806 - Color.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... AND THE EGG PRODUCTS INSPECTION ACT PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROCESSED PRODUCTS THEREOF, AND... uniform in that the number of cherries that vary markedly from this color due to oxidation, improper... cherries that vary markedly from this color due to oxidation, improper processing, or other causes, or that...

  17. Transfer of bacteriophage MS2 and fluorescein from N95 filtering facepiece respirators to hands: Measuring fomite potential

    PubMed Central

    Brady, Tyler M.; Strauch, Amanda L.; Almaguer, Claudia M.; Niezgoda, George; Shafer, Ronald E.; Yorio, Patrick L.; Fisher, Edward M.

    2017-01-01

    Contact transmission of pathogens from personal protective equipment is a concern within the healthcare industry. During public health emergency outbreaks, resources become constrained and the reuse of personal protective equipment, such as N95 filtering facepiece respirators, may be needed. This study was designed to characterize the transfer of bacteriophage MS2 and fluorescein between filtering facepiece respirators and the wearer’s hands during three simulated use scenarios. Filtering facepiece respirators were contaminated with MS2 and fluorescein in droplets or droplet nuclei. Thirteen test subjects performed filtering facepiece respirator use scenarios including improper doffing, proper doffing and reuse, and improper doffing and reuse. Fluorescein and MS2 contamination transfer were quantified. The average MS2 transfer from filtering facepiece respirators to the subjects’ hands ranged from 7.6–15.4% and 2.2–2.7% for droplet and droplet nuclei derived contamination, respectively. Handling filtering facepiece respirators contaminated with droplets resulted in higher levels of MS2 transfer compared to droplet nuclei for all use scenarios (p = 0.007). MS2 transfer from droplet contaminated filtering facepiece respirators during improper doffing and reuse was greater than transfer during improper doffing (p = 0.008) and proper doffing and reuse (p = 0.042). Droplet contamination resulted in higher levels of fluorescein transfer compared to droplet nuclei contaminated filtering facepiece respirators for all use scenarios (p = 0.009). Fluorescein transfer was greater for improper doffing and reuse (p = 0.007) from droplet contaminated masks compared to droplet nuclei contaminated filtering facepiece respirators and for improper doffing and reuse when compared improper doffing (p = 0.017) and proper doffing and reuse (p = 0.018) for droplet contaminated filtering facepiece respirators. For droplet nuclei contaminated filtering facepiece respirators, the difference in MS2 and fluorescein transfer did not reach statistical significance when comparing any of the use scenarios. The findings suggest that the results of fluorescein and MS2 transfer were consistent and highly correlated across the conditions of study. The data supports CDC recommendations for using proper doffing techniques and discarding filtering facepiece respirators that are directly contaminated with secretions from a cough or sneeze. PMID:28650715

  18. Cross-validation to select Bayesian hierarchical models in phylogenetics.

    PubMed

    Duchêne, Sebastián; Duchêne, David A; Di Giallonardo, Francesca; Eden, John-Sebastian; Geoghegan, Jemma L; Holt, Kathryn E; Ho, Simon Y W; Holmes, Edward C

    2016-05-26

    Recent developments in Bayesian phylogenetic models have increased the range of inferences that can be drawn from molecular sequence data. Accordingly, model selection has become an important component of phylogenetic analysis. Methods of model selection generally consider the likelihood of the data under the model in question. In the context of Bayesian phylogenetics, the most common approach involves estimating the marginal likelihood, which is typically done by integrating the likelihood across model parameters, weighted by the prior. Although this method is accurate, it is sensitive to the presence of improper priors. We explored an alternative approach based on cross-validation that is widely used in evolutionary analysis. This involves comparing models according to their predictive performance. We analysed simulated data and a range of viral and bacterial data sets using a cross-validation approach to compare a variety of molecular clock and demographic models. Our results show that cross-validation can be effective in distinguishing between strict- and relaxed-clock models and in identifying demographic models that allow growth in population size over time. In most of our empirical data analyses, the model selected using cross-validation was able to match that selected using marginal-likelihood estimation. The accuracy of cross-validation appears to improve with longer sequence data, particularly when distinguishing between relaxed-clock models. Cross-validation is a useful method for Bayesian phylogenetic model selection. This method can be readily implemented even when considering complex models where selecting an appropriate prior for all parameters may be difficult.

  19. Instrumentation and data analysis design for evaluating mechanic performance in decentralized I/M programs

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

    Ashby, H.A.; Carlson, T.R.; Husson, L.

    1986-01-01

    Significant reductions in motor vehicle emissions are possible through the implementation of inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. However, the potential benefits of I/M are obviously not achieved when specific inspection requirements are ignored or improperly performed. In addition, I/M benefits may be substantially reduced when improper repair procedures are used on vehicles which fail the test. In order for the ''theoretical'' benefits of I/M to be achieved, certain program design and enforcement procedures are necessary. The use of instrumentation and data analysis methods capable of identifying individuals who are improperly performing inspections and repairs is critical.

  20. Notification: Risk Assessment of CSB’s Purchase Card Usage and CSB’s Compliance with the Improper Payments Legislation

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    November 6, 2014. The EPA's OIG for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) plans to begin its risk assessment of CSB's purchase card usage and CSB's compliance with the improper payments legislation.

  1. 7 CFR 252.6 - Miscellaneous provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... Miscellaneous provisions. (a) Improper distribution or loss of or damage to donated food. If a processor improperly distributes or uses any donated food, or causes loss of or damage to a donated food through its... commodity related funds, assets, or property in child nutrition programs. Whoever embezzles, willfully...

  2. 7 CFR 252.6 - Miscellaneous provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... Miscellaneous provisions. (a) Improper distribution or loss of or damage to donated food. If a processor improperly distributes or uses any donated food, or causes loss of or damage to a donated food through its... commodity related funds, assets, or property in child nutrition programs. Whoever embezzles, willfully...

  3. 7 CFR 252.6 - Miscellaneous provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... Miscellaneous provisions. (a) Improper distribution or loss of or damage to donated food. If a processor improperly distributes or uses any donated food, or causes loss of or damage to a donated food through its... commodity related funds, assets, or property in child nutrition programs. Whoever embezzles, willfully...

  4. 7 CFR 252.6 - Miscellaneous provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... Miscellaneous provisions. (a) Improper distribution or loss of or damage to donated food. If a processor improperly distributes or uses any donated food, or causes loss of or damage to a donated food through its... commodity related funds, assets, or property in child nutrition programs. Whoever embezzles, willfully...

  5. 7 CFR 252.6 - Miscellaneous provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... Miscellaneous provisions. (a) Improper distribution or loss of or damage to donated food. If a processor improperly distributes or uses any donated food, or causes loss of or damage to a donated food through its... commodity related funds, assets, or property in child nutrition programs. Whoever embezzles, willfully...

  6. 45 CFR 81.112 - Improper conduct.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 45 Public Welfare 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Improper conduct. 81.112 Section 81.112 Public Welfare DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL ADMINISTRATION PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS... communications media, by paid advertisement or otherwise, designed to influence the judgment of any officer...

  7. 45 CFR 81.112 - Improper conduct.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 45 Public Welfare 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Improper conduct. 81.112 Section 81.112 Public Welfare Department of Health and Human Services GENERAL ADMINISTRATION PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS... communications media, by paid advertisement or otherwise, designed to influence the judgment of any officer...

  8. 45 CFR 81.112 - Improper conduct.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 45 Public Welfare 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Improper conduct. 81.112 Section 81.112 Public Welfare DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL ADMINISTRATION PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS... communications media, by paid advertisement or otherwise, designed to influence the judgment of any officer...

  9. 45 CFR 81.112 - Improper conduct.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 45 Public Welfare 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Improper conduct. 81.112 Section 81.112 Public Welfare DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL ADMINISTRATION PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS... communications media, by paid advertisement or otherwise, designed to influence the judgment of any officer...

  10. 34 CFR 101.112 - Improper conduct.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 34 Education 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Improper conduct. 101.112 Section 101.112 Education Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION... officer give statements to communications media, by paid advertisement or otherwise, designed to influence...

  11. 48 CFR 3.503-1 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Policy. 3.503-1 Section 3.503-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 3.503-1 Policy. 10 U.S.C...

  12. 48 CFR 3.503-1 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Policy. 3.503-1 Section 3.503-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 3.503-1 Policy. 10 U.S.C...

  13. The Sign Told Me how to Play--A Lesson in Risk Reduction.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wallach, Frances

    1988-01-01

    Two constantly appearing claims in most playground accident suits are improper supervision and lack of warning to the users. This article discusses legal implications of improper signage, explains use of symbols, and presents general sign guidelines to ensure proper safety measures. (MLH)

  14. Evaluating the Sensitivity of Agricultural Model Performance to Different Climate Inputs: Supplemental Material

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Glotter, Michael J.; Ruane, Alex C.; Moyer, Elisabeth J.; Elliott, Joshua W.

    2015-01-01

    Projections of future food production necessarily rely on models, which must themselves be validated through historical assessments comparing modeled and observed yields. Reliable historical validation requires both accurate agricultural models and accurate climate inputs. Problems with either may compromise the validation exercise. Previous studies have compared the effects of different climate inputs on agricultural projections but either incompletely or without a ground truth of observed yields that would allow distinguishing errors due to climate inputs from those intrinsic to the crop model. This study is a systematic evaluation of the reliability of a widely used crop model for simulating U.S. maize yields when driven by multiple observational data products. The parallelized Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (pDSSAT) is driven with climate inputs from multiple sources reanalysis, reanalysis that is bias corrected with observed climate, and a control dataset and compared with observed historical yields. The simulations show that model output is more accurate when driven by any observation-based precipitation product than when driven by non-bias-corrected reanalysis. The simulations also suggest, in contrast to previous studies, that biased precipitation distribution is significant for yields only in arid regions. Some issues persist for all choices of climate inputs: crop yields appear to be oversensitive to precipitation fluctuations but under sensitive to floods and heat waves. These results suggest that the most important issue for agricultural projections may be not climate inputs but structural limitations in the crop models themselves.

  15. Evaluating the sensitivity of agricultural model performance to different climate inputs

    PubMed Central

    Glotter, Michael J.; Moyer, Elisabeth J.; Ruane, Alex C.; Elliott, Joshua W.

    2017-01-01

    Projections of future food production necessarily rely on models, which must themselves be validated through historical assessments comparing modeled to observed yields. Reliable historical validation requires both accurate agricultural models and accurate climate inputs. Problems with either may compromise the validation exercise. Previous studies have compared the effects of different climate inputs on agricultural projections, but either incompletely or without a ground truth of observed yields that would allow distinguishing errors due to climate inputs from those intrinsic to the crop model. This study is a systematic evaluation of the reliability of a widely-used crop model for simulating U.S. maize yields when driven by multiple observational data products. The parallelized Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (pDSSAT) is driven with climate inputs from multiple sources – reanalysis, reanalysis bias-corrected with observed climate, and a control dataset – and compared to observed historical yields. The simulations show that model output is more accurate when driven by any observation-based precipitation product than when driven by un-bias-corrected reanalysis. The simulations also suggest, in contrast to previous studies, that biased precipitation distribution is significant for yields only in arid regions. However, some issues persist for all choices of climate inputs: crop yields appear oversensitive to precipitation fluctuations but undersensitive to floods and heat waves. These results suggest that the most important issue for agricultural projections may be not climate inputs but structural limitations in the crop models themselves. PMID:29097985

  16. Notification: Review of EPA’s Compliance With Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 During Fiscal Year 2014

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Project #OA-FY15-0032, November 4, 2014. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is beginning an audit of the EPA's reporting of improper payments during fiscal year 2014.

  17. 49 CFR Appendix A to Part 232 - Schedule of Civil Penalties 1

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 7,500 (f) Improper use of car with inoperative or ineffective brakes 2,500 5,000 (g) Improper... Design, interoperability, and configuration management requirements: (a) Failure to meet minimum... comply with a proper configuration management plan 7,500 11,000 232.605 Training Requirements: (a...

  18. 42 CFR 1001.901 - False or improper claims.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false False or improper claims. 1001.901 Section 1001.901 Public Health OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL-HEALTH CARE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OIG... individual or entity has a documented history of criminal, civil or administrative wrongdoing (The lack of...

  19. 42 CFR 431.954 - Basis and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.954 Basis and scope. (a) Basis. The statutory bases for this... or child health assistance under CHIP; and State-specific sample sizes for application of the PERM... improper payments in the fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care components of the Medicaid and CHIP...

  20. 42 CFR 431.954 - Basis and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.954 Basis and scope. (a) Basis. The statutory bases for this... or child health assistance under CHIP; and State-specific sample sizes for application of the PERM... improper payments in the fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care components of the Medicaid and CHIP...

  1. 42 CFR 431.960 - Types of payment errors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Estimating Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.960 Types of payment errors. (a) General rule. State or provider errors identified for the Medicaid and CHIP improper payments measurement under the... been paid by a third party but were inappropriately paid by Medicaid or CHIP. (v) Pricing errors. (vi...

  2. 42 CFR 431.954 - Basis and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.954 Basis and scope. (a) Basis. The statutory bases for this... or child health assistance under CHIP; and State-specific sample sizes for application of the PERM... improper payments in the fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care components of the Medicaid and CHIP...

  3. 42 CFR 431.960 - Types of payment errors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Estimating Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.960 Types of payment errors. (a) General rule. State or provider errors identified for the Medicaid and CHIP improper payments measurement under the... been paid by a third party but were inappropriately paid by Medicaid or CHIP. (v) Pricing errors. (vi...

  4. 42 CFR 431.954 - Basis and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.954 Basis and scope. (a) Basis. The statutory bases for this... or child health assistance under CHIP; and State-specific sample sizes for application of the PERM... improper payments in the fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care components of the Medicaid and CHIP...

  5. 42 CFR 431.960 - Types of payment errors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... Estimating Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.960 Types of payment errors. (a) General rule. State or provider errors identified for the Medicaid and CHIP improper payments measurement under the... been paid by a third party but were inappropriately paid by Medicaid or CHIP. (v) Pricing errors. (vi...

  6. 42 CFR 431.960 - Types of payment errors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Estimating Improper Payments in Medicaid and CHIP § 431.960 Types of payment errors. (a) General rule. State or provider errors identified for the Medicaid and CHIP improper payments measurement under the... been paid by a third party but were inappropriately paid by Medicaid or CHIP. (v) Pricing errors. (vi...

  7. Notification: Review of U.S. CSB's Compliance With Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act During Fiscal Year 2012

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    November 15, 2012. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is beginning a review of CSB’s compliance with the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (the Act) during fiscal year 2012.

  8. 3 CFR 13520 - Executive Order 13520 of November 20, 2009. Reducing Improper Payments

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... General and the Director of OMB, shall publish on the Internet information about improper payments under... Internet-based method to collect from the public information concerning suspected incidents of waste, fraud... Federal Government. (d) Agencies shall place a prominently displayed link to Internet-based resources for...

  9. A Constrained Linear Estimator for Multiple Regression

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Davis-Stober, Clintin P.; Dana, Jason; Budescu, David V.

    2010-01-01

    "Improper linear models" (see Dawes, Am. Psychol. 34:571-582, "1979"), such as equal weighting, have garnered interest as alternatives to standard regression models. We analyze the general circumstances under which these models perform well by recasting a class of "improper" linear models as "proper" statistical models with a single predictor. We…

  10. Report: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Complied With Reporting Requirements of the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Report #13-P-0177, March 12, 2013. CSB is fully compliant with the reporting requirements of IPERA, which require all agencies to periodically review all programs and activities that may be susceptible to significant improper payments.

  11. Transcriptional regulation of metabolism in disease: From transcription factors to epigenetics

    PubMed Central

    2018-01-01

    Every cell in an individual has largely the same genomic sequence and yet cells in different tissues can present widely different phenotypes. This variation arises because each cell expresses a specific subset of genomic instructions. Control over which instructions, or genes, are expressed is largely controlled by transcriptional regulatory pathways. Each cell must assimilate a huge amount of environmental input, and thus it is of no surprise that transcription is regulated by many intertwining mechanisms. This large regulatory landscape means there are ample possibilities for problems to arise, which in a medical context means the development of disease states. Metabolism within the cell, and more broadly, affects and is affected by transcriptional regulation. Metabolism can therefore contribute to improper transcriptional programming, or pathogenic metabolism can be the result of transcriptional dysregulation. Here, we discuss the established and emerging mechanisms for controling transcription and how they affect metabolism in the context of pathogenesis. Cis- and trans-regulatory elements, microRNA and epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA and histone methylation, all have input into what genes are transcribed. Each has also been implicated in diseases such as metabolic syndrome, various forms of diabetes, and cancer. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of these areas and highlight some natural models that may inspire future therapeutics. PMID:29922517

  12. Bilinearity in Spatiotemporal Integration of Synaptic Inputs

    PubMed Central

    Li, Songting; Liu, Nan; Zhang, Xiao-hui; Zhou, Douglas; Cai, David

    2014-01-01

    Neurons process information via integration of synaptic inputs from dendrites. Many experimental results demonstrate dendritic integration could be highly nonlinear, yet few theoretical analyses have been performed to obtain a precise quantitative characterization analytically. Based on asymptotic analysis of a two-compartment passive cable model, given a pair of time-dependent synaptic conductance inputs, we derive a bilinear spatiotemporal dendritic integration rule. The summed somatic potential can be well approximated by the linear summation of the two postsynaptic potentials elicited separately, plus a third additional bilinear term proportional to their product with a proportionality coefficient . The rule is valid for a pair of synaptic inputs of all types, including excitation-inhibition, excitation-excitation, and inhibition-inhibition. In addition, the rule is valid during the whole dendritic integration process for a pair of synaptic inputs with arbitrary input time differences and input locations. The coefficient is demonstrated to be nearly independent of the input strengths but is dependent on input times and input locations. This rule is then verified through simulation of a realistic pyramidal neuron model and in electrophysiological experiments of rat hippocampal CA1 neurons. The rule is further generalized to describe the spatiotemporal dendritic integration of multiple excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. The integration of multiple inputs can be decomposed into the sum of all possible pairwise integration, where each paired integration obeys the bilinear rule. This decomposition leads to a graph representation of dendritic integration, which can be viewed as functionally sparse. PMID:25521832

  13. 20 CFR 632.124 - Theft or embezzlement from employment and training funds; improper inducement; obstruction of...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Theft or embezzlement from employment and training funds; improper inducement; obstruction of investigations and other criminal provisions. 632.124... NATIVE AMERICAN EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS Prevention of Fraud and Program Abuse § 632.124 Theft or...

  14. 78 FR 4094 - Effective Date of Requirement for Premarket Approval for Two Class III Preamendments Devices

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-18

    ... Health a. Loss or reduction of joint function. Improper design or inadequate mechanical properties of the... in the surgical cavity. b. Adverse tissue reaction. Inadequate biological or mechanical properties of... of joint function. Improper design or inadequate mechanical properties of the device, such as its...

  15. 75 FR 36461 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-25

    ... information, is protected from unauthorized or other improper use.\\4\\ \\4\\ FINRA has emphasized that its... card, checking account, or savings account). If such personal information were to be intercepted by an... requests will help ensure that personal information is protected from improper use by unauthorized third...

  16. 22 CFR 1508.630 - May the African Development Foundation impute conduct of one person to another?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... knowledge, approval or acquiescence. The organization's acceptance of the benefits derived from the conduct is evidence of knowledge, approval or acquiescence. (b) Conduct imputed from an organization to an... improper conduct is imputed either participated in, had knowledge of, or reason to know of the improper...

  17. Conflicts of interest, institutional corruption, and pharma: an agenda for reform.

    PubMed

    Rodwin, Marc A

    2012-01-01

    When physicians' conflicts of interest arise from ties with drug firms, we should shift our focus to the pharmaceutical industry and improper dependencies that cause institutional corruption. This article analyzes eight forms of improper dependencies on pharma and proposes reforms. © 2012 American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Inc.

  18. Units Coordination and the Construction of Improper Fractions: A Revision of the Splitting Hypothesis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hackenberg, Amy J.

    2007-01-01

    This article communicates findings from a year-long constructivist teaching experiment about the relationship between four sixth-grade students' multiplicative structures and their construction of improper fractions. Students' multiplicative structures are the units coordinations that they can take as given prior to activity--i.e., the units…

  19. 30 CFR 1206.116 - What interest applies if I improperly report a transportation allowance?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false What interest applies if I improperly report a transportation allowance? 1206.116 Section 1206.116 Mineral Resources OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE PRODUCT VALUATION Federal Oil § 1206.116 What interest...

  20. 30 CFR 1206.116 - What interest applies if I improperly report a transportation allowance?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false What interest applies if I improperly report a transportation allowance? 1206.116 Section 1206.116 Mineral Resources OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE PRODUCT VALUATION Federal Oil § 1206.116 What interest...

  1. 30 CFR 1206.116 - What interest applies if I improperly report a transportation allowance?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false What interest applies if I improperly report a transportation allowance? 1206.116 Section 1206.116 Mineral Resources OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE PRODUCT VALUATION Federal Oil § 1206.116 What interest...

  2. Least-Squares Approximation of an Improper Correlation Matrix by a Proper One.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Knol, Dirk L.; ten Berge, Jos M. F.

    1989-01-01

    An algorithm, based on a solution for C. I. Mosier's oblique Procrustes rotation problem, is presented for the best least-squares fitting correlation matrix approximating a given missing value or improper correlation matrix. Results are of interest for missing value and tetrachoric correlation, indefinite matrix correlation, and constrained…

  3. 77 FR 2658 - Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-19

    ... high pressure fuel lines due to improper installation of an expandable pin on the lower cowl assembly... chafing of the high pressure fuel lines, which if not corrected, could cause fuel leakage in a fire zone... on a high pressure (HP) fuel line. The source of chafing was related to the improper installation of...

  4. Adaptive convex combination approach for the identification of improper quaternion processes.

    PubMed

    Ujang, Bukhari Che; Jahanchahi, Cyrus; Took, Clive Cheong; Mandic, Danilo P

    2014-01-01

    Data-adaptive optimal modeling and identification of real-world vector sensor data is provided by combining the fractional tap-length (FT) approach with model order selection in the quaternion domain. To account rigorously for the generality of such processes, both second-order circular (proper) and noncircular (improper), the proposed approach in this paper combines the FT length optimization with both the strictly linear quaternion least mean square (QLMS) and widely linear QLMS (WL-QLMS). A collaborative approach based on QLMS and WL-QLMS is shown to both identify the type of processes (proper or improper) and to track their optimal parameters in real time. Analysis shows that monitoring the evolution of the convex mixing parameter within the collaborative approach allows us to track the improperness in real time. Further insight into the properties of those algorithms is provided by establishing a relationship between the steady-state error and optimal model order. The approach is supported by simulations on model order selection and identification of both strictly linear and widely linear quaternion-valued systems, such as those routinely used in renewable energy (wind) and human-centered computing (biomechanics).

  5. Developing proper mealtime behaviors of the institutionalized retarded.

    PubMed

    O'brien, F; Azrin, N H

    1972-01-01

    The institutionalized mentally retarded display a variety of unsanitary, disruptive, and improper table manners. A program was developed that included (1) acquisition-training of a high standard of proper table manners and (2) maintenance procedures to provide continued motivation to maintain proper mealtime behaviors and decrease improper skills. Twelve retardates received acquisition training, individually, by a combination of verbal instruction, imitation, and manual guidance. The students then ate in their group dining arrangement where the staff supervisor provided continuing approval for proper manners and verbal correction and timeout for improper manners. The results were: (1) the trained retardates showed significant improvement, whereas those untrained did not; (2) the trained retardates ate as well in the institution as non-retarded customers did in a public restaurant; (3) proper eating was maintained in the group dining setting; (4) timeout was rarely needed; (5) the program was easily administered by regular staff in a regular dining setting. The rapidity, feasibility, and effectiveness of the program suggests the program as a solution to improper mealtime behaviors by the institutionalized mentally retarded.

  6. Evaluation of Advanced Stirling Convertor Net Heat Input Correlation Methods Using a Thermal Standard

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Briggs, Maxwell; Schifer, Nicholas

    2011-01-01

    Test hardware used to validate net heat prediction models. Problem: Net Heat Input cannot be measured directly during operation. Net heat input is a key parameter needed in prediction of efficiency for convertor performance. Efficiency = Electrical Power Output (Measured) divided by Net Heat Input (Calculated). Efficiency is used to compare convertor designs and trade technology advantages for mission planning.

  7. Input variable selection for data-driven models of Coriolis flowmeters for two-phase flow measurement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Lijuan; Yan, Yong; Wang, Xue; Wang, Tao

    2017-03-01

    Input variable selection is an essential step in the development of data-driven models for environmental, biological and industrial applications. Through input variable selection to eliminate the irrelevant or redundant variables, a suitable subset of variables is identified as the input of a model. Meanwhile, through input variable selection the complexity of the model structure is simplified and the computational efficiency is improved. This paper describes the procedures of the input variable selection for the data-driven models for the measurement of liquid mass flowrate and gas volume fraction under two-phase flow conditions using Coriolis flowmeters. Three advanced input variable selection methods, including partial mutual information (PMI), genetic algorithm-artificial neural network (GA-ANN) and tree-based iterative input selection (IIS) are applied in this study. Typical data-driven models incorporating support vector machine (SVM) are established individually based on the input candidates resulting from the selection methods. The validity of the selection outcomes is assessed through an output performance comparison of the SVM based data-driven models and sensitivity analysis. The validation and analysis results suggest that the input variables selected from the PMI algorithm provide more effective information for the models to measure liquid mass flowrate while the IIS algorithm provides a fewer but more effective variables for the models to predict gas volume fraction.

  8. A Computational Methodology for Simulating Thermal Loss Testing of the Advanced Stirling Convertor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Reid, Terry V.; Wilson, Scott D.; Schifer, Nicholas A.; Briggs, Maxwell H.

    2012-01-01

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) have been developing the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) for use as a power system for space science missions. This generator would use two highefficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs), developed by Sunpower Inc. and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). The ASCs convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source into electricity. As part of ground testing of these ASCs, different operating conditions are used to simulate expected mission conditions. These conditions require achieving a particular operating frequency, hot end and cold end temperatures, and specified electrical power output for a given net heat input. In an effort to improve net heat input predictions, numerous tasks have been performed which provided a more accurate value for net heat input into the ASCs, including the use of multidimensional numerical models. Validation test hardware has also been used to provide a direct comparison of numerical results and validate the multi-dimensional numerical models used to predict convertor net heat input and efficiency. These validation tests were designed to simulate the temperature profile of an operating Stirling convertor and resulted in a measured net heat input of 244.4 W. The methodology was applied to the multi-dimensional numerical model which resulted in a net heat input of 240.3 W. The computational methodology resulted in a value of net heat input that was 1.7 percent less than that measured during laboratory testing. The resulting computational methodology and results are discussed.

  9. Cascade Back-Propagation Learning in Neural Networks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Duong, Tuan A.

    2003-01-01

    The cascade back-propagation (CBP) algorithm is the basis of a conceptual design for accelerating learning in artificial neural networks. The neural networks would be implemented as analog very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits, and circuits to implement the CBP algorithm would be fabricated on the same VLSI circuit chips with the neural networks. Heretofore, artificial neural networks have learned slowly because it has been necessary to train them via software, for lack of a good on-chip learning technique. The CBP algorithm is an on-chip technique that provides for continuous learning in real time. Artificial neural networks are trained by example: A network is presented with training inputs for which the correct outputs are known, and the algorithm strives to adjust the weights of synaptic connections in the network to make the actual outputs approach the correct outputs. The input data are generally divided into three parts. Two of the parts, called the "training" and "cross-validation" sets, respectively, must be such that the corresponding input/output pairs are known. During training, the cross-validation set enables verification of the status of the input-to-output transformation learned by the network to avoid over-learning. The third part of the data, termed the "test" set, consists of the inputs that are required to be transformed into outputs; this set may or may not include the training set and/or the cross-validation set. Proposed neural-network circuitry for on-chip learning would be divided into two distinct networks; one for training and one for validation. Both networks would share the same synaptic weights.

  10. 2 CFR 180.630 - May a Federal agency impute the conduct of one person to another?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... performance of duties for or on behalf of that organization, or with the organization's knowledge, approval or acquiescence. The organization's acceptance of the benefits derived from the conduct is evidence of knowledge... improper conduct is imputed either participated in, had knowledge of, or reason to know of the improper...

  11. Reflections on Boycotts: An Open Letter to the Harvard Community.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bok, Derek C.

    The question of what the university should do when it purchases goods and services from firms that are said to have acted improperly is considered by the president of Harvard University. It has been proposed that Harvard join national boycotts to force companies to stop engaging in specific practices that are thought to be improper. Several…

  12. 25 CFR 11.427 - Threats and other improper influence in official and political matters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... political matters. 11.427 Section 11.427 Indians BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR LAW AND ORDER COURTS OF INDIAN OFFENSES AND LAW AND ORDER CODE Criminal Offenses § 11.427 Threats and other improper influence in official and political matters. (a) A person commits a misdemeanor if he or...

  13. 45 CFR 73.735-303 - Use of government funds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 45 Public Welfare 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Use of government funds. 73.735-303 Section 73.735... Conduct on the Job § 73.735-303 Use of government funds. (a) An employee shall not: (1) Improperly use official travel; (2) Improperly use payroll and other vouchers and documents on which Government payments...

  14. 45 CFR 73.735-303 - Use of government funds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 45 Public Welfare 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Use of government funds. 73.735-303 Section 73.735... Conduct on the Job § 73.735-303 Use of government funds. (a) An employee shall not: (1) Improperly use official travel; (2) Improperly use payroll and other vouchers and documents on which Government payments...

  15. 24 CFR 1000.60 - Can HUD prevent improper expenditure of funds already disbursed to a recipient?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... expenditure of funds already disbursed to a recipient? 1000.60 Section 1000.60 Housing and Urban Development... § 1000.60 Can HUD prevent improper expenditure of funds already disbursed to a recipient? Yes. In accordance with the standards and remedies contained in § 1000.538 relating to substantial noncompliance, HUD...

  16. An Inquiry-Based Learning Approach to the Introduction of the Improper Rotation-Reflection Operation, S[subscript n

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Graham, John P.

    2014-01-01

    Symmetry properties of molecules are generally introduced in second-year or third-year-level inorganic or physical chemistry courses. Students generally adapt readily to understanding and applying the operations of rotation (C[subscript n]), reflection (s), and inversion (i). However, the two-step operation of improper rotation-reflection…

  17. Evaluation of Advanced Stirling Convertor Net Heat Input Correlation Methods Using a Thermal Standard

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Briggs, Maxwell H.; Schifer, Nicholas A.

    2012-01-01

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) have been developing the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) for use as a power system for space science missions. This generator would use two high-efficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs), developed by Sunpower Inc. and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). The ASCs convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source into electricity. As part of ground testing of these ASCs, different operating conditions are used to simulate expected mission conditions. These conditions require achieving a particular operating frequency, hot end and cold end temperatures, and specified electrical power output for a given net heat input. In an effort to improve net heat input predictions, numerous tasks have been performed which provided a more accurate value for net heat input into the ASCs, including testing validation hardware, known as the Thermal Standard, to provide a direct comparison to numerical and empirical models used to predict convertor net heat input. This validation hardware provided a comparison for scrutinizing and improving empirical correlations and numerical models of ASC-E2 net heat input. This hardware simulated the characteristics of an ASC-E2 convertor in both an operating and non-operating mode. This paper describes the Thermal Standard testing and the conclusions of the validation effort applied to the empirical correlation methods used by the Radioisotope Power System (RPS) team at NASA Glenn.

  18. Sensitivity Analysis of the Integrated Medical Model for ISS Programs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Goodenow, D. A.; Myers, J. G.; Arellano, J.; Boley, L.; Garcia, Y.; Saile, L.; Walton, M.; Kerstman, E.; Reyes, D.; Young, M.

    2016-01-01

    Sensitivity analysis estimates the relative contribution of the uncertainty in input values to the uncertainty of model outputs. Partial Rank Correlation Coefficient (PRCC) and Standardized Rank Regression Coefficient (SRRC) are methods of conducting sensitivity analysis on nonlinear simulation models like the Integrated Medical Model (IMM). The PRCC method estimates the sensitivity using partial correlation of the ranks of the generated input values to each generated output value. The partial part is so named because adjustments are made for the linear effects of all the other input values in the calculation of correlation between a particular input and each output. In SRRC, standardized regression-based coefficients measure the sensitivity of each input, adjusted for all the other inputs, on each output. Because the relative ranking of each of the inputs and outputs is used, as opposed to the values themselves, both methods accommodate the nonlinear relationship of the underlying model. As part of the IMM v4.0 validation study, simulations are available that predict 33 person-missions on ISS and 111 person-missions on STS. These simulated data predictions feed the sensitivity analysis procedures. The inputs to the sensitivity procedures include the number occurrences of each of the one hundred IMM medical conditions generated over the simulations and the associated IMM outputs: total quality time lost (QTL), number of evacuations (EVAC), and number of loss of crew lives (LOCL). The IMM team will report the results of using PRCC and SRRC on IMM v4.0 predictions of the ISS and STS missions created as part of the external validation study. Tornado plots will assist in the visualization of the condition-related input sensitivities to each of the main outcomes. The outcomes of this sensitivity analysis will drive review focus by identifying conditions where changes in uncertainty could drive changes in overall model output uncertainty. These efforts are an integral part of the overall verification, validation, and credibility review of IMM v4.0.

  19. Towards process-informed bias correction of climate change simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maraun, Douglas; Shepherd, Theodore G.; Widmann, Martin; Zappa, Giuseppe; Walton, Daniel; Gutiérrez, José M.; Hagemann, Stefan; Richter, Ingo; Soares, Pedro M. M.; Hall, Alex; Mearns, Linda O.

    2017-11-01

    Biases in climate model simulations introduce biases in subsequent impact simulations. Therefore, bias correction methods are operationally used to post-process regional climate projections. However, many problems have been identified, and some researchers question the very basis of the approach. Here we demonstrate that a typical cross-validation is unable to identify improper use of bias correction. Several examples show the limited ability of bias correction to correct and to downscale variability, and demonstrate that bias correction can cause implausible climate change signals. Bias correction cannot overcome major model errors, and naive application might result in ill-informed adaptation decisions. We conclude with a list of recommendations and suggestions for future research to reduce, post-process, and cope with climate model biases.

  20. Helmet Fit and Cervical Spine Motion in Collegiate Men's Lacrosse Athletes Secured to a Spine Board

    PubMed Central

    Petschauer, Meredith A.; Schmitz, Randy; Gill, Diane L.

    2010-01-01

    Abstract Context: Proper management of cervical spine injuries in men's lacrosse players depends in part upon the ability of the helmet to immobilize the head. Objective: To determine if properly and improperly fitted lacrosse helmets provide adequate stabilization of the head in the spine-boarded athlete. Design: Crossover study. Setting: Sports medicine research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Eighteen healthy collegiate men's lacrosse players. Intervention(s): Participants were asked to move their heads through 3 planes of motion after being secured to a spine board under 3 helmet conditions. Main Outcome Measure(s): Change in range of motion in the cervical spine was calculated for the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes for both head-to-thorax and helmet-to-thorax range of motion in all 3 helmet conditions (properly fitted, improperly fitted, and no helmet). Results: Head-to-thorax range of motion with the properly fitted and improperly fitted helmets was greater than in the no-helmet condition (P < .0001). In the sagittal plane, range of motion was greater with the improperly fitted helmet than with the properly fitted helmet. No difference was observed in helmet-to-thorax range of motion between properly and improperly fitted helmet conditions. Head-to-thorax range of motion was greater than helmet-to-thorax range of motion in all 3 planes (P < .0001). Conclusions: Cervical spine motion was minimized the most in the no-helmet condition, indicating that in lacrosse players, unlike football players, the helmet may need to be removed before stabilization. PMID:20446833

  1. Condoms used but sex not well protected.

    PubMed

    Lau, J T F; Zhou, H; Su, X Y; Feng, T J; Hong, F C; Tsui, H Y; Ma, Y L; Wang, Z; Walden, D

    2014-10-01

    Condom use is often equated to safer sex. The prevalence of condom use during sex work among female sex workers (FSW) in China is high. Condom use, however, co-exists with condom failure and improper use and hence risk of HIV transmission. In a cross-sectional study, we interviewed 195 FSW in Shenzhen, China. The prevalence of condom use in the last episode of sex work was 97.4 %, However, respectively 53.8 and 86.2 % had experienced at least one condition of condom failure that may lead to genital contact (wearing condoms after penetration, condom breakage/slippage, condoms removed by clients) and at least one condition of improper condom use (not removing air from the tip of the condom, not pulling it down to the root of penis and not choosing good quality condoms). Factors of individual level (e.g. never choosing high quality condoms for sex work), inter-personal level (e.g. agreement to have unprotected sex if fond of clients or paid more) and environmental/structural level (e.g. non-availability of condoms) were associated with various types of condom failure and improper use. Although HIV prevention interventions have increased prevalence of condom use among FSW, the risk of HIV transmission may still be high as "unsafe" sex due to condom failure and improper use is prevalent. Interventions promoting safer sex need to address such issues and take socio-ecological factors into account. Condom use during sex work is not equivalent to well protected sex as the protective effects could be compromised by frequent condom failure and improper use.

  2. Quantum spin dynamics at terahertz frequencies in 2D hole gases and improper ferroelectrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lloyd-Hughes, J.

    2015-08-01

    Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy permits the excitations of novel materials to be examined with exquisite precision. Improper ferroelectric materials such as cupric oxide (CuO) exhibit complex magnetic ground states. CuO is antiferromagnetic below 213K, but has an incommensurate cycloidal magnetic phase between 213K and 230K. Remarkably, the cycloidal magnetic phase drives ferroelectricity, where the material becomes polar. Such improper multiferroics are of great contemporary interest, as a better understanding of the science of magnetoelectric materials may lead to their application in actuators, sensors and solid state memories. Improper multiferroics also have novel quasiparticle excitations: electromagnons form when spin-waves become electric-dipole active. By examining the dynamic response of spins as they interact with THz radiation we gain insights into the underlying physics of multi-ferroics. In contrast to improper ferroelectrics, where magnetism drives structural inversion asymmetry (SIA), two-dimensional electronic systems can exhibit non-degenerate spin states as a consequence of SIA created by strain and/or electric fields. We identify and explore the influence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction upon cyclotron resonance at terahertz frequencies in high-mobility 2D hole gases in germanium quantum wells. An enhanced Rashba spin-orbit interaction can be linked to the strain of the quantum well, while a time-frequency decomposition method permitted the dynamical formation and decay of spin-split cyclotron resonances to be tracked on picosecond timescales. Long spin-decoherence times concurrent with high hole mobilities highlight the potential of Ge quantum wells in spintronics.

  3. Automated Coding Software: Development and Use to Enhance Anti-Fraud Activities*

    PubMed Central

    Garvin, Jennifer H.; Watzlaf, Valerie; Moeini, Sohrab

    2006-01-01

    This descriptive research project identified characteristics of automated coding systems that have the potential to detect improper coding and to minimize improper or fraudulent coding practices in the setting of automated coding used with the electronic health record (EHR). Recommendations were also developed for software developers and users of coding products to maximize anti-fraud practices. PMID:17238546

  4. Proper and improper zero energy modes in Hartree-Fock theory and their relevance for symmetry breaking and restoration.

    PubMed

    Cui, Yao; Bulik, Ireneusz W; Jiménez-Hoyos, Carlos A; Henderson, Thomas M; Scuseria, Gustavo E

    2013-10-21

    We study the spectra of the molecular orbital Hessian (stability matrix) and random-phase approximation (RPA) Hamiltonian of broken-symmetry Hartree-Fock solutions, focusing on zero eigenvalue modes. After all negative eigenvalues are removed from the Hessian by following their eigenvectors downhill, one is left with only positive and zero eigenvalues. Zero modes correspond to orbital rotations with no restoring force. These rotations determine states in the Goldstone manifold, which originates from a spontaneously broken continuous symmetry in the wave function. Zero modes can be classified as improper or proper according to their different mathematical and physical properties. Improper modes arise from symmetry breaking and their restoration always lowers the energy. Proper modes, on the other hand, correspond to degeneracies of the wave function, and their symmetry restoration does not necessarily lower the energy. We discuss how the RPA Hamiltonian distinguishes between proper and improper modes by doubling the number of zero eigenvalues associated with the latter. Proper modes in the Hessian always appear in pairs which do not double in RPA. We present several pedagogical cases exemplifying the above statements. The relevance of these results for projected Hartree-Fock methods is also addressed.

  5. Public concerns and behaviours towards solid waste management in Italy.

    PubMed

    Sessa, Alessandra; Di Giuseppe, Gabriella; Marinelli, Paolo; Angelillo, Italo F

    2010-12-01

    A self-administered questionnaire investigated knowledge, perceptions of the risks to health associated with solid waste management, and practices about waste management in a random sample of 1181 adults in Italy. Perceived risk of developing cancer due to solid waste burning was significantly higher in females, younger, with an educational level lower than university and who believed that improper waste management is linked to cancer. Respondents who had visited a physician at least once in the last year for fear of contracting a disease due to the non-correct waste management had an educational level lower than university, have modified dietary habits for fear of contracting disease due to improper waste management, believe that improper waste management is linked to allergies, perceive a higher risk of contracting infectious disease due to improper waste management and have participated in education/information activities on waste management. Those who more frequently perform with regularity differentiate household waste collection had a university educational level, perceived a higher risk of developing cancer due to solid waste burning, had received information about waste collection and did not need information about waste management. Educational programmes are needed to modify public concern about adverse health effects of domestic waste.

  6. Enhancement of CFD validation exercise along the roof profile of a low-rise building

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deraman, S. N. C.; Majid, T. A.; Zaini, S. S.; Yahya, W. N. W.; Abdullah, J.; Ismail, M. A.

    2018-04-01

    The aim of this study is to enhance the validation of CFD exercise along the roof profile of a low-rise building. An isolated gabled-roof house having 26.6° roof pitch was simulated to obtain the pressure coefficient around the house. Validation of CFD analysis with experimental data requires many input parameters. This study performed CFD simulation based on the data from a previous study. Where the input parameters were not clearly stated, new input parameters were established from the open literatures. The numerical simulations were performed in FLUENT 14.0 by applying the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach based on steady RANS equation together with RNG k-ɛ model. Hence, the result from CFD was analysed by using quantitative test (statistical analysis) and compared with CFD results from the previous study. The statistical analysis results from ANOVA test and error measure showed that the CFD results from the current study produced good agreement and exhibited the closest error compared to the previous study. All the input data used in this study can be extended to other types of CFD simulation involving wind flow over an isolated single storey house.

  7. [On relationship of acupoint-injection with injury of peripheral nerves].

    PubMed

    Guo, Chang-Qing; Chen, You-Nan

    2007-04-01

    To provide basis for strengthening safety of acupoint-injection and increasing clinical therapeutic effect. Analyze and study on the relative articles from the databank of whole articles of Chinese periodicals of CNKI by information retrieval with computer, with acupoint-injection, nerve injury as key words. Most of clinical reports focus on acupoint-injection for treatment of nervous injury induced by trauma and birth injury. The studies indicate that the injuries of the peripheral nerves induced by acupoint-injection can be divided into 3 grades and the injury mechanisms can be divided into 3 classifications. The injuring causes include improper posture of the patients, improper angle and depth of injection and improper medicine selection. Acupoint-injection can be applied more widely as soon as the accomplishment of the standardization of operation.

  8. Approach for Input Uncertainty Propagation and Robust Design in CFD Using Sensitivity Derivatives

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Putko, Michele M.; Taylor, Arthur C., III; Newman, Perry A.; Green, Lawrence L.

    2002-01-01

    An implementation of the approximate statistical moment method for uncertainty propagation and robust optimization for quasi 3-D Euler CFD code is presented. Given uncertainties in statistically independent, random, normally distributed input variables, first- and second-order statistical moment procedures are performed to approximate the uncertainty in the CFD output. Efficient calculation of both first- and second-order sensitivity derivatives is required. In order to assess the validity of the approximations, these moments are compared with statistical moments generated through Monte Carlo simulations. The uncertainties in the CFD input variables are also incorporated into a robust optimization procedure. For this optimization, statistical moments involving first-order sensitivity derivatives appear in the objective function and system constraints. Second-order sensitivity derivatives are used in a gradient-based search to successfully execute a robust optimization. The approximate methods used throughout the analyses are found to be valid when considering robustness about input parameter mean values.

  9. Overview of Heat Addition and Efficiency Predictions for an Advanced Stirling Convertor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, Scott D.; Reid, Terry V.; Schifer, Nicholas A.; Briggs, Maxwell H.

    2012-01-01

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) have been developing the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) for use as a power system for space science missions. This generator would use two high-efficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs), developed by Sunpower Inc. and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). The ASCs convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source into electricity. As part of ground testing of these ASCs, different operating conditions are used to simulate expected mission conditions. These conditions require achieving a particular operating frequency, hot end and cold end temperatures, and specified electrical power output for a given net heat input. Microporous bulk insulation is used in the ground support test hardware to minimize the loss of thermal energy from the electric heat source to the environment. The insulation package is characterized before operation to predict how much heat will be absorbed by the convertor and how much will be lost to the environment during operation. In an effort to validate these predictions, numerous tasks have been performed, which provided a more accurate value for net heat input into the ASCs. This test and modeling effort included: (a) making thermophysical property measurements of test setup materials to provide inputs to the numerical models, (b) acquiring additional test data that was collected during convertor tests to provide numerical models with temperature profiles of the test setup via thermocouple and infrared measurements, (c) using multidimensional numerical models (computational fluid dynamics code) to predict net heat input of an operating convertor, and (d) using validation test hardware to provide direct comparison of numerical results and validate the multidimensional numerical models used to predict convertor net heat input. This effort produced high fidelity ASC net heat input predictions, which were successfully validated using specially designed test hardware enabling measurement of heat transferred through a simulated Stirling cycle. The overall effort and results are discussed.

  10. Inverse optimal design of input-to-state stabilisation for affine nonlinear systems with input delays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cai, Xiushan; Meng, Lingxin; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Leipo

    2018-03-01

    We establish robustness of the predictor feedback control law to perturbations appearing at the system input for affine nonlinear systems with time-varying input delay and additive disturbances. Furthermore, it is shown that it is inverse optimal with respect to a differential game problem. All of the stability and inverse optimality proofs are based on the infinite-dimensional backstepping transformation and an appropriate Lyapunov functional. A single-link manipulator subject to input delays and disturbances is given to illustrate the validity of the proposed method.

  11. Evidence of norovirus (NV)in a major produce production region watershed and a low density microarray strategy for detecting NV(Abstract)

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The presence of Norovirus (NV) in watersheds in the vicinity of raw produce production is a concern. This could occur due to leaking septic systems, improper RV waste removal, improperly treated recycled wastewater, or other unknown factors. We used a qRT-PCR method to test for NV in rinsates from M...

  12. Lessons Learned from FY82 US Army Aviation Mishaps.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-07-01

    command action to ensure inexperienced instructor pilots recognize the problems associated with inexpe-rience, particularly those related to anticipating...and failed to remove tiedowns before flight. These actions were the result of a. improper attitude regarding the requirement to perform preflight...lack of self-discipline (improper Attitude ) by encouraging pilot to fly unauthorized maneuvers which exceeded he ability of the pilot and aircraft

  13. Distributed Knowledge-Based Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-03-15

    For example, patients with cerebral palsy , a disease affecting motor control, typically have several muscles that function improperly in different...phases of the gait cycle. The malfunctions in the case of cerebral palsy are improper contractions of the muscles - both in terms of the magnitude and...problem, if true, has serious implications for how knowledge acquisition should be done. Because some knowledge representation must be the target of

  14. Dover Port Mortuary Independent Review Subcommittee Final Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-02-01

    improper handling and transport of remains with possible contagious disease (suspected tuberculosis based on nodules observed on lungs at the time of...Universal precautions regarding infectious disease control and exposure control procedures have been developed and applied with regard to the handling of...transport of remains with possible contagious disease (suspected tuberculosis based on nodules observed on lungs at the time of autopsy); improper

  15. Dover Port Mortuary Independent Review Subcommittee Final Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-02-27

    improper handling and transport of remains with possible contagious disease (suspected tuberculosis based on nodules observed on lungs at the time of...Universal precautions regarding infectious disease control and exposure control procedures have been developed and applied with regard to the handling of...transport of remains with possible contagious disease (suspected tuberculosis based on nodules observed on lungs at the time of autopsy); improper

  16. Improper trunk rotation sequence is associated with increased maximal shoulder external rotation angle and shoulder joint force in high school baseball pitchers.

    PubMed

    Oyama, Sakiko; Yu, Bing; Blackburn, J Troy; Padua, Darin A; Li, Li; Myers, Joseph B

    2014-09-01

    In a properly coordinated throwing motion, peak pelvic rotation velocity is reached before peak upper torso rotation velocity, so that angular momentum can be transferred effectively from the proximal (pelvis) to distal (upper torso) segment. However, the effects of trunk rotation sequence on pitching biomechanics and performance have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of trunk rotation sequence on ball speed and on upper extremity biomechanics that are linked to injuries in high school baseball pitchers. The hypothesis was that pitchers with improper trunk rotation sequence would demonstrate lower ball velocity and greater stress to the joint. Descriptive laboratory study. Three-dimensional pitching kinematics data were captured from 72 high school pitchers. Subjects were considered to have proper or improper trunk rotation sequences when the peak pelvic rotation velocity was reached either before or after the peak upper torso rotation velocity beyond the margin of error (±3.7% of the time from stride-foot contact to ball release). Maximal shoulder external rotation angle, elbow extension angle at ball release, peak shoulder proximal force, shoulder internal rotation moment, and elbow varus moment were compared between groups using independent t tests (α < 0.05). Pitchers with improper trunk rotation sequences (n = 33) demonstrated greater maximal shoulder external rotation angle (mean difference, 7.2° ± 2.9°, P = .016) and greater shoulder proximal force (mean difference, 9.2% ± 3.9% body weight, P = .021) compared with those with proper trunk rotation sequences (n = 22). No other variables differed significantly different between groups. High school baseball pitchers who demonstrated improper trunk rotation sequences demonstrated greater maximal shoulder external rotation angle and shoulder proximal force compared with pitchers with proper trunk rotation sequences. Improper sequencing of the trunk and torso alter upper extremity joint loading in ways that may influence injury risk. As such, exercises that reinforce the use of a proper trunk rotation sequence during the pitching motion may reduce the stress placed on the structures around the shoulder joint and lead to the prevention of injuries. © 2014 The Author(s).

  17. Effects of nitrogen fertilization strategies on nitrogen use efficiency in physiology, recovery, and agronomy and redistribution of dry matter accumulation and nitrogen accumulation in two typical rice cultivars in Zhejiang, China.

    PubMed

    Xie, Wen-xia; Wang, Guang-huo; Zhang, Qi-chun; Guo, Hai-chao

    2007-03-01

    Field experiments were conducted in farmers' rice fields in 2001 and 2002 to study the effects of nitrogen (N) management strategies on N use efficiency in recovery (RE), agronomy (AE) and physiology (PE) and redistribution of dry matter accumulation (DMA) and nitrogen accumulation (NA) in two typical rice cultivars in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. This study aimed mainly at identifying the possible causes of poor fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE) of rice in Zhejiang by comparing farmers' fertilizer practice (FFP) with advanced site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) and real-time N management (RTNM). The results showed that compared to FFP, SSNM and RTNM reduced DMA and NA before panicle initiation and increased DMA and NA at post-flowering. There is no significant difference between SSNM and FFP in post-flowering dry matter redistribution (post-DMR) and post-flowering nitrogen redistribution (post-NR). These results suggest that high input rate of fertilizer N and improper fertilizer N timing are the main factors causing low NUE of irrigated rice in the farmer's routine practice of Zhejiang. With SSNM, about 15% of the current total N input in direct-seeding early rice and 45% in single rice could be reduced without yield loss in Zhejiang, China.

  18. Low-cost extrapolation method for maximal LTE radio base station exposure estimation: test and validation.

    PubMed

    Verloock, Leen; Joseph, Wout; Gati, Azeddine; Varsier, Nadège; Flach, Björn; Wiart, Joe; Martens, Luc

    2013-06-01

    An experimental validation of a low-cost method for extrapolation and estimation of the maximal electromagnetic-field exposure from long-term evolution (LTE) radio base station installations are presented. No knowledge on downlink band occupation or service characteristics is required for the low-cost method. The method is applicable in situ. It only requires a basic spectrum analyser with appropriate field probes without the need of expensive dedicated LTE decoders. The method is validated both in laboratory and in situ, for a single-input single-output antenna LTE system and a 2×2 multiple-input multiple-output system, with low deviations in comparison with signals measured using dedicated LTE decoders.

  19. Influence of input material and operational performance on the physical and chemical properties of MSW compost.

    PubMed

    Montejo, C; Costa, C; Márquez, M C

    2015-10-01

    Certain controversy exists about the use of compost from MSW (municipal solid waste) and, specifically, from the organic fraction of MSW that has not been separated at the source. In this case, the final composition of MSW compost is related to the performance of the separation process in MBT (Mechanical and Biological Treatment) plants as well as the composition of raw materials and the particular features of composting systems. In an effort to investigate the quality of MSW compost, 30 samples of this product obtained from 10 different MBT plants were studied. The main physical and chemical properties were analyzed and were compared with the requirements of current legislation. The composting systems used to produce these compost samples were studied and the input materials were characterized. The results reveal that the heavy metal content in MSW compost was below the legal restrictions in all samples but one; however, in most of them the percentage of Pb was high. The fertilizing potential of MSW compost has been demonstrated by its high nutrient concentrations, particularly N, K, P, Ca and Mg. Nevertheless, here the percentage of inert impurities with a size larger than 2 mm, such as plastic or glass, was seen to be excessively high exceeding in some cases the legal limit. The source of such pollution lies in the composting inputs, OFMSW (organic fraction of MSW), which showed high percentages of improper materials such as plastic (9%) or glass (11%). Accordingly, the performance of the sorting stage for the collection of the raw material must be improved, as must the refining process, since this does not remove the necessary amounts of these impurities from the final compost. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Comparison of blood specimens from plain and gel vacuum blood collection tubes.

    PubMed

    Wiwanitkit, V

    2001-05-01

    This study was set in the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Chulalongkorn Hospital. All 2,000 blood specimens were randomly collected using evacuated blood collection by plain or gel vacuum tubes. After collection, each specimen was considered and judged using criteria of specimen rejection to determine how proper the specimen presentations were. All data were reviewed, collected and interpreted. It revealed that there were only 20 (1%) improper specimens and all were improper in quality. There was no significant difference between the ratio of improper specimens in both groups (P > 0.30). From this study, it revealed that efficacy of both types of vacuum tubes was not different. The new gel vacuum tube seems to be an effective tool in the evacuated blood collection system due to its advantage in reduction of time in specimen processing.

  1. Surrogates for numerical simulations; optimization of eddy-promoter heat exchangers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Patera, Anthony T.; Patera, Anthony

    1993-01-01

    Although the advent of fast and inexpensive parallel computers has rendered numerous previously intractable calculations feasible, many numerical simulations remain too resource-intensive to be directly inserted in engineering optimization efforts. An attractive alternative to direct insertion considers models for computational systems: the expensive simulation is evoked only to construct and validate a simplified, input-output model; this simplified input-output model then serves as a simulation surrogate in subsequent engineering optimization studies. A simple 'Bayesian-validated' statistical framework for the construction, validation, and purposive application of static computer simulation surrogates is presented. As an example, dissipation-transport optimization of laminar-flow eddy-promoter heat exchangers are considered: parallel spectral element Navier-Stokes calculations serve to construct and validate surrogates for the flowrate and Nusselt number; these surrogates then represent the originating Navier-Stokes equations in the ensuing design process.

  2. PathFinder: reconstruction and dynamic visualization of metabolic pathways.

    PubMed

    Goesmann, Alexander; Haubrock, Martin; Meyer, Folker; Kalinowski, Jörn; Giegerich, Robert

    2002-01-01

    Beyond methods for a gene-wise annotation and analysis of sequenced genomes new automated methods for functional analysis on a higher level are needed. The identification of realized metabolic pathways provides valuable information on gene expression and regulation. Detection of incomplete pathways helps to improve a constantly evolving genome annotation or discover alternative biochemical pathways. To utilize automated genome analysis on the level of metabolic pathways new methods for the dynamic representation and visualization of pathways are needed. PathFinder is a tool for the dynamic visualization of metabolic pathways based on annotation data. Pathways are represented as directed acyclic graphs, graph layout algorithms accomplish the dynamic drawing and visualization of the metabolic maps. A more detailed analysis of the input data on the level of biochemical pathways helps to identify genes and detect improper parts of annotations. As an Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) based internet application PathFinder reads a list of EC-numbers or a given annotation in EMBL- or Genbank-format and dynamically generates pathway graphs.

  3. Dynamics of face and annular seals with two-phase flow

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hughes, William F.; Basu, Prithwish; Beatty, Paul A.; Beeler, Richard M.; Lau, Stephen

    1988-01-01

    A detailed study was made of face and annular seals under conditions where boiling, i.e., phase change of the leaking fluid, occurs within the seal. Many seals operate in this mode because of flashing due to pressure drop and/or heat input from frictional heating. Some of the distinctive behavior characteristics of two phase seals are discussed, particularly their axial stability. The main conclusions are that seals with two phase flow may be unstable if improperly balanced. Detailed theoretical analyses of low (laminar) and high (turbulent) leakage seals are presented along with computer codes, parametric studies, and in particular a simplified PC based code that allows for rapid performance prediction: calculations of stiffness coefficients, temperature and pressure distributions, and leakage rates for parallel and coned face seals. A simplified combined computer code for the performance prediction over the laminar and turbulent ranges of a two phase flow is described and documented. The analyses, results, and computer codes are summarized.

  4. Distributed Knowledge Base Systems for Diagnosis and Information Retrieval.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-04-08

    cycle. For example, patients with cerebral palsy , a disease affecting motor control, typically have several muscles that function improperly in...different phases of the gait cycle. The malfunctions in the case of cerebral palsy are improper contractions of the muscles -- both in terms of the...generally resulted in the neural network level not being a serious contender for Al theory formation and system construction until a new generation

  5. Least-Squares Approximation of an Improper by a Proper Correlation Matrix Using a Semi-Infinite Convex Program. Research Report 87-7.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Knol, Dirk L.; ten Berge, Jos M. F.

    An algorithm is presented for the best least-squares fitting correlation matrix approximating a given missing value or improper correlation matrix. The proposed algorithm is based on a solution for C. I. Mosier's oblique Procrustes rotation problem offered by J. M. F. ten Berge and K. Nevels (1977). It is shown that the minimization problem…

  6. Phenomenological Considerations of the Electric Field Induced Transitions in Improper Ferroelectrics and Ferroelastics. III. Application to Gd2(MoO4)3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suzuki, Ikuo; Ishibashi, Yoshihiro

    1987-02-01

    The electric field induced phase transitions are discussed in the improper ferroelectrics and ferroelastics, where the high symmetry phase is assumed to be piezoelectric as in the gadolinium molybdate (GMO). The dependence on the electric field of the polarization is discussed, and the D-E hysteresis loops are compared with the one experimentally observed in GMO.

  7. Effects of biaxial strain on the improper multiferroicity in h – LuFe O 3 films studied using the restrained thermal expansion method

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

    Sinha, Kishan; Zhang, Yubo; Jiang, Xuanyuan

    Elastic strain is potentially an important approach in tuning the properties of the improperly multiferroic hexagonal ferrites, the details of which have however been elusive due to the experimental difficulties. Employing the method of restrained thermal expansion, we have studied the effect of isothermal biaxial strain in the basal plane of h-LuFeO 3 (001) films. The results indicate that a compressive biaxial strain significantly enhances the K 3 structural distortion (the order parameter of the improper ferroelectricity), and the effect is larger at higher temperatures. The compressive biaxial strain and the enhanced K 3 structural distortion together, cause an increasemore » in the electric polarization and a reduction in the canting of the weak ferromagnetic moments in h-LuFeO 3, according to our first principle calculations. These findings are important for understanding the strain effect as well as the coupling between the lattice and the improper multiferroicity in h-LuFeO 3. Finally, the experimental elucidation of the strain effect in h-LuFeO 3 films also suggests that the restrained thermal expansion can be a viable method to unravel the strain effect in many other thin film materials.« less

  8. Effects of biaxial strain on the improper multiferroicity in h – LuFe O 3 films studied using the restrained thermal expansion method

    DOE PAGES

    Sinha, Kishan; Zhang, Yubo; Jiang, Xuanyuan; ...

    2017-03-14

    Elastic strain is potentially an important approach in tuning the properties of the improperly multiferroic hexagonal ferrites, the details of which have however been elusive due to the experimental difficulties. Employing the method of restrained thermal expansion, we have studied the effect of isothermal biaxial strain in the basal plane of h-LuFeO 3 (001) films. The results indicate that a compressive biaxial strain significantly enhances the K 3 structural distortion (the order parameter of the improper ferroelectricity), and the effect is larger at higher temperatures. The compressive biaxial strain and the enhanced K 3 structural distortion together, cause an increasemore » in the electric polarization and a reduction in the canting of the weak ferromagnetic moments in h-LuFeO 3, according to our first principle calculations. These findings are important for understanding the strain effect as well as the coupling between the lattice and the improper multiferroicity in h-LuFeO 3. Finally, the experimental elucidation of the strain effect in h-LuFeO 3 films also suggests that the restrained thermal expansion can be a viable method to unravel the strain effect in many other thin film materials.« less

  9. Case report of a near medical event in stereotactic radiotherapy due to improper units of measure from a treatment planning system

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

    Gladstone, D. J.; Li, S.; Jarvis, L. A.

    2011-07-15

    Purpose: The authors hereby notify the Radiation Oncology community of a potentially lethal error due to improper implementation of linear units of measure in a treatment planning system. The authors report an incident in which a patient was nearly mistreated during a stereotactic radiotherapy procedure due to inappropriate reporting of stereotactic coordinates by the radiation therapy treatment planning system in units of centimeter rather than in millimeter. The authors suggest a method to detect such errors during treatment planning so they are caught and corrected prior to the patient positioning for treatment on the treatment machine. Methods: Using pretreatment imaging,more » the authors found that stereotactic coordinates are reported with improper linear units by a treatment planning system. The authors have implemented a redundant, independent method of stereotactic coordinate calculation. Results: Implementation of a double check of stereotactic coordinates via redundant, independent calculation is simple and accurate. Use of this technique will avoid any future error in stereotactic treatment coordinates due to improper linear units, transcription, or other similar errors. Conclusions: The authors recommend an independent double check of stereotactic treatment coordinates during the treatment planning process in order to avoid potential mistreatment of patients.« less

  10. 14 CFR 417.307 - Support systems.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... subsystem, component, and part that can affect the reliability of the support system must have written..., evaluate the data for validity, and provide valid data for display and recording; (3) Perform any... input and processed data at a rate that maintains the validity of the data and at no less than 0.1...

  11. Wilson v. Kuenzi.

    PubMed

    1988-05-17

    The Supreme Court of Missouri affirmed the Circuit Court's dismissal of wrongful life and wrongful birth claims brought against a physician who failed to advise a pregnant woman of the availability of the amniocentesis test for Down's syndrome. The Supreme Court ruled that the Missouri statute precluding actions for wrongful life and wrongful birth does not apply retroactively. However, the Court refused to recognize the validity of wrongful life or wrongful death actions. The wrongful life action brought by or on behalf of a child is improper because of the difficulty in assessing damages, and the wrongful birth action brought by the child's parents is invalid because of the absence of traditional tort causation, the derivative nature of the cause of action, and the uncertainty in determining whether the mother would have chosen to abort.

  12. Physics in the Courtroom

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vosk, Ted

    2011-10-01

    The principles, methods and technologies of physics can provide a powerful tool for the discovery of truth in the criminal justice system. Accordingly, physics based forensic evidence is relied upon in criminal prosecutions around the country every day. Infrared spectroscopy for the determination of the alcohol concentration of an individual's breath, force, momentum and multi-body dynamics for purposes of accident reconstruction and the basic application of sound metrological (measurement) practices constitute but a few examples. In many cases, a jury's determination of guilt or innocence, upon which the liberty of a Citizen rests, may in fact be determined by such evidence. Society may well place a high degree of confidence in the integrity of verdicts so obtained when ``the physics'' has been applied in a valid manner. Unfortunately, as concluded by the National Academy of Sciences, ``The law's greatest dilemma in its heavy reliance on forensic evidence--concerns the question of whether---and to what extent-- -there is science in any given `forensic science' discipline.'' Even where valid physical principles are relied upon, their improper application by forensic practitioners who have little physics training, background and/or understanding calls into question the validity of results or conclusions obtained. This presentation provides examples of the application of physics in the courtroom, where problems have been discovered and how they can be addressed by the physics community.

  13. FEMFLOW3D; a finite-element program for the simulation of three-dimensional aquifers; version 1.0

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Durbin, Timothy J.; Bond, Linda D.

    1998-01-01

    This document also includes model validation, source code, and example input and output files. Model validation was performed using four test problems. For each test problem, the results of a model simulation with FEMFLOW3D were compared with either an analytic solution or the results of an independent numerical approach. The source code, written in the ANSI x3.9-1978 FORTRAN standard, and the complete input and output of an example problem are listed in the appendixes.

  14. An algorithm to generate input data from meteorological and space shuttle observations to validate a CH4-CO model

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Peters, L. K.; Yamanis, J.

    1981-01-01

    Objective procedures to analyze data from meteorological and space shuttle observations to validate a three dimensional model were investigated. The transport and chemistry of carbon monoxide and methane in the troposphere were studied. Four aspects were examined: (1) detailed evaluation of the variational calculus procedure, with the equation of continuity as a strong constraint, for adjustment of global tropospheric wind fields; (2) reduction of the National Meteorological Center (NMC) data tapes for data input to the OSTA-1/MAPS Experiment; (3) interpolation of the NMC Data for input to the CH4-CO model; and (4) temporal and spatial interpolation procedures of the CO measurements from the OSTA-1/MAPS Experiment to generate usable contours of the data.

  15. Military Retirement Fund Audited Financial Statements. Fiscal Year 2011

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-11-04

    reporting . Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (Public Law No. 107-300) The MRF public accounts receivable, $49.6 million, consists mostly of improper... reports death payment contingencies that result from DoD’s responsibility to cover retiree benefits not paid by the VA during the month of death. L... Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour

  16. Modification and Validation of Conceptual Design Aerodynamic Prediction Method HASC95 With VTXCHN

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Albright, Alan E.; Dixon, Charles J.; Hegedus, Martin C.

    1996-01-01

    A conceptual/preliminary design level subsonic aerodynamic prediction code HASC (High Angle of Attack Stability and Control) has been improved in several areas, validated, and documented. The improved code includes improved methodologies for increased accuracy and robustness, and simplified input/output files. An engineering method called VTXCHN (Vortex Chine) for prediciting nose vortex shedding from circular and non-circular forebodies with sharp chine edges has been improved and integrated into the HASC code. This report contains a summary of modifications, description of the code, user's guide, and validation of HASC. Appendices include discussion of a new HASC utility code, listings of sample input and output files, and a discussion of the application of HASC to buffet analysis.

  17. Timing control system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wiker, Gordon A. (Inventor); Wells, Jr., George H. (Inventor)

    1989-01-01

    A timing control system is disclosed which is particularly useful in connection with simulated mortar shells. Special circuitry is provided to assure that the shell does not overshoot, but rather detonates early in case of an improper condition; this ensures that ground personnel will not be harmed by a delayed detonation. The system responds to an externally applied frequency control code which is configured to avoid any confusion between different control modes. A premature detonation routine is entered in case an improper time-setting signal is entered, or if the shell is launched before completion of the time-setting sequence. Special provisions are also made for very early launch situations and improper detonator connections. An alternate abort mode is provided to discharge the internal power supply without a detonation in a manner that can be externally monitored, thereby providing a mechanism for non-destructive testing. The abort mode also accelerates the timing function for rapid testing.

  18. Timing Control System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wiker, Gordon A. (Inventor); Wells, George H., Jr. (Inventor)

    1987-01-01

    A timing control system is disclosed which is particularly useful in connection with simulated mortar shells. Special circuitry is provided to assure that the shell does not over shoot, but rather detonates early in case of an improper condition; this ensures that ground personnel will not be harmed by a delayed detonation. The system responds to an externally applied frequency control code which is configured to avoid any confusion between different control modes. A premature detonation routine is entered in case an improper time-setting signal is entered, or if the shell is launched before completion of the time-setting sequence. Special provisions are also made for very early launch situations and improper detonator connections. An alternate abort mode is provided to discharge the internal power supply without a detonation in a manner that can be externally monitored, thereby providing a mechanism for non-destructive testing. The abort mode also accelerates the timing function for rapid testing.

  19. Exposure to electromagnetic fields from laptop use of "laptop" computers.

    PubMed

    Bellieni, C V; Pinto, I; Bogi, A; Zoppetti, N; Andreuccetti, D; Buonocore, G

    2012-01-01

    Portable computers are often used at tight contact with the body and therefore are called "laptop." The authors measured electromagnetic fields (EMFs) laptop computers produce and estimated the induced currents in the body, to assess the safety of laptop computers. The authors evaluated 5 commonly used laptop of different brands. They measured EMF exposure produced and, using validated computerized models, the authors exploited the data of one of the laptop computers (LTCs) to estimate the magnetic flux exposure of the user and of the fetus in the womb, when the laptop is used at close contact with the woman's womb. In the LTCs analyzed, EMF values (range 1.8-6 μT) are within International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, but are considerably higher than the values recommended by 2 recent guidelines for computer monitors magnetic field emissions, MPR II (Swedish Board for Technical Accreditation) and TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), and those considered risky for tumor development. When close to the body, the laptop induces currents that are within 34.2% to 49.8% ICNIRP recommendations, but not negligible, to the adult's body and to the fetus (in pregnant women). On the contrary, the power supply induces strong intracorporal electric current densities in the fetus and in the adult subject, which are respectively 182-263% and 71-483% higher than ICNIRP 98 basic restriction recommended to prevent adverse health effects. Laptop is paradoxically an improper site for the use of a LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers towards an improper use.

  20. Simulation models in population breast cancer screening: A systematic review.

    PubMed

    Koleva-Kolarova, Rositsa G; Zhan, Zhuozhao; Greuter, Marcel J W; Feenstra, Talitha L; De Bock, Geertruida H

    2015-08-01

    The aim of this review was to critically evaluate published simulation models for breast cancer screening of the general population and provide a direction for future modeling. A systematic literature search was performed to identify simulation models with more than one application. A framework for qualitative assessment which incorporated model type; input parameters; modeling approach, transparency of input data sources/assumptions, sensitivity analyses and risk of bias; validation, and outcomes was developed. Predicted mortality reduction (MR) and cost-effectiveness (CE) were compared to estimates from meta-analyses of randomized control trials (RCTs) and acceptability thresholds. Seven original simulation models were distinguished, all sharing common input parameters. The modeling approach was based on tumor progression (except one model) with internal and cross validation of the resulting models, but without any external validation. Differences in lead times for invasive or non-invasive tumors, and the option for cancers not to progress were not explicitly modeled. The models tended to overestimate the MR (11-24%) due to screening as compared to optimal RCTs 10% (95% CI - 2-21%) MR. Only recently, potential harms due to regular breast cancer screening were reported. Most scenarios resulted in acceptable cost-effectiveness estimates given current thresholds. The selected models have been repeatedly applied in various settings to inform decision making and the critical analysis revealed high risk of bias in their outcomes. Given the importance of the models, there is a need for externally validated models which use systematical evidence for input data to allow for more critical evaluation of breast cancer screening. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Roto-flexoelectric coupling impact on the phase diagrams and pyroelectricity of thin SrTiO 3 films

    DOE PAGES

    Morozovska, Anna N.; Eliseev, Eugene A.; Bravina, Svetlana L.; ...

    2012-09-20

    The influence of the flexoelectric and rotostriction coupling on the phase diagrams of ferroelastic-quantum paraelectric SrTiO 3 films was studied using Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire (LGD) theory. We calculated the phase diagrams in coordinates temperature - film thickness for different epitaxial misfit strains. Tensile misfit strains stimulate appearance of the spontaneous out-of-plane structural order parameter (displacement vector of an appropriate oxygen atom from its cubic position) in the structural phase. For compressive misfit strains are stimulated because of the spontaneous in-plane structural order parameter. Furthermore, gradients of the structural order parameter components, which inevitably exist in the vicinity of film surfaces due tomore » the termination and symmetry breaking, induce improper polarization and pyroelectric response via the flexoelectric and rotostriction coupling mechanism. Flexoelectric and rotostriction coupling results in the roto-flexoelectric field that is antisymmetric inside the film, small in the central part of the film, where the gradients of the structural parameter are small, and maximal near the surfaces, where the gradients of the structural parameter are highest. The field induces improper polarization and pyroelectric response. Penetration depths of the improper phases (both polar and structural) can reach several nm from the film surfaces. An improper pyroelectric response of thin films is high enough to be registered with planar-type electrode configurations by conventional pyroelectric methods.« less

  2. Program Description: EDIT Program and Vendor Master Update, SWRL Financial System.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ikeda, Masumi

    Computer routines to edit input data for the Southwest Regional Laboratory's (SWRL) Financial System are described. The program is responsible for validating input records, generating records for further system processing, and updating the Vendor Master File--a file containing the information necessary to support the accounts payable and…

  3. Validating a Conceptual Framework for the Core Concept of "Cell-Cell Communication"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Michael, Joel; Martinkova, Patricia; McFarland, Jenny; Wright, Ann; Cliff, William; Modell, Harold; Wenderoth, Mary Pat

    2017-01-01

    We have created and validated a conceptual framework for the core physiology concept of "cell-cell communication." The conceptual framework is composed of 51 items arranged in a hierarchy that is, in some instances, four levels deep. We have validated it with input from faculty who teach at a wide variety of institutional types. All…

  4. Optimal test selection for prediction uncertainty reduction

    DOE PAGES

    Mullins, Joshua; Mahadevan, Sankaran; Urbina, Angel

    2016-12-02

    Economic factors and experimental limitations often lead to sparse and/or imprecise data used for the calibration and validation of computational models. This paper addresses resource allocation for calibration and validation experiments, in order to maximize their effectiveness within given resource constraints. When observation data are used for model calibration, the quality of the inferred parameter descriptions is directly affected by the quality and quantity of the data. This paper characterizes parameter uncertainty within a probabilistic framework, which enables the uncertainty to be systematically reduced with additional data. The validation assessment is also uncertain in the presence of sparse and imprecisemore » data; therefore, this paper proposes an approach for quantifying the resulting validation uncertainty. Since calibration and validation uncertainty affect the prediction of interest, the proposed framework explores the decision of cost versus importance of data in terms of the impact on the prediction uncertainty. Often, calibration and validation tests may be performed for different input scenarios, and this paper shows how the calibration and validation results from different conditions may be integrated into the prediction. Then, a constrained discrete optimization formulation that selects the number of tests of each type (calibration or validation at given input conditions) is proposed. Furthermore, the proposed test selection methodology is demonstrated on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) example.« less

  5. The Impact of Child Safety Restraint Status and Age in Motor Vehicle Collisions in Predicting Type and Severity of Bone Fractures and Traumatic Injuries.

    PubMed

    Loftis, Christopher M; Sawyer, Jeffrey R; Eubanks, James W; Kelly, Derek M

    2017-12-01

    Although morbidity and mortality in children increases in motor vehicle collisions (MVC) if child restraints are not used, no data exist correlating specific injuries with proper or improper use of safety restraints or age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate correlations between childhood MVC injuries, age, and restraint status. A medical record search for pediatric patients involved in a MVC was conducted at a pediatric hospital (level 1 trauma). Charts were reviewed for demographics and injury-specific information. Patients were grouped by age, restraint use, and injuries. Nine hundred sixty-seven patients ≤12 years (average age 6.39 y) were identified. Being properly restrained was most common in all age groups except the 4- to 8-year age group in which being improperly restrained was most common. Unrestrained patients were most commonly found in the 9- to 12-year age group. A statistically significant difference was not observed for orthopaedic injuries among the restraint groups, but internal thoracic injuries, open head wound, and open upper extremity wounds were significantly more common in improperly or unrestrained patients. Improperly restrained infants had a significantly higher rate of intracranial bleeds and abrasions than those properly restrained. Unrestrained and improperly restrained 9- to 12-year olds had significantly more open head, open upper extremity, and vascular injuries. When comparing injury types with age groups, upper extremity fractures, femoral fractures, dislocations, and spinal fractures were found to be significantly higher in older children. Preventing orthopaedic injuries in older children may be accomplished by changes in regulations or automotive safety equipment. Rear-facing child safety seats could possibly be improved to prevent head trauma in the youngest patients. There is a continued need to reinforce the importance of proper use of child safety devices to parents. Knowledge of the patient's age, along with restraint status, might aid in diagnosis of less obvious MCV injuries. Level III.

  6. Detection of Septic System Performance via Remote Sensing Technologies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patterson, A. H.; Kuszmaul, J. S.; Harvey, C.

    2005-05-01

    Failing and improperly managed septic systems can affect water quality in their environs and cause health problems for individuals or community residents. When unchecked, failing systems can allow disease-causing pathogens to enter groundwater aquifers and pollute surface waters, contaminating drinking water, recreational waterways, and fishing grounds. Early detection of septic system leakage and failure can limit the extent of these problems. External symptoms which occur over an improperly functioning septic system can include lush or greener growth of vegetation, distress of vegetation, excessive soil moisture levels, or pooling of surface effluent. The use of remote sensing technologies coupled with attainable permit records to successfully identify these features could enable the appropriate agencies to target problem areas without extensive field inspection. High-resolution, airborne imagery was identified as having the potential to detect relative changes in soil moisture, to delineate individual leach fields, and to locate effluent discharges into water bodies. In addition, vegetation patterns responding to nutrient-rich effluent and increased soil moisture could be examined using a vegetation index. Both thermal- and color-infrared imagery were acquired for a study area in Jackson County, Mississippi, adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. Within this coastal neighborhood known to have significant septic system failures, over 50 volunteer residents supplied information regarding the function of their systems and access to their property. Following data collection, regression methods were used to nominate the major indicators of malfunctioning systems. A ranking system for the "level of function" was derived from these analyses. A model was created which inputs data from attainable records and imagery analysis and outputs a predicted level of septic system function. The end product of this research will permit evaluation of septic system performance to be estimated using only easily obtainable data, allowing for minimal effort in the prioritization of problem areas by regulatory agencies.

  7. Model-Free Primitive-Based Iterative Learning Control Approach to Trajectory Tracking of MIMO Systems With Experimental Validation.

    PubMed

    Radac, Mircea-Bogdan; Precup, Radu-Emil; Petriu, Emil M

    2015-11-01

    This paper proposes a novel model-free trajectory tracking of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems by the combination of iterative learning control (ILC) and primitives. The optimal trajectory tracking solution is obtained in terms of previously learned solutions to simple tasks called primitives. The library of primitives that are stored in memory consists of pairs of reference input/controlled output signals. The reference input primitives are optimized in a model-free ILC framework without using knowledge of the controlled process. The guaranteed convergence of the learning scheme is built upon a model-free virtual reference feedback tuning design of the feedback decoupling controller. Each new complex trajectory to be tracked is decomposed into the output primitives regarded as basis functions. The optimal reference input for the control system to track the desired trajectory is next recomposed from the reference input primitives. This is advantageous because the optimal reference input is computed straightforward without the need to learn from repeated executions of the tracking task. In addition, the optimization problem specific to trajectory tracking of square MIMO systems is decomposed in a set of optimization problems assigned to each separate single-input single-output control channel that ensures a convenient model-free decoupling. The new model-free primitive-based ILC approach is capable of planning, reasoning, and learning. A case study dealing with the model-free control tuning for a nonlinear aerodynamic system is included to validate the new approach. The experimental results are given.

  8. How to avoid the ten most frequent EMS pitfalls

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

    Andrews, W.

    1982-04-19

    It pays to do your homework before investing in an energy management system if you want to avoid the 10 most common pitfalls listed by users, consultants, and manufacturers as: oversimplification, improper maintenance, failure to involve operating personnel, inaccurate savings estimates, failure to include monitoring capability, incompetent or fradulent firms, improper load control, not allowing for a de-bugging period, failure to include manual override, and software problems. The article describes how each of these pitfalls can lead to poor decisions and poor results. (DCK)

  9. Validation of picogram- and femtogram-input DNA libraries for microscale metagenomics

    DOE PAGES

    Rinke, Christian; Low, Serene; Woodcroft, Ben J.; ...

    2016-09-22

    High-throughput sequencing libraries are typically limited by the requirement for nanograms to micrograms of input DNA. This bottleneck impedes the microscale analysis of ecosystems and the exploration of low biomass samples. Current methods for amplifying environmental DNA to bypass this bottleneck introduce considerable bias into metagenomic profiles. For this study, we describe and validate a simple modification of the Illumina Nextera XT DNA library preparation kit which allows creation of shotgun libraries from sub-nanogram amounts of input DNA. Community composition was reproducible down to 100 fg of input DNA based on analysis of a mock community comprising 54 phylogenetically diversemore » Bacteria and Archaea. The main technical issues with the low input libraries were a greater potential for contamination, limited DNA complexity which has a direct effect on assembly and binning, and an associated higher percentage of read duplicates. We recommend a lower limit of 1 pg (~100–1,000 microbial cells) to ensure community composition fidelity, and the inclusion of negative controls to identify reagent-specific contaminants. Applying the approach to marine surface water, pronounced differences were observed between bacterial community profiles of microliter volume samples, which we attribute to biological variation. This result is consistent with expected microscale patchiness in marine communities. We thus envision that our benchmarked, slightly modified low input DNA protocol will be beneficial for microscale and low biomass metagenomics.« less

  10. Validation of picogram- and femtogram-input DNA libraries for microscale metagenomics

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

    Rinke, Christian; Low, Serene; Woodcroft, Ben J.

    High-throughput sequencing libraries are typically limited by the requirement for nanograms to micrograms of input DNA. This bottleneck impedes the microscale analysis of ecosystems and the exploration of low biomass samples. Current methods for amplifying environmental DNA to bypass this bottleneck introduce considerable bias into metagenomic profiles. For this study, we describe and validate a simple modification of the Illumina Nextera XT DNA library preparation kit which allows creation of shotgun libraries from sub-nanogram amounts of input DNA. Community composition was reproducible down to 100 fg of input DNA based on analysis of a mock community comprising 54 phylogenetically diversemore » Bacteria and Archaea. The main technical issues with the low input libraries were a greater potential for contamination, limited DNA complexity which has a direct effect on assembly and binning, and an associated higher percentage of read duplicates. We recommend a lower limit of 1 pg (~100–1,000 microbial cells) to ensure community composition fidelity, and the inclusion of negative controls to identify reagent-specific contaminants. Applying the approach to marine surface water, pronounced differences were observed between bacterial community profiles of microliter volume samples, which we attribute to biological variation. This result is consistent with expected microscale patchiness in marine communities. We thus envision that our benchmarked, slightly modified low input DNA protocol will be beneficial for microscale and low biomass metagenomics.« less

  11. Validation of picogram- and femtogram-input DNA libraries for microscale metagenomics

    PubMed Central

    Low, Serene; Raina, Jean-Baptiste; Skarshewski, Adam; Le, Xuyen H.; Butler, Margaret K.; Stocker, Roman; Seymour, Justin; Tyson, Gene W.

    2016-01-01

    High-throughput sequencing libraries are typically limited by the requirement for nanograms to micrograms of input DNA. This bottleneck impedes the microscale analysis of ecosystems and the exploration of low biomass samples. Current methods for amplifying environmental DNA to bypass this bottleneck introduce considerable bias into metagenomic profiles. Here we describe and validate a simple modification of the Illumina Nextera XT DNA library preparation kit which allows creation of shotgun libraries from sub-nanogram amounts of input DNA. Community composition was reproducible down to 100 fg of input DNA based on analysis of a mock community comprising 54 phylogenetically diverse Bacteria and Archaea. The main technical issues with the low input libraries were a greater potential for contamination, limited DNA complexity which has a direct effect on assembly and binning, and an associated higher percentage of read duplicates. We recommend a lower limit of 1 pg (∼100–1,000 microbial cells) to ensure community composition fidelity, and the inclusion of negative controls to identify reagent-specific contaminants. Applying the approach to marine surface water, pronounced differences were observed between bacterial community profiles of microliter volume samples, which we attribute to biological variation. This result is consistent with expected microscale patchiness in marine communities. We thus envision that our benchmarked, slightly modified low input DNA protocol will be beneficial for microscale and low biomass metagenomics. PMID:27688978

  12. Reduced basis ANOVA methods for partial differential equations with high-dimensional random inputs

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

    Liao, Qifeng, E-mail: liaoqf@shanghaitech.edu.cn; Lin, Guang, E-mail: guanglin@purdue.edu

    2016-07-15

    In this paper we present a reduced basis ANOVA approach for partial deferential equations (PDEs) with random inputs. The ANOVA method combined with stochastic collocation methods provides model reduction in high-dimensional parameter space through decomposing high-dimensional inputs into unions of low-dimensional inputs. In this work, to further reduce the computational cost, we investigate spatial low-rank structures in the ANOVA-collocation method, and develop efficient spatial model reduction techniques using hierarchically generated reduced bases. We present a general mathematical framework of the methodology, validate its accuracy and demonstrate its efficiency with numerical experiments.

  13. Groundwater Model Validation

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

    Ahmed E. Hassan

    2006-01-24

    Models have an inherent uncertainty. The difficulty in fully characterizing the subsurface environment makes uncertainty an integral component of groundwater flow and transport models, which dictates the need for continuous monitoring and improvement. Building and sustaining confidence in closure decisions and monitoring networks based on models of subsurface conditions require developing confidence in the models through an iterative process. The definition of model validation is postulated as a confidence building and long-term iterative process (Hassan, 2004a). Model validation should be viewed as a process not an end result. Following Hassan (2004b), an approach is proposed for the validation process ofmore » stochastic groundwater models. The approach is briefly summarized herein and detailed analyses of acceptance criteria for stochastic realizations and of using validation data to reduce input parameter uncertainty are presented and applied to two case studies. During the validation process for stochastic models, a question arises as to the sufficiency of the number of acceptable model realizations (in terms of conformity with validation data). Using a hierarchical approach to make this determination is proposed. This approach is based on computing five measures or metrics and following a decision tree to determine if a sufficient number of realizations attain satisfactory scores regarding how they represent the field data used for calibration (old) and used for validation (new). The first two of these measures are applied to hypothetical scenarios using the first case study and assuming field data consistent with the model or significantly different from the model results. In both cases it is shown how the two measures would lead to the appropriate decision about the model performance. Standard statistical tests are used to evaluate these measures with the results indicating they are appropriate measures for evaluating model realizations. The use of validation data to constrain model input parameters is shown for the second case study using a Bayesian approach known as Markov Chain Monte Carlo. The approach shows a great potential to be helpful in the validation process and in incorporating prior knowledge with new field data to derive posterior distributions for both model input and output.« less

  14. Introspection on improper seismic retrofit of Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio after 2009 Italian earthquake

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cimellaro, Gian Paolo; Reinhorn, Andrei M.; de Stefano, Alessandro

    2011-03-01

    The 2009 L'Aquila, Italy earthquake highlighted the seismic vulnerability of historic masonry building structures due to improper "strengthening" retrofit work that has been done in the last 50 years. Italian seismic standards recommend the use of traditional reinforcement techniques such as replacing the original wooden roof structure with new reinforced concrete (RC) or steel elements, inserting RC tie-beams in the masonry and new RC floors, and using RC jacketing on the shear walls. The L'Aquila earthquake revealed the numerous limitations of these interventions, because they led to increased seismic forces (due to greater additional weight) and to deformation incompatibilities of the incorporated elements with the existing masonry walls. This paper provides a discussion of technical issues pertaining to the seismic retrofit of the Santa Maria di Collemaggio Basilica and in particular, the limitations of the last (2000) retrofit intervention. Considerable damage was caused to the church because of questionable actions and incorrect and improper technical choices.

  15. On the effectiveness of a license scheme for E-waste recycling: The challenge of China and India

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

    Shinkuma, Takayoshi, E-mail: shinkuma@kansai-u.ac.j; Managi, Shunsuke, E-mail: managi@ynu.ac.j

    2010-07-15

    It is well known that China and India have been recycling centers of WEEE, especially printed circuit boards, and that serious environmental pollution in these countries has been generated by improper recycling methods. After the governments of China and India banned improper recycling by the informal sector, improper recycling activities spread to other places. Then, these governments changed their policies to one of promoting proper recycling by introducing a scheme, under which E-waste recycling requires a license issued by the government. In this paper, the effectiveness of that license scheme is examined by means of an economic model. It canmore » be shown that the license scheme can work effectively only if disposers of E-waste have a responsibility to sell E-waste to license holders. Our results run counter to the idea that international E-waste trade should be banned and provide an alternative solution to the problem.« less

  16. Nightmares and panic disorder associated with carvedilol overdose.

    PubMed

    Maebara, Chiharu; Ohtani, Hisakazu; Sugahara, Hideyo; Mine, Kazunori; Kubo, Chiharu; Sawada, Yasufumi

    2002-11-01

    To report a case of nightmares and sleep disorder associated with improper use of carvedilol, an alpha/beta-blocker, and to model the time course of receptor occupancy in this patient. A 41-year-old man with panic disorder had been treated with alprazolam 1.2 mg/d (3 times daily), carvedilol 10 mg/d (once in the morning), and etizolam 0.5 mg (for anxiety attack). Although the physical and psychological symptoms gradually improved, he reported nightmares and panic attacks. An interview revealed that he had been taking carvedilol 5 mg twice a day after lunch and dinner on his own initiative, in addition to the prescribed dosage. The patient was asked to take carvedilol 10 mg only after breakfast, as had been advised. Consequently, the sleep disorder and nightmares disappeared. We calculated the time courses of beta(2)-adrenoceptor binding occupancy in the central nervous system after oral administration of carvedilol with the ordinary and improper regimens by using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters obtained from the literature. Compared with the ordinary dose of carvedilol 10 mg once a day, the improper regimen (10 mg after breakfast followed by 5 mg after lunch and dinner) increases the beta(2)-adrenoceptor binding occupancy at night (2300) to as high as the mean beta(2)-adrenoceptor binding occupancy after an ordinary dose of propranolol. The sleep disorder and nightmares experienced by this patient had been induced by elevation of central beta(2)-adrenoceptor binding occupancy at night as the result of improper use of carvedilol.

  17. SU-E-T-206: Improving Radiotherapy Toxicity Based On Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

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

    Cho, Daniel D; Wernicke, A Gabriella; Nori, Dattatreyudu

    Purpose/Objective(s): The aim of this study is to build the estimator of toxicity using artificial neural network (ANN) for head and neck cancer patients Materials/Methods: An ANN can combine variables into a predictive model during training and considered all possible correlations of variables. We constructed an ANN based on the data from 73 patients with advanced H and N cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy at our institution. For the toxicity estimator we defined input data including age, sex, site, stage, pathology, status of chemo, technique of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), length of treatment, dose of EBRT,more » status of post operation, length of follow-up, the status of local recurrences and distant metastasis. These data were digitized based on the significance and fed to the ANN as input nodes. We used 20 hidden nodes (for the 13 input nodes) to take care of the correlations of input nodes. For training ANN, we divided data into three subsets such as training set, validation set and test set. Finally, we built the estimator for the toxicity from ANN output. Results: We used 13 input variables including the status of local recurrences and distant metastasis and 20 hidden nodes for correlations. 59 patients for training set, 7 patients for validation set and 7 patients for test set and fed the inputs to Matlab neural network fitting tool. We trained the data within 15% of errors of outcome. In the end we have the toxicity estimation with 74% of accuracy. Conclusion: We proved in principle that ANN can be a very useful tool for predicting the RT outcomes for high risk H and N patients. Currently we are improving the results using cross validation.« less

  18. Implementation and Validation of an Impedance Eduction Technique

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Watson, Willie R.; Jones, Michael G.; Gerhold, Carl H.

    2011-01-01

    Implementation of a pressure gradient method of impedance eduction in two NASA Langley flow ducts is described. The Grazing Flow Impedance Tube only supports plane-wave sources, while the Curved Duct Test Rig supports sources that contain higher-order modes. Multiple exercises are used to validate this new impedance eduction method. First, synthesized data for a hard wall insert and a conventional liner mounted in the Grazing Flow Impedance Tube are used as input to the two impedance eduction methods, the pressure gradient method and a previously validated wall pressure method. Comparisons between the two results are excellent. Next, data measured in the Grazing Flow Impedance Tube are used as input to both methods. Results from the two methods compare quite favorably for sufficiently low Mach numbers but this comparison degrades at Mach 0.5, especially when the hard wall insert is used. Finally, data measured with a hard wall insert mounted in the Curved Duct Test Rig are used as input to the pressure gradient method. Significant deviation from the known solution is observed, which is believed to be largely due to 3-D effects in this flow duct. Potential solutions to this issue are currently being explored.

  19. Development and validation of a new population-based simulation model of osteoarthritis in New Zealand.

    PubMed

    Wilson, R; Abbott, J H

    2018-04-01

    To describe the construction and preliminary validation of a new population-based microsimulation model developed to analyse the health and economic burden and cost-effectiveness of treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in New Zealand (NZ). We developed the New Zealand Management of Osteoarthritis (NZ-MOA) model, a discrete-time state-transition microsimulation model of the natural history of radiographic knee OA. In this article, we report on the model structure, derivation of input data, validation of baseline model parameters against external data sources, and validation of model outputs by comparison of the predicted population health loss with previous estimates. The NZ-MOA model simulates both the structural progression of radiographic knee OA and the stochastic development of multiple disease symptoms. Input parameters were sourced from NZ population-based data where possible, and from international sources where NZ-specific data were not available. The predicted distributions of structural OA severity and health utility detriments associated with OA were externally validated against other sources of evidence, and uncertainty resulting from key input parameters was quantified. The resulting lifetime and current population health-loss burden was consistent with estimates of previous studies. The new NZ-MOA model provides reliable estimates of the health loss associated with knee OA in the NZ population. The model structure is suitable for analysis of the effects of a range of potential treatments, and will be used in future work to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of recommended interventions within the NZ healthcare system. Copyright © 2018 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. The effect of long-term changes in plant inputs on soil carbon stocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Georgiou, K.; Li, Z.; Torn, M. S.

    2017-12-01

    Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest actively-cycling terrestrial reservoir of C and an integral component of thriving natural and managed ecosystems. C input interventions (e.g., litter removal or organic amendments) are common in managed landscapes and present an important decision for maintaining healthy soils in sustainable agriculture and forestry. Furthermore, climate and land-cover change can also affect the amount of plant C inputs that enter the soil through changes in plant productivity, allocation, and rooting depth. Yet, the processes that dictate the response of SOC to such changes in C inputs are poorly understood and inadequately represented in predictive models. Long-term litter manipulations are an invaluable resource for exploring key controls of SOC storage and validating model representations. Here we explore the response of SOC to long-term changes in plant C inputs across a range of biomes and soil types. We synthesize and analyze data from long-term litter manipulation field experiments, and focus our meta-analysis on changes to total SOC stocks, microbial biomass carbon, and mineral-associated (`protected') carbon pools and explore the relative contribution of above- versus below-ground C inputs. Our cross-site data comparison reveals that divergent SOC responses are observed between forest sites, particularly for treatments that increase C inputs to the soil. We explore trends among key variables (e.g., microbial biomass to SOC ratios) that inform soil C model representations. The assembled dataset is an important benchmark for evaluating process-based hypotheses and validating divergent model formulations.

  1. Flight instrument and telemetry response and its inversion

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Weinberger, M. R.

    1971-01-01

    Mathematical models of rate gyros, servo accelerometers, pressure transducers, and telemetry systems were derived and their parameters were obtained from laboratory tests. Analog computer simulations were used extensively for verification of the validity for fast and large input signals. An optimal inversion method was derived to reconstruct input signals from noisy output signals and a computer program was prepared.

  2. The Effects of Task Complexity and Input Frequency on the Acquisition of the Past Counterfactual Construction through Recasts

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Révész, Andrea; Sachs, Rebecca; Hama, Mika

    2014-01-01

    This investigation examined two techniques that may help learners focus on second language (L2) constructions when recasts are provided during meaning-based communicative activities: altering the cognitive complexity of tasks and manipulating the input frequency distributions of target constructions. We first independently assessed the validity of…

  3. MURI: Impact of Oceanographic Variability on Acoustic Communications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-09-01

    multiplexing ( OFDM ), multiple- input/multiple-output ( MIMO ) transmissions, and multi-user single-input/multiple-output (SIMO) communications. Lastly... MIMO - OFDM communications: Receiver design for Doppler distorted underwater acoustic channels,” Proc. Asilomar Conf. on Signals, Systems, and... MIMO ) will be of particular interest. Validating experimental data will be obtained during the ONR acoustic communications experiment in summer 2008

  4. Prediction of Backbreak in Open Pit Blasting by Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System / Prognozowanie Spękań Skał Przy Pracach Strzałowych W Kopalniach Odkrywkowych Przy Użyciu Metod Neuronowych I Wnioskowania Rozmytego (Anfis) Zastosowanych W Modelu Adaptywnym

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bazzazi, Abbas Aghajani; Esmaeili, Mohammad

    2012-12-01

    Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is powerful model in solving complex problems. Since ANFIS has the potential of solving nonlinear problem and can easily achieve the input-output mapping, it is perfect to be used for solving the predicting problem. Backbreak is one of the undesirable effects of blasting operations causing instability in mine walls, falling down the machinery, improper fragmentation and reduction in efficiency of drilling. In this paper, ANFIS was applied to predict backbreak in Sangan iron mine of Iran. The performance of the model was assessed through the root mean squared error (RMSE), the variance account for (VAF) and the correlation coefficient (R2) computed from the measured of backbreak and model-predicted values of the dependent variables. The RMSE, VAF, R2 indices were calculated 0.6, 0.94 and 0.95 for ANFIS model. As results, these indices revealed that the ANFIS model has very good prediction performance.

  5. Some issues in uncertainty quantification and parameter tuning: a case study of convective parameterization scheme in the WRF regional climate model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, B.; Qian, Y.; Lin, G.; Leung, R.; Zhang, Y.

    2011-12-01

    The current tuning process of parameters in global climate models is often performed subjectively or treated as an optimization procedure to minimize model biases based on observations. While the latter approach may provide more plausible values for a set of tunable parameters to approximate the observed climate, the system could be forced to an unrealistic physical state or improper balance of budgets through compensating errors over different regions of the globe. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to provide a more flexible framework to investigate a number of issues related uncertainty quantification (UQ) and parameter tuning. The WRF model was constrained by reanalysis of data over the Southern Great Plains (SGP), where abundant observational data from various sources was available for calibration of the input parameters and validation of the model results. Focusing on five key input parameters in the new Kain-Fritsch (KF) convective parameterization scheme used in WRF as an example, the purpose of this study was to explore the utility of high-resolution observations for improving simulations of regional patterns and evaluate the transferability of UQ and parameter tuning across physical processes, spatial scales, and climatic regimes, which have important implications to UQ and parameter tuning in global and regional models. A stochastic important-sampling algorithm, Multiple Very Fast Simulated Annealing (MVFSA) was employed to efficiently sample the input parameters in the KF scheme based on a skill score so that the algorithm progressively moved toward regions of the parameter space that minimize model errors. The results based on the WRF simulations with 25-km grid spacing over the SGP showed that the precipitation bias in the model could be significantly reduced when five optimal parameters identified by the MVFSA algorithm were used. The model performance was found to be sensitive to downdraft- and entrainment-related parameters and consumption time of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE). Simulated convective precipitation decreased as the ratio of downdraft to updraft flux increased. Larger CAPE consumption time resulted in less convective but more stratiform precipitation. The simulation using optimal parameters obtained by constraining only precipitation generated positive impact on the other output variables, such as temperature and wind. By using the optimal parameters obtained at 25-km simulation, both the magnitude and spatial pattern of simulated precipitation were improved at 12-km spatial resolution. The optimal parameters identified from the SGP region also improved the simulation of precipitation when the model domain was moved to another region with a different climate regime (i.e., the North America monsoon region). These results suggest that benefits of optimal parameters determined through vigorous mathematical procedures such as the MVFSA process are transferable across processes, spatial scales, and climatic regimes to some extent. This motivates future studies to further assess the strategies for UQ and parameter optimization at both global and regional scales.

  6. Uncertainty Quantification and Parameter Tuning: A Case Study of Convective Parameterization Scheme in the WRF Regional Climate Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qian, Y.; Yang, B.; Lin, G.; Leung, R.; Zhang, Y.

    2012-04-01

    The current tuning process of parameters in global climate models is often performed subjectively or treated as an optimization procedure to minimize model biases based on observations. The latter approach may provide more plausible values for a set of tunable parameters to approximate the observed climate, the system could be forced to an unrealistic physical state or improper balance of budgets through compensating errors over different regions of the globe. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to provide a more flexible framework to investigate a number of issues related uncertainty quantification (UQ) and parameter tuning. The WRF model was constrained by reanalysis of data over the Southern Great Plains (SGP), where abundant observational data from various sources was available for calibration of the input parameters and validation of the model results. Focusing on five key input parameters in the new Kain-Fritsch (KF) convective parameterization scheme used in WRF as an example, the purpose of this study was to explore the utility of high-resolution observations for improving simulations of regional patterns and evaluate the transferability of UQ and parameter tuning across physical processes, spatial scales, and climatic regimes, which have important implications to UQ and parameter tuning in global and regional models. A stochastic important-sampling algorithm, Multiple Very Fast Simulated Annealing (MVFSA) was employed to efficiently sample the input parameters in the KF scheme based on a skill score so that the algorithm progressively moved toward regions of the parameter space that minimize model errors. The results based on the WRF simulations with 25-km grid spacing over the SGP showed that the precipitation bias in the model could be significantly reduced when five optimal parameters identified by the MVFSA algorithm were used. The model performance was found to be sensitive to downdraft- and entrainment-related parameters and consumption time of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE). Simulated convective precipitation decreased as the ratio of downdraft to updraft flux increased. Larger CAPE consumption time resulted in less convective but more stratiform precipitation. The simulation using optimal parameters obtained by constraining only precipitation generated positive impact on the other output variables, such as temperature and wind. By using the optimal parameters obtained at 25-km simulation, both the magnitude and spatial pattern of simulated precipitation were improved at 12-km spatial resolution. The optimal parameters identified from the SGP region also improved the simulation of precipitation when the model domain was moved to another region with a different climate regime (i.e., the North America monsoon region). These results suggest that benefits of optimal parameters determined through vigorous mathematical procedures such as the MVFSA process are transferable across processes, spatial scales, and climatic regimes to some extent. This motivates future studies to further assess the strategies for UQ and parameter optimization at both global and regional scales.

  7. Some issues in uncertainty quantification and parameter tuning: a case study of convective parameterization scheme in the WRF regional climate model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, B.; Qian, Y.; Lin, G.; Leung, R.; Zhang, Y.

    2012-03-01

    The current tuning process of parameters in global climate models is often performed subjectively or treated as an optimization procedure to minimize model biases based on observations. While the latter approach may provide more plausible values for a set of tunable parameters to approximate the observed climate, the system could be forced to an unrealistic physical state or improper balance of budgets through compensating errors over different regions of the globe. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to provide a more flexible framework to investigate a number of issues related uncertainty quantification (UQ) and parameter tuning. The WRF model was constrained by reanalysis of data over the Southern Great Plains (SGP), where abundant observational data from various sources was available for calibration of the input parameters and validation of the model results. Focusing on five key input parameters in the new Kain-Fritsch (KF) convective parameterization scheme used in WRF as an example, the purpose of this study was to explore the utility of high-resolution observations for improving simulations of regional patterns and evaluate the transferability of UQ and parameter tuning across physical processes, spatial scales, and climatic regimes, which have important implications to UQ and parameter tuning in global and regional models. A stochastic importance sampling algorithm, Multiple Very Fast Simulated Annealing (MVFSA) was employed to efficiently sample the input parameters in the KF scheme based on a skill score so that the algorithm progressively moved toward regions of the parameter space that minimize model errors. The results based on the WRF simulations with 25-km grid spacing over the SGP showed that the precipitation bias in the model could be significantly reduced when five optimal parameters identified by the MVFSA algorithm were used. The model performance was found to be sensitive to downdraft- and entrainment-related parameters and consumption time of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE). Simulated convective precipitation decreased as the ratio of downdraft to updraft flux increased. Larger CAPE consumption time resulted in less convective but more stratiform precipitation. The simulation using optimal parameters obtained by constraining only precipitation generated positive impact on the other output variables, such as temperature and wind. By using the optimal parameters obtained at 25-km simulation, both the magnitude and spatial pattern of simulated precipitation were improved at 12-km spatial resolution. The optimal parameters identified from the SGP region also improved the simulation of precipitation when the model domain was moved to another region with a different climate regime (i.e. the North America monsoon region). These results suggest that benefits of optimal parameters determined through vigorous mathematical procedures such as the MVFSA process are transferable across processes, spatial scales, and climatic regimes to some extent. This motivates future studies to further assess the strategies for UQ and parameter optimization at both global and regional scales.

  8. Bayesian nonlinear structural FE model and seismic input identification for damage assessment of civil structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Astroza, Rodrigo; Ebrahimian, Hamed; Li, Yong; Conte, Joel P.

    2017-09-01

    A methodology is proposed to update mechanics-based nonlinear finite element (FE) models of civil structures subjected to unknown input excitation. The approach allows to jointly estimate unknown time-invariant model parameters of a nonlinear FE model of the structure and the unknown time histories of input excitations using spatially-sparse output response measurements recorded during an earthquake event. The unscented Kalman filter, which circumvents the computation of FE response sensitivities with respect to the unknown model parameters and unknown input excitations by using a deterministic sampling approach, is employed as the estimation tool. The use of measurement data obtained from arrays of heterogeneous sensors, including accelerometers, displacement sensors, and strain gauges is investigated. Based on the estimated FE model parameters and input excitations, the updated nonlinear FE model can be interrogated to detect, localize, classify, and assess damage in the structure. Numerically simulated response data of a three-dimensional 4-story 2-by-1 bay steel frame structure with six unknown model parameters subjected to unknown bi-directional horizontal seismic excitation, and a three-dimensional 5-story 2-by-1 bay reinforced concrete frame structure with nine unknown model parameters subjected to unknown bi-directional horizontal seismic excitation are used to illustrate and validate the proposed methodology. The results of the validation studies show the excellent performance and robustness of the proposed algorithm to jointly estimate unknown FE model parameters and unknown input excitations.

  9. IT vendor selection model by using structural equation model & analytical hierarchy process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maitra, Sarit; Dominic, P. D. D.

    2012-11-01

    Selecting and evaluating the right vendors is imperative for an organization's global marketplace competitiveness. Improper selection and evaluation of potential vendors can dwarf an organization's supply chain performance. Numerous studies have demonstrated that firms consider multiple criteria when selecting key vendors. This research intends to develop a new hybrid model for vendor selection process with better decision making. The new proposed model provides a suitable tool for assisting decision makers and managers to make the right decisions and select the most suitable vendor. This paper proposes a Hybrid model based on Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for long-term strategic vendor selection problems. The five steps framework of the model has been designed after the thorough literature study. The proposed hybrid model will be applied using a real life case study to assess its effectiveness. In addition, What-if analysis technique will be used for model validation purpose.

  10. Agricultural Aircraft Aid

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1982-01-01

    Farmers are increasingly turning to aerial applications of pesticides, fertilizers and other materials. Sometimes uneven distribution of the chemicals is caused by worn nozzles, improper alignment of spray nozzles or system leaks. If this happens, job must be redone with added expense to both the pilot and customer. Traditional pattern analysis techniques take days or weeks. Utilizing NASA's wind tunnel and computer validation technology, Dr. Roth, Oklahoma State University (OSU), developed a system for providing answers within minutes. Called the Rapid Distribution Pattern Evaluation System, the OSU system consists of a 100-foot measurement frame tied in to computerized analysis and readout equipment. System is mobile, delivered by trailer to airfields in agricultural areas where OSU conducts educational "fly-ins." A fly-in typically draws 50 to 100 aerial applicators, researchers, chemical suppliers and regulatory officials. An applicator can have his spray pattern checked. A computerized readout, available in five to 12 minutes, provides information for correcting shortcomings in the distribution pattern.

  11. Concussion evaluation and management in pediatrics.

    PubMed

    Rivera, Robin G; Roberson, Susan P; Whelan, Margaret; Rohan, Annie

    2015-01-01

    Concussions are among the most complex injuries to assess and manage in sports medicine and primary care. Sports concussion in youth has received much attention in recent years because research shows that improperly managed concussion can lead to long-term cognitive deficits and mental health problems. There are several notable risk factors affecting the incidence and severity of concussion in school-age children and adolescents, including a history of a previous concussion. A more conservative approach for return to activities following concussion has been proposed for children and adolescents. Programs of individualized, stepwise increases in physical activity have largely replaced use of algorithms for assigning a grade and activity expectations to concussions. Although validity and reliability testing is ongoing to support use of concussion assessment instruments in pediatric patients, it is practical and appropriate that clinicians incorporate symptom checklists, sideline and balance assessment tools, and neurocognitive assessment instruments into their practice in accordance with evidence-based guidelines.

  12. A model for methane production in sewers.

    PubMed

    Chaosakul, Thitirat; Koottatep, Thammarat; Polprasert, Chongrak

    2014-09-19

    Most sewers in developing countries are combined sewers which receive stormwater and effluent from septic tanks or cesspools of households and buildings. Although the wastewater strength in these sewers is usually lower than those in developed countries, due to improper construction and maintenance, the hydraulic retention time (HRT) could be relatively long and resulting considerable greenhouse gas (GHG) production. This study proposed an empirical model to predict the quantity of methane production in gravity-flow sewers based on relevant parameters such as surface area to volume ratio (A/V) of sewer, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and wastewater temperature. The model was developed from field survey data of gravity-flow sewers located in a peri-urban area, central Thailand and validated with field data of a sewer system of the Gold Coast area, Queensland, Australia. Application of this model to improve construction and maintenance of gravity-flow sewers to minimize GHG production and reduce global warming is presented.

  13. Establishing survey validity and reliability for American Indians through "think aloud" and test-retest methods.

    PubMed

    Hauge, Cindy Horst; Jacobs-Knight, Jacque; Jensen, Jamie L; Burgess, Katherine M; Puumala, Susan E; Wilton, Georgiana; Hanson, Jessica D

    2015-06-01

    The purpose of this study was to use a mixed-methods approach to determine the validity and reliability of measurements used within an alcohol-exposed pregnancy prevention program for American Indian women. To develop validity, content experts provided input into the survey measures, and a "think aloud" methodology was conducted with 23 American Indian women. After revising the measurements based on this input, a test-retest was conducted with 79 American Indian women who were randomized to complete either the original measurements or the new, modified measurements. The test-retest revealed that some of the questions performed better for the modified version, whereas others appeared to be more reliable for the original version. The mixed-methods approach was a useful methodology for gathering feedback on survey measurements from American Indian participants and in indicating specific survey questions that needed to be modified for this population. © The Author(s) 2015.

  14. Ensuring the validity of calculated subcritical limits

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

    Clark, H.K.

    1977-01-01

    The care taken at the Savannah River Laboratory and Plant to ensure the validity of calculated subcritical limits is described. Close attention is given to ANSI N16.1-1975, ''Validation of Calculational Methods for Nuclear Criticality Safety.'' The computer codes used for criticality safety computations, which are listed and are briefly described, have been placed in the SRL JOSHUA system to facilitate calculation and to reduce input errors. A driver module, KOKO, simplifies and standardizes input and links the codes together in various ways. For any criticality safety evaluation, correlations of the calculational methods are made with experiment to establish bias. Occasionallymore » subcritical experiments are performed expressly to provide benchmarks. Calculated subcritical limits contain an adequate but not excessive margin to allow for uncertainty in the bias. The final step in any criticality safety evaluation is the writing of a report describing the calculations and justifying the margin.« less

  15. Digital control algorithms for microgravity isolation systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sinha, Alok; Wang, Yung-Peng

    1992-01-01

    New digital control algorithms were developed to achieve the desired acceleration transmissibility function. The attractive electromagnets have been taken as actuators. The relative displacement and the acceleration of the mass were used as feedback signals. Two approaches were developed to find that controller transfer function in Z-domain, which yields the desired transmissibility at each frequency. In the first approach, the controller transfer function is obtained by assuming that the desired transmissibility is known in Z-domain. Since the desired transmissibility H sub d(S) = 1/(tauS+1)(exp 2) is given in S-domain, the first task is to obtain the desired transmissibility in Z-domain. There are three methods to perform this task: bilinear transformation, and backward and forward rectangular rules. The bilinear transformation and backward rectangular rule lead to improper controller transfer functions, which are physically not realizable. The forward rectangular rule does lead to a physically realizable controller. However, this controller is found to be marginally stable because of a pole at Z=1. In order to eliminate this pole, a hybrid control structure is proposed. Here the control input is composed of two parts: analog and digital. The analog input simply represents the velocity (or the integral of acceleration) feedback; and the digital controller which uses only relative displacement signal, is then obtained to achieve the desired closed-loop transfer function. The stability analysis indicates that the controller transfer function is stable for typical values of sampling period. In the second approach, the aforementioned hybrid control structure is again used. First, an analog controller transfer function corresponding to relative displacement feedback is obtained to achieve the transmissibility as 1/(tauS+1)(exp 2). Then the transfer function for the digital control input is obtained by discretizing this analog controller transfer function via bilinear transformation. The stability of the resulting Z-domain closed loop system is analyzed. Also, the frequency response of the Z-domain closed-loop transfer function is determined to evaluate the performance of the control system.

  16. LH pulses and the corpus luteum: the luteal phase deficiency LPD).

    PubMed

    Wuttke, W; Pitzel, L; Seidlová-Wuttke, D; Hinney, B

    2001-01-01

    The proper function of the GnRH pulse generator in the hypothalamus is essential for normal ovarian function, hence also for proper function of the corpus luteum. During the luteal phase LH pulses stimulate progesterone release, which is essential for normal endometrial transformation. Approximately one-half of all luteal phase deficiencies (LPD) are due to improper function of the GnRH pulse generator. Obviously, following ovulation the increased serum progesterone levels oversuppress the GnRH pulse generator, resulting in too few LH pulses and therefore improper luteal function. Also, latent hyperprolactinemia may lead to an LPD which can be effectively treated with plant extracts containing dopaminergic (prolactin-suppressing) compounds. Our increasing knowledge of auto- and paracrine mechanisms between nonsteroidogenic and steroidogenic cells now allow subclassification of LPDs of ovarian origin. The so-called small luteal cells are LH-responsive. If they develop improperly the regularly occurring LH pulses are unable to stimulate progesterone secretion from the small luteal cells, which results in what we call the small luteal cell defect. In addition, there is also evidence that the large luteal cells may function improperly. Hence, basal progesterone release is too low while LH-stimulated progesterone release from the small luteal cells appears to be intact. This subclassification of luteal phase deficiency results in the suggestion of different treatments. In cases where the corpus luteum is LH-responsive, such as the hypothalamic corpus luteum insufficiency and the large luteal cell defect, HCG treatment or pulsatile treatment with GnRH is advisable. In the case of LH/hCG-unresponsive small luteal cell defect a progesterone substitution is suggested.

  17. Development of a Stochastically-driven, Forward Predictive Performance Model for PEMFCs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harvey, David Benjamin Paul

    A one-dimensional multi-scale coupled, transient, and mechanistic performance model for a PEMFC membrane electrode assembly has been developed. The model explicitly includes each of the 5 layers within a membrane electrode assembly and solves for the transport of charge, heat, mass, species, dissolved water, and liquid water. Key features of the model include the use of a multi-step implementation of the HOR reaction on the anode, agglomerate catalyst sub-models for both the anode and cathode catalyst layers, a unique approach that links the composition of the catalyst layer to key properties within the agglomerate model and the implementation of a stochastic input-based approach for component material properties. The model employs a new methodology for validation using statistically varying input parameters and statistically-based experimental performance data; this model represents the first stochastic input driven unit cell performance model. The stochastic input driven performance model was used to identify optimal ionomer content within the cathode catalyst layer, demonstrate the role of material variation in potential low performing MEA materials, provide explanation for the performance of low-Pt loaded MEAs, and investigate the validity of transient-sweep experimental diagnostic methods.

  18. Restraint status improves the predictive value of motor vehicle crash criteria for pediatric trauma team activation.

    PubMed

    Bozeman, Andrew P; Dassinger, Melvin S; Recicar, John F; Smith, Samuel D; Rettiganti, Mallikarjuna R; Nick, Todd G; Maxson, Robert T

    2012-12-01

    Most trauma centers incorporate mechanistic criteria (MC) into their algorithm for trauma team activation (TTA). We hypothesized that characteristics of the crash are less reliable than restraint status in predicting significant injury and the need for TTA. We identified 271 patients (age, <15 y) admitted with a diagnosis of motor vehicle crash. Mechanistic criteria and restraint status of each patient were recorded. Both MC and MC plus restraint status were evaluated as separate measures for appropriately predicting TTA based on treatment outcomes and injury scores. Improper restraint alone predicted a need for TTA with an odds ratios of 2.69 (P = .002). MC plus improper restraint predicted the need for TTA with an odds ratio of 2.52 (P = .002). In contrast, the odds ratio when using MC alone was 1.65 (P = .16). When the 5 MC were evaluated individually as predictive of TTA, ejection, death of occupant, and intrusion more than 18 inches were statistically significant. Improper restraint is an independent predictor of necessitating TTA in this single-institution study. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Dichrometer errors resulting from large signals or improper modulator phasing.

    PubMed

    Sutherland, John C

    2012-09-01

    A single-beam spectrometer equipped with a photoelastic modulator can be configured to measure a number of different parameters useful in characterizing chemical and biochemical materials including natural and magnetic circular dichroism, linear dichroism, natural and magnetic fluorescence-detected circular dichroism, and fluorescence polarization anisotropy as well as total absorption and fluorescence. The derivations of the mathematical expressions used to extract these parameters from ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light-induced electronic signals in a dichrometer assume that the dichroic signals are sufficiently small that certain mathematical approximations will not introduce significant errors. This article quantifies errors resulting from these assumptions as a function of the magnitude of the dichroic signals. In the case of linear dichroism, improper modulator programming can result in errors greater than those resulting from the assumption of small signal size, whereas for fluorescence polarization anisotropy, improper modulator phase alone gives incorrect results. Modulator phase can also impact the values of total absorbance recorded simultaneously with linear dichroism and total fluorescence. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company.

  20. Domain topology and domain switching kinetics in a hybrid improper ferroelectric

    PubMed Central

    Huang, F. -T.; Xue, F.; Gao, B.; Wang, L. H.; Luo, X.; Cai, W.; Lu, X. -Z.; Rondinelli, J. M.; Chen, L. Q.; Cheong, S. -W.

    2016-01-01

    Charged polar interfaces such as charged ferroelectric walls or heterostructured interfaces of ZnO/(Zn,Mg)O and LaAlO3/SrTiO3, across which the normal component of electric polarization changes suddenly, can host large two-dimensional conduction. Charged ferroelectric walls, which are energetically unfavourable in general, were found to be mysteriously abundant in hybrid improper ferroelectric (Ca,Sr)3Ti2O7 crystals. From the exploration of antiphase boundaries in bilayer-perovskites, here we discover that each of four polarization-direction states is degenerate with two antiphase domains, and these eight structural variants form a Z4 × Z2 domain structure with Z3 vortices and five distinct types of domain walls, whose topology is directly relevant to the presence of abundant charged walls. We also discover a zipper-like nature of antiphase boundaries, which are the reversible creation/annihilation centres of pairs of two types of ferroelectric walls (and also Z3-vortex pairs) in 90° and 180° polarization switching. Our results demonstrate the unexpectedly rich nature of hybrid improper ferroelectricity. PMID:27215944

  1. Trends and correlates of child passenger restraint use in 6 Northwest tribes: the Native Children Always Ride Safe (Native CARS) project.

    PubMed

    Lapidus, Jodi A; Smith, Nicole Holdaway; Lutz, Tam; Ebel, Beth E

    2013-02-01

    We compared proportions of children properly restrained in vehicles in 6 Northwest American Indian tribes in 2003 and 2009, and evaluated risks for improper restraint. During spring 2009 we conducted a vehicle observation survey in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho tribal communities. We estimated the proportions of children riding properly restrained and evaluated correlates of improper restraint via log-binomial regression models for clustered data. We observed 1853 children aged 12 years and younger in 1207 vehicles; 49% rode properly restrained. More children aged 8 years and younger rode properly restrained in 2009 than 2003 (51% vs 29%; P < .001). Older booster seat-eligible children were least likely to ride properly restrained in 2009 (25%). American Indian children were more likely to ride improperly restrained than nonnative children in the same communities. Other risk factors included riding with an unrestrained or nonparent driver, riding where child passenger restraint laws were weaker than national guidelines, and taking a short trip. Although proper restraint has increased, it remains low. Tribe-initiated interventions to improve child passenger restraint use are under way.

  2. Cooking and Eating Facilities in Migrant Farmworker Housing in North Carolina

    PubMed Central

    Summers, Phillip; Bischoff, Werner E.; Chen, Haiying; Wiggins, Melinda F.; Spears, Chaya R.; Arcury, Thomas A.

    2013-01-01

    Objectives. We sought to (1) describe observed cooking and eating facilities in migrant farmworker camps, (2) compare observed conditions with existing farmworker housing regulations, and (3) examine associations of violations with camp characteristics. Methods. We collected data in 182 farmworker camps in eastern North Carolina during the 2010 agricultural season. We compared our observations with 15 kitchen-related housing regulations specified by federal and state housing standards. Results. We observed violations of 8 regulations in at least 10% of camps: improper refrigerator temperature (65.5%), cockroach infestation (45.9%), contaminated water (34.4%), rodent infestation (28.9%), improper flooring (25.8%), unsanitary conditions (21.2%), improper fire extinguisher (19.9%), and holes or leaks in walls (12.1%). Logistic regression showed that violations were related to the time of the agricultural season, housing type, number of dwellings and residents, and presence of workers with H-2A visas. Conclusions. Cooking and eating facilities for migrant farmworkers fail to comply with regulations in a substantial number of camps. Greater enforcement of regulations, particularly during occupancy during the agricultural season, is needed to protect farmworkers. PMID:23327274

  3. Improper ferroelectric polarization in a perovskite driven by intersite charge transfer and ordering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Wei-Tin; Wang, Chin-Wei; Wu, Hung-Cheng; Chou, Fang-Cheng; Yang, Hung-Duen; Simonov, Arkadiy; Senn, M. S.

    2018-04-01

    It is of great interest to design and make materials in which ferroelectric polarization is coupled to other order parameters such as lattice, magnetic, and electronic instabilities. Such materials will be invaluable in next-generation data storage devices. Recently, remarkable progress has been made in understanding improper ferroelectric coupling mechanisms that arise from lattice and magnetic instabilities. However, although theoretically predicted, a compact lattice coupling between electronic and ferroelectric (polar) instabilities has yet to be realized. Here we report detailed crystallographic studies of a perovskite HgAMn3A'Mn4BO12 that is found to exhibit a polar ground state on account of such couplings that arise from charge and orbital ordering on both the A'- and B-sites, which are themselves driven by a highly unusual MnA '-MnB intersite charge transfer. The inherent coupling of polar, charge, orbital, and hence magnetic degrees of freedom make this a system of great fundamental interest, and demonstrating ferroelectric switching in this and a host of recently reported hybrid improper ferroelectrics remains a substantial challenge.

  4. Improper ferroelectricity: A theoretical and experimental investigation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hardy, J. R.; Ullman, F. G.

    1984-02-01

    A combined theoretical and experimental study has been made of the origins and properties of the improper ferroelectricity associated with structural modulations of non-zero wavelengths. Two classes of materials have been studied: rare earth molybdates (specifically, gadolinium molybdate: GMO), and potassium selenate and its isomorphs. In the former, the modulation is produced by a zone boundary phonon instability, and in the latter by the instability of a phonon of wave vector approximately two-thirds of the way to the zone-boundary. In the second case the initial result is a modulated structure whose repeat distance is not a rational multiple of the basic lattice repeat distance. This result is a modulated polarization which, when the basic modulation locks in to a rational multiple of the lattice spacing, becomes uniform, and improper ferroelectricity results. The origins of these effects have been elucidated by theoretical studies, initially semi-empirical, but subsequently from first-principles. These complemented the experimental work, which primarily used inelastic light scattering, uniaxial stress, and hydrostatic pressure, to probe the balance between the interionic forces through the effects on the phonons and dielectric properties.

  5. Numerical Electromagnetic Code (NEC)-Basic Scattering Code. Part I. User’s Manual.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-09-01

    Command RT : 29 I. Command PG: 32 J. Command GP: 35 K. Command CG: 36 L. Command SG: 39 M. Command AM: 44 N. Conumand PR: 48 0. Command NP: 49 P...these points and con- firm the validity of the solution. 1 0 1 -.- ’----.- ... The source presently considered in the computer code is an Plec - tric...Range Input 28 * RT : Translate and/or Rotate Coordinates 29 SG: Source Geometry Input IQ TO: Test Data Generation Options 17 [IN: Units of Input U)S

  6. Analytic uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of models with input correlations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Yueying; Wang, Qiuping A.; Li, Wei; Cai, Xu

    2018-03-01

    Probabilistic uncertainty analysis is a common means of evaluating mathematical models. In mathematical modeling, the uncertainty in input variables is specified through distribution laws. Its contribution to the uncertainty in model response is usually analyzed by assuming that input variables are independent of each other. However, correlated parameters are often happened in practical applications. In the present paper, an analytic method is built for the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of models in the presence of input correlations. With the method, it is straightforward to identify the importance of the independence and correlations of input variables in determining the model response. This allows one to decide whether or not the input correlations should be considered in practice. Numerical examples suggest the effectiveness and validation of our analytic method in the analysis of general models. A practical application of the method is also proposed to the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of a deterministic HIV model.

  7. Current Source Logic Gate

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Krasowski, Michael J. (Inventor); Prokop, Norman F. (Inventor)

    2017-01-01

    A current source logic gate with depletion mode field effect transistor ("FET") transistors and resistors may include a current source, a current steering switch input stage, and a resistor divider level shifting output stage. The current source may include a transistor and a current source resistor. The current steering switch input stage may include a transistor to steer current to set an output stage bias point depending on an input logic signal state. The resistor divider level shifting output stage may include a first resistor and a second resistor to set the output stage point and produce valid output logic signal states. The transistor of the current steering switch input stage may function as a switch to provide at least two operating points.

  8. Approach for Uncertainty Propagation and Robust Design in CFD Using Sensitivity Derivatives

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Putko, Michele M.; Newman, Perry A.; Taylor, Arthur C., III; Green, Lawrence L.

    2001-01-01

    This paper presents an implementation of the approximate statistical moment method for uncertainty propagation and robust optimization for a quasi 1-D Euler CFD (computational fluid dynamics) code. Given uncertainties in statistically independent, random, normally distributed input variables, a first- and second-order statistical moment matching procedure is performed to approximate the uncertainty in the CFD output. Efficient calculation of both first- and second-order sensitivity derivatives is required. In order to assess the validity of the approximations, the moments are compared with statistical moments generated through Monte Carlo simulations. The uncertainties in the CFD input variables are also incorporated into a robust optimization procedure. For this optimization, statistical moments involving first-order sensitivity derivatives appear in the objective function and system constraints. Second-order sensitivity derivatives are used in a gradient-based search to successfully execute a robust optimization. The approximate methods used throughout the analyses are found to be valid when considering robustness about input parameter mean values.

  9. Orchestrating TRANSP Simulations for Interpretative and Predictive Tokamak Modeling with OMFIT

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

    Grierson, B. A.; Yuan, X.; Gorelenkova, M.

    TRANSP simulations are being used in the OMFIT work- flow manager to enable a machine independent means of experimental analysis, postdictive validation, and predictive time dependent simulations on the DIII-D, NSTX, JET and C-MOD tokamaks. The procedures for preparing the input data from plasma profile diagnostics and equilibrium reconstruction, as well as processing of the time-dependent heating and current drive sources and assumptions about the neutral recycling, vary across machines, but are streamlined by using a common workflow manager. Settings for TRANSP simulation fidelity are incorporated into the OMFIT framework, contrasting between-shot analysis, power balance, and fast-particle simulations. A previouslymore » established series of data consistency metrics are computed such as comparison of experimental vs. calculated neutron rate, equilibrium stored energy vs. total stored energy from profile and fast-ion pressure, and experimental vs. computed surface loop voltage. Discrepancies between data consistency metrics can indicate errors in input quantities such as electron density profile or Zeff, or indicate anomalous fast-particle transport. Measures to assess the sensitivity of the verification metrics to input quantities are provided by OMFIT, including scans of the input profiles and standardized post-processing visualizations. For predictive simulations, TRANSP uses GLF23 or TGLF to predict core plasma profiles, with user defined boundary conditions in the outer region of the plasma. ITPA validation metrics are provided in post-processing to assess the transport model validity. By using OMFIT to orchestrate the steps for experimental data preparation, selection of operating mode, submission, post-processing and visualization, we have streamlined and standardized the usage of TRANSP.« less

  10. Orchestrating TRANSP Simulations for Interpretative and Predictive Tokamak Modeling with OMFIT

    DOE PAGES

    Grierson, B. A.; Yuan, X.; Gorelenkova, M.; ...

    2018-02-21

    TRANSP simulations are being used in the OMFIT work- flow manager to enable a machine independent means of experimental analysis, postdictive validation, and predictive time dependent simulations on the DIII-D, NSTX, JET and C-MOD tokamaks. The procedures for preparing the input data from plasma profile diagnostics and equilibrium reconstruction, as well as processing of the time-dependent heating and current drive sources and assumptions about the neutral recycling, vary across machines, but are streamlined by using a common workflow manager. Settings for TRANSP simulation fidelity are incorporated into the OMFIT framework, contrasting between-shot analysis, power balance, and fast-particle simulations. A previouslymore » established series of data consistency metrics are computed such as comparison of experimental vs. calculated neutron rate, equilibrium stored energy vs. total stored energy from profile and fast-ion pressure, and experimental vs. computed surface loop voltage. Discrepancies between data consistency metrics can indicate errors in input quantities such as electron density profile or Zeff, or indicate anomalous fast-particle transport. Measures to assess the sensitivity of the verification metrics to input quantities are provided by OMFIT, including scans of the input profiles and standardized post-processing visualizations. For predictive simulations, TRANSP uses GLF23 or TGLF to predict core plasma profiles, with user defined boundary conditions in the outer region of the plasma. ITPA validation metrics are provided in post-processing to assess the transport model validity. By using OMFIT to orchestrate the steps for experimental data preparation, selection of operating mode, submission, post-processing and visualization, we have streamlined and standardized the usage of TRANSP.« less

  11. Assessment of consumer exposure related to improper use of pesticides in the region of southeastern Poland.

    PubMed

    Szpyrka, Ewa

    2015-01-01

    Plant protection products are widely used throughout the world in order to prevent a reduction in yield. Although the protection of plants brings many benefits, pesticides are toxic to the environment and to humans. To protect human health, pesticide residue risk assessment should be carried out. The aim of the study was to assess acute risk related to the improper use of pesticides. In 2010-2013, 878 crop samples: 382 fruits, 399 vegetables, 82 cereals and their products, 11 herbs and 4 seeds were tested. Pesticide residues were found in 240 samples (27.3%). Pesticide residues were found most frequently in: fruits (41.6% fruit samples), seed (25.0%), vegetables (19.3%) and herbs (9.1%), and least frequently in cereals and their products (2.4%). Improper pesticide use was determined for 49 samples, mainly for vegetables (24 samples) and fruits (22). Most irregularities associated with the use of plant protection products involved application of a substance not recommended for a given crop (36 samples). In nine samples, applications of plant protection products that were withdrawn from the market were found, and in seven samples, violations of maximum residue levels were determined. Despite there being cases of improper use of plant protection products, no hazard to consumer health was determined. The highest values of short-term exposure were obtained in the case of consumption of blackcurrants with iprodione-a substance not recommended in Poland for protection of blackcurrants (4.3% acceptable daily intake (ADI), adults; 6.8% ADI, children). Since potential consumer risk caused by pesticide residues could not be ruled out, inspections should be carried out continuously.

  12. Tailoring Electronic Properties in Semiconducting Perovskite Materials through Octahedral Control

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choquette, Amber K.

    Perovskite oxides, which take the chemical formula ABO 3, are a very versatile and interesting materials family, exhibiting properties that include ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, mixed ionic/electronic conductivity, metal-insulator behavior and multiferroicity. Key to these functionalities is the network of BO6 corner-connected octahedra, which are known to distort and rotate, directly altering electronic and ferroic properties. By controlling the BO6 octahedral distortions and rotations through cationic substitutions, the use of strain engineering, or through the formation of superlattice structures, the functional properties of perovskites can be tuned. Motivating the use of structure-driven design in oxide heterostructures is the prediction of hybrid improper ferroelectricity in A'BO3/ABO3 superlattices. Two key design rules to realizing hybrid improper ferroelectricity are the growth of high quality superlattice structures with odd periodicities of the A / A' layers, and the control of the octahedral rotation pattern. My work explores the rotational response in perovskite oxides to strain and interface effects in thin films of RFeO3 ( R = La, Eu). I demonstrate a synchrotron x-ray diffraction technique to identify the rotation pattern that is present in the films. I then establish substrate imprinting as a key tool for controlling the rotation patterns in heterostructures, providing a means to realize the necessary structural variants of the predicted hybrid improper ferroelectricity in superlattices. In addition, by pairing measured diffraction data with a structure factor calculation, I demonstrate how one can extract both A-site and oxygen atomic positions in single crystal perovskite oxide films. Finally, I show results from (LaFeO 3)n/(EuFeO3)n superlattices (n = 1-5), synthesized to test the motivating predictions of hybrid improper ferroelectricity in oxide superlattices.

  13. [A project to reduce the incidence of intubation care errors among foreign health aides].

    PubMed

    Chen, Mei-Ju; Lu, Yu-Hua; Chen, Chiu-Chun; Li, Ai-Cheng

    2014-08-01

    Foreign health aides are the main providers of care for the elderly and the physically disabled in Taiwan. Correct care skills improve patient safety. In 2010, the incidence of mistakes among foreign health aides in our hospital unit was 58% for nasogastric tube care and 57% for tracheostomy tube care. A survey of foreign health aides and nurses in the unit identified the main causes of these mistakes as: communication difficulties, inaccurate instructions given to patients, and a lack of standard operating procedures given to the foreign health aides. This project was designed to reduce the rates of improper nasogastric tube care and improper tracheostomy tube care to 20%, respectively. This project implemented several appropriate measures. We produced patient instruction hand-outs in Bahasa Indonesia, established a dedicated file holder for Bahasa Indonesian tube care reference information, produced Bahasa Indonesian tube-care-related posters, produced a short film about tube care in Bahasa Indonesian, and established a standardized operating procedure for tube care in our unit. Between December 15th and 31st, 2011, we audited the performance of a total of 32 foreign health aides for proper execution of nasogastric tube care (21 aides) and of proper execution of tracheostomy tube care (11 aides). Patients with concurrent nasogastric and tracheostomy tubes were inspected separately for each care group. The incidence of improper care decreased from 58% to 18% nasogastric intubation and 57% to 18% for tracheostomy intubation. This project decreased significantly the incidence of improper tube care by the foreign health aides in our unit. Furthermore, the foreign health aides improved their tube nursing care skills. Therefore, this project improved the quality of patient care.

  14. A design approach for ultrareliable real-time systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lala, Jaynarayan H.; Harper, Richard E.; Alger, Linda S.

    1991-01-01

    A design approach developed over the past few years to formalize redundancy management and validation is described. Redundant elements are partitioned into individual fault-containment regions (FCRs). An FCR is a collection of components that operates correctly regardless of any arbitrary logical or electrical fault outside the region. Conversely, a fault in an FCR cannot cause hardware outside the region to fail. The outputs of all channels are required to agree bit-for-bit under no-fault conditions (exact bitwise consensus). Synchronization, input agreement, and input validity conditions are discussed. The Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS), which is a fault-tolerant distributed architecture based on this approach, is described. A brief overview of recent applications of these systems and current research is presented.

  15. Software Independent Verification and Validation (SIV&V) Simplified

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-12-01

    Configuration Item I/O Input/Output I2V2 Independent Integrated Verification and Validation IBM International Business Machines ICD Interface...IPT Integrated Product Team IRS Interface Requirements Specification ISD Integrated System Diagram ITD Integrated Test Description ITP ...programming languages such as COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) (Codasyl committee 1960), and FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator) ( IBM 1952) (Robat 11

  16. An Approach to Comprehensive and Sustainable Solar Wind Model Validation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rastaetter, L.; MacNeice, P. J.; Mays, M. L.; Boblitt, J. M.; Wiegand, C.

    2017-12-01

    The number of models of the corona and inner heliosphere and of their updates and upgrades grows steadily, as does the number and character of the model inputs. Maintaining up to date validation of these models, in the face of this constant model evolution, is a necessary but very labor intensive activity. In the last year alone, both NASA's LWS program and the CCMC's ongoing support of model forecasting activities at NOAA SWPC have sought model validation reports on the quality of all aspects of the community's coronal and heliospheric models, including both ambient and CME related wind solutions at L1. In this presentation I will give a brief review of the community's previous model validation results of L1 wind representation. I will discuss the semi-automated web based system we are constructing at the CCMC to present comparative visualizations of all interesting aspects of the solutions from competing models.This system is designed to be easily queried to provide the essential comprehensive inputs to repeat andupdate previous validation studies and support extensions to them. I will illustrate this by demonstrating how the system is being used to support the CCMC/LWS Model Assessment Forum teams focused on the ambient and time dependent corona and solar wind, including CME arrival time and IMF Bz.I will also discuss plans to extend the system to include results from the Forum teams addressing SEP model validation.

  17. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Validierung flächenhaft modellierter Nitrateinträge ins Grundwasser mit der N2/Ar-Methode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eschenbach, Wolfram; Budziak, Dörte; Elbracht, Jörg; Höper, Heinrich; Krienen, Lisa; Kunkel, Ralf; Meyer, Knut; Well, Reinhard; Wendland, Frank

    2018-06-01

    Valid models for estimating nitrate emissions from agriculture to groundwater are an indispensable forecasting tool. A major challenge for model validation is the spatial and temporal inconsistency between data from groundwater monitoring points and modelled nitrate inputs into groundwater, and the fact that many existing groundwater monitoring wells cannot be used for validation. With the help of the N2/Ar-method, groundwater monitoring wells in areas with reduced groundwater can now be used for model validation. For this purpose, 484 groundwater monitoring wells were sampled in Lower Saxony. For the first time, modelled potential nitrate concentrations in groundwater recharge (from the DENUZ model) were compared with nitrate input concentrations, which were calculated using the N2/Ar method. The results show a good agreement between both methods for glacial outwash plains and moraine deposits. Although the nitrate degradation processes in groundwater and soil merge seamlessly in areas with a shallow groundwater table, the DENUZ model only calculates denitrification in the soil zone. The DENUZ model thus predicts 27% higher nitrate emissions into the groundwater than the N2/Ar method in such areas. To account for high temporal and spatial variability of nitrate emissions into groundwater, a large number of groundwater monitoring points must be investigated for model validation.

  18. Bayesian cross-entropy methodology for optimal design of validation experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, X.; Mahadevan, S.

    2006-07-01

    An important concern in the design of validation experiments is how to incorporate the mathematical model in the design in order to allow conclusive comparisons of model prediction with experimental output in model assessment. The classical experimental design methods are more suitable for phenomena discovery and may result in a subjective, expensive, time-consuming and ineffective design that may adversely impact these comparisons. In this paper, an integrated Bayesian cross-entropy methodology is proposed to perform the optimal design of validation experiments incorporating the computational model. The expected cross entropy, an information-theoretic distance between the distributions of model prediction and experimental observation, is defined as a utility function to measure the similarity of two distributions. A simulated annealing algorithm is used to find optimal values of input variables through minimizing or maximizing the expected cross entropy. The measured data after testing with the optimum input values are used to update the distribution of the experimental output using Bayes theorem. The procedure is repeated to adaptively design the required number of experiments for model assessment, each time ensuring that the experiment provides effective comparison for validation. The methodology is illustrated for the optimal design of validation experiments for a three-leg bolted joint structure and a composite helicopter rotor hub component.

  19. On the Role of L1 Markedness and L2 Input Robustness in Determining Potentially Fossilizable Language Forms in Iranian EFL Learners' Writing

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nushi, Musa

    2016-01-01

    Han's (2009, 2013) selective fossilization hypothesis (SFH) claims that L1 markedness and L2 input robustness determine the fossilizability (and learnability) of an L2 feature. To test the validity of the model, a pseudo-longitudinal study was designed in which the errors in the argumentative essays of 52 Iranian EFL learners were identified and…

  20. Sierra Structural Dynamics User's Notes

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

    Reese, Garth M.

    2015-10-19

    Sierra/SD provides a massively parallel implementation of structural dynamics finite element analysis, required for high fidelity, validated models used in modal, vibration, static and shock analysis of weapons systems. This document provides a users guide to the input for Sierra/SD. Details of input specifications for the different solution types, output options, element types and parameters are included. The appendices contain detailed examples, and instructions for running the software on parallel platforms.

  1. Computation and Validation of the Dynamic Response Index (DRI)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-08-06

    matplotlib plotting library. • Executed from command line. • Allows several optional arguments. • Runs on Windows, Linux, UNIX, and Mac OS X. 10... vs . Time: Triangular pulse input data with given time duration and peak acceleration: Time (s) EARTH Code: Motivation • Error Assessment of...public release • ARC provided electrothermal battery model example: • Test vs . simulation data for terminal voltage. • EARTH input parameters

  2. Sierra/SD User's Notes.

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

    Munday, Lynn Brendon; Day, David M.; Bunting, Gregory

    Sierra/SD provides a massively parallel implementation of structural dynamics finite element analysis, required for high fidelity, validated models used in modal, vibration, static and shock analysis of weapons systems. This document provides a users guide to the input for Sierra/SD. Details of input specifications for the different solution types, output options, element types and parameters are included. The appendices contain detailed examples, and instructions for running the software on parallel platforms.

  3. Environmental Loss Characterization of an Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC-E2) Insulation Package Using a Mock Heater Head

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schifer, Nicholas A.; Briggs, Maxwell H.

    2012-01-01

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) have been developing the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) for use as a power system for space science missions. This generator would use two highefficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs), developed by Sunpower Inc. and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). As part of ground testing of these ASCs, different operating conditions are used to simulate expected mission conditions. These conditions require achieving a specified electrical power output for a given net heat input. While electrical power output can be precisely quantified, thermal power input to the Stirling cycle cannot be directly measured. In an effort to improve net heat input predictions, the Mock Heater Head was developed with the same relative thermal paths as a convertor using a conducting rod to represent the Stirling cycle and tested to provide a direct comparison to numerical and empirical models used to predict convertor net heat input. The Mock Heater Head also served as the pathfinder for a higher fidelity version of validation test hardware, known as the Thermal Standard. This paper describes how the Mock Heater Head was tested and utilized to validate a process for the Thermal Standard.

  4. Multidisciplinary Management of An Unusual Isolated Alveolar Bone Infection- A Rare Case Report

    PubMed Central

    B, Dixit Mala; S, Kulkarni Rahul; M, Ramugade Manoj

    2015-01-01

    Restoration of proximal defect of tooth is of paramount importance as its improper restoration usually results in fracture of the restoration or deteriorated periodontal health. The article reports a case with a discreet mass of alveolar bone necrosis closed to the overhanged amalgam restoration in the proximal box of the maxillary molar. As a result of this improper proximal restoration it led to deep periodontal pocket and subsequent alveolar bone necrosis which was managed successfully with combined Endodontic-Periodontic treatment. This article highlights the unfortunate sequelae of bone necrosis as a consequence of an incorrect or overlooked dental treatment and its comprehensive management. PMID:26155587

  5. Two-sample statistics for testing the equality of survival functions against improper semi-parametric accelerated failure time alternatives: an application to the analysis of a breast cancer clinical trial.

    PubMed

    Broët, Philippe; Tsodikov, Alexander; De Rycke, Yann; Moreau, Thierry

    2004-06-01

    This paper presents two-sample statistics suited for testing equality of survival functions against improper semi-parametric accelerated failure time alternatives. These tests are designed for comparing either the short- or the long-term effect of a prognostic factor, or both. These statistics are obtained as partial likelihood score statistics from a time-dependent Cox model. As a consequence, the proposed tests can be very easily implemented using widely available software. A breast cancer clinical trial is presented as an example to demonstrate the utility of the proposed tests.

  6. Trends and Correlates of Child Passenger Restraint Use in 6 Northwest Tribes: The Native Children Always Ride Safe (Native CARS) Project

    PubMed Central

    Smith, Nicole Holdaway; Lutz, Tam; Ebel, Beth E.

    2013-01-01

    Objectives. We compared proportions of children properly restrained in vehicles in 6 Northwest American Indian tribes in 2003 and 2009, and evaluated risks for improper restraint. Methods. During spring 2009 we conducted a vehicle observation survey in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho tribal communities. We estimated the proportions of children riding properly restrained and evaluated correlates of improper restraint via log-binomial regression models for clustered data. Results. We observed 1853 children aged 12 years and younger in 1207 vehicles; 49% rode properly restrained. More children aged 8 years and younger rode properly restrained in 2009 than 2003 (51% vs 29%; P < .001). Older booster seat–eligible children were least likely to ride properly restrained in 2009 (25%). American Indian children were more likely to ride improperly restrained than nonnative children in the same communities. Other risk factors included riding with an unrestrained or nonparent driver, riding where child passenger restraint laws were weaker than national guidelines, and taking a short trip. Conclusions. Although proper restraint has increased, it remains low. Tribe-initiated interventions to improve child passenger restraint use are under way. PMID:23237177

  7. Risk of Salmonellosis from Chicken Parts Prepared from Whole Chickens Sold in Flow Pack Wrappers and Subjected to Temperature Abuse.

    PubMed

    Oscar, T P

    2017-09-01

    The flow pack wrapper is a popular packaging choice for retail sale of whole chickens. However, it may provide a favorable environment for growth and spread of Salmonella within the package, leading to an outbreak of salmonellosis. To investigate this possibility, a process risk model was developed that predicted the risk of salmonellosis from chicken parts prepared from whole chickens sold in flow pack wrappers and subjected to proper storage (6 h at 4°C) or improper storage (72 h at 15°C) before preparation. The model had four unit operations (pathogen events): (i) preparation (contamination), (ii) cooking (death), (iii) serving (cross-contamination), and (iv) consumption (dose-response). Data for prevalence, number, and serotype of Salmonella on chicken parts were obtained by whole sample enrichment, real-time PCR. Improper storage increased (P < 0.05) prevalence of Salmonella on raw chicken parts from 10.6% (17 of 160) to 41.2% (66 of 160) and incidence of cross-contamination of cooked chicken from 10% (4 of 40) to 52.2% (24 of 46). Improper storage also increased (P < 0.05) the number (mean ± standard deviation) of Salmonella from 0.017 ± 0.030 to 3.51 ± 1.34 log per raw chicken part and from 0.048 ± 0.089 to 3.08 ± 1.50 log per cooked chicken part. The predominant serotypes isolated (n = 111) were Typhimurium (34.2%), Typhimurium var 5- (20.7%), Kentucky (12.6%), Enteritidis (11.7%), and Heidelberg (8.1%). When chicken was properly stored before preparation, the model predicted that risk of salmonellosis was low and sporadic with only six cases per 100 simulations of 10 5 chicken parts. However, when 0.1 to 1% of chickens were improperly stored before preparation, the model predicted that salmonellosis would increase (P < 0.05) linearly from a median of 7 (range, 1 to 15) to a median of 72 (range, 52 to 93) cases per 10 5 chicken parts. These results indicated that the flow pack wrapper provided a favorable environment for growth and spread of Salmonella within the package and that even when only a small percentage of packages were subjected to improper storage before preparation, the risk and size of an outbreak of salmonellosis from chicken parts increased significantly.

  8. A new approach to modeling aviation accidents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rao, Arjun Harsha

    General Aviation (GA) is a catchall term for all aircraft operations in the US that are not categorized as commercial operations or military flights. GA aircraft account for almost 97% of the US civil aviation fleet. Unfortunately, GA flights have a much higher fatal accident rate than commercial operations. Recent estimates by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the GA fatal accident rate has remained relatively unchanged between 2010 and 2015, with 1566 fatal accidents accounting for 2650 fatalities. Several research efforts have been directed towards betters understanding the causes of GA accidents. Many of these efforts use National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident reports and data. Unfortunately, while these studies easily identify the top types of accidents (e.g., inflight loss of control (LOC)), they usually cannot identify why these accidents are happening. Most NTSB narrative reports for GA accidents are very short (many are only one paragraph long), and do not contain much information on the causes (likely because the causes were not fully identified). NTSB investigators also code each accident using an event-based coding system, which should facilitate identification of patterns and trends in causation, given the high number of GA accidents each year. However, this system is susceptible to investigator interpretation and error, meaning that two investigators may code the same accident differently, or omit applicable codes. To facilitate a potentially better understanding of GA accident causation, this research develops a state-based approach to check for logical gaps or omissions in NTSB accident records, and potentially fills-in the omissions. The state-based approach offers more flexibility as it moves away from the conventional event-based representation of accidents, which classifies events in accidents into several categories such as causes, contributing factors, findings, occurrences, and phase of flight. The method views aviation accidents as a set of hazardous states of a system (pilot and aircraft), and triggers that cause the system to move between hazardous states. I used the NTSB's accident coding manual (that contains nearly 4000 different codes) to develop a "dictionary" of hazardous states, triggers, and information codes. Then, I created the "grammar", or a set of rules, that: (1) orders the hazardous states in each accident; and, (2) links the hazardous states using the appropriate triggers. This approach: (1) provides a more correct count of the causes for accidents in the NTSB database; and, (2) checks for gaps or omissions in NTSB accident data, and fills in some of these gaps using logic-based rules. These rules also help identify and count causes for accidents that were not discernable from previous analyses of historical accident data. I apply the model to 6200 helicopter accidents that occurred in the US between 1982 and 2015. First, I identify the states and triggers that are most likely to be associated with fatal and non-fatal accidents. The results suggest that non-fatal accidents, which account for approximately 84% of the accidents, provide valuable opportunities to learn about the causes for accidents. Next, I investigate the causes of inflight loss of control using both a conventional approach and using the state-based approach. The conventional analysis provides little insight into the causal mechanism for LOC. For instance, the top cause of LOC is "aircraft control/directional control not maintained", which does not provide any insight. In contrast, the state-based analysis showed that pilots' tendency to clip objects frequently triggered LOC (16.7% of LOC accidents)--this finding was not directly discernable from conventional analyses. Finally, I investigate the causes for improper autorotations using both a conventional approach and the state-based approach. The conventional approach uses modifiers (e.g., "improper", "misjudged") associated with "24520: Autorotation" to identify improper autorotations in the pre-2008 system. In the psot-2008 system, the NTSB represents autorotation as a phase of flight, which has no modifier--making it impossible to determine if the autorotation was unsuccessful. In contrast, the state-based analysis identified 632 improper autorotation accidents, compared to 174 with a conventional analysis. Results from the state-based analysis show that not maintaining rotor RPM and improper flare were among the top reasons for improper autorotations. The presence of the "not possible" trigger in 11.6% of improper autorotations, suggests that it was impossible to make an autorotative landing. Improper use of collective is the sixth most frequent trigger for improper autorotation. Correct use of collective pitch control is crucial to maintain rotor RPM during an autorotation (considering that engines are generally not operational during autorotations).

  9. A Survey of Formal Methods for Intelligent Swarms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Truszkowski, Walt; Rash, James; Hinchey, Mike; Rouff, Chrustopher A.

    2004-01-01

    Swarms of intelligent autonomous spacecraft, involving complex behaviors and interactions, are being proposed for future space exploration missions. Such missions provide greater flexibility and offer the possibility of gathering more science data than traditional single spacecraft missions. The emergent properties of swarms make these missions powerful, but simultaneously far more difficult to design, and to assure that the proper behaviors will emerge. These missions are also considerably more complex than previous types of missions, and NASA, like other organizations, has little experience in developing or in verifying and validating these types of missions. A significant challenge when verifying and validating swarms of intelligent interacting agents is how to determine that the possible exponential interactions and emergent behaviors are producing the desired results. Assuring correct behavior and interactions of swarms will be critical to mission success. The Autonomous Nano Technology Swarm (ANTS) mission is an example of one of the swarm types of missions NASA is considering. The ANTS mission will use a swarm of picospacecraft that will fly from Earth orbit to the Asteroid Belt. Using an insect colony analogy, ANTS will be composed of specialized workers for asteroid exploration. Exploration would consist of cataloguing the mass, density, morphology, and chemical composition of the asteroids, including any anomalous concentrations of specific minerals. To perform this task, ANTS would carry miniaturized instruments, such as imagers, spectrometers, and detectors. Since ANTS and other similar missions are going to consist of autonomous spacecraft that may be out of contact with the earth for extended periods of time, and have low bandwidths due to weight constraints, it will be difficult to observe improper behavior and to correct any errors after launch. Providing V&V (verification and validation) for this type of mission is new to NASA, and represents the cutting edge in system correctness, and requires higher levels of assurance than other (traditional) missions that use a single or small number of spacecraft that are deterministic in nature and have near continuous communication access. One of the highest possible levels of assurance comes from the application of formal methods. Formal methods are mathematics-based tools and techniques for specifying and verifying (software and hardware) systems. They are particularly useful for specifying complex parallel systems, such as exemplified by the ANTS mission, where the entire system is difficult for a single person to fully understand, a problem that is multiplied with multiple developers. Once written, a formal specification can be used to prove properties of a system (e.g., the underlying system will go from one state to another or not into a specific state) and check for particular types of errors (e.g., race or livelock conditions). A formal specification can also be used as input to a model checker for further validation. This report gives the results of a survey of formal methods techniques for verification and validation of space missions that use swarm technology. Multiple formal methods were evaluated to determine their effectiveness in modeling and assuring the behavior of swarms of spacecraft using the ANTS mission as an example system. This report is the first result of the project to determine formal approaches that are promising for formally specifying swarm-based systems. From this survey, the most promising approaches were selected and are discussed relative to their possible application to the ANTS mission. Future work will include the application of an integrated approach, based on the selected approaches identified in this report, to the formal specification of the ANTS mission.

  10. A Comparative Reference Study for the Validation of HLA-Matching Algorithms in the Search for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors and Cord Blood Units

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-08-15

    HLA ISSN 2059-2302 A comparative reference study for the validation of HLA-matching algorithms in the search for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell...from different inter- national donor registries by challenging them with simulated input data and subse- quently comparing the output. This experiment...original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. Comparative reference validation of HLA

  11. Validation Results for LEWICE 2.0. [Supplement

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wright, William B.; Rutkowski, Adam

    1999-01-01

    Two CD-ROMs contain experimental ice shapes and code prediction used for validation of LEWICE 2.0 (see NASA/CR-1999-208690, CASI ID 19990021235). The data include ice shapes for both experiment and for LEWICE, all of the input and output files for the LEWICE cases, JPG files of all plots generated, an electronic copy of the text of the validation report, and a Microsoft Excel(R) spreadsheet containing all of the quantitative measurements taken. The LEWICE source code and executable are not contained on the discs.

  12. Expanded all-optical programmable logic array based on multi-input/output canonical logic units.

    PubMed

    Lei, Lei; Dong, Jianji; Zou, Bingrong; Wu, Zhao; Dong, Wenchan; Zhang, Xinliang

    2014-04-21

    We present an expanded all-optical programmable logic array (O-PLA) using multi-input and multi-output canonical logic units (CLUs) generation. Based on four-wave mixing (FWM) in highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF), two-input and three-input CLUs are simultaneously achieved in five different channels with an operation speed of 40 Gb/s. Clear temporal waveforms and wide open eye diagrams are successfully observed. The effectiveness of the scheme is validated by extinction ratio and optical signal-to-noise ratio measurements. The computing capacity, defined as the total amount of logic functions achieved by the O-PLA, is discussed in detail. For a three-input O-PLA, the computing capacity of the expanded CLUs-PLA is more than two times as large as that of the standard CLUs-PLA, and this multiple will increase to more than three and a half as the idlers are individually independent.

  13. Aircraft signal definition for flight safety system monitoring system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gibbs, Michael (Inventor); Omen, Debi Van (Inventor)

    2003-01-01

    A system and method compares combinations of vehicle variable values against known combinations of potentially dangerous vehicle input signal values. Alarms and error messages are selectively generated based on such comparisons. An aircraft signal definition is provided to enable definition and monitoring of sets of aircraft input signals to customize such signals for different aircraft. The input signals are compared against known combinations of potentially dangerous values by operational software and hardware of a monitoring function. The aircraft signal definition is created using a text editor or custom application. A compiler receives the aircraft signal definition to generate a binary file that comprises the definition of all the input signals used by the monitoring function. The binary file also contains logic that specifies how the inputs are to be interpreted. The file is then loaded into the monitor function, where it is validated and used to continuously monitor the condition of the aircraft.

  14. Experimental Validation of a Closed Brayton Cycle System Transient Simulation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Johnson, Paul K.; Hervol, David S.

    2006-01-01

    The Brayton Power Conversion Unit (BPCU) located at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio was used to validate the results of a computational code known as Closed Cycle System Simulation (CCSS). Conversion system thermal transient behavior was the focus of this validation. The BPCU was operated at various steady state points and then subjected to transient changes involving shaft rotational speed and thermal energy input. These conditions were then duplicated in CCSS. Validation of the CCSS BPCU model provides confidence in developing future Brayton power system performance predictions, and helps to guide high power Brayton technology development.

  15. Fully convolutional neural network for removing background in noisy images of uranium bearing particles

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

    Tarolli, Jay G.; Naes, Benjamin E.; Butler, Lamar

    A fully convolutional neural network (FCN) was developed to supersede automatic or manual thresholding algorithms used for tabulating SIMS particle search data. The FCN was designed to perform a binary classification of pixels in each image belonging to a particle or not, thereby effectively removing background signal without manually or automatically determining an intensity threshold. Using 8,000 images from 28 different particle screening analyses, the FCN was trained to accurately predict pixels belonging to a particle with near 99% accuracy. Background eliminated images were then segmented using a watershed technique in order to determine isotopic ratios of particles. A comparisonmore » of the isotopic distributions of an independent data set segmented using the neural network, compared to a commercially available automated particle measurement (APM) program developed by CAMECA, highlighted the necessity for effective background removal to ensure that resulting particle identification is not only accurate, but preserves valuable signal that could be lost due to improper segmentation. The FCN approach improves the robustness of current state-of-the-art particle searching algorithms by reducing user input biases, resulting in an improved absolute signal per particle and decreased uncertainty of the determined isotope ratios.« less

  16. A New Local Bipolar Autoassociative Memory Based on External Inputs of Discrete Recurrent Neural Networks With Time Delay.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Caigen; Zeng, Xiaoqin; Luo, Chaomin; Zhang, Huaguang

    In this paper, local bipolar auto-associative memories are presented based on discrete recurrent neural networks with a class of gain type activation function. The weight parameters of neural networks are acquired by a set of inequalities without the learning procedure. The global exponential stability criteria are established to ensure the accuracy of the restored patterns by considering time delays and external inputs. The proposed methodology is capable of effectively overcoming spurious memory patterns and achieving memory capacity. The effectiveness, robustness, and fault-tolerant capability are validated by simulated experiments.In this paper, local bipolar auto-associative memories are presented based on discrete recurrent neural networks with a class of gain type activation function. The weight parameters of neural networks are acquired by a set of inequalities without the learning procedure. The global exponential stability criteria are established to ensure the accuracy of the restored patterns by considering time delays and external inputs. The proposed methodology is capable of effectively overcoming spurious memory patterns and achieving memory capacity. The effectiveness, robustness, and fault-tolerant capability are validated by simulated experiments.

  17. Practical input optimization for aircraft parameter estimation experiments. Ph.D. Thesis, 1990

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Morelli, Eugene A.

    1993-01-01

    The object of this research was to develop an algorithm for the design of practical, optimal flight test inputs for aircraft parameter estimation experiments. A general, single pass technique was developed which allows global optimization of the flight test input design for parameter estimation using the principles of dynamic programming with the input forms limited to square waves only. Provision was made for practical constraints on the input, including amplitude constraints, control system dynamics, and selected input frequency range exclusions. In addition, the input design was accomplished while imposing output amplitude constraints required by model validity and considerations of safety during the flight test. The algorithm has multiple input design capability, with optional inclusion of a constraint that only one control move at a time, so that a human pilot can implement the inputs. It is shown that the technique can be used to design experiments for estimation of open loop model parameters from closed loop flight test data. The report includes a new formulation of the optimal input design problem, a description of a new approach to the solution, and a summary of the characteristics of the algorithm, followed by three example applications of the new technique which demonstrate the quality and expanded capabilities of the input designs produced by the new technique. In all cases, the new input design approach showed significant improvement over previous input design methods in terms of achievable parameter accuracies.

  18. Global sensitivity analysis for fuzzy inputs based on the decomposition of fuzzy output entropy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shi, Yan; Lu, Zhenzhou; Zhou, Yicheng

    2018-06-01

    To analyse the component of fuzzy output entropy, a decomposition method of fuzzy output entropy is first presented. After the decomposition of fuzzy output entropy, the total fuzzy output entropy can be expressed as the sum of the component fuzzy entropy contributed by fuzzy inputs. Based on the decomposition of fuzzy output entropy, a new global sensitivity analysis model is established for measuring the effects of uncertainties of fuzzy inputs on the output. The global sensitivity analysis model can not only tell the importance of fuzzy inputs but also simultaneously reflect the structural composition of the response function to a certain degree. Several examples illustrate the validity of the proposed global sensitivity analysis, which is a significant reference in engineering design and optimization of structural systems.

  19. Using the Folstein Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) to explore methodological issues in cognitive aging research.

    PubMed

    Monroe, Todd; Carter, Michael

    2012-09-01

    Cognitive scales are used frequently in geriatric research and practice. These instruments are constructed with underlying assumptions that are a part of their validation process. A common measurement scale used in older adults is the Folstein Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). The MMSE was designed to screen for cognitive impairment and is used often in geriatric research. This paper has three aims. Aim one was to explore four potential threats to validity in the use of the MMSE: (1) administering the exam without meeting the underlying assumptions, (2) not reporting that the underlying assumptions were assessed prior to test administration, (3) use of variable and inconsistent cut-off scores for the determination of presence of cognitive impairment, and (4) failure to adjust the scores based on the demographic characteristics of the tested subject. Aim two was to conduct a literature search to determine if the assumptions of (1) education level assessment, (2) sensory assessment, and (3) language fluency were being met and clearly reported in published research using the MMSE. Aim three was to provide recommendations to minimalize threats to validity in research studies that use cognitive scales, such as the MMSE. We found inconsistencies in published work in reporting whether or not subjects meet the assumptions that underlie a reliable and valid MMSE score. These inconsistencies can pose threats to the reliability of exam results. Fourteen of the 50 studies reviewed reported inclusion of all three of these assumptions. Inconsistencies in reporting the inclusion of the underlying assumptions for a reliable score could mean that subjects were not appropriate to be tested by use of the MMSE or that an appropriate test administration of the MMSE was not clearly reported. Thus, the research literature could have threats to both validity and reliability based on misuse of or improper reported use of the MMSE. Six recommendations are provided to minimalize these threats in future research.

  20. Automatic Data Filter Customization Using a Genetic Algorithm

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mandrake, Lukas

    2013-01-01

    This work predicts whether a retrieval algorithm will usefully determine CO2 concentration from an input spectrum of GOSAT (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite). This was done to eliminate needless runtime on atmospheric soundings that would never yield useful results. A space of 50 dimensions was examined for predictive power on the final CO2 results. Retrieval algorithms are frequently expensive to run, and wasted effort defeats requirements and expends needless resources. This algorithm could be used to help predict and filter unneeded runs in any computationally expensive regime. Traditional methods such as the Fischer discriminant analysis and decision trees can attempt to predict whether a sounding will be properly processed. However, this work sought to detect a subsection of the dimensional space that can be simply filtered out to eliminate unwanted runs. LDAs (linear discriminant analyses) and other systems examine the entire data and judge a "best fit," giving equal weight to complex and problematic regions as well as simple, clear-cut regions. In this implementation, a genetic space of "left" and "right" thresholds outside of which all data are rejected was defined. These left/right pairs are created for each of the 50 input dimensions. A genetic algorithm then runs through countless potential filter settings using a JPL computer cluster, optimizing the tossed-out data s yield (proper vs. improper run removal) and number of points tossed. This solution is robust to an arbitrary decision boundary within the data and avoids the global optimization problem of whole-dataset fitting using LDA or decision trees. It filters out runs that would not have produced useful CO2 values to save needless computation. This would be an algorithmic preprocessing improvement to any computationally expensive system.

  1. Shape Optimization by Bayesian-Validated Computer-Simulation Surrogates

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Patera, Anthony T.

    1997-01-01

    A nonparametric-validated, surrogate approach to optimization has been applied to the computational optimization of eddy-promoter heat exchangers and to the experimental optimization of a multielement airfoil. In addition to the baseline surrogate framework, a surrogate-Pareto framework has been applied to the two-criteria, eddy-promoter design problem. The Pareto analysis improves the predictability of the surrogate results, preserves generality, and provides a means to rapidly determine design trade-offs. Significant contributions have been made in the geometric description used for the eddy-promoter inclusions as well as to the surrogate framework itself. A level-set based, geometric description has been developed to define the shape of the eddy-promoter inclusions. The level-set technique allows for topology changes (from single-body,eddy-promoter configurations to two-body configurations) without requiring any additional logic. The continuity of the output responses for input variations that cross the boundary between topologies has been demonstrated. Input-output continuity is required for the straightforward application of surrogate techniques in which simplified, interpolative models are fitted through a construction set of data. The surrogate framework developed previously has been extended in a number of ways. First, the formulation for a general, two-output, two-performance metric problem is presented. Surrogates are constructed and validated for the outputs. The performance metrics can be functions of both outputs, as well as explicitly of the inputs, and serve to characterize the design preferences. By segregating the outputs and the performance metrics, an additional level of flexibility is provided to the designer. The validated outputs can be used in future design studies and the error estimates provided by the output validation step still apply, and require no additional appeals to the expensive analysis. Second, a candidate-based a posteriori error analysis capability has been developed which provides probabilistic error estimates on the true performance for a design randomly selected near the surrogate-predicted optimal design.

  2. Two-Sample Statistics for Testing the Equality of Survival Functions Against Improper Semi-parametric Accelerated Failure Time Alternatives: An Application to the Analysis of a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial

    PubMed Central

    BROËT, PHILIPPE; TSODIKOV, ALEXANDER; DE RYCKE, YANN; MOREAU, THIERRY

    2010-01-01

    This paper presents two-sample statistics suited for testing equality of survival functions against improper semi-parametric accelerated failure time alternatives. These tests are designed for comparing either the short- or the long-term effect of a prognostic factor, or both. These statistics are obtained as partial likelihood score statistics from a time-dependent Cox model. As a consequence, the proposed tests can be very easily implemented using widely available software. A breast cancer clinical trial is presented as an example to demonstrate the utility of the proposed tests. PMID:15293627

  3. Can Simulation Credibility Be Improved Using Sensitivity Analysis to Understand Input Data Effects on Model Outcome?

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Myers, Jerry G.; Young, M.; Goodenow, Debra A.; Keenan, A.; Walton, M.; Boley, L.

    2015-01-01

    Model and simulation (MS) credibility is defined as, the quality to elicit belief or trust in MS results. NASA-STD-7009 [1] delineates eight components (Verification, Validation, Input Pedigree, Results Uncertainty, Results Robustness, Use History, MS Management, People Qualifications) that address quantifying model credibility, and provides guidance to the model developers, analysts, and end users for assessing the MS credibility. Of the eight characteristics, input pedigree, or the quality of the data used to develop model input parameters, governing functions, or initial conditions, can vary significantly. These data quality differences have varying consequences across the range of MS application. NASA-STD-7009 requires that the lowest input data quality be used to represent the entire set of input data when scoring the input pedigree credibility of the model. This requirement provides a conservative assessment of model inputs, and maximizes the communication of the potential level of risk of using model outputs. Unfortunately, in practice, this may result in overly pessimistic communication of the MS output, undermining the credibility of simulation predictions to decision makers. This presentation proposes an alternative assessment mechanism, utilizing results parameter robustness, also known as model input sensitivity, to improve the credibility scoring process for specific simulations.

  4. Monitoring of hearing and language in primary health care: project pilot.

    PubMed

    Wagner, Julianne; Bonamigo, Andrea Wander; Oliveira, Fabiana de; Machado, Márcia Salgado

    2017-11-01

    This article analyzes the feasibility of implementing a program that monitors the hearing and language development in the first year of life. It is a prospective longitudinal study, in which 41 community health workers were invited to monitor, on a monthly basis, by means of a questionnaire validated earlier, the hearing and language of children born in their micro areas of expertise. Thirty-nine community health workers agreed to participate, with only two refusals. Five gave up participating. Twenty-six (66.66%) did not perform monitoring, seven (17.94%) monitored improperly and only six (15.38%) monitored properly. Just one child failed the quiz, who was forwarded to the hospital that conducted the auditory screening for retesting. These professionals' high activity demand was considered the main reason for the difficulties encountered in this project. In addition, there is the difficulty to have contact with the Family Health Strategy teams, as well as the impossibility of permanent face-to-face discussions and the influence of the community health agents' supervisors.

  5. 3D-Simulation Of Concentration Distributions Inside Large-Scale Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wischnewski, R.; Ratschow, L.; Hartge, E. U.; Werthe, J.

    With increasing size of modern CFB combustors the lateral mixing of fuels and secondary air gains more and more importance. Strong concentration gradients, which result from improper lateral mixing, can lead to operational problems, high flue gas emissions and lower boiler efficiencies. A 3D-model for the simulation of local gas and solids concentrations inside industrial-sized CFB boilers has been developed. The model is based on a macroscopic approach and considers all major mechanisms during fuel spreading and subsequent combustion of char and volatiles. Typical characteristics of modern boilers like staged combustion, a smaller cross-sectional area in the lower section of the combustion chamber and the co-combustion of additional fuels with coal can be considered. The 252 MWth combustor of Stadtwerke Duisburg AG is used for the validation of the model. A comprehensive picture of the local conditions inside the combustion chamber is achieved by the combination of local gas measurements and the three-dimensional simulation of concentration distributions.

  6. Modern analytical chemistry in the contemporary world

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Šíma, Jan

    2016-12-01

    Students not familiar with chemistry tend to misinterpret analytical chemistry as some kind of the sorcery where analytical chemists working as modern wizards handle magical black boxes able to provide fascinating results. However, this approach is evidently improper and misleading. Therefore, the position of modern analytical chemistry among sciences and in the contemporary world is discussed. Its interdisciplinary character and the necessity of the collaboration between analytical chemists and other experts in order to effectively solve the actual problems of the human society and the environment are emphasized. The importance of the analytical method validation in order to obtain the accurate and precise results is highlighted. The invalid results are not only useless; they can often be even fatal (e.g., in clinical laboratories). The curriculum of analytical chemistry at schools and universities is discussed. It is referred to be much broader than traditional equilibrium chemistry coupled with a simple description of individual analytical methods. Actually, the schooling of analytical chemistry should closely connect theory and practice.

  7. Data Association Algorithms for Tracking Satellites

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-03-27

    validation of the new tools. The description provided here includes the mathematical back ground and description of the models implemented, as well as a...simulation development. This work includes the addition of higher-fidelity models in CU-TurboProp and validation of the new tools. The description...ode45(), used in Ananke, and (3) provide the necessary inputs to the bidirectional reflectance distribution function ( BRDF ) model provided by Pacific

  8. Sample selection via angular distance in the space of the arguments of an artificial neural network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fernández Jaramillo, J. M.; Mayerle, R.

    2018-05-01

    In the construction of an artificial neural network (ANN) a proper data splitting of the available samples plays a major role in the training process. This selection of subsets for training, testing and validation affects the generalization ability of the neural network. Also the number of samples has an impact in the time required for the design of the ANN and the training. This paper introduces an efficient and simple method for reducing the set of samples used for training a neural network. The method reduces the required time to calculate the network coefficients, while keeping the diversity and avoiding overtraining the ANN due the presence of similar samples. The proposed method is based on the calculation of the angle between two vectors, each one representing one input of the neural network. When the angle formed among samples is smaller than a defined threshold only one input is accepted for the training. The accepted inputs are scattered throughout the sample space. Tidal records are used to demonstrate the proposed method. The results of a cross-validation show that with few inputs the quality of the outputs is not accurate and depends on the selection of the first sample, but as the number of inputs increases the accuracy is improved and differences among the scenarios with a different starting sample have and important reduction. A comparison with the K-means clustering algorithm shows that for this application the proposed method with a smaller number of samples is producing a more accurate network.

  9. The effect of subject measurement error on joint kinematics in the conventional gait model: Insights from the open-source pyCGM tool using high performance computing methods.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Mathew; Dixon, Philippe C

    2018-01-01

    The conventional gait model (CGM) is a widely used biomechanical model which has been validated over many years. The CGM relies on retro-reflective markers placed along anatomical landmarks, a static calibration pose, and subject measurements as inputs for joint angle calculations. While past literature has shown the possible errors caused by improper marker placement, studies on the effects of inaccurate subject measurements are lacking. Moreover, as many laboratories rely on the commercial version of the CGM, released as the Plug-in Gait (Vicon Motion Systems Ltd, Oxford, UK), integrating improvements into the CGM code is not easily accomplished. This paper introduces a Python implementation for the CGM, referred to as pyCGM, which is an open-source, easily modifiable, cross platform, and high performance computational implementation. The aims of pyCGM are to (1) reproduce joint kinematic outputs from the Vicon CGM and (2) be implemented in a parallel approach to allow integration on a high performance computer. The aims of this paper are to (1) demonstrate that pyCGM can systematically and efficiently examine the effect of subject measurements on joint angles and (2) be updated to include new calculation methods suggested in the literature. The results show that the calculated joint angles from pyCGM agree with Vicon CGM outputs, with a maximum lower body joint angle difference of less than 10-5 degrees. Through the hierarchical system, the ankle joint is the most vulnerable to subject measurement error. Leg length has the greatest effect on all joints as a percentage of measurement error. When compared to the errors previously found through inter-laboratory measurements, the impact of subject measurements is minimal, and researchers should rather focus on marker placement. Finally, we showed that code modifications can be performed to include improved hip, knee, and ankle joint centre estimations suggested in the existing literature. The pyCGM code is provided in open source format and available at https://github.com/cadop/pyCGM.

  10. The effect of subject measurement error on joint kinematics in the conventional gait model: Insights from the open-source pyCGM tool using high performance computing methods

    PubMed Central

    Dixon, Philippe C.

    2018-01-01

    The conventional gait model (CGM) is a widely used biomechanical model which has been validated over many years. The CGM relies on retro-reflective markers placed along anatomical landmarks, a static calibration pose, and subject measurements as inputs for joint angle calculations. While past literature has shown the possible errors caused by improper marker placement, studies on the effects of inaccurate subject measurements are lacking. Moreover, as many laboratories rely on the commercial version of the CGM, released as the Plug-in Gait (Vicon Motion Systems Ltd, Oxford, UK), integrating improvements into the CGM code is not easily accomplished. This paper introduces a Python implementation for the CGM, referred to as pyCGM, which is an open-source, easily modifiable, cross platform, and high performance computational implementation. The aims of pyCGM are to (1) reproduce joint kinematic outputs from the Vicon CGM and (2) be implemented in a parallel approach to allow integration on a high performance computer. The aims of this paper are to (1) demonstrate that pyCGM can systematically and efficiently examine the effect of subject measurements on joint angles and (2) be updated to include new calculation methods suggested in the literature. The results show that the calculated joint angles from pyCGM agree with Vicon CGM outputs, with a maximum lower body joint angle difference of less than 10-5 degrees. Through the hierarchical system, the ankle joint is the most vulnerable to subject measurement error. Leg length has the greatest effect on all joints as a percentage of measurement error. When compared to the errors previously found through inter-laboratory measurements, the impact of subject measurements is minimal, and researchers should rather focus on marker placement. Finally, we showed that code modifications can be performed to include improved hip, knee, and ankle joint centre estimations suggested in the existing literature. The pyCGM code is provided in open source format and available at https://github.com/cadop/pyCGM. PMID:29293565

  11. A new interpretation and validation of variance based importance measures for models with correlated inputs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hao, Wenrui; Lu, Zhenzhou; Li, Luyi

    2013-05-01

    In order to explore the contributions by correlated input variables to the variance of the output, a novel interpretation framework of importance measure indices is proposed for a model with correlated inputs, which includes the indices of the total correlated contribution and the total uncorrelated contribution. The proposed indices accurately describe the connotations of the contributions by the correlated input to the variance of output, and they can be viewed as the complement and correction of the interpretation about the contributions by the correlated inputs presented in "Estimation of global sensitivity indices for models with dependent variables, Computer Physics Communications, 183 (2012) 937-946". Both of them contain the independent contribution by an individual input. Taking the general form of quadratic polynomial as an illustration, the total correlated contribution and the independent contribution by an individual input are derived analytically, from which the components and their origins of both contributions of correlated input can be clarified without any ambiguity. In the special case that no square term is included in the quadratic polynomial model, the total correlated contribution by the input can be further decomposed into the variance contribution related to the correlation of the input with other inputs and the independent contribution by the input itself, and the total uncorrelated contribution can be further decomposed into the independent part by interaction between the input and others and the independent part by the input itself. Numerical examples are employed and their results demonstrate that the derived analytical expressions of the variance-based importance measure are correct, and the clarification of the correlated input contribution to model output by the analytical derivation is very important for expanding the theory and solutions of uncorrelated input to those of the correlated one.

  12. Modeling and validation of autoinducer-mediated bacterial gene expression in microfluidic environments

    PubMed Central

    Austin, Caitlin M.; Stoy, William; Su, Peter; Harber, Marie C.; Bardill, J. Patrick; Hammer, Brian K.; Forest, Craig R.

    2014-01-01

    Biosensors exploiting communication within genetically engineered bacteria are becoming increasingly important for monitoring environmental changes. Currently, there are a variety of mathematical models for understanding and predicting how genetically engineered bacteria respond to molecular stimuli in these environments, but as sensors have miniaturized towards microfluidics and are subjected to complex time-varying inputs, the shortcomings of these models have become apparent. The effects of microfluidic environments such as low oxygen concentration, increased biofilm encapsulation, diffusion limited molecular distribution, and higher population densities strongly affect rate constants for gene expression not accounted for in previous models. We report a mathematical model that accurately predicts the biological response of the autoinducer N-acyl homoserine lactone-mediated green fluorescent protein expression in reporter bacteria in microfluidic environments by accommodating these rate constants. This generalized mass action model considers a chain of biomolecular events from input autoinducer chemical to fluorescent protein expression through a series of six chemical species. We have validated this model against experimental data from our own apparatus as well as prior published experimental results. Results indicate accurate prediction of dynamics (e.g., 14% peak time error from a pulse input) and with reduced mean-squared error with pulse or step inputs for a range of concentrations (10 μM–30 μM). This model can help advance the design of genetically engineered bacteria sensors and molecular communication devices. PMID:25379076

  13. Dynamic causal modelling of brain-behaviour relationships.

    PubMed

    Rigoux, L; Daunizeau, J

    2015-08-15

    In this work, we expose a mathematical treatment of brain-behaviour relationships, which we coin behavioural Dynamic Causal Modelling or bDCM. This approach aims at decomposing the brain's transformation of stimuli into behavioural outcomes, in terms of the relative contribution of brain regions and their connections. In brief, bDCM places the brain at the interplay between stimulus and behaviour: behavioural outcomes arise from coordinated activity in (hidden) neural networks, whose dynamics are driven by experimental inputs. Estimating neural parameters that control network connectivity and plasticity effectively performs a neurobiologically-constrained approximation to the brain's input-outcome transform. In other words, neuroimaging data essentially serves to enforce the realism of bDCM's decomposition of input-output relationships. In addition, post-hoc artificial lesions analyses allow us to predict induced behavioural deficits and quantify the importance of network features for funnelling input-output relationships. This is important, because this enables one to bridge the gap with neuropsychological studies of brain-damaged patients. We demonstrate the face validity of the approach using Monte-Carlo simulations, and its predictive validity using empirical fMRI/behavioural data from an inhibitory control task. Lastly, we discuss promising applications of this work, including the assessment of functional degeneracy (in the healthy brain) and the prediction of functional recovery after lesions (in neurological patients). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Estimating pesticide runoff in small streams.

    PubMed

    Schriever, Carola A; von der Ohe, Peter C; Liess, Matthias

    2007-08-01

    Surface runoff is one of the most important pathways for pesticides to enter surface waters. Mathematical models are employed to characterize its spatio-temporal variability within landscapes, but they must be simple owing to the limited availability and low resolution of data at this scale. This study aimed to validate a simplified spatially-explicit model that is developed for the regional scale to calculate the runoff potential (RP). The RP is a generic indicator of the magnitude of pesticide inputs into streams via runoff. The underlying runoff model considers key environmental factors affecting runoff (precipitation, topography, land use, and soil characteristics), but predicts losses of a generic substance instead of any one pesticide. We predicted and evaluated RP for 20 small streams. RP input data were extracted from governmental databases. Pesticide measurements from a triennial study were used for validation. Measured pesticide concentrations were standardized by the applied mass per catchment and the water solubility of the relevant compounds. The maximum standardized concentration per site and year (runoff loss, R(Loss)) provided a generalized measure of observed pesticide inputs into the streams. Average RP explained 75% (p<0.001) of the variance in R(Loss). Our results imply that the generic indicator can give an adequate estimate of runoff inputs into small streams, wherever data of similar resolution are available. Therefore, we suggest RP for a first quick and cost-effective location of potential runoff hot spots at the landscape level.

  15. 47 CFR 11.33 - EAS Decoder.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... time periods expire. (4) Display and logging. A visual message shall be developed from any valid header... input. (8) Decoder Programming. Access to decoder programming shall be protected by a lock or other...

  16. Quality assurance in mammography: artifact analysis.

    PubMed

    Hogge, J P; Palmer, C H; Muller, C C; Little, S T; Smith, D C; Fatouros, P P; de Paredes, E S

    1999-01-01

    Evaluation of mammograms for artifacts is essential for mammographic quality assurance. A variety of mammographic artifacts (i.e., variations in mammographic density not caused by true attenuation differences) can occur and can create pseudolesions or mask true abnormalities. Many artifacts are readily identified, whereas others present a true diagnostic challenge. Factors that create artifacts may be related to the processor (eg, static, dirt or excessive developer buildup on the rollers, excessive roller pressure, damp film, scrapes and scratches, incomplete fixing, power failure, contaminated developer), the technologist (eg, improper film handling and loading, improper use of the mammography unit and related equipment, positioning and darkroom errors), the mammography unit (eg, failure of the collimation mirror to rotate, grid inhomogeneity, failure of the reciprocating grid to move, material in the tube housing, compression failure, improper alignment of the compression paddle with the Bucky tray, defective compression paddle), or the patient (e.g., motion, superimposed objects or substances [jewelry, body parts, clothing, hair, implanted medical devices, foreign bodies, substances on the skin]). Familiarity with the broad range of artifacts and the measures required to eliminate them is vital. Careful attention to darkroom cleanliness, care in film handling, regularly scheduled processor maintenance and chemical replenishment, daily quality assurance activities, and careful attention to detail during patient positioning and mammography can reduce or eliminate most mammographic artifacts.

  17. 40 CFR 403.16 - Upset provision.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of... usual exercise of prosecutorial discretion, Agency enforcement personnel should review any claims that...

  18. Time series modeling of human operator dynamics in manual control tasks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biezad, D. J.; Schmidt, D. K.

    1984-01-01

    A time-series technique is presented for identifying the dynamic characteristics of the human operator in manual control tasks from relatively short records of experimental data. Control of system excitation signals used in the identification is not required. The approach is a multi-channel identification technique for modeling multi-input/multi-output situations. The method presented includes statistical tests for validity, is designed for digital computation, and yields estimates for the frequency responses of the human operator. A comprehensive relative power analysis may also be performed for validated models. This method is applied to several sets of experimental data; the results are discussed and shown to compare favorably with previous research findings. New results are also presented for a multi-input task that has not been previously modeled to demonstrate the strengths of the method.

  19. Time Series Modeling of Human Operator Dynamics in Manual Control Tasks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biezad, D. J.; Schmidt, D. K.

    1984-01-01

    A time-series technique is presented for identifying the dynamic characteristics of the human operator in manual control tasks from relatively short records of experimental data. Control of system excitation signals used in the identification is not required. The approach is a multi-channel identification technique for modeling multi-input/multi-output situations. The method presented includes statistical tests for validity, is designed for digital computation, and yields estimates for the frequency response of the human operator. A comprehensive relative power analysis may also be performed for validated models. This method is applied to several sets of experimental data; the results are discussed and shown to compare favorably with previous research findings. New results are also presented for a multi-input task that was previously modeled to demonstrate the strengths of the method.

  20. Statistical validation and an empirical model of hydrogen production enhancement found by utilizing passive flow disturbance in the steam-reformation process

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

    Erickson, Paul A.; Liao, Chang-hsien

    2007-11-15

    A passive flow disturbance has been proven to enhance the conversion of fuel in a methanol-steam reformer. This study presents a statistical validation of the experiment based on a standard 2{sup k} factorial experiment design and the resulting empirical model of the enhanced hydrogen producing process. A factorial experiment design was used to statistically analyze the effects and interactions of various input factors in the experiment. Three input factors, including the number of flow disturbers, catalyst size, and reactant flow rate were investigated for their effects on the fuel conversion in the steam-reformation process. Based on the experimental results, anmore » empirical model was developed and further evaluated with an uncertainty analysis and interior point data. (author)« less

  1. Flight Test of Orthogonal Square Wave Inputs for Hybrid-Wing-Body Parameter Estimation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Taylor, Brian R.; Ratnayake, Nalin A.

    2011-01-01

    As part of an effort to improve emissions, noise, and performance of next generation aircraft, it is expected that future aircraft will use distributed, multi-objective control effectors in a closed-loop flight control system. Correlation challenges associated with parameter estimation will arise with this expected aircraft configuration. The research presented in this paper focuses on addressing the correlation problem with an appropriate input design technique in order to determine individual control surface effectiveness. This technique was validated through flight-testing an 8.5-percent-scale hybrid-wing-body aircraft demonstrator at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (Edwards, California). An input design technique that uses mutually orthogonal square wave inputs for de-correlation of control surfaces is proposed. Flight-test results are compared with prior flight-test results for a different maneuver style.

  2. Impact of Cross-Axis Structural Dynamics on Validation of Linear Models for Space Launch System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pei, Jing; Derry, Stephen D.; Zhou Zhiqiang; Newsom, Jerry R.

    2014-01-01

    A feasibility study was performed to examine the advisability of incorporating a set of Programmed Test Inputs (PTIs) during the Space Launch System (SLS) vehicle flight. The intent of these inputs is to provide validation to the preflight models for control system stability margins, aerodynamics, and structural dynamics. During October 2009, Ares I-X program was successful in carrying out a series of PTI maneuvers which provided a significant amount of valuable data for post-flight analysis. The resulting data comparisons showed excellent agreement with the preflight linear models across the frequency spectrum of interest. However unlike Ares I-X, the structural dynamics associated with the SLS boost phase configuration are far more complex and highly coupled in all three axes. This presents a challenge when implementing this similar system identification technique to SLS. Preliminary simulation results show noticeable mismatches between PTI validation and analytical linear models in the frequency range of the structural dynamics. An alternate approach was examined which demonstrates the potential for better overall characterization of the system frequency response as well as robustness of the control design.

  3. Field measurement of moisture-buffering model inputs for residential buildings

    DOE PAGES

    Woods, Jason; Winkler, Jon

    2016-02-05

    Moisture adsorption and desorption in building materials impact indoor humidity. This effect should be included in building-energy simulations, particularly when humidity is being investigated or controlled. Several models can calculate this moisture-buffering effect, but accurate ones require model inputs that are not always known to the user of the building-energy simulation. This research developed an empirical method to extract whole-house model inputs for the effective moisture penetration depth (EMPD) model. The experimental approach was to subject the materials in the house to a square-wave relative-humidity profile, measure all of the moisture-transfer terms (e.g., infiltration, air-conditioner condensate), and calculate the onlymore » unmeasured term—the moisture sorption into the materials. We validated this method with laboratory measurements, which we used to measure the EMPD model inputs of two houses. After deriving these inputs, we measured the humidity of the same houses during tests with realistic latent and sensible loads and demonstrated the accuracy of this approach. Furthermore, these results show that the EMPD model, when given reasonable inputs, is an accurate moisture-buffering model.« less

  4. Input-output mapping reconstruction of spike trains at dorsal horn evoked by manual acupuncture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Xile; Shi, Dingtian; Yu, Haitao; Deng, Bin; Lu, Meili; Han, Chunxiao; Wang, Jiang

    2016-12-01

    In this study, a generalized linear model (GLM) is used to reconstruct mapping from acupuncture stimulation to spike trains driven by action potential data. The electrical signals are recorded in spinal dorsal horn after manual acupuncture (MA) manipulations with different frequencies being taken at the “Zusanli” point of experiment rats. Maximum-likelihood method is adopted to estimate the parameters of GLM and the quantified value of assumed model input. Through validating the accuracy of firings generated from the established GLM, it is found that the input-output mapping of spike trains evoked by acupuncture can be successfully reconstructed for different frequencies. Furthermore, via comparing the performance of several GLMs based on distinct inputs, it suggests that input with the form of half-sine with noise can well describe the generator potential induced by acupuncture mechanical action. Particularly, the comparison of reproducing the experiment spikes for five selected inputs is in accordance with the phenomenon found in Hudgkin-Huxley (H-H) model simulation, which indicates the mapping from half-sine with noise input to experiment spikes meets the real encoding scheme to some extent. These studies provide us a new insight into coding processes and information transfer of acupuncture.

  5. VERAIn

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

    Simunovic, Srdjan

    2015-02-16

    CASL's modeling and simulation technology, the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA), incorporates coupled physics and science-based models, state-of-the-art numerical methods, modern computational science, integrated uncertainty quantification (UQ) and validation against data from operating pressurized water reactors (PWRs), single-effect experiments, and integral tests. The computational simulation component of VERA is the VERA Core Simulator (VERA-CS). The core simulator is the specific collection of multi-physics computer codes used to model and deplete a LWR core over multiple cycles. The core simulator has a single common input file that drives all of the different physics codes. The parser code, VERAIn, converts VERAmore » Input into an XML file that is used as input to different VERA codes.« less

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

    Chinthavali, Madhu Sudhan; Campbell, Steven L

    This paper presents an analytical model for wireless power transfer system used in electric vehicle application. The equivalent circuit model for each major component of the system is described, including the input voltage source, resonant network, transformer, nonlinear diode rectifier load, etc. Based on the circuit model, the primary side compensation capacitance, equivalent input impedance, active / reactive power are calculated, which provides a guideline for parameter selection. Moreover, the voltage gain curve from dc output to dc input is derived as well. A hardware prototype with series-parallel resonant stage is built to verify the developed model. The experimental resultsmore » from the hardware are compared with the model predicted results to show the validity of the model.« less

  7. Statistical inference, the bootstrap, and neural-network modeling with application to foreign exchange rates.

    PubMed

    White, H; Racine, J

    2001-01-01

    We propose tests for individual and joint irrelevance of network inputs. Such tests can be used to determine whether an input or group of inputs "belong" in a particular model, thus permitting valid statistical inference based on estimated feedforward neural-network models. The approaches employ well-known statistical resampling techniques. We conduct a small Monte Carlo experiment showing that our tests have reasonable level and power behavior, and we apply our methods to examine whether there are predictable regularities in foreign exchange rates. We find that exchange rates do appear to contain information that is exploitable for enhanced point prediction, but the nature of the predictive relations evolves through time.

  8. Development of Finer Spatial Resolution Optical Properties from MODIS

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-02-04

    infrared (SWIR) channels at 1240 nm and 2130 run. The increased resolution spectral Rrs channels are input into bio-optical algorithms (Quasi...processes. Additionally, increased resolution is required for validation of ocean color products in coastal regions due to the shorter spatial scales of...with in situ Rrs data to determine the "best" method in coastal regimes. We demonstrate that finer resolution is required for validation of coastal

  9. Testing-Based Compiler Validation for Synchronous Languages

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Garoche, Pierre-Loic; Howar, Falk; Kahsai, Temesghen; Thirioux, Xavier

    2014-01-01

    In this paper we present a novel lightweight approach to validate compilers for synchronous languages. Instead of verifying a compiler for all input programs or providing a fixed suite of regression tests, we extend the compiler to generate a test-suite with high behavioral coverage and geared towards discovery of faults for every compiled artifact. We have implemented and evaluated our approach using a compiler from Lustre to C.

  10. A Validation Metrics Framework for Safety-Critical Software-Intensive Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-03-01

    so does its definition, tools, and techniques, including means for measuring the validation activity, its outputs, and impact on development...independent of the SDLP. When considering the above SDLPs from the safety engineering team’s perspective, there are also large impacts on the way... impact . Interpretation of any actionable metric data will need to be undertaken in the context of the SDLP. 2. Safety Input The software safety

  11. Catchment-scale Validation of a Physically-based, Post-fire Runoff and Erosion Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Quinn, D.; Brooks, E. S.; Robichaud, P. R.; Dobre, M.; Brown, R. E.; Wagenbrenner, J.

    2017-12-01

    The cascading consequences of fire-induced ecological changes have profound impacts on both natural and managed forest ecosystems. Forest managers tasked with implementing post-fire mitigation strategies need robust tools to evaluate the effectiveness of their decisions, particularly those affecting hydrological recovery. Various hillslope-scale interfaces of the physically-based Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model have been successfully validated for this purpose using fire-effected plot experiments, however these interfaces are explicitly designed to simulate single hillslopes. Spatially-distributed, catchment-scale WEPP interfaces have been developed over the past decade, however none have been validated for post-fire simulations, posing a barrier to adoption for forest managers. In this validation study, we compare WEPP simulations with pre- and post-fire hydrological records for three forested catchments (W. Willow, N. Thomas, and S. Thomas) that burned in the 2011 Wallow Fire in Northeastern Arizona, USA. Simulations were conducted using two approaches; the first using automatically created inputs from an online, spatial, post-fire WEPP interface, and the second using manually created inputs which incorporate the spatial variability of fire effects observed in the field. Both approaches were compared to five years of observed post-fire sediment and flow data to assess goodness of fit.

  12. A clinical reasoning model focused on clients' behaviour change with reference to physiotherapists: its multiphase development and validation.

    PubMed

    Elvén, Maria; Hochwälder, Jacek; Dean, Elizabeth; Söderlund, Anne

    2015-05-01

    A biopsychosocial approach and behaviour change strategies have long been proposed to serve as a basis for addressing current multifaceted health problems. This emphasis has implications for clinical reasoning of health professionals. This study's aim was to develop and validate a conceptual model to guide physiotherapists' clinical reasoning focused on clients' behaviour change. Phase 1 consisted of the exploration of existing research and the research team's experiences and knowledge. Phases 2a and 2b consisted of validation and refinement of the model based on input from physiotherapy students in two focus groups (n = 5 per group) and from experts in behavioural medicine (n = 9). Phase 1 generated theoretical and evidence bases for the first version of a model. Phases 2a and 2b established the validity and value of the model. The final model described clinical reasoning focused on clients' behaviour change as a cognitive, reflective, collaborative and iterative process with multiple interrelated levels that included input from the client and physiotherapist, a functional behavioural analysis of the activity-related target behaviour and the selection of strategies for behaviour change. This unique model, theory- and evidence-informed, has been developed to help physiotherapists to apply clinical reasoning systematically in the process of behaviour change with their clients.

  13. Properties of Syntactic Foam for Simulation of Mechanical Insults.

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

    Hubbard, Neal Benson; Haulenbeek, Kimberly K.; Spletzer, Matthew A.

    Syntactic foam encapsulation protects sensitive components. The energy mitigated by the foam is calculated with numerical simulations. The properties of a syntactic foam consisting of a mixture of an epoxy-rubber adduct and glass microballoons are obtained from published literature and test results. The conditions and outcomes of the tests are discussed. The method for converting published properties and test results to input for finite element models is described. Simulations of the test conditions are performed to validate the inputs.

  14. 48 CFR 1603.7001 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... HEALTH BENEFITS ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF... advertisements. However, while OPM believes that advertising is unnecessary, it recognizes that the decision to...

  15. 48 CFR 1603.7001 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... HEALTH BENEFITS ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF... advertisements. However, while OPM believes that advertising is unnecessary, it recognizes that the decision to...

  16. 7 CFR 51.2 - Terms defined.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ...; mechanical injuries resulting from improper handling after packing; progressive pathological, physiological, and virus diseases, including fungal and bacterial roots; and freezing damage which may occur in...

  17. Using special additions to preparation of the moulding mixture for casting steel parts of drive wheel type

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Josan, A.; Pinca Bretotean, C.

    2015-06-01

    The paper presents the possibility of using special additions to the execution of moulding mixtures for steel castings, drive wheel type. Critical analysis of moulding technology leads to the idea that most defects appear due to using improper moulding mixture. Using a improper moulding mixture leads to penetration of steel in moulding mixture, resulting in the formation of adherences, due to inadequate refractarity of the mould and core mixtures. Using only the unique mixture to the moulding leads to increasing consumption of new sand, respectively to the increase of price of piece. Acording to the dates registered in the industrial practice is necessary to use the special additions to obtain the moulding mixtures, carbonaceous materials respectively.

  18. Overuse injuries: tendinopathies, stress fractures, compartment syndrome, and shin splints.

    PubMed

    Wilder, Robert P; Sethi, Shikha

    2004-01-01

    Approximately 50% of all sports injuries are secondary to overuse and result from repetitive microtrauma that causes local tissue damage. Injuries are most likely with changes in mode, intensity, or duration of training and can accumulate before symptoms appear. Intrinsic factors contributing to injuries are individual bio-mechanical abnormalities such as malalignments, muscle imbalance, inflexibility, weakness, and instability. Contributing extrinsic (avoidable) factors include poor technique, improper equipment, and improper changes in duration or frequency of activity. Injuries are often related to biomechanical abnormalities removed from the specific injury site, requiring evaluation of the entire kinetic chain. This article discusses common overuse injuries of the lower leg, ankle, and foot: tendinopathies, stress fractures, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, and shin splints.

  19. Ergonomic applications to dental practice.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Shipra

    2011-01-01

    The term "work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)," refers to musculoskeletal disorders to which the work environment contributes significantly, or to musculoskeletal disorders that are made worse or longer lasting by work conditions or workplace risk factors. In recent years, there has been an increase in reporting WMSDs for dental persons. Risk factors of WMSDs with specific reference to dentistry include - stress, poor flexibility, improper positioning, infrequent breaks, repetitive movements, weak postural muscles, prolonged awkward postures and improper adjustment of equipment. Ergonomics is the science of designing jobs, equipment and workplaces to fit workers. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. In this article, 20 strategies to prevent WMSDs in the dental operatory are discussed.

  20. Automated validation of a computer operating system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dervage, M. M.; Milberg, B. A.

    1970-01-01

    Programs apply selected input/output loads to complex computer operating system and measure performance of that system under such loads. Technique lends itself to checkout of computer software designed to monitor automated complex industrial systems.

  1. Bioassessment in nonperennial streams: Hydrologic stability influences assessment validity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mazor, R. D.; Stein, E. D.; Schiff, K.; Ode, P.; Rehn, A.

    2011-12-01

    Nonperennial streams pose a challenge for bioassessment, as assessment tools developed in perennial streams may not work in these systems. For example, indices of biotic integrity (IBIs) developed in perennial streams may give improper indications of impairment in nonperennial streams, or may be unstable. We sampled benthic macroinvertebrates from 12 nonperennial streams in southern California. In addition, we deployed loggers to obtain continuous measures of flow. 3 sites were revisited over 2 years. For each site, we calculated several metrics, IBIs, and O/E scores to determine if assessments were consistent and valid throughout the summer. Hydrology varied widely among the streams, with several streams drying between sampling events. IBIs suggested good ecological health at the beginning of the study, but declined sharply at some sites. Multivariate ordination suggested that, despite differences among sites, changes in community structure were similar, with shifts from Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera to Coleoptera and more tolerant organisms. Site revisits revealed a surprising level of variability, as 2 of the 3 revisited sites had perennial or near-perennial flow in the second year of sampling. IBI scores were more consistent in streams with stable hydrographs than in those with strongly intermittent hydrographs. These results suggest that nonperennial streams can be monitored successfully, but they may require short index periods and distinct metrics from those used in perennial streams. In addition, better approaches to mapping nonperennial streams are required.

  2. A Shipping Container-Based Sterile Processing Unit for Low Resources Settings

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Deficiencies in the sterile processing of medical instruments contribute to poor outcomes for patients, such as surgical site infections, longer hospital stays, and deaths. In low resources settings, such as some rural and semi-rural areas and secondary and tertiary cities of developing countries, deficiencies in sterile processing are accentuated due to the lack of access to sterilization equipment, improperly maintained and malfunctioning equipment, lack of power to operate equipment, poor protocols, and inadequate quality control over inventory. Inspired by our sterile processing fieldwork at a district hospital in Sierra Leone in 2013, we built an autonomous, shipping-container-based sterile processing unit to address these deficiencies. The sterile processing unit, dubbed “the sterile box,” is a full suite capable of handling instruments from the moment they leave the operating room to the point they are sterile and ready to be reused for the next surgery. The sterile processing unit is self-sufficient in power and water and features an intake for contaminated instruments, decontamination, sterilization via non-electric steam sterilizers, and secure inventory storage. To validate efficacy, we ran tests of decontamination and sterilization performance. Results of 61 trials validate convincingly that our sterile processing unit achieves satisfactory outcomes for decontamination and sterilization and as such holds promise to support healthcare facilities in low resources settings. PMID:27007568

  3. Dem Local Accuracy Patterns in Land-Use/Land-Cover Classification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Katerji, Wassim; Farjas Abadia, Mercedes; Morillo Balsera, Maria del Carmen

    2016-01-01

    Global and nation-wide DEM do not preserve the same height accuracy throughout the area of study. Instead of assuming a single RMSE value for the whole area, this study proposes a vario-model that divides the area into sub-regions depending on the land-use / landcover (LULC) classification, and assigns a local accuracy per each zone, as these areas share similar terrain formation and roughness, and tend to have similar DEM accuracies. A pilot study over Lebanon using the SRTM and ASTER DEMs, combined with a set of 1,105 randomly distributed ground control points (GCPs) showed that even though the inputDEMs have different spatial and temporal resolution, and were collected using difierent techniques, their accuracy varied similarly when changing over difierent LULC classes. Furthermore, validating the generated vario-models proved that they provide a closer representation of the accuracy to the validating GCPs than the conventional RMSE, by 94% and 86% for the SRTMand ASTER respectively. Geostatistical analysis of the input and output datasets showed that the results have a normal distribution, which support the generalization of the proven hypothesis, making this finding applicable to other input datasets anywhere around the world.

  4. Adaptive model reduction for continuous systems via recursive rational interpolation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lilly, John H.

    1994-01-01

    A method for adaptive identification of reduced-order models for continuous stable SISO and MIMO plants is presented. The method recursively finds a model whose transfer function (matrix) matches that of the plant on a set of frequencies chosen by the designer. The algorithm utilizes the Moving Discrete Fourier Transform (MDFT) to continuously monitor the frequency-domain profile of the system input and output signals. The MDFT is an efficient method of monitoring discrete points in the frequency domain of an evolving function of time. The model parameters are estimated from MDFT data using standard recursive parameter estimation techniques. The algorithm has been shown in simulations to be quite robust to additive noise in the inputs and outputs. A significant advantage of the method is that it enables a type of on-line model validation. This is accomplished by simultaneously identifying a number of models and comparing each with the plant in the frequency domain. Simulations of the method applied to an 8th-order SISO plant and a 10-state 2-input 2-output plant are presented. An example of on-line model validation applied to the SISO plant is also presented.

  5. Application of a rat hindlimb model: a prediction of force spaces reachable through stimulation of nerve fascicles.

    PubMed

    Johnson, Will L; Jindrich, Devin L; Zhong, Hui; Roy, Roland R; Edgerton, V Reggie

    2011-12-01

    A device to generate standing or locomotion through chronically placed electrodes has not been fully developed due in part to limitations of clinical experimentation and the high number of muscle activation inputs of the leg. We investigated the feasibility of functional electrical stimulation paradigms that minimize the input dimensions for controlling the limbs by stimulating at nerve fascicles, utilizing a model of the rat hindlimb, which combined previously collected morphological data with muscle physiological parameters presented herein. As validation of the model, we investigated the suitability of a lumped-parameter model for the prediction of muscle activation during dynamic tasks. Using the validated model, we found that the space of forces producible through activation of muscle groups sharing common nerve fascicles was nonlinearly dependent on the number of discrete muscle groups that could be individually activated (equivalently, the neuroanatomical level of activation). Seven commonly innervated muscle groups were sufficient to produce 78% of the force space producible through individual activation of the 42 modeled hindlimb muscles. This novel, neuroanatomically derived reduction in input dimension emphasizes the potential to simplify controllers for functional electrical stimulation to improve functional recovery after a neuromuscular injury.

  6. Application of a Rat Hindlimb Model: A Prediction of Force Spaces Reachable Through Stimulation of Nerve Fascicles

    PubMed Central

    Johnson, Will L.; Jindrich, Devin L.; Zhong, Hui; Roy, Roland R.

    2011-01-01

    A device to generate standing or locomotion through chronically placed electrodes has not been fully developed due in part to limitations of clinical experimentation and the high number of muscle activation inputs of the leg. We investigated the feasibility of functional electrical stimulation paradigms that minimize the input dimensions for controlling the limbs by stimulating at nerve fascicles, utilizing a model of the rat hindlimb which combined previously collected morphological data with muscle physiological parameters presented herein. As validation of the model we investigated the suitability of a lumped-parameter model for prediction of muscle activation during dynamic tasks. Using the validated model we found that the space of forces producible through activation of muscle groups sharing common nerve fascicles was nonlinearly dependent on the number of discrete muscle groups that could be individually activated (equivalently, the neuroanatomical level of activation). Seven commonly innervated muscle groups were sufficient to produce 78% of the force space producible through individual activation of the 42 modeled hindlimb muscles. This novel, neuroanatomically derived reduction in input dimension emphasizes the potential to simplify controllers for functional electrical stimulation to improve functional recovery after a neuromuscular injury. PMID:21244999

  7. Validation analysis of probabilistic models of dietary exposure to food additives.

    PubMed

    Gilsenan, M B; Thompson, R L; Lambe, J; Gibney, M J

    2003-10-01

    The validity of a range of simple conceptual models designed specifically for the estimation of food additive intakes using probabilistic analysis was assessed. Modelled intake estimates that fell below traditional conservative point estimates of intake and above 'true' additive intakes (calculated from a reference database at brand level) were considered to be in a valid region. Models were developed for 10 food additives by combining food intake data, the probability of an additive being present in a food group and additive concentration data. Food intake and additive concentration data were entered as raw data or as a lognormal distribution, and the probability of an additive being present was entered based on the per cent brands or the per cent eating occasions within a food group that contained an additive. Since the three model components assumed two possible modes of input, the validity of eight (2(3)) model combinations was assessed. All model inputs were derived from the reference database. An iterative approach was employed in which the validity of individual model components was assessed first, followed by validation of full conceptual models. While the distribution of intake estimates from models fell below conservative intakes, which assume that the additive is present at maximum permitted levels (MPLs) in all foods in which it is permitted, intake estimates were not consistently above 'true' intakes. These analyses indicate the need for more complex models for the estimation of food additive intakes using probabilistic analysis. Such models should incorporate information on market share and/or brand loyalty.

  8. 48 CFR 970.0371-9 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS DOE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATING CONTRACTS Improper Business Practices and Personal....5203-3, Contractor's Organization, in all management and operating contracts. The approval authority of...

  9. 48 CFR 1403.570-2 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 1403.570-2... response shall be coordinated with the cognizant Public Affairs Office and Ethics Officer. ...

  10. An open tool for input function estimation and quantification of dynamic PET FDG brain scans.

    PubMed

    Bertrán, Martín; Martínez, Natalia; Carbajal, Guillermo; Fernández, Alicia; Gómez, Álvaro

    2016-08-01

    Positron emission tomography (PET) analysis of clinical studies is mostly restricted to qualitative evaluation. Quantitative analysis of PET studies is highly desirable to be able to compute an objective measurement of the process of interest in order to evaluate treatment response and/or compare patient data. But implementation of quantitative analysis generally requires the determination of the input function: the arterial blood or plasma activity which indicates how much tracer is available for uptake in the brain. The purpose of our work was to share with the community an open software tool that can assist in the estimation of this input function, and the derivation of a quantitative map from the dynamic PET study. Arterial blood sampling during the PET study is the gold standard method to get the input function, but is uncomfortable and risky for the patient so it is rarely used in routine studies. To overcome the lack of a direct input function, different alternatives have been devised and are available in the literature. These alternatives derive the input function from the PET image itself (image-derived input function) or from data gathered from previous similar studies (population-based input function). In this article, we present ongoing work that includes the development of a software tool that integrates several methods with novel strategies for the segmentation of blood pools and parameter estimation. The tool is available as an extension to the 3D Slicer software. Tests on phantoms were conducted in order to validate the implemented methods. We evaluated the segmentation algorithms over a range of acquisition conditions and vasculature size. Input function estimation algorithms were evaluated against ground truth of the phantoms, as well as on their impact over the final quantification map. End-to-end use of the tool yields quantification maps with [Formula: see text] relative error in the estimated influx versus ground truth on phantoms. The main contribution of this article is the development of an open-source, free to use tool that encapsulates several well-known methods for the estimation of the input function and the quantification of dynamic PET FDG studies. Some alternative strategies are also proposed and implemented in the tool for the segmentation of blood pools and parameter estimation. The tool was tested on phantoms with encouraging results that suggest that even bloodless estimators could provide a viable alternative to blood sampling for quantification using graphical analysis. The open tool is a promising opportunity for collaboration among investigators and further validation on real studies.

  11. Evaluation of limited blood sampling population input approaches for kinetic quantification of [18F]fluorothymidine PET data.

    PubMed

    Contractor, Kaiyumars B; Kenny, Laura M; Coombes, Charles R; Turkheimer, Federico E; Aboagye, Eric O; Rosso, Lula

    2012-03-24

    Quantification of kinetic parameters of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents normally requires collecting arterial blood samples which is inconvenient for patients and difficult to implement in routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a population-based input function (POP-IF) reliant on only a few individual discrete samples allows accurate estimates of tumour proliferation using [18F]fluorothymidine (FLT). Thirty-six historical FLT-PET data with concurrent arterial sampling were available for this study. A population average of baseline scans blood data was constructed using leave-one-out cross-validation for each scan and used in conjunction with individual blood samples. Three limited sampling protocols were investigated including, respectively, only seven (POP-IF7), five (POP-IF5) and three (POP-IF3) discrete samples of the historical dataset. Additionally, using the three-point protocol, we derived a POP-IF3M, the only input function which was not corrected for the fraction of radiolabelled metabolites present in blood. The kinetic parameter for net FLT retention at steady state, Ki, was derived using the modified Patlak plot and compared with the original full arterial set for validation. Small percentage differences in the area under the curve between all the POP-IFs and full arterial sampling IF was found over 60 min (4.2%-5.7%), while there were, as expected, larger differences in the peak position and peak height.A high correlation between Ki values calculated using the original arterial input function and all the population-derived IFs was observed (R2 = 0.85-0.98). The population-based input showed good intra-subject reproducibility of Ki values (R2 = 0.81-0.94) and good correlation (R2 = 0.60-0.85) with Ki-67. Input functions generated using these simplified protocols over scan duration of 60 min estimate net PET-FLT retention with reasonable accuracy.

  12. 48 CFR 1603.7003 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... HEALTH BENEFITS ACQUISITION REGULATION GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Misleading, Deceptive, or Unfair Advertising 1603.7003 Contract clause. The clause at 1652.203-70...

  13. Food safety

    MedlinePlus

    ... conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food. These practices prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses. ... not handled properly. Improperly cooking, preparing, or storing ... Properly handling, storing, and preparing food greatly reduces ...

  14. System Identification Methods for Aircraft Flight Control Development and Validation

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1995-10-01

    System-identification methods compose a mathematical model, or series of models, : from measurements of inputs and outputs of dynamic systems. This paper : discusses the use of frequency-domain system-identification methods for the : development and ...

  15. Universal modal radiation laws for all thermal emitters

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Linxiao; Fan, Shanhui

    2017-01-01

    We derive four laws relating the absorptivity and emissivity of thermal emitters. Unlike the original Kirchhoff radiation law derivations, these derivations include diffraction, and so are valid also for small objects, and can also cover nonreciprocal objects. The proofs exploit two recent approaches. First, we express all fields in terms of the mode-converter basis sets of beams; these sets, which can be uniquely established for any linear optical object, give orthogonal input beams that are coupled one-by-one to orthogonal output beams. Second, we consider thought experiments using universal linear optical machines, which allow us to couple appropriate beams and black bodies. Two of these laws can be regarded as rigorous extensions of previously known laws: One gives a modal version of a radiation law for reciprocal objects—the absorptivity of any input beam equals the emissivity into the “backward” (i.e., phase-conjugated) version of that beam; another gives the overall equality of the sums of the emissivities and the absorptivities for any object, including nonreciprocal ones. The other two laws, valid for reciprocal and nonreciprocal objects, are quite different from previous relations. One shows universal equivalence of the absorptivity of each mode-converter input beam and the emissivity into its corresponding scattered output beam. The other gives unexpected equivalences of absorptivity and emissivity for broad classes of beams. Additionally, we prove these orthogonal mode-converter sets of input and output beams are the ones that maximize absorptivities and emissivities, respectively, giving these beams surprising additional physical meaning. PMID:28396436

  16. Analytical and experimental comparisons of electromechanical vibration response of a piezoelectric bimorph beam for power harvesting

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lumentut, M. F.; Howard, I. M.

    2013-03-01

    Power harvesters that extract energy from vibrating systems via piezoelectric transduction show strong potential for powering smart wireless sensor devices in applications of health condition monitoring of rotating machinery and structures. This paper presents an analytical method for modelling an electromechanical piezoelectric bimorph beam with tip mass under two input base transverse and longitudinal excitations. The Euler-Bernoulli beam equations were used to model the piezoelectric bimorph beam. The polarity-electric field of the piezoelectric element is excited by the strain field caused by base input excitation, resulting in electrical charge. The governing electromechanical dynamic equations were derived analytically using the weak form of the Hamiltonian principle to obtain the constitutive equations. Three constitutive electromechanical dynamic equations based on independent coefficients of virtual displacement vectors were formulated and then further modelled using the normalised Ritz eigenfunction series. The electromechanical formulations include both the series and parallel connections of the piezoelectric bimorph. The multi-mode frequency response functions (FRFs) under varying electrical load resistance were formulated using Laplace transformation for the multi-input mechanical vibrations to provide the multi-output dynamic displacement, velocity, voltage, current and power. The experimental and theoretical validations reduced for the single mode system were shown to provide reasonable predictions. The model results from polar base excitation for off-axis input motions were validated with experimental results showing the change to the electrical power frequency response amplitude as a function of excitation angle, with relevance for practical implementation.

  17. Solar Sail Models and Test Measurements Correspondence for Validation Requirements Definition

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ewing, Anthony; Adams, Charles

    2004-01-01

    Solar sails are being developed as a mission-enabling technology in support of future NASA science missions. Current efforts have advanced solar sail technology sufficient to justify a flight validation program. A primary objective of this activity is to test and validate solar sail models that are currently under development so that they may be used with confidence in future science mission development (e.g., scalable to larger sails). Both system and model validation requirements must be defined early in the program to guide design cycles and to ensure that relevant and sufficient test data will be obtained to conduct model validation to the level required. A process of model identification, model input/output documentation, model sensitivity analyses, and test measurement correspondence is required so that decisions can be made to satisfy validation requirements within program constraints.

  18. Verification and Validation for Flight-Critical Systems (VVFCS)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Graves, Sharon S.; Jacobsen, Robert A.

    2010-01-01

    On March 31, 2009 a Request for Information (RFI) was issued by NASA s Aviation Safety Program to gather input on the subject of Verification and Validation (V & V) of Flight-Critical Systems. The responses were provided to NASA on or before April 24, 2009. The RFI asked for comments in three topic areas: Modeling and Validation of New Concepts for Vehicles and Operations; Verification of Complex Integrated and Distributed Systems; and Software Safety Assurance. There were a total of 34 responses to the RFI, representing a cross-section of academic (26%), small & large industry (47%) and government agency (27%).

  19. 48 CFR 503.570-1 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 503.570-1 Policy. GSA policy precludes contractors from making references to GSA contracts in commercial advertising in...

  20. 48 CFR 970.0309-1 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... REGULATIONS DOE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATING CONTRACTS Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of... applicability of the DOE Employee Protection Program to management and operating contracts. [65 FR 81009, Dec...

  1. 48 CFR 1503.670 - Solicitation of disclosure provision.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contracts with Government Employees... Certification, in all solicitations for sole source acquisitions. [50 FR 14357, Apr. 11, 1985] ...

  2. Instructional Technology And Teacher Education Curricula

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gerlach, Vernon S.; Kearns, Donald R.

    1973-01-01

    Article discussed improper teacher training, the structure of the public school, the merchandising realities of the commercial sector, and the gap between media technology and instructional technology. (Author/RK)

  3. 48 CFR 970.0370-1 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... REGULATIONS DOE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATING CONTRACTS Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of... participate in efforts by those contractors to address common problems or the institution of improvements. It...

  4. 7 CFR 983.4 - Aflatoxin.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... produced by molds, which can be spread in improperly processed and stored nuts, dried fruits and grains. ... ORDERS; FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PISTACHIOS GROWN IN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, AND...

  5. 7 CFR 983.4 - Aflatoxin.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... produced by molds, which can be spread in improperly processed and stored nuts, dried fruits and grains. ... Orders; Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PISTACHIOS GROWN IN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, AND...

  6. 7 CFR 983.4 - Aflatoxin.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... produced by molds, which can be spread in improperly processed and stored nuts, dried fruits and grains. ... Orders; Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PISTACHIOS GROWN IN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, AND...

  7. 7 CFR 983.4 - Aflatoxin.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... produced by molds, which can be spread in improperly processed and stored nuts, dried fruits and grains. ... ORDERS; FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PISTACHIOS GROWN IN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, AND...

  8. 32 CFR 537.8 - Investigation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., for example, vehicle defects or improper maintenance, road design and absence of warning signs... furnish necessary information, it can usually be obtained by other means, for example, from an accident...

  9. 7 CFR 51.2 - Terms defined.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... resulting from improper handling after packing; progressive pathological, physiological, and virus diseases, including fungal and bacterial roots; and freezing damage which may occur in transit or storage; or any...

  10. The SCALE Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data - VALID

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

    Marshall, William BJ J; Rearden, Bradley T

    The Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID) at ORNL contains high quality, independently reviewed models and results that improve confidence in analysis. VALID is developed and maintained according to a procedure of the SCALE quality assurance (QA) plan. This paper reviews the origins of the procedure and its intended purpose, the philosophy of the procedure, some highlights of its implementation, and the future of the procedure and associated VALID library. The original focus of the procedure was the generation of high-quality models that could be archived at ORNL and applied to many studies. The review process associated withmore » model generation minimized the chances of errors in these archived models. Subsequently, the scope of the library and procedure was expanded to provide high quality, reviewed sensitivity data files for deployment through the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (IHECSBE). Sensitivity data files for approximately 400 such models are currently available. The VALID procedure and library continue fulfilling these multiple roles. The VALID procedure is based on the quality assurance principles of ISO 9001 and nuclear safety analysis. Some of these key concepts include: independent generation and review of information, generation and review by qualified individuals, use of appropriate references for design data and documentation, and retrievability of the models, results, and documentation associated with entries in the library. Some highlights of the detailed procedure are discussed to provide background on its implementation and to indicate limitations of data extracted from VALID for use by the broader community. Specifically, external users of data generated within VALID must take responsibility for ensuring that the files are used within the QA framework of their organization and that use is appropriate. The future plans for the VALID library include expansion to include additional experiments from the IHECSBE, to include experiments from areas beyond criticality safety, such as reactor physics and shielding, and to include application models. In the future, external SCALE users may also obtain qualification under the VALID procedure and be involved in expanding the library. The VALID library provides a pathway for the criticality safety community to leverage modeling and analysis expertise at ORNL.« less

  11. A Systematic Method for Verification and Validation of Gyrokinetic Microstability Codes

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

    Bravenec, Ronald

    My original proposal for the period Feb. 15, 2014 through Feb. 14, 2017 called for an integrated validation and verification effort carried out by myself with collaborators. The validation component would require experimental profile and power-balance analysis. In addition, it would require running the gyrokinetic codes varying the input profiles within experimental uncertainties to seek agreement with experiment before discounting a code as invalidated. Therefore, validation would require a major increase of effort over my previous grant periods which covered only code verification (code benchmarking). Consequently, I had requested full-time funding. Instead, I am being funded at somewhat less thanmore » half time (5 calendar months per year). As a consequence, I decided to forego the validation component and to only continue the verification efforts.« less

  12. 48 CFR 970.0371-2 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... REGULATIONS DOE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATING CONTRACTS Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest 970.0371-2 Applicability. The policies in this section are applicable to all DOE management and...

  13. 48 CFR 9.406-5 - Scope of debarment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... other seriously improper conduct of one contractor participating in a joint venture or similar... joint venture or similar arrangement, or with the knowledge, approval, or acquiescence of these...

  14. 48 CFR 203.070 - Reporting of violations and suspected violations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL..., Coordination of Remedies for Fraud and Corruption Related to Procurement Activities: (a) Certificate of...

  15. 48 CFR 1803.7000 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7000 Policy. NASA requires contractors to display NASA hotline posters prepared by the NASA Office of Inspector General on...

  16. 48 CFR 1803.7001 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7001... Hotline Posters, in solicitations and contracts expected to exceed $5,000,000 and performed at contractor...

  17. 48 CFR 1803.7000 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7000 Policy. NASA requires contractors to display NASA hotline posters prepared by the NASA Office of Inspector General on...

  18. 48 CFR 1803.7001 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7001... Hotline Posters, in solicitations and contracts expected to exceed $5,000,000 and performed at contractor...

  19. 48 CFR 1803.7000 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7000 Policy. NASA requires contractors to display NASA hotline posters prepared by the NASA Office of Inspector General on...

  20. 48 CFR 1803.7000 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7000 Policy. NASA requires contractors to display NASA hotline posters prepared by the NASA Office of Inspector General on...

  1. 48 CFR 1803.7000 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7000 Policy. NASA requires contractors to display NASA hotline posters prepared by the NASA Office of Inspector General on...

  2. 48 CFR 1803.7001 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7001... Hotline Posters, in solicitations and contracts expected to exceed $5,000,000 and performed at contractor...

  3. 48 CFR 1803.7001 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7001... Hotline Posters, in solicitations and contracts expected to exceed $5,000,000 and performed at contractor...

  4. 48 CFR 1803.7001 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IG Hotline Posters 1803.7001... Hotline Posters, in solicitations and contracts expected to exceed $5,000,000 and performed at contractor...

  5. Giardia: General Information

    MedlinePlus

    ... with giardiasis People who drink water or use ice made from places where Giardia may live (for example, untreated or improperly treated water from lakes, streams, or wells) Backpackers, hikers, and campers who ...

  6. Sports Injuries

    MedlinePlus

    ... sometimes you can injure yourself when you play sports or exercise. Accidents, poor training practices, or improper ... can also lead to injuries. The most common sports injuries are Sprains and strains Knee injuries Swollen ...

  7. 48 CFR 836.602-1 - Selection criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... CATEGORIES OF CONTRACTING CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS Architect-Engineer Services 836.602-1... management, and cooperativeness. (2) Record of significant claims against the firm because of improper or...

  8. 48 CFR 836.602-1 - Selection criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... CATEGORIES OF CONTRACTING CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS Architect-Engineer Services 836.602-1... management, and cooperativeness. (2) Record of significant claims against the firm because of improper or...

  9. 48 CFR 836.602-1 - Selection criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... CATEGORIES OF CONTRACTING CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS Architect-Engineer Services 836.602-1... management, and cooperativeness. (2) Record of significant claims against the firm because of improper or...

  10. 16 CFR § 1406.2 - Background.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... BURNING APPLIANCES-NOTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL DATA § 1406.2 Background. (a) Fire data... burning appliances. Many of these cases involve improper installation of the appliances, especially where...

  11. 48 CFR 1503.905 - Procedures for investigating complaints.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... PROTECTION AGENCY GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Whistle Blower... Administrator for Administration and Resources Management is designated as the recipient of the written report...

  12. SWAT: Model use, calibration, and validation

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) is a comprehensive, semi-distributed river basin model that requires a large number of input parameters which complicates model parameterization and calibration. Several calibration techniques have been developed for SWAT including manual calibration procedures...

  13. Validation of air traffic controller workload models

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1979-09-01

    During the past several years, computer models have been developed for off-site : estimat ion of control ler's workload. The inputs to these models are audio and : digital data normally recorded at an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). : This ...

  14. Validation and augmentation of Inrix arterial travel time data using independent sources.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2015-02-01

    Travel time data is a key input to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications. Advancement in vehicle : tracking and identification technologies and proliferation of location-aware and connected devices has made network-wide travel time da...

  15. 78 FR 45598 - Industry Forums on the Next ITS Strategic Plan; Notice of Public Meeting

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-29

    ... of critical thinking tools designed to draw out information to identify and validate focus areas for... inputs through an online tool, IdeaScale at http://itsstrategicplan.ideascale.com . The first facilitated...

  16. Occurrences and removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in drinking water and water/sewage treatment plants: A review.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yi; Ok, Yong Sik; Kim, Ki-Hyun; Kwon, Eilhann E; Tsang, Yiu Fai

    2017-10-15

    In recent years, many of micropollutants have been widely detected because of continuous input of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) into the environment and newly developed state-of-the-art analytical methods. PPCP residues are frequently detected in drinking water sources, sewage treatment plants (STPs), and water treatment plants (WTPs) due to their universal consumption, low human metabolic capability, and improper disposal. When partially metabolized PPCPs are transferred into STPs, they elicit negative effects on biological treatment processes; therefore, conventional STPs are insufficient when it comes to PPCP removal. Furthermore, the excreted metabolites may become secondary pollutants and can be further modified in receiving water bodies. Several advanced treatment systems, including membrane filtration, granular activated carbon, and advanced oxidation processes, have been used for the effective removal of individual PPCPs. This review covers the occurrence patterns of PPCPs in water environments and the techniques adopted for their treatment in STP/WTP unit processes operating in various countries. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the removal and fate of PPCPs in different treatment facilities as well as the optimum methods for their elimination in STP and WTP systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Functional Inference of Complex Anatomical Tendinous Networks at a Macroscopic Scale via Sparse Experimentation

    PubMed Central

    Saxena, Anupam; Lipson, Hod; Valero-Cuevas, Francisco J.

    2012-01-01

    In systems and computational biology, much effort is devoted to functional identification of systems and networks at the molecular-or cellular scale. However, similarly important networks exist at anatomical scales such as the tendon network of human fingers: the complex array of collagen fibers that transmits and distributes muscle forces to finger joints. This network is critical to the versatility of the human hand, and its function has been debated since at least the 16th century. Here, we experimentally infer the structure (both topology and parameter values) of this network through sparse interrogation with force inputs. A population of models representing this structure co-evolves in simulation with a population of informative future force inputs via the predator-prey estimation-exploration algorithm. Model fitness depends on their ability to explain experimental data, while the fitness of future force inputs depends on causing maximal functional discrepancy among current models. We validate our approach by inferring two known synthetic Latex networks, and one anatomical tendon network harvested from a cadaver's middle finger. We find that functionally similar but structurally diverse models can exist within a narrow range of the training set and cross-validation errors. For the Latex networks, models with low training set error [<4%] and resembling the known network have the smallest cross-validation errors [∼5%]. The low training set [<4%] and cross validation [<7.2%] errors for models for the cadaveric specimen demonstrate what, to our knowledge, is the first experimental inference of the functional structure of complex anatomical networks. This work expands current bioinformatics inference approaches by demonstrating that sparse, yet informative interrogation of biological specimens holds significant computational advantages in accurate and efficient inference over random testing, or assuming model topology and only inferring parameters values. These findings also hold clues to both our evolutionary history and the development of versatile machines. PMID:23144601

  18. Functional inference of complex anatomical tendinous networks at a macroscopic scale via sparse experimentation.

    PubMed

    Saxena, Anupam; Lipson, Hod; Valero-Cuevas, Francisco J

    2012-01-01

    In systems and computational biology, much effort is devoted to functional identification of systems and networks at the molecular-or cellular scale. However, similarly important networks exist at anatomical scales such as the tendon network of human fingers: the complex array of collagen fibers that transmits and distributes muscle forces to finger joints. This network is critical to the versatility of the human hand, and its function has been debated since at least the 16(th) century. Here, we experimentally infer the structure (both topology and parameter values) of this network through sparse interrogation with force inputs. A population of models representing this structure co-evolves in simulation with a population of informative future force inputs via the predator-prey estimation-exploration algorithm. Model fitness depends on their ability to explain experimental data, while the fitness of future force inputs depends on causing maximal functional discrepancy among current models. We validate our approach by inferring two known synthetic Latex networks, and one anatomical tendon network harvested from a cadaver's middle finger. We find that functionally similar but structurally diverse models can exist within a narrow range of the training set and cross-validation errors. For the Latex networks, models with low training set error [<4%] and resembling the known network have the smallest cross-validation errors [∼5%]. The low training set [<4%] and cross validation [<7.2%] errors for models for the cadaveric specimen demonstrate what, to our knowledge, is the first experimental inference of the functional structure of complex anatomical networks. This work expands current bioinformatics inference approaches by demonstrating that sparse, yet informative interrogation of biological specimens holds significant computational advantages in accurate and efficient inference over random testing, or assuming model topology and only inferring parameters values. These findings also hold clues to both our evolutionary history and the development of versatile machines.

  19. 48 CFR 1403.303 - Reporting suspected antitrust violations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... INTERIOR GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Reports of Suspected... also be sent to the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. (b) Depending on the nature...

  20. Shoulder Impingement Treatment

    MedlinePlus

    ... imbalance in the rotator cuff or scapular muscles, postural abnormalities, shoulder joint instability, or improper training or ... and corrected. Phase Goals Methods Comments I Pain control Limit overhead activity or anything that causes pain. ...

  1. 48 CFR 803.570-2 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 803.570-2 Contract clause. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 852.203-70, Commercial advertising, in...

  2. 48 CFR 503.570-2 - Contract clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Other Improper Business Practices 503.570-2 Contract clause. Insert the clause at 552.203-71, Restriction on Advertising, in solicitations and contracts...

  3. Multiple-layer printed-wiring trace connector

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pizzeck, D. E.

    1977-01-01

    Nickel-plated spring-steel foil connector is hollow pin, with lengthwise slit, that is inserted into improperly plated-through holes. Edges of connector make positive contact with copper pads within hole.

  4. 48 CFR 1203.101-3 - Agency regulations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Safeguards 1203.101-3 Agency regulations. (b) 5 CFR part 2635, Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, takes...

  5. 75 FR 12119 - Finding And Recapturing Improper Payments

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-15

    ... contractors or other entities whereby highly skilled accounting specialists and fraud examiners use state-of... effectively is using professional and specialized auditors on a contingency basis, with their compensation...

  6. 7 CFR 3801.4 - Denials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... AGRICULTURE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC § 3801.4 Denials. If the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer... be improper, the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer shall give written notice of denial in accordance...

  7. 7 CFR 3801.4 - Denials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... AGRICULTURE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC § 3801.4 Denials. If the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer... be improper, the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer shall give written notice of denial in accordance...

  8. 7 CFR 3801.4 - Denials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... AGRICULTURE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC § 3801.4 Denials. If the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer... be improper, the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer shall give written notice of denial in accordance...

  9. 7 CFR 3801.4 - Denials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... AGRICULTURE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC § 3801.4 Denials. If the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer... be improper, the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer shall give written notice of denial in accordance...

  10. 48 CFR 203.903 - Policy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... DEFENSE GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Whistleblower Protections... reprisal of the type described in paragraph (1) of this section shall forward it to legal counsel or to the...

  11. 48 CFR 18.000 - Scope of part.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... AND CONTRACT TYPES EMERGENCY ACQUISITIONS 18.000 Scope of part. (a) This part identifies acquisition... and limitations set forth in FAR Part 3, Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of...

  12. 48 CFR 203.1003 - Requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... OF DEFENSE GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor Code of... notification of a possible contractor violation of the type described in FAR 3.1003(b), coordinate the matter...

  13. 7 CFR 3801.4 - Denials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... AGRICULTURE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC § 3801.4 Denials. If the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer... be improper, the Economics Agencies FOIA Officer shall give written notice of denial in accordance...

  14. 48 CFR 403.603 - Responsibilities of the contracting officer.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contracts With Government Employees..., specifying the compelling reason(s) for award, and shall be placed in the contract file. ...

  15. 48 CFR 403.603 - Responsibilities of the contracting officer.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contracts With Government Employees..., specifying the compelling reason(s) for award, and shall be placed in the contract file. ...

  16. Optimal Control for Aperiodic Dual-Rate Systems With Time-Varying Delays

    PubMed Central

    Salt, Julián; Guinaldo, María; Chacón, Jesús

    2018-01-01

    In this work, we consider a dual-rate scenario with slow input and fast output. Our objective is the maximization of the decay rate of the system through the suitable choice of the n-input signals between two measures (periodic sampling) and their times of application. The optimization algorithm is extended for time-varying delays in order to make possible its implementation in networked control systems. We provide experimental results in an air levitation system to verify the validity of the algorithm in a real plant. PMID:29747441

  17. Antenna Performance Influenced by the Finite Extent and Conductivity of Ground Planes: A Collection of Reprints

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-09-01

    FORMULATION OF PROBLEM denoted by AZ and is given by With reference to a cylindrical polar coordinate 17-Z-Zs.- P, 1." * ()d. (4a) system (p,O,Z) the...without limit as a approaches zero. This formulation is not actually valid in this limiting case since one terminal of the generator would then be connected...current. APPE.IXx I Formulation of the input impedance. An expression is here for- mulated for the input impedance at the terminals of an antenna

  18. Next-Generation NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) Development (Developpement de la nouvella generation du modele de mobilite de reference de l’OTAN (NRMM))

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2018-01-01

    Profile Database E-17 Attachment 2: NRMM Data Input Requirements E-25 Attachment 3: General Physics -Based Model Data Input Requirements E-28...E-15 Figure E-11 Examples of Unique Surface Types E-20 Figure E-12 Correlating Physical Testing with Simulation E-21 Figure E-13 Simplified Tire...Table 10-8 Scoring Values 10-19 Table 10-9 Accuracy – Physics -Based 10-20 Table 10-10 Accuracy – Validation Through Measurement 10-22 Table 10-11

  19. Prediction of jump phenomena in rotationally-coupled maneuvers of aircraft, including nonlinear aerodynamic effects

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Young, J. W.; Schy, A. A.; Johnson, K. G.

    1977-01-01

    An analytical method has been developed for predicting critical control inputs for which nonlinear rotational coupling may cause sudden jumps in aircraft response. The analysis includes the effect of aerodynamics which are nonlinear in angle of attack. The method involves the simultaneous solution of two polynomials in roll rate, whose coefficients are functions of angle of attack and the control inputs. Results obtained using this procedure are compared with calculated time histories to verify the validity of the method for predicting jump-like instabilities.

  20. Use and Design of an Active Data Dictionary for Local Validation of Input Data.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-03-01

    tl,--:selves ir tl~ce si tuations aire fro ~io-ntly lof~t to tlhcir ohfl Ipvices, an-. they aust 1.velo)p the ir own :r.tL i-,5 for v datinXL. inputs...progirams. Feijarltless off orijin, indocur.ite data aIre j’oi.;O.- in any -NTP ;-,,steni. Informa tion create.1 from inaccurite !Lta also tends to he...cLiect name, shcort name, syn%3nym or allases, source, narrative description, records/ filos that lise cr contain the lata object, data structure

  1. Characterization and Modeling of High Power Microwave Effects in CMOS Microelectronics

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-01-01

    margin measurement 28 Any voltage above the line marked VIH is considered a valid logic high on the input of the gate. VIH and VIL are defined...can handle any voltage noise level at the input up to VIL without changing state. The region in between VIL and VIH is considered an invalid logic...29 Table 2.2: Intrinsic device characteristics derived from SPETCRE simulations   VIH  (V)  VIL (V)  High Noise Margin  (V)  Low Noise Margin (V

  2. A Neural Network Aero Design System for Advanced Turbo-Engines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sanz, Jose M.

    1999-01-01

    An inverse design method calculates the blade shape that produces a prescribed input pressure distribution. By controlling this input pressure distribution the aerodynamic design objectives can easily be met. Because of the intrinsic relationship between pressure distribution and airfoil physical properties, a neural network can be trained to choose the optimal pressure distribution that would meet a set of physical requirements. The neural network technique works well not only as an interpolating device but also as an extrapolating device to achieve blade designs from a given database. Two validating test cases are discussed.

  3. Optimal Control for Aperiodic Dual-Rate Systems With Time-Varying Delays.

    PubMed

    Aranda-Escolástico, Ernesto; Salt, Julián; Guinaldo, María; Chacón, Jesús; Dormido, Sebastián

    2018-05-09

    In this work, we consider a dual-rate scenario with slow input and fast output. Our objective is the maximization of the decay rate of the system through the suitable choice of the n -input signals between two measures (periodic sampling) and their times of application. The optimization algorithm is extended for time-varying delays in order to make possible its implementation in networked control systems. We provide experimental results in an air levitation system to verify the validity of the algorithm in a real plant.

  4. Free Energy and Heat Capacity

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

    Kurata, Masaki; Devanathan, Ramaswami

    2015-10-13

    Free energy and heat capacity of actinide elements and compounds are important properties for the evaluation of the safety and reliable performance of nuclear fuel. They are essential inputs for models that describe complex phenomena that govern the behaviour of actinide compounds during nuclear fuel fabrication and irradiation. This chapter introduces various experimental methods to measure free energy and heat capacity to serve as inputs for models and to validate computer simulations. This is followed by a discussion of computer simulation of these properties, and recent simulations of thermophysical properties of nuclear fuel are briefly reviewed.

  5. Validating the Use of pPerformance Risk Indices for System-Level Risk and Maturity Assessments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holloman, Sherrica S.

    With pressure on the U.S. Defense Acquisition System (DAS) to reduce cost overruns and schedule delays, system engineers' performance is only as good as their tools. Recent literature details a need for 1) objective, analytical risk quantification methodologies over traditional subjective qualitative methods -- such as, expert judgment, and 2) mathematically rigorous system-level maturity assessments. The Mahafza, Componation, and Tippett (2005) Technology Performance Risk Index (TPRI) ties the assessment of technical performance to the quantification of risk of unmet performance; however, it is structured for component- level data as input. This study's aim is to establish a modified TPRI with systems-level data as model input, and then validate the modified index with actual system-level data from the Department of Defense's (DoD) Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs). This work's contribution is the establishment and validation of the System-level Performance Risk Index (SPRI). With the introduction of the SPRI, system-level metrics are better aligned, allowing for better assessment, tradeoff and balance of time, performance and cost constraints. This will allow system engineers and program managers to ultimately make better-informed system-level technical decisions throughout the development phase.

  6. Development and validation of the Myasthenia Gravis Impairment Index.

    PubMed

    Barnett, Carolina; Bril, Vera; Kapral, Moira; Kulkarni, Abhaya; Davis, Aileen M

    2016-08-30

    We aimed to develop a measure of myasthenia gravis impairment using a previously developed framework and to evaluate reliability and validity, specifically face, content, and construct validity. The first draft of the Myasthenia Gravis Impairment Index (MGII) included examination items from available measures enriched with newly developed, patient-reported items, modified after patient input. International neuromuscular specialists evaluated face and content validity via an e-mail survey. Test-retest reliability was assessed in stable patients at a 3-week interval and interrater reliability was evaluated in the same day. Construct validity was assessed through correlations between the MGII and other measures and by comparing scores in different patient groups. The first draft was assessed by 18 patients, and 72 specialists answered the survey. The second draft had 7 examination and 22 patient-reported items. Field testing included 200 patients, with 54 patients completing the reliability studies. Test-retest reliability of the total score was good (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.92; 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.94), as was interrater reliability of the examination component (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.81; 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.94). The MGII correlated well with comparison measures, with higher correlations with the MG-activities of daily living (r = 0.91) and MG-specific quality of life 15-item scale (r = 0.78). When assessing different patient groups, the scores followed expected patterns. The MGII was developed using a patient-centered framework of myasthenia-related impairments and incorporating patient input throughout the development process. It is reliable in an outpatient setting and has demonstrated construct validity. Responsiveness studies are under way. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

  7. Development and validation of the Myasthenia Gravis Impairment Index

    PubMed Central

    Bril, Vera; Kapral, Moira; Kulkarni, Abhaya; Davis, Aileen M.

    2016-01-01

    Objective: We aimed to develop a measure of myasthenia gravis impairment using a previously developed framework and to evaluate reliability and validity, specifically face, content, and construct validity. Methods: The first draft of the Myasthenia Gravis Impairment Index (MGII) included examination items from available measures enriched with newly developed, patient-reported items, modified after patient input. International neuromuscular specialists evaluated face and content validity via an e-mail survey. Test–retest reliability was assessed in stable patients at a 3-week interval and interrater reliability was evaluated in the same day. Construct validity was assessed through correlations between the MGII and other measures and by comparing scores in different patient groups. Results: The first draft was assessed by 18 patients, and 72 specialists answered the survey. The second draft had 7 examination and 22 patient-reported items. Field testing included 200 patients, with 54 patients completing the reliability studies. Test–retest reliability of the total score was good (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.92; 95% confidence interval 0.79–0.94), as was interrater reliability of the examination component (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.81; 95% confidence interval 0.79–0.94). The MGII correlated well with comparison measures, with higher correlations with the MG–activities of daily living (r = 0.91) and MG-specific quality of life 15-item scale (r = 0.78). When assessing different patient groups, the scores followed expected patterns. Conclusions: The MGII was developed using a patient-centered framework of myasthenia-related impairments and incorporating patient input throughout the development process. It is reliable in an outpatient setting and has demonstrated construct validity. Responsiveness studies are under way. PMID:27402891

  8. Circuit Architecture of VTA Dopamine Neurons Revealed by Systematic Input-Output Mapping.

    PubMed

    Beier, Kevin T; Steinberg, Elizabeth E; DeLoach, Katherine E; Xie, Stanley; Miyamichi, Kazunari; Schwarz, Lindsay; Gao, Xiaojing J; Kremer, Eric J; Malenka, Robert C; Luo, Liqun

    2015-07-30

    Dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) integrate complex inputs to encode multiple signals that influence motivated behaviors via diverse projections. Here, we combine axon-initiated viral transduction with rabies-mediated trans-synaptic tracing and Cre-based cell-type-specific targeting to systematically map input-output relationships of VTA-DA neurons. We found that VTA-DA (and VTA-GABA) neurons receive excitatory, inhibitory, and modulatory input from diverse sources. VTA-DA neurons projecting to different forebrain regions exhibit specific biases in their input selection. VTA-DA neurons projecting to lateral and medial nucleus accumbens innervate largely non-overlapping striatal targets, with the latter also sending extensive extra-striatal axon collaterals. Using electrophysiology and behavior, we validated new circuits identified in our tracing studies, including a previously unappreciated top-down reinforcing circuit from anterior cortex to lateral nucleus accumbens via VTA-DA neurons. This study highlights the utility of our viral-genetic tracing strategies to elucidate the complex neural substrates that underlie motivated behaviors. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Networked iterative learning control design for discrete-time systems with stochastic communication delay in input and output channels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Jian; Ruan, Xiaoe

    2017-07-01

    This paper develops two kinds of derivative-type networked iterative learning control (NILC) schemes for repetitive discrete-time systems with stochastic communication delay occurred in input and output channels and modelled as 0-1 Bernoulli-type stochastic variable. In the two schemes, the delayed signal of the current control input is replaced by the synchronous input utilised at the previous iteration, whilst for the delayed signal of the system output the one scheme substitutes it by the synchronous predetermined desired trajectory and the other takes it by the synchronous output at the previous operation, respectively. In virtue of the mathematical expectation, the tracking performance is analysed which exhibits that for both the linear time-invariant and nonlinear affine systems the two kinds of NILCs are convergent under the assumptions that the probabilities of communication delays are adequately constrained and the product of the input-output coupling matrices is full-column rank. Last, two illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and validity of the proposed NILC schemes.

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

    Woods, Jason; Winkler, Jon

    Moisture adsorption and desorption in building materials impact indoor humidity. This effect should be included in building-energy simulations, particularly when humidity is being investigated or controlled. Several models can calculate this moisture-buffering effect, but accurate ones require model inputs that are not always known to the user of the building-energy simulation. This research developed an empirical method to extract whole-house model inputs for the effective moisture penetration depth (EMPD) model. The experimental approach was to subject the materials in the house to a square-wave relative-humidity profile, measure all of the moisture-transfer terms (e.g., infiltration, air-conditioner condensate), and calculate the onlymore » unmeasured term—the moisture sorption into the materials. We validated this method with laboratory measurements, which we used to measure the EMPD model inputs of two houses. After deriving these inputs, we measured the humidity of the same houses during tests with realistic latent and sensible loads and demonstrated the accuracy of this approach. Furthermore, these results show that the EMPD model, when given reasonable inputs, is an accurate moisture-buffering model.« less

  11. 48 CFR 803.204 - Treatment of violations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor Gratuities to Government... resolution under 809.470. The DSPE may reject the findings of the fact-finding official only if the findings...

  12. 48 CFR 970.0371-3 - Definition.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... REGULATIONS DOE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATING CONTRACTS Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of... employed by the contractor, both full and part-time, who are assigned to work under a DOE management and...

  13. 77 FR 57534 - Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-18

    ... turbocharger (uncoupled) for cracks, distortion, and evidence indicative of improper surface mating. (3) Inspect the three exhaust system slip joints between each turbocharger and its closest riser for seizure...

  14. 7 CFR 500.5 - Nuisances.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ..., abusive, or otherwise improper language; unwarranted loitering, sleeping, or assembly; the creation of any... creation of other noises of a decibel level high enough to be heard outside of the USNA is prohibited. ...

  15. 7 CFR 500.5 - Nuisances.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ..., abusive, or otherwise improper language; unwarranted loitering, sleeping, or assembly; the creation of any... creation of other noises of a decibel level high enough to be heard outside of the USNA is prohibited. ...

  16. 7 CFR 500.5 - Nuisances.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ..., abusive, or otherwise improper language; unwarranted loitering, sleeping, or assembly; the creation of any... creation of other noises of a decibel level high enough to be heard outside of the USNA is prohibited. ...

  17. 78 FR 36547 - Proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-18

    ..., Inc., Alco Industries, Inc., Bayer CropScience, Inc., Colonial Heights Packaging, Inc., Continental... facts or considerations that indicate that the proposed settlement is inappropriate, improper or...

  18. 8 CFR 204.304 - Improper inducement prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ..., nursing, pharmaceutical, travel, or other similar expenses incurred by a mother or her child in connection... mother while pregnant and immediately following the birth of the child; (6) Expenses incurred in...

  19. 8 CFR 204.304 - Improper inducement prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ..., nursing, pharmaceutical, travel, or other similar expenses incurred by a mother or her child in connection... mother while pregnant and immediately following the birth of the child; (6) Expenses incurred in...

  20. Acanthamoeba Keratitis FAQs

    MedlinePlus

    ... improperly (such as using tap water or homemade solutions to clean the lenses) Swimming, using a hot ... manufacturer’s guidelines. Never reuse or top off old solution. Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting solution each time ...

  1. Back Pain

    MedlinePlus

    ... for back pain include being overweight, poor physical conditioning, smoking, whole body vibration, and improper lifting technique ... back and abdominal muscles). •Decrease vibrations by installing air cushions or upgrade seat to damper vibrations. • Stay ...

  2. 40 CFR 240.201-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended... precautions to be taken if unacceptable wastes are delivered to the facility or are improperly left there...

  3. 7 CFR 500.5 - Nuisances.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ..., abusive, or otherwise improper language; unwarranted loitering, sleeping, or assembly; the creation of any... creation of other noises of a decibel level high enough to be heard outside of the USNA is prohibited. ...

  4. 48 CFR 3003.405 - Misrepresentations or violations of the Covenant Against Contingent Fees.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... System DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION REGULATION (HSAR) GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contingent Fees 3003.405 Misrepresentations or...

  5. 40 CFR 240.201-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended... precautions to be taken if unacceptable wastes are delivered to the facility or are improperly left there...

  6. 48 CFR 1503.500-71 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... mechanism, such as a hotline, by which employees may support suspected instances of improper conduct, and... $1 million or more must display EPA Office of Inspector General Hotline Posters unless the contractor...

  7. 48 CFR 1503.500-71 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... mechanism, such as a hotline, by which employees may support suspected instances of improper conduct, and... $1 million or more must display EPA Office of Inspector General Hotline Posters unless the contractor...

  8. 48 CFR 1503.500-71 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... mechanism, such as a hotline, by which employees may support suspected instances of improper conduct, and... $1 million or more must display EPA Office of Inspector General Hotline Posters unless the contractor...

  9. Morgan Materials Site, Town of Tonawanda, New York

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The Morgan Materials Site is a series of warehouses where hazardous and nonhazardous products were purchased from chemical companies and improperly stored. EPA assumed the responsibility to stabilize the site.

  10. 48 CFR 803.806 - Processing suspected violations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Limitation on the Payment of Funds... Contracting and Financial Transactions, to the Assistant Secretary for Management and the VA Office of the...

  11. Model-Based Analysis of the Long-Term Effects of Fertilization Management on Cropland Soil Acidification.

    PubMed

    Zeng, Mufan; de Vries, Wim; Bonten, Luc T C; Zhu, Qichao; Hao, Tianxiang; Liu, Xuejun; Xu, Minggang; Shi, Xiaojun; Zhang, Fusuo; Shen, Jianbo

    2017-04-04

    Agricultural soil acidification in China is known to be caused by the over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, but the long-term impacts of different fertilization practices on intensive cropland soil acidification are largely unknown. Here, we further developed the soil acidification model VSD+ for intensive agricultural systems and validated it against observed data from three long-term fertilization experiments in China. The model simulated well the changes in soil pH and base saturation over the last 20 years. The validated model was adopted to quantify the contribution of N and base cation (BC) fluxes to soil acidification. The net NO 3 - leaching and NO 4 + input accounted for 80% of the proton production under N application, whereas one-third of acid was produced by BC uptake when N was not applied. The simulated long-term (1990-2050) effects of different fertilizations on soil acidification showed that balanced N application combined with manure application avoids reduction of both soil pH and base saturation, while application of calcium nitrate and liming increases these two soil properties. Reducing NH 4 + input and NO 3 - leaching by optimizing N management and increasing BC inputs by manure application thus already seem to be effective approaches to mitigating soil acidification in intensive cropland systems.

  12. The SCEC Broadband Platform: A Collaborative Open-Source Software Package for Strong Ground Motion Simulation and Validation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silva, F.; Maechling, P. J.; Goulet, C.; Somerville, P.; Jordan, T. H.

    2013-12-01

    The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Broadband Platform is a collaborative software development project involving SCEC researchers, graduate students, and the SCEC Community Modeling Environment. The SCEC Broadband Platform is open-source scientific software that can generate broadband (0-100Hz) ground motions for earthquakes, integrating complex scientific modules that implement rupture generation, low and high-frequency seismogram synthesis, non-linear site effects calculation, and visualization into a software system that supports easy on-demand computation of seismograms. The Broadband Platform operates in two primary modes: validation simulations and scenario simulations. In validation mode, the Broadband Platform runs earthquake rupture and wave propagation modeling software to calculate seismograms of a historical earthquake for which observed strong ground motion data is available. Also in validation mode, the Broadband Platform calculates a number of goodness of fit measurements that quantify how well the model-based broadband seismograms match the observed seismograms for a certain event. Based on these results, the Platform can be used to tune and validate different numerical modeling techniques. During the past year, we have modified the software to enable the addition of a large number of historical events, and we are now adding validation simulation inputs and observational data for 23 historical events covering the Eastern and Western United States, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, and Italy. In scenario mode, the Broadband Platform can run simulations for hypothetical (scenario) earthquakes. In this mode, users input an earthquake description, a list of station names and locations, and a 1D velocity model for their region of interest, and the Broadband Platform software then calculates ground motions for the specified stations. By establishing an interface between scientific modules with a common set of input and output files, the Broadband Platform facilitates the addition of new scientific methods, which are written by earth scientists in a number of languages such as C, C++, Fortran, and Python. The Broadband Platform's modular design also supports the reuse of existing software modules as building blocks to create new scientific methods. Additionally, the Platform implements a wrapper around each scientific module, converting input and output files to and from the specific formats required (or produced) by individual scientific codes. Working in close collaboration with scientists and research engineers, the SCEC software development group continues to add new capabilities to the Broadband Platform and to release new versions as open-source scientific software distributions that can be compiled and run on many Linux computer systems. Our latest release includes the addition of 3 new simulation methods and several new data products, such as map and distance-based goodness of fit plots. Finally, as the number and complexity of scenarios simulated using the Broadband Platform increase, we have added batching utilities to substantially improve support for running large-scale simulations on computing clusters.

  13. 46 CFR 183.220 - General safety provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... current utilized. (c) Receptacle outlets of the type providing a grounded pole or a specific direct current polarity must be of a configuration that will not permit improper connection. (d) All electrical...

  14. 46 CFR 183.220 - General safety provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... current utilized. (c) Receptacle outlets of the type providing a grounded pole or a specific direct current polarity must be of a configuration that will not permit improper connection. (d) All electrical...

  15. 14 CFR 151.97 - Maintenance and repair.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... or improper design; (4) Painting of buildings (inside and outside) and replacement of damaged items... and resealing surface of pavements. (b) Repair includes any work not included in paragraph (a) of this...

  16. 14 CFR 151.97 - Maintenance and repair.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... or improper design; (4) Painting of buildings (inside and outside) and replacement of damaged items... and resealing surface of pavements. (b) Repair includes any work not included in paragraph (a) of this...

  17. 14 CFR 151.97 - Maintenance and repair.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... or improper design; (4) Painting of buildings (inside and outside) and replacement of damaged items... and resealing surface of pavements. (b) Repair includes any work not included in paragraph (a) of this...

  18. 14 CFR 151.97 - Maintenance and repair.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... or improper design; (4) Painting of buildings (inside and outside) and replacement of damaged items... and resealing surface of pavements. (b) Repair includes any work not included in paragraph (a) of this...

  19. 14 CFR 151.97 - Maintenance and repair.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... or improper design; (4) Painting of buildings (inside and outside) and replacement of damaged items... and resealing surface of pavements. (b) Repair includes any work not included in paragraph (a) of this...

  20. 48 CFR 203.904 - Procedures for filing complaints.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST... otherwise discriminated against contrary to the policy in 203.903 may file a complaint with the DoD...

  1. 48 CFR 203.904 - Procedures for filing complaints.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST... otherwise discriminated against contrary to the policy in 203.903 may file a complaint with the DoD...

  2. A method and knowledge base for automated inference of patient problems from structured data in an electronic medical record.

    PubMed

    Wright, Adam; Pang, Justine; Feblowitz, Joshua C; Maloney, Francine L; Wilcox, Allison R; Ramelson, Harley Z; Schneider, Louise I; Bates, David W

    2011-01-01

    Accurate knowledge of a patient's medical problems is critical for clinical decision making, quality measurement, research, billing and clinical decision support. Common structured sources of problem information include the patient problem list and billing data; however, these sources are often inaccurate or incomplete. To develop and validate methods of automatically inferring patient problems from clinical and billing data, and to provide a knowledge base for inferring problems. We identified 17 target conditions and designed and validated a set of rules for identifying patient problems based on medications, laboratory results, billing codes, and vital signs. A panel of physicians provided input on a preliminary set of rules. Based on this input, we tested candidate rules on a sample of 100,000 patient records to assess their performance compared to gold standard manual chart review. The physician panel selected a final rule for each condition, which was validated on an independent sample of 100,000 records to assess its accuracy. Seventeen rules were developed for inferring patient problems. Analysis using a validation set of 100,000 randomly selected patients showed high sensitivity (range: 62.8-100.0%) and positive predictive value (range: 79.8-99.6%) for most rules. Overall, the inference rules performed better than using either the problem list or billing data alone. We developed and validated a set of rules for inferring patient problems. These rules have a variety of applications, including clinical decision support, care improvement, augmentation of the problem list, and identification of patients for research cohorts.

  3. A posteriori model validation for the temporal order of directed functional connectivity maps.

    PubMed

    Beltz, Adriene M; Molenaar, Peter C M

    2015-01-01

    A posteriori model validation for the temporal order of neural directed functional connectivity maps is rare. This is striking because models that require sequential independence among residuals are regularly implemented. The aim of the current study was (a) to apply to directed functional connectivity maps of functional magnetic resonance imaging data an a posteriori model validation procedure (i.e., white noise tests of one-step-ahead prediction errors combined with decision criteria for revising the maps based upon Lagrange Multiplier tests), and (b) to demonstrate how the procedure applies to single-subject simulated, single-subject task-related, and multi-subject resting state data. Directed functional connectivity was determined by the unified structural equation model family of approaches in order to map contemporaneous and first order lagged connections among brain regions at the group- and individual-levels while incorporating external input, then white noise tests were run. Findings revealed that the validation procedure successfully detected unmodeled sequential dependencies among residuals and recovered higher order (greater than one) simulated connections, and that the procedure can accommodate task-related input. Findings also revealed that lags greater than one were present in resting state data: With a group-level network that contained only contemporaneous and first order connections, 44% of subjects required second order, individual-level connections in order to obtain maps with white noise residuals. Results have broad methodological relevance (e.g., temporal validation is necessary after directed functional connectivity analyses because the presence of unmodeled higher order sequential dependencies may bias parameter estimates) and substantive implications (e.g., higher order lags may be common in resting state data).

  4. Using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) to estimate bioconcentration potential of petroleum additives

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

    Crecelius, E.A.; Rausina, G.A.; Biggs, W.R.

    1995-12-31

    Lubricant additives can be released into the environment during transport, usage, or improper disposal. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate these substances for their potential to cause adverse environmental effects. Because lubricant additives tend to be large molecular size hydrophobic substances with very limited water solubility, they could possibly bioconcentrate if released into the environment. A test was developed using SPMD technology to assess the bioconcentration potential of lubricant additives. SPMDs are low-density polyethylene tubing with an effective pore size of 600 daltons, similar to that of cellular membranes. SPMDs filled with triolein, the predominant lipid in fish, function asmore » model fish or mollusks, with selective membranes and lipid reservoirs to concentrate organic compounds from water. Using the SPMD test system, bioconcentration factors were determined for a poly alpha olefin (PAO) base stock and lubricant additive compounds that represent three additive use categories. The SPMD test system was validated using a radiocarbon-labeled calcium detergent lubricant additive in side-by-side exposures to SPMDs and aquatic organisms. Radiocarbon-labeled pyrene was used as a reference compound in the tests.« less

  5. Analysis of the lightning-attractive radius for wind turbines considering the developing process of positive attachment leader

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Ning; Zhang, Qilin; Hou, Wenhao; Wen, Ying

    2017-03-01

    In this paper, we have presented the upward leader propagation model, considering the transition of stream leader process by the finite element method and analyzing the inception and subsequent physical processes of upward leader and the attractive radius for large wind turbines. For validating our model, the comparison of simulated results with the optically high-speed video observation shows that the model can predict an accepted result of upward leader from a 163 m tall tower, the simulated upward leader velocity and length before final jump are 2.3 × 105 m/s and 187.67 m presented by Warner (2010), which are very similar to the observed results of 2.8 × 105 m/s and 184 m, respectively. At the same time, we find that the assumed constant speed ratio of downward/upward leader is improper and cannot accurately predict the attractive radius by lightning strike. Also, the simulated results are compared with the widely used EGM (electro geometric model), and it is found that the EGM has an obvious underestimation of attractive radius more than 50%.

  6. Status of the NEXT Ion Thruster Long Duration Test

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Frandina, Michael M.; Arrington, Lynn A.; Soulas, George C.; Hickman, Tyler A.; Patterson, Michael J.

    2005-01-01

    The status of NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) Long Duration Test (LDT) is presented. The test will be conducted with a 36 cm diameter engineering model ion thruster, designated EM3, to validate and qualify the NEXT thruster propellant throughput capability of 450 kg xenon. The ion thruster will be operated at various input powers from the NEXT throttle table. Pretest performance assessments demonstrated that EM3 satisfies all thruster performance requirements. As of June 26, 2005, the ion thruster has accumulated 493 hours of operation and processed 10.2 kg of xenon at a thruster input power of 6.9 kW. Overall ion thruster performance, which includes thrust, thruster input power, specific impulse, and thrust efficiency, has been steady to date with very little variation in performance parameters.

  7. Validation and quantification of [18F]altanserin binding in the rat brain using blood input and reference tissue modeling

    PubMed Central

    Riss, Patrick J; Hong, Young T; Williamson, David; Caprioli, Daniele; Sitnikov, Sergey; Ferrari, Valentina; Sawiak, Steve J; Baron, Jean-Claude; Dalley, Jeffrey W; Fryer, Tim D; Aigbirhio, Franklin I

    2011-01-01

    The 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2a (5-HT2A) selective radiotracer [18F]altanserin has been subjected to a quantitative micro-positron emission tomography study in Lister Hooded rats. Metabolite-corrected plasma input modeling was compared with reference tissue modeling using the cerebellum as reference tissue. [18F]altanserin showed sufficient brain uptake in a distribution pattern consistent with the known distribution of 5-HT2A receptors. Full binding saturation and displacement was documented, and no significant uptake of radioactive metabolites was detected in the brain. Blood input as well as reference tissue models were equally appropriate to describe the radiotracer kinetics. [18F]altanserin is suitable for quantification of 5-HT2A receptor availability in rats. PMID:21750562

  8. Validation of GOES-9 Satellite-Derived Cloud Properties over the Tropical Western Pacific Region

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Khaiyer, Mandana M.; Nordeen, Michele L.; Doeling, David R.; Chakrapani, Venkatasan; Minnis, Patrick; Smith, William L., Jr.

    2004-01-01

    Real-time processing of hourly GOES-9 images in the ARM TWP region began operationally in October 2003 and is continuing. The ARM sites provide an excellent source for validating this new satellitederived cloud and radiation property dataset. Derived cloud amounts, heights, and broadband shortwave fluxes are compared with similar quantities derived from ground-based instrumentation. The results will provide guidance for estimating uncertainties in the GOES-9 products and to develop improvements in the retrieval methodologies and input.

  9. 48 CFR 2803.203 - Reporting suspected violations of the gratuities clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE General IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor... incident, including the nature of the gratuity, the behavior or action the gratuity was to influence, and...

  10. Special issue : child safety

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1999-10-02

    Despite extensive publicity aimed at getting children restrained and riding in rear seats, observational surveys in three states show many children still ride unrestrained, improperly restrained, or in the front seats of cars equipped with passenger ...

  11. Parseval-Type Relations for Laplace Transform and their Applications

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Herman, S.; Maceli, J.; Rogala, M.; Yurekli, O.

    2008-01-01

    In the present note, two Parseval-type relations involving the Laplace transform are given. The application of the relations is demonstrated in evaluating improper integrals and Laplace transforms of trigonometric functions.

  12. 48 CFR 303.203 - Reporting suspected violations of the Gratuities clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor... turn report the matter to the OGC Ethics Division for disposition. The OGC Ethics Division shall...

  13. 48 CFR 303.203 - Reporting suspected violations of the Gratuities clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor... turn report the matter to the OGC Ethics Division for disposition. The OGC Ethics Division shall...

  14. 48 CFR 303.203 - Reporting suspected violations of the Gratuities clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor... turn report the matter to the OGC Ethics Division for disposition. The OGC Ethics Division shall...

  15. 48 CFR 303.203 - Reporting suspected violations of the Gratuities clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor... turn report the matter to the OGC Ethics Division for disposition. The OGC Ethics Division shall...

  16. 48 CFR 303.203 - Reporting suspected violations of the Gratuities clause.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Contractor... turn report the matter to the OGC Ethics Division for disposition. The OGC Ethics Division shall...

  17. Label Review Training: Module 1: Label Basics, Page 15

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    This module of the pesticide label review training provides basic information about pesticides, their labeling and regulation, and the core principles of pesticide label review. Learn about the consequences of improper labeling.

  18. 38 CFR 9.11 - Criteria for reinsurers and converters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... not licensed. (3) That fails to take effective action to correct an improper practice followed by it... of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, under terms and conditions established by the...

  19. 38 CFR 9.11 - Criteria for reinsurers and converters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... not licensed. (3) That fails to take effective action to correct an improper practice followed by it... of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, under terms and conditions established by the...

  20. 38 CFR 9.11 - Criteria for reinsurers and converters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... not licensed. (3) That fails to take effective action to correct an improper practice followed by it... of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, under terms and conditions established by the...

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