An Exploratory Data Analysis System for Support in Medical Decision-Making

PubMed Central

Copeland, J. A.; Hamel, B.; Bourne, J. R.

1979-01-01

An experimental system was developed to allow retrieval and analysis of data collected during a study of neurobehavioral correlates of renal disease. After retrieving data organized in a relational data base, simple bivariate statistics of parametric and nonparametric nature could be conducted. An “exploratory” mode in which the system provided guidance in selection of appropriate statistical analyses was also available to the user. The system traversed a decision tree using the inherent qualities of the data (e.g., the identity and number of patients, tests, and time epochs) to search for the appropriate analyses to employ.

A UML-based ontology for describing hospital information system architectures.

PubMed

Winter, A; Brigl, B; Wendt, T

2001-01-01

To control the heterogeneity inherent to hospital information systems the information management needs appropriate hospital information systems modeling methods or techniques. This paper shows that, for several reasons, available modeling approaches are not able to answer relevant questions of information management. To overcome this major deficiency we offer an UML-based ontology for describing hospital information systems architectures. This ontology views at three layers: the domain layer, the logical tool layer, and the physical tool layer, and defines the relevant components. The relations between these components, especially between components of different layers make the answering of our information management questions possible.

Disturbance decouples biogeochemical cycles across forests of the southeastern US

Treesearch

Ashley D. Keiser; Jennifer D. Knoepp; Mark A. Bradford

2016-01-01

Biogeochemical cycles are inherently linked through the stoichiometric demands of the organisms that cycle the elements. Landscape disturbance can alter element availability and thus the rates of biogeochemical cycling. Nitrification is a fundamental biogeochemical process positively related to plant productivity and nitrogen loss from soils to aquatic systems, and the...

ATS displays: A reasoning visualization tool for expert systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Selig, William John; Johannes, James D.

1990-01-01

Reasoning visualization is a useful tool that can help users better understand the inherently non-sequential logic of an expert system. While this is desirable in most all expert system applications, it is especially so for such critical systems as those destined for space-based operations. A hierarchical view of the expert system reasoning process and some characteristics of these various levels is presented. Also presented are Abstract Time Slice (ATS) displays, a tool to visualize the plethora of interrelated information available at the host inferencing language level of reasoning. The usefulness of this tool is illustrated with some examples from a prototype potable water expert system for possible use aboard Space Station Freedom.

Chimera Type Behavior in Nonlocal Coupling System with Two Different Inherent Frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Larry; Li, Ping-Cheng; Tseng, Hseng-Che

2014-03-01

From the research of Kuramoto and Strogatz, arrays of identical oscillators can display a remarkable pattern, named chimera state, in which phase-locked oscillators coexist with drifting ones in nonlocal coupling oscillator system. We consider further in this study, two groups of oscillators with different inherent frequencies and arrange them in a ring. When the difference of the inherent frequencies is within some specific parameter range, oscillators of nonlocal coupling system show two distinct chimera states. When the parameter value exceeds some threshold value, two chimera states disappear. They show different features. The statistical dynamic behavior of the system can be described by Kuramoto theory.

Rethinking the systems of care definition: an indigenous perspective.

PubMed

Cross, Terry; Bartgis, Jami; Fox, Kathleen

2010-02-01

This paper will describe systems of care as a cultural phenomenon by highlighting western versus indigenous models of thinking. Inherent within the system of care definition are biases and assumptions that result in a highly linear and culturally bound process for understanding a "reality" that is not necessarily shared by all. Overarching concerns include value-laden language, the development of the systems of care principles, and the conceptualization of the changing definitions over time. Within the definition of systems of care presented, there are biases and embedded assumptions that continue to cause disparities in health for culturally diverse communities. The paper will examine these cultural biases and assumptions and their link to access, availability, and acceptability of services.

Selective attention in multi-chip address-event systems.

PubMed

Bartolozzi, Chiara; Indiveri, Giacomo

2009-01-01

Selective attention is the strategy used by biological systems to cope with the inherent limits in their available computational resources, in order to efficiently process sensory information. The same strategy can be used in artificial systems that have to process vast amounts of sensory data with limited resources. In this paper we present a neuromorphic VLSI device, the "Selective Attention Chip" (SAC), which can be used to implement these models in multi-chip address-event systems. We also describe a real-time sensory-motor system, which integrates the SAC with a dynamic vision sensor and a robotic actuator. We present experimental results from each component in the system, and demonstrate how the complete system implements a real-time stimulus-driven selective attention model.

The research of distributed interactive simulation based on HLA in coal mine industry inherent safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dou, Zhi-Wu

2010-08-01

To solve the inherent safety problem puzzling the coal mining industry, analyzing the characteristic and the application of distributed interactive simulation based on high level architecture (DIS/HLA), a new method is proposed for developing coal mining industry inherent safety distributed interactive simulation adopting HLA technology. Researching the function and structure of the system, a simple coal mining industry inherent safety is modeled with HLA, the FOM and SOM are developed, and the math models are suggested. The results of the instance research show that HLA plays an important role in developing distributed interactive simulation of complicated distributed system and the method is valid to solve the problem puzzling coal mining industry. To the coal mining industry, the conclusions show that the simulation system with HLA plays an important role to identify the source of hazard, to make the measure for accident, and to improve the level of management.

Designing robots for industrial environments. [economic factors and vulnerability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

Environmental hazards to industrial robots are summarized. The inherent reliability of the design of the Unimate robot is assessed and the data used in a management system to bring the reliability performance up to a level nearing what is theoretically available. The design is shown to be capable of a mean time between failure of 400 hours and an average up time of 98%. Specific design decisions made in view of application requirements are explored.

Study of Barley Grain Molecular Structure for Ruminants Using DRIFT, FTIR-ATR and Synchrotron Radiation Infrared Microspectroscopy (SR-IMS): A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Peiqiang

2012-05-01

Barley inherent structures are highly associated with nutrient utilization and availability in both humans and animals. Barley has different degradation kinetics compared with other cereal grains. It has a relatively higher degradation rate and extent, which often cause digestive disorder in the rumen. Therefore understanding barley inherent structure at cellular and molecular levels and processing-induced structure changes is important, because we can manipulate barley inherent structures and digestive behaviors. Several molecular spectroscopy techniques can be used to detect barley inherent structures at cellular and molecular levels. This article reviews several applications of the IR molecular spectral bioanalytical techniques - DRIFT, FT/IR-ATR and SR-IMS for barley chemistry, molecular structure and molecular nutrition research

Measurement with verification of stationary signals and noise in extremely quiet environments: Measuring below the noise floor

PubMed Central

Ellingson, Roger M.; Gallun, Frederick J.; Bock, Guillaume

2015-01-01

It can be problematic to measure stationary acoustic sound pressure level in any environment when the target level approaches or lies below the minimum measureable sound pressure level of the measurement system itself. This minimum measureable level, referred to as the inherent measurement system noise floor, is generally established by noise emission characteristics of measurement system components such as microphones, preamplifiers, and other system circuitry. In this paper, methods are presented and shown accurate measuring stationary levels within 20 dB above and below this system noise floor. Methodology includes (1) measuring inherent measurement system noise, (2) subtractive energy based, inherent noise adjustment of levels affected by system noise floor, and (3) verifying accuracy of inherent noise adjustment technique. While generalizable to other purposes, the techniques presented here were specifically developed to quantify ambient noise levels in very quiet rooms used to evaluate free-field human hearing thresholds. Results obtained applying the methods to objectively measure and verify the ambient noise level in an extremely quiet room, using various measurement system noise floors and analysis bandwidths, are presented and discussed. The verified results demonstrate the adjustment method can accurately extend measurement range to 20 dB below the measurement system noise floor, and how measurement system frequency bandwidth can affect accuracy of reported noise levels. PMID:25786932

Fast tomographic methods for the tokamak ISTTOK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carvalho, P. J.; Thomsen, H.; Gori, S.; Toussaint, U. v.; Weller, A.; Coelho, R.; Neto, A.; Pereira, T.; Silva, C.; Fernandes, H.

2008-04-01

The achievement of long duration, alternating current discharges on the tokamak IST-TOK requires a real-time plasma position control system. The plasma position determination based on magnetic probes system has been found to be inadequate during the current inversion due to the reduced plasma current. A tomography diagnostic has been therefore installed to supply the required feedback to the control system. Several tomographic methods are available for soft X-ray or bolo-metric tomography, among which the Cormack and Neural networks methods stand out due to their inherent speed of up to 1000 reconstructions per second, with currently available technology. This paper discusses the application of these algorithms on fusion devices while comparing performance and reliability of the results. It has been found that although the Cormack based inversion proved to be faster, the neural networks reconstruction has fewer artifacts and is more accurate.

Beneficiation of lunar rocks and regolith - Concepts and difficulties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, Lawrence A.; Mckay, David S.

1992-01-01

Some of the inherent differences between lunar rocks and the finer portion of the regolith, the soil, are discussed. A brief outline of the formation of lunar soil is presented. Beneficiation of rocks vs regolith for the production of an ilmenite feedstock is addressed in particular, but the concepts and principles considered are applicable to other situations as well. The overall systems design must take the range of available feedstocks into account. Decisions on design that will influence feedstock requirements must be made.

Mechanistic systems modeling to guide drug discovery and development

PubMed Central

Schmidt, Brian J.; Papin, Jason A.; Musante, Cynthia J.

2013-01-01

A crucial question that must be addressed in the drug development process is whether the proposed therapeutic target will yield the desired effect in the clinical population. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies place a large investment on research and development, long before confirmatory data are available from human trials. Basic science has greatly expanded the computable knowledge of disease processes, both through the generation of large omics data sets and a compendium of studies assessing cellular and systemic responses to physiologic and pathophysiologic stimuli. Given inherent uncertainties in drug development, mechanistic systems models can better inform target selection and the decision process for advancing compounds through preclinical and clinical research. PMID:22999913

Mechanistic systems modeling to guide drug discovery and development.

PubMed

Schmidt, Brian J; Papin, Jason A; Musante, Cynthia J

2013-02-01

A crucial question that must be addressed in the drug development process is whether the proposed therapeutic target will yield the desired effect in the clinical population. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies place a large investment on research and development, long before confirmatory data are available from human trials. Basic science has greatly expanded the computable knowledge of disease processes, both through the generation of large omics data sets and a compendium of studies assessing cellular and systemic responses to physiologic and pathophysiologic stimuli. Given inherent uncertainties in drug development, mechanistic systems models can better inform target selection and the decision process for advancing compounds through preclinical and clinical research. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CAPITATION IN HEALTHCARE FINANCING IN GHANA.

PubMed

Aboagye, A Q Q

2013-05-01

To analyse implementation of the pilot study of the per capita system of healthcare financing in Ghana in 2012 for a determination of the likelihood of realising the inherent theoretical benefits when the system is rolled out nationally. First, publicly available information on how the pilot unfolded is presented, followed by the reaction of the health authorities to these developments. We then analysed accrued evidence on costs and developments vis-à-vis the theoretical benefits. It would appear that preparation for the pilot exercise could have been handled better. Concerns include i) the low level of both education and awareness of the capitation system among healthcare subscribers and primary care providers; ii) confusion about service provider to whom subscribers had been assigned for the capitation period; and iii) service providers not understanding differences between capitation financing and financing under the Ghana diagnostic Related Grouping; and iv) some indication of cost savings. Cost savings may be available nationally. This is important because cost containment is the driving force behind the introduction of the capitation system.

Development of a StandAlone Surgical Haptic Arm.

PubMed

Jones, Daniel; Lewis, Andrew; Fischer, Gregory S

2011-01-01

When performing telesurgery with current commercially available Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery (MIRS) systems, a surgeon cannot feel the tool interactions that are inherent in traditional laparoscopy. It is proposed that haptic feedback in the control of MIRS systems could improve the speed, safety and learning curve of robotic surgery. To test this hypothesis, a standalone surgical haptic arm (SASHA) capable of manipulating da Vinci tools has been designed and fabricated with the additional ability of providing information for haptic feedback. This arm was developed as a research platform for developing and evaluating approaches to telesurgery, including various haptic mappings between master and slave and evaluating the effects of latency.

Toward information management in corporations (2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shibata, Mitsuru

If construction of inhouse information management systems in an advanced information society should be positioned along with the social information management, its base making begins with reviewing current paper filing systems. Since the problems which inhere in inhouse information management systems utilizing OA equipments also inhere in paper filing systems, the first step toward full scale inhouse information management should be to grasp and solve the fundamental problems in current filing systems. This paper describes analysis of fundamental problems in filing systems, making new type of offices and analysis of improvement needs in filing systems, and some points in improving filing systems.

How to Combine ChIP with qPCR.

PubMed

Asp, Patrik

2018-01-01

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) coupled with quantitative PCR (qPCR) has in the last 15 years become a basic mainstream tool in genomic research. Numerous commercially available ChIP kits, qPCR kits, and real-time PCR systems allow for quick and easy analysis of virtually anything chromatin-related as long as there is an available antibody. However, the highly accurate quantitative dimension added by using qPCR to analyze ChIP samples significantly raises the bar in terms of experimental accuracy, appropriate controls, data analysis, and data presentation. This chapter will address these potential pitfalls by providing protocols and procedures that address the difficulties inherent in ChIP-qPCR assays.

Generalizing a model beyond the inherence heuristic and applying it to beliefs about objective value.

PubMed

Wood, Graham

2014-10-01

The inherence heuristic is characterized as part of an instantiation of a more general model that describes the interaction between undeveloped intuitions, produced by System 1 heuristics, and developed beliefs, constructed by System 2 reasoning. The general model is described and illustrated by examining another instantiation of the process that constructs belief in objective moral value.

The Age of Criminal Responsibility: "The Frontier between Care and Justice"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gillen, John

2006-01-01

This is an extract from a speech given by Mr Justice Gillen to a conference in Belfast organised by Children Law UK in January 2006. It addresses the potential conflict between the concept of the welfare of children inherent in the family care system and that of responsibility inherent in the criminal justice system. It questions whether the…

Probabilistic eruption forecasting at short and long time scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marzocchi, Warner; Bebbington, Mark S.

2012-10-01

Any effective volcanic risk mitigation strategy requires a scientific assessment of the future evolution of a volcanic system and its eruptive behavior. Some consider the onus should be on volcanologists to provide simple but emphatic deterministic forecasts. This traditional way of thinking, however, does not deal with the implications of inherent uncertainties, both aleatoric and epistemic, that are inevitably present in observations, monitoring data, and interpretation of any natural system. In contrast to deterministic predictions, probabilistic eruption forecasting attempts to quantify these inherent uncertainties utilizing all available information to the extent that it can be relied upon and is informative. As with many other natural hazards, probabilistic eruption forecasting is becoming established as the primary scientific basis for planning rational risk mitigation actions: at short-term (hours to weeks or months), it allows decision-makers to prioritize actions in a crisis; and at long-term (years to decades), it is the basic component for land use and emergency planning. Probabilistic eruption forecasting consists of estimating the probability of an eruption event and where it sits in a complex multidimensional time-space-magnitude framework. In this review, we discuss the key developments and features of models that have been used to address the problem.

Development of fuzzy air quality index using soft computing approach.

PubMed

Mandal, T; Gorai, A K; Pathak, G

2012-10-01

Proper assessment of air quality status in an atmosphere based on limited observations is an essential task for meeting the goals of environmental management. A number of classification methods are available for estimating the changing status of air quality. However, a discrepancy frequently arises from the quality criteria of air employed and vagueness or fuzziness embedded in the decision making output values. Owing to inherent imprecision, difficulties always exist in some conventional methodologies like air quality index when describing integrated air quality conditions with respect to various pollutants parameters and time of exposure. In recent years, the fuzzy logic-based methods have demonstrated to be appropriated to address uncertainty and subjectivity in environmental issues. In the present study, a methodology based on fuzzy inference systems (FIS) to assess air quality is proposed. This paper presents a comparative study to assess status of air quality using fuzzy logic technique and that of conventional technique. The findings clearly indicate that the FIS may successfully harmonize inherent discrepancies and interpret complex conditions.

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

Sisniega, A.; Vaquero, J. J., E-mail: juanjose.vaquero@uc3m.es; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid ES28007

Purpose: The availability of accurate and simple models for the estimation of x-ray spectra is of great importance for system simulation, optimization, or inclusion of photon energy information into data processing. There is a variety of publicly available tools for estimation of x-ray spectra in radiology and mammography. However, most of these models cannot be used directly for modeling microfocus x-ray sources due to differences in inherent filtration, energy range and/or anode material. For this reason the authors propose in this work a new model for the simulation of microfocus spectra based on existing models for mammography and radiology, modifiedmore » to compensate for the effects of inherent filtration and energy range. Methods: The authors used the radiology and mammography versions of an existing empirical model [tungsten anode spectral model interpolating polynomials (TASMIP)] as the basis of the microfocus model. First, the authors estimated the inherent filtration included in the radiology model by comparing the shape of the spectra with spectra from the mammography model. Afterwards, the authors built a unified spectra dataset by combining both models and, finally, they estimated the parameters of the new version of TASMIP for microfocus sources by calibrating against experimental exposure data from a microfocus x-ray source. The model was validated by comparing estimated and experimental exposure and attenuation data for different attenuating materials and x-ray beam peak energy values, using two different x-ray tubes. Results: Inherent filtration for the radiology spectra from TASMIP was found to be equivalent to 1.68 mm Al, as compared to spectra obtained from the mammography model. To match the experimentally measured exposure data the combined dataset required to apply a negative filtration of about 0.21 mm Al and an anode roughness of 0.003 mm W. The validation of the model against real acquired data showed errors in exposure and attenuation in line with those reported for other models for radiology or mammography. Conclusions: A new version of the TASMIP model for the estimation of x-ray spectra in microfocus x-ray sources has been developed and validated experimentally. Similarly to other versions of TASMIP, the estimation of spectra is very simple, involving only the evaluation of polynomial expressions.« less

Variance decomposition in stochastic simulators.

PubMed

Le Maître, O P; Knio, O M; Moraes, A

2015-06-28

This work aims at the development of a mathematical and computational approach that enables quantification of the inherent sources of stochasticity and of the corresponding sensitivities in stochastic simulations of chemical reaction networks. The approach is based on reformulating the system dynamics as being generated by independent standardized Poisson processes. This reformulation affords a straightforward identification of individual realizations for the stochastic dynamics of each reaction channel, and consequently a quantitative characterization of the inherent sources of stochasticity in the system. By relying on the Sobol-Hoeffding decomposition, the reformulation enables us to perform an orthogonal decomposition of the solution variance. Thus, by judiciously exploiting the inherent stochasticity of the system, one is able to quantify the variance-based sensitivities associated with individual reaction channels, as well as the importance of channel interactions. Implementation of the algorithms is illustrated in light of simulations of simplified systems, including the birth-death, Schlögl, and Michaelis-Menten models.

Variance decomposition in stochastic simulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Maître, O. P.; Knio, O. M.; Moraes, A.

2015-06-01

This work aims at the development of a mathematical and computational approach that enables quantification of the inherent sources of stochasticity and of the corresponding sensitivities in stochastic simulations of chemical reaction networks. The approach is based on reformulating the system dynamics as being generated by independent standardized Poisson processes. This reformulation affords a straightforward identification of individual realizations for the stochastic dynamics of each reaction channel, and consequently a quantitative characterization of the inherent sources of stochasticity in the system. By relying on the Sobol-Hoeffding decomposition, the reformulation enables us to perform an orthogonal decomposition of the solution variance. Thus, by judiciously exploiting the inherent stochasticity of the system, one is able to quantify the variance-based sensitivities associated with individual reaction channels, as well as the importance of channel interactions. Implementation of the algorithms is illustrated in light of simulations of simplified systems, including the birth-death, Schlögl, and Michaelis-Menten models.

Liver-inherent immune system: its role in blood-stage malaria

PubMed Central

Wunderlich, Frank; Al-Quraishy, Saleh; Dkhil, Mohamed A.

2014-01-01

The liver is well known as that organ which is obligately required for the intrahepatocyte development of the pre-erythrocytic stages of the malaria-causative agent Plasmodium. However, largely neglected is the fact that the liver is also a central player of the host defense against the morbidity- and mortality-causing blood stages of the malaria parasites. Indeed, the liver is equipped with a unique immune system that acts locally, however, with systemic impact. Its main “antipodal” functions are to recognize and to generate effective immunoreactivity against pathogens on the one hand, and to generate tolerance to avoid immunoreactivity with “self” and harmless substances as dietary compounds on the other hand. This review provides an introductory survey of the liver-inherent immune system: its pathogen recognition receptors including Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and its major cell constituents with their different facilities to fight and eliminate pathogens. Then, evidence is presented that the liver is also an essential organ to overcome blood-stage malaria. Finally, we discuss effector responses of the liver-inherent immune system directed against blood-stage malaria: activation of TLRs, acute phase response, phagocytic activity, cytokine-mediated pro- and anti-inflammatory responses, generation of “protective” autoimmunity by extrathymic T cells and B-1 cells, and T cell-mediated repair of liver injuries mainly produced by malaria-induced overreactions of the liver-inherent immune system. PMID:25408684

Quantitative Velocity Field Measurements in Reduced-Gravity Combustion Science and Fluid Physics Experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenberg, Paul S.; Wernet, Mark P.

1999-01-01

Systems have been developed and demonstrated for performing quantitative velocity measurements in reduced gravity combustion science and fluid physics investigations. The unique constraints and operational environments inherent to reduced-gravity experimental facilities pose special challenges to the development of hardware and software systems. Both point and planar velocimetric capabilities are described, with particular attention being given to the development of systems to support the International Space Station laboratory. Emphasis has been placed on optical methods, primarily arising from the sensitivity of the phenomena of interest to intrusive probes. Limitations on available power, volume, data storage, and attendant expertise have motivated the use of solid-state sources and detectors, as well as efficient analysis capabilities emphasizing interactive data display and parameter control.

Scanner imaging systems, aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ungar, S. G.

1982-01-01

The causes and effects of distortion in aircraft scanner data are reviewed and an approach to reduce distortions by modelling the effect of aircraft motion on the scanner scene is discussed. With the advent of advanced satellite borne scanner systems, the geometric and radiometric correction of aircraft scanner data has become increasingly important. Corrections are needed to reliably simulate observations obtained by such systems for purposes of evaluation. It is found that if sufficient navigational information is available, aircraft scanner coordinates may be related very precisely to planimetric ground coordinates. However, the potential for a multivalue remapping transformation (i.e., scan lines crossing each other), adds an inherent uncertainty, to any radiometric resampling scheme, which is dependent on the precise geometry of the scan and ground pattern.

48 CFR 1307.503 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... the statement of work are inherently governmental. This policy applies to all services other than... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Policy. 1307.503 Section... PLANNING ACQUISITION PLANNING Inherently Governmental Functions 1307.503 Policy. All procurement request...

Cell-based Assays for Assessing Toxicity: A Basic Guide.

PubMed

Parboosing, Raveen; Mzobe, Gugulethu; Chonco, Louis; Moodley, Indres

2016-01-01

Assessment of toxicity is an important component of the drug discovery process. Cellbased assays are a popular choice for assessing cytotoxicity. However, these assays are complex because of the wide variety of formats and methods that are available, lack of standardization, confusing terminology and the inherent variability of biological systems and measurement. This review is intended as a guide on how to take these factors into account when planning, conducting and/or interpreting cell based toxicity assays. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

A Network Scheduling Model for Distributed Control Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Culley, Dennis; Thomas, George; Aretskin-Hariton, Eliot

2016-01-01

Distributed engine control is a hardware technology that radically alters the architecture for aircraft engine control systems. Of its own accord, it does not change the function of control, rather it seeks to address the implementation issues for weight-constrained vehicles that can limit overall system performance and increase life-cycle cost. However, an inherent feature of this technology, digital communication networks, alters the flow of information between critical elements of the closed-loop control. Whereas control information has been available continuously in conventional centralized control architectures through virtue of analog signaling, moving forward, it will be transmitted digitally in serial fashion over the network(s) in distributed control architectures. An underlying effect is that all of the control information arrives asynchronously and may not be available every loop interval of the controller, therefore it must be scheduled. This paper proposes a methodology for modeling the nominal data flow over these networks and examines the resulting impact for an aero turbine engine system simulation.

Context-Aided Sensor Fusion for Enhanced Urban Navigation

PubMed Central

Martí, Enrique David; Martín, David; García, Jesús; de la Escalera, Arturo; Molina, José Manuel; Armingol, José María

2012-01-01

The deployment of Intelligent Vehicles in urban environments requires reliable estimation of positioning for urban navigation. The inherent complexity of this kind of environments fosters the development of novel systems which should provide reliable and precise solutions to the vehicle. This article details an advanced GNSS/IMU fusion system based on a context-aided Unscented Kalman filter for navigation in urban conditions. The constrained non-linear filter is here conditioned by a contextual knowledge module which reasons about sensor quality and driving context in order to adapt it to the situation, while at the same time it carries out a continuous estimation and correction of INS drift errors. An exhaustive analysis has been carried out with available data in order to characterize the behavior of available sensors and take it into account in the developed solution. The performance is then analyzed with an extensive dataset containing representative situations. The proposed solution suits the use of fusion algorithms for deploying Intelligent Transport Systems in urban environments. PMID:23223080

Context-aided sensor fusion for enhanced urban navigation.

PubMed

Martí, Enrique David; Martín, David; García, Jesús; de la Escalera, Arturo; Molina, José Manuel; Armingol, José María

2012-12-06

 The deployment of Intelligent Vehicles in urban environments requires reliable estimation of positioning for urban navigation. The inherent complexity of this kind of environments fosters the development of novel systems which should provide reliable and precise solutions to the vehicle. This article details an advanced GNSS/IMU fusion system based on a context-aided Unscented Kalman filter for navigation in urban conditions. The constrained non-linear filter is here conditioned by a contextual knowledge module which reasons about sensor quality and driving context in order to adapt it to the situation, while at the same time it carries out a continuous estimation and correction of INS drift errors. An exhaustive analysis has been carried out with available data in order to characterize the behavior of available sensors and take it into account in the developed solution. The performance is then analyzed with an extensive dataset containing representative situations. The proposed solution suits the use of fusion algorithms for deploying Intelligent Transport Systems in urban environments.

Interactive display of molecular models using a microcomputer system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Egan, J. T.; Macelroy, R. D.

1980-01-01

A simple, microcomputer-based, interactive graphics display system has been developed for the presentation of perspective views of wire frame molecular models. The display system is based on a TERAK 8510a graphics computer system with a display unit consisting of microprocessor, television display and keyboard subsystems. The operating system includes a screen editor, file manager, PASCAL and BASIC compilers and command options for linking and executing programs. The graphics program, written in USCD PASCAL, involves the centering of the coordinate system, the transformation of centered model coordinates into homogeneous coordinates, the construction of a viewing transformation matrix to operate on the coordinates, clipping invisible points, perspective transformation and scaling to screen coordinates; commands available include ZOOM, ROTATE, RESET, and CHANGEVIEW. Data file structure was chosen to minimize the amount of disk storage space. Despite the inherent slowness of the system, its low cost and flexibility suggests general applicability.

Capabilities and constraints of combustion diagnostics in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenberg, Paul S.

1993-01-01

A significant scientific return from both existing and proposed microgravity combustion science experiments is substantially dependent on the availability of diagnostic systems for the collection of the required scientific data. To date, the available diagnostic instrumentation has consisted primarily of conventional photographic media and intrusive temperature and velocity probes, such as thermocouples and hot wire anemometers. This situation has arisen primarily due to the unique and severe operational constraints inherent in reduced gravity experimentation. Each of the various reduced gravity facilities is accompanied by its own peculiar envelope of capabilities and constraints. Drop towers, for example, pose strict limitations on available working volume and power, as well as autonomy of operation. In contrast, hardware developed for space flight applications can be somewhat less constrained in regards to the aforementioned quantities, but is additionally concerned with numerous issues involving safety and reliability.

16 CFR 1211.13 - Inherent force activated secondary door sensors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... sensors. 1211.13 Section 1211.13 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT... § 1211.13 Inherent force activated secondary door sensors. (a) Normal operation test. (1) A force activated door sensor of a door system installed according to the installation instructions shall actuate...

16 CFR 1211.13 - Inherent force activated secondary door sensors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... sensors. 1211.13 Section 1211.13 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT... § 1211.13 Inherent force activated secondary door sensors. (a) Normal operation test. (1) A force activated door sensor of a door system installed according to the installation instructions shall actuate...

16 CFR 1211.13 - Inherent force activated secondary door sensors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... sensors. 1211.13 Section 1211.13 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT... § 1211.13 Inherent force activated secondary door sensors. (a) Normal operation test. (1) A force activated door sensor of a door system installed according to the installation instructions shall actuate...

Recent research on inherent molecular structure, physiochemical properties, and bio-functions of food and feed-type Avena sativa oats and processing-induced changes revealed with molecular microspectroscopic techniques

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

Prates, Luciana Louzada; Yu, Peiqiang

Avena sativa oat is a cereal widely used as human food and livestock feed. However, the low metabolized energy and the rapid rumen degradations of protein and starch have limited the use of A. sativa oat grains. To overcome this disadvantage, new A. sativa oat varieties have been developed. Additionally, heat-related processing has been performed to decrease the degradation rate and improve the absorption of amino acids in the small intestine. The nutritive value is reflected by both chemical composition and inherent molecular structure conformation. However, the traditional wet chemical analysis is not able to detect the inherent molecular structuresmore » within an intact tissue. The advanced synchrotron-radiation and globar-based molecular microspectroscopy have been developed recently and applied to study internal molecular structures and the processing induced structure changes in A. sativa oats and reveal how molecular structure changes in relation to nutrient availability. This review aimed to obtain the recent information regarding physiochemical properties, molecular structures, metabolic characteristics of protein, and the heat-induced changes in new A. sativa oat varieties. The use of the advanced vibrational molecular spectroscopy was emphasized, synchrotron- and globar-based (micro)spectroscopy, to reveal the inherent structure of A. sativa oats at cellular and molecular levels and to reveal the heat processing effect on the degradation characteristics and the protein molecular structure in A. sativa oats. The relationship between nutrient availability and protein molecular inherent structure was also presented. Information described in this review gives better insight in the physiochemical properties, molecular structure, and the heat-induced changes in A. sativa oat detected with advanced molecular spectroscopic techniques in combinination with conventional nutrition study techniques.« less

Pokes, Prods, and Pushes: Information Availability and Decision Making in Ambiguous Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenwood, Brad N.

2013-01-01

In this dissertation I investigate how changes in the availability of information influences decision making in inherently ambiguous environments. As the Internet has not only fostered connectivity, but also catalyzed information generation on an unprecedented scale, my objective is to revisit the concept of information availability and salience…

Variance decomposition in stochastic simulators

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

Le Maître, O. P., E-mail: olm@limsi.fr; Knio, O. M., E-mail: knio@duke.edu; Moraes, A., E-mail: alvaro.moraesgutierrez@kaust.edu.sa

This work aims at the development of a mathematical and computational approach that enables quantification of the inherent sources of stochasticity and of the corresponding sensitivities in stochastic simulations of chemical reaction networks. The approach is based on reformulating the system dynamics as being generated by independent standardized Poisson processes. This reformulation affords a straightforward identification of individual realizations for the stochastic dynamics of each reaction channel, and consequently a quantitative characterization of the inherent sources of stochasticity in the system. By relying on the Sobol-Hoeffding decomposition, the reformulation enables us to perform an orthogonal decomposition of the solution variance.more » Thus, by judiciously exploiting the inherent stochasticity of the system, one is able to quantify the variance-based sensitivities associated with individual reaction channels, as well as the importance of channel interactions. Implementation of the algorithms is illustrated in light of simulations of simplified systems, including the birth-death, Schlögl, and Michaelis-Menten models.« less

In-situ thermoelectric temperature monitoring and "Closed-loop integrated control" system for concentrator photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rolley, Matthew H.; Sweet, Tracy K. N.; Min, Gao

2017-09-01

This work demonstrates a new technique that capitalizes on the inherent flexibility of the thermoelectric module to provide a multifunctional platform, and exhibits a unique advantage only available within CPV-TE hybrid architectures. This system is the first to use the thermoelectric itself for hot-side temperature feedback to a PID control system, needing no additional thermocouple or thermistor to be attached to the cell - eliminating shading, and complex mechanical designs for mounting. Temperature measurement accuracy and thermoelectric active cooling functionality is preserved. Dynamic "per-cell" condition monitoring and protection is feasible using this technique, with direct cell-specific temperature measurement accurate to 1°C demonstrated over the entire experimental range. The extrapolation accuracy potential of the technique was also evaluated.

Use of HSM with Relational Databases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Breeden, Randall; Burgess, John; Higdon, Dan

1996-01-01

Hierarchical storage management (HSM) systems have evolved to become a critical component of large information storage operations. They are built on the concept of using a hierarchy of storage technologies to provide a balance in performance and cost. In general, they migrate data from expensive high performance storage to inexpensive low performance storage based on frequency of use. The predominant usage characteristic is that frequency of use is reduced with age and in most cases quite rapidly. The result is that HSM provides an economical means for managing and storing massive volumes of data. Inherent in HSM systems is system managed storage, where the system performs most of the work with minimum operations personnel involvement. This automation is generally extended to include: backup and recovery, data duplexing to provide high availability, and catastrophic recovery through use of off-site storage.

Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) solar thermal plant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

The plant proved its capability to deliver the desired energy product in a USAF industrial environment. The collector proved capable of energy conversion at insolation levels up to 25% below design minimum. The plant and the project were negatively affected by severe winter weather, with total insolation during the test period 60 percent less than the expected value. Environmental effects reduced plant availability to 55 percent. Only five, minimally good operating days were experienced during the test period. The subsequent lack of performance data prohibits the drawing of general conclusions regarding system performance. System operability was rated generally high. The only inhibiting factor was the difficulty in procuring replacement parts for rapid repair under USAF stockage and procurement policies. No inherently serious system failures were recorded, although a thermostatic valve malfunction in the freeze protection system ultimately took 30 days to repair.

Persistent model order reduction for complex dynamical systems using smooth orthogonal decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilbeigi, Shahab; Chelidze, David

2017-11-01

Full-scale complex dynamic models are not effective for parametric studies due to the inherent constraints on available computational power and storage resources. A persistent reduced order model (ROM) that is robust, stable, and provides high-fidelity simulations for a relatively wide range of parameters and operating conditions can provide a solution to this problem. The fidelity of a new framework for persistent model order reduction of large and complex dynamical systems is investigated. The framework is validated using several numerical examples including a large linear system and two complex nonlinear systems with material and geometrical nonlinearities. While the framework is used for identifying the robust subspaces obtained from both proper and smooth orthogonal decompositions (POD and SOD, respectively), the results show that SOD outperforms POD in terms of stability, accuracy, and robustness.

Optimization of light quality from color mixing light-emitting diode systems for general lighting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thorseth, Anders

2012-03-01

Given the problem of metamerisms inherent in color mixing in light-emitting diode (LED) systems with more than three distinct colors, a method for optimizing the spectral output of multicolor LED system with regards to standardized light quality parameters has been developed. The composite spectral power distribution from the LEDs are simulated using spectral radiometric measurements of single commercially available LEDs for varying input power, to account for the efficiency droop and other non-linear effects in electrical power vs. light output. The method uses electrical input powers as input parameters in a randomized steepest decent optimization. The resulting spectral power distributions are evaluated with regard to the light quality using the standard characteristics: CIE color rendering index, correlated color temperature and chromaticity distance. The results indicate Pareto optimal boundaries for each system, mapping the capabilities of the simulated lighting systems with regard to the light quality characteristics.

The contentious nature of soil organic matter.

PubMed

Lehmann, Johannes; Kleber, Markus

2015-12-03

The exchange of nutrients, energy and carbon between soil organic matter, the soil environment, aquatic systems and the atmosphere is important for agricultural productivity, water quality and climate. Long-standing theory suggests that soil organic matter is composed of inherently stable and chemically unique compounds. Here we argue that the available evidence does not support the formation of large-molecular-size and persistent 'humic substances' in soils. Instead, soil organic matter is a continuum of progressively decomposing organic compounds. We discuss implications of this view of the nature of soil organic matter for aquatic health, soil carbon-climate interactions and land management.

Virtual Ultrasound Guidance for Inexperienced Operators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caine, Timothy; Martin, Davis

2012-01-01

Medical ultrasound or echocardiographic studies are highly operator-dependent and generally require lengthy training and internship to perfect. To obtain quality echocardiographic images in remote environments, such as on-orbit, remote guidance of studies has been employed. This technique involves minimal training for the user, coupled with remote guidance from an expert. When real-time communication or expert guidance is not available, a more autonomous system of guiding an inexperienced operator through an ultrasound study is needed. One example would be missions beyond low Earth orbit, in which the time delay inherent with communication will make remote guidance impractical.

Thirty years of research and development of air cushion vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertelsen, William R.

This paper describes the conception of the air cushion vehicle (ACV) from experiments with the ground effect of a VTOL aircraft model. Then it describes the evolution of the ultimate ACV drive system through building and testing many models and 16 full-scale ACV to arrive at complete controllability. Adequate control of the frictionless craft, which are without inherent yaw stability, requires control force of the order of magnitude of propulsion. The derived gimbal fans provide such control force in the form of direct thrust, which is instantly available in any of 360 degrees, meterable, instantly cancelable, and reversible.

Ecologic, Economic, and Social Considerations for Rangeland Sustainability: An Integrated Conceptual Framework

Treesearch

Daniel W. McCollum; H. Theodore Jr. Heintz; Aaron J. Harp; John A. Tanaka; Gary R. Evans; David Radloff; Louis E. Swanson; William E. III Fox; Michael G. Sherm Karl; John E. Mitchell

2006-01-01

Use and sustainability of rangelands are inherently linked to the health and sustainability of the land. They are also inherently linked to the social and economic infrastructures that complement and support those rangelands and rangeland uses. Ecological systems and processes provide the biological interactions underlying ecosystem health and viability. Social and...

16 CFR § 1211.13 - Inherent force activated secondary door sensors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... sensors. § 1211.13 Section § 1211.13 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER... Standard § 1211.13 Inherent force activated secondary door sensors. (a) Normal operation test. (1) A force activated door sensor of a door system installed according to the installation instructions shall actuate...

Staffing for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

Service’s staffing determination . Using these business rules and observations enabled the follow-on assessment of individual UAS mission elements... Determination Framework ......................................................13  B.  Inherently Governmental (IG...authorities, and the determination of inherently governmental (IG) activities. Table 1. Delta between Rank/Pay Grades Annual Total Cost O-4 O-3 W-3 W-2

Single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing comes of age: applications and utilities for medical diagnostics

PubMed Central

Ardui, Simon; Ameur, Adam; Vermeesch, Joris R; Hestand, Matthew S

2018-01-01

Abstract Short read massive parallel sequencing has emerged as a standard diagnostic tool in the medical setting. However, short read technologies have inherent limitations such as GC bias, difficulties mapping to repetitive elements, trouble discriminating paralogous sequences, and difficulties in phasing alleles. Long read single molecule sequencers resolve these obstacles. Moreover, they offer higher consensus accuracies and can detect epigenetic modifications from native DNA. The first commercially available long read single molecule platform was the RS system based on PacBio's single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology, which has since evolved into their RSII and Sequel systems. Here we capsulize how SMRT sequencing is revolutionizing constitutional, reproductive, cancer, microbial and viral genetic testing. PMID:29401301

RedeR: R/Bioconductor package for representing modular structures, nested networks and multiple levels of hierarchical associations

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Visualization and analysis of molecular networks are both central to systems biology. However, there still exists a large technological gap between them, especially when assessing multiple network levels or hierarchies. Here we present RedeR, an R/Bioconductor package combined with a Java core engine for representing modular networks. The functionality of RedeR is demonstrated in two different scenarios: hierarchical and modular organization in gene co-expression networks and nested structures in time-course gene expression subnetworks. Our results demonstrate RedeR as a new framework to deal with the multiple network levels that are inherent to complex biological systems. RedeR is available from http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/RedeR.html. PMID:22531049

Global sensitivity analysis in stochastic simulators of uncertain reaction networks.

PubMed

Navarro Jimenez, M; Le Maître, O P; Knio, O M

2016-12-28

Stochastic models of chemical systems are often subjected to uncertainties in kinetic parameters in addition to the inherent random nature of their dynamics. Uncertainty quantification in such systems is generally achieved by means of sensitivity analyses in which one characterizes the variability with the uncertain kinetic parameters of the first statistical moments of model predictions. In this work, we propose an original global sensitivity analysis method where the parametric and inherent variability sources are both treated through Sobol's decomposition of the variance into contributions from arbitrary subset of uncertain parameters and stochastic reaction channels. The conceptual development only assumes that the inherent and parametric sources are independent, and considers the Poisson processes in the random-time-change representation of the state dynamics as the fundamental objects governing the inherent stochasticity. A sampling algorithm is proposed to perform the global sensitivity analysis, and to estimate the partial variances and sensitivity indices characterizing the importance of the various sources of variability and their interactions. The birth-death and Schlögl models are used to illustrate both the implementation of the algorithm and the richness of the proposed analysis method. The output of the proposed sensitivity analysis is also contrasted with a local derivative-based sensitivity analysis method classically used for this type of systems.

Global sensitivity analysis in stochastic simulators of uncertain reaction networks

DOE PAGES

Navarro Jimenez, M.; Le Maître, O. P.; Knio, O. M.

2016-12-23

Stochastic models of chemical systems are often subjected to uncertainties in kinetic parameters in addition to the inherent random nature of their dynamics. Uncertainty quantification in such systems is generally achieved by means of sensitivity analyses in which one characterizes the variability with the uncertain kinetic parameters of the first statistical moments of model predictions. In this work, we propose an original global sensitivity analysis method where the parametric and inherent variability sources are both treated through Sobol’s decomposition of the variance into contributions from arbitrary subset of uncertain parameters and stochastic reaction channels. The conceptual development only assumes thatmore » the inherent and parametric sources are independent, and considers the Poisson processes in the random-time-change representation of the state dynamics as the fundamental objects governing the inherent stochasticity. Here, a sampling algorithm is proposed to perform the global sensitivity analysis, and to estimate the partial variances and sensitivity indices characterizing the importance of the various sources of variability and their interactions. The birth-death and Schlögl models are used to illustrate both the implementation of the algorithm and the richness of the proposed analysis method. The output of the proposed sensitivity analysis is also contrasted with a local derivative-based sensitivity analysis method classically used for this type of systems.« less

Global sensitivity analysis in stochastic simulators of uncertain reaction networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navarro Jimenez, M.; Le Maître, O. P.; Knio, O. M.

2016-12-01

Stochastic models of chemical systems are often subjected to uncertainties in kinetic parameters in addition to the inherent random nature of their dynamics. Uncertainty quantification in such systems is generally achieved by means of sensitivity analyses in which one characterizes the variability with the uncertain kinetic parameters of the first statistical moments of model predictions. In this work, we propose an original global sensitivity analysis method where the parametric and inherent variability sources are both treated through Sobol's decomposition of the variance into contributions from arbitrary subset of uncertain parameters and stochastic reaction channels. The conceptual development only assumes that the inherent and parametric sources are independent, and considers the Poisson processes in the random-time-change representation of the state dynamics as the fundamental objects governing the inherent stochasticity. A sampling algorithm is proposed to perform the global sensitivity analysis, and to estimate the partial variances and sensitivity indices characterizing the importance of the various sources of variability and their interactions. The birth-death and Schlögl models are used to illustrate both the implementation of the algorithm and the richness of the proposed analysis method. The output of the proposed sensitivity analysis is also contrasted with a local derivative-based sensitivity analysis method classically used for this type of systems.

Modification of the TASMIP x-ray spectral model for the simulation of microfocus x-ray sources

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

Sisniega, A.; Vaquero, J. J., E-mail: juanjose.vaquero@uc3m.es; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid ES28007

2014-01-15

Purpose: The availability of accurate and simple models for the estimation of x-ray spectra is of great importance for system simulation, optimization, or inclusion of photon energy information into data processing. There is a variety of publicly available tools for estimation of x-ray spectra in radiology and mammography. However, most of these models cannot be used directly for modeling microfocus x-ray sources due to differences in inherent filtration, energy range and/or anode material. For this reason the authors propose in this work a new model for the simulation of microfocus spectra based on existing models for mammography and radiology, modifiedmore » to compensate for the effects of inherent filtration and energy range. Methods: The authors used the radiology and mammography versions of an existing empirical model [tungsten anode spectral model interpolating polynomials (TASMIP)] as the basis of the microfocus model. First, the authors estimated the inherent filtration included in the radiology model by comparing the shape of the spectra with spectra from the mammography model. Afterwards, the authors built a unified spectra dataset by combining both models and, finally, they estimated the parameters of the new version of TASMIP for microfocus sources by calibrating against experimental exposure data from a microfocus x-ray source. The model was validated by comparing estimated and experimental exposure and attenuation data for different attenuating materials and x-ray beam peak energy values, using two different x-ray tubes. Results: Inherent filtration for the radiology spectra from TASMIP was found to be equivalent to 1.68 mm Al, as compared to spectra obtained from the mammography model. To match the experimentally measured exposure data the combined dataset required to apply a negative filtration of about 0.21 mm Al and an anode roughness of 0.003 mm W. The validation of the model against real acquired data showed errors in exposure and attenuation in line with those reported for other models for radiology or mammography. Conclusions: A new version of the TASMIP model for the estimation of x-ray spectra in microfocus x-ray sources has been developed and validated experimentally. Similarly to other versions of TASMIP, the estimation of spectra is very simple, involving only the evaluation of polynomial expressions.« less

Finite-time and fixed-time leader-following consensus for multi-agent systems with discontinuous inherent dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ning, Boda; Jin, Jiong; Zheng, Jinchuan; Man, Zhihong

2018-06-01

This paper is concerned with finite-time and fixed-time consensus of multi-agent systems in a leader-following framework. Different from conventional leader-following tracking approaches where inherent dynamics satisfying the Lipschitz continuous condition is required, a more generalised case is investigated: discontinuous inherent dynamics. By nonsmooth techniques, a nonlinear protocol is first proposed to achieve the finite-time leader-following consensus. Then, based on fixed-time stability strategies, the fixed-time leader-following consensus problem is solved. An upper bound of settling time is obtained by using a new protocol, and such a bound is independent of initial states, thereby providing additional options for designers in practical scenarios where initial conditions are unavailable. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.

A review of medical malpractice issues in Malaysia under tort litigation system.

PubMed

Hambali, Siti Naaishah; Khodapanahandeh, Solmaz

2014-04-07

Medical malpractice cases are a matter of much concern in many countries including Malaysia where several cases caught the attention of the public and authorities. Although comprehensive annual statistics on medical negligence claims are not available in Malaysia since such data are not collected systematically in this country there are indications of an upward trend. Medical malpractice cases have been publicized by the media, academic researchers and in government annual reports prompting government policy makers, oversight agencies and the medical profession itself to take appropriate action. The increasing dissatisfaction with the current tort litigation system requires exploring alternatives and new approaches for handling medical malpractice cases. This study aims to examine the difficulties inherent in the tort system in Malaysia for solving medical malpractice claims and evaluates the structure of this system from the perspective of effectiveness, fairness, compensation, accessibility, and accountability.

Review of Medical Malpractice Issues in Malaysia under Tort Litigation System

PubMed Central

Hambali, Siti Naaishah; Khodapanahandeh, Solmaz

2014-01-01

Medical malpractice cases are a matter of much concern in many countries including Malaysia where several cases caught the attention of the public and authorities. Although comprehensive annual statistics on medical negligence claims are not available in Malaysia since such data are not collected systematically in this country there are indications of an upward trend. Medical malpractice cases have been publicized by the media, academic researchers and in government annual reports prompting government policy makers, oversight agencies and the medical profession itself to take appropriate action. The increasing dissatisfaction with the current tort litigation system requires exploring alternatives and new approaches for handling medical malpractice cases. This study aims to examine the difficulties inherent in the tort system in Malaysia for solving medical malpractice claims and evaluates the structure of this system from the perspective of effectiveness, fairness, compensation, accessibility, and accountability. PMID:24999124

One-shot preparation of an inherently chiral trifunctional calix[4]arene from an easily available cone-triformylcalix[4]arene.

PubMed

Ciaccia, Maria; Tosi, Irene; Cacciapaglia, Roberta; Casnati, Alessandro; Baldini, Laura; Di Stefano, Stefano

2013-06-14

Via selective 1,3-distal intramolecular Cannizzaro disproportionation of an easily available cone-triformylcalix[4]arene, an inherently chiral trifunctional cone-calix[4]arene derivative has been prepared. The presence of three different functional groups (-CH2OH, -CHO and -COOH) at the upper rim of the calixarene scaffold makes this compound a versatile intermediate for the development of multifunctional devices. Interesting chiral discrimination of serine derivatives has been observed, presumably thanks to a multipoint-interaction involving the reversible imine bond formation and the hydrogen bonding of the hydroxyl group of the amino acid side-chain with the upper rim functional groups. Consistently, chiral discrimination was not observed with alanine and valine derivatives, lacking hydrogen bonding groups on the side-chain.

Nonlinear optimal control for the synchronization of chaotic and hyperchaotic finance systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rigatos, G.; Siano, P.; Loia, V.; Ademi, S.; Ghosh, T.

2017-11-01

It is possible to make specific finance systems get synchronized to other finance systems exhibiting chaotic and hyperchaotic dynamics, by applying nonlinear optimal (H-infinity) control. This signifies that chaotic behavior can be generated in finance systems by exerting a suitable control input. Actually, a lead financial system is considered which exhibits inherently chaotic dynamics. Moreover, a follower finance system is introduced having parameters in its model that inherently prohibit the appearance of chaotic dynamics. Through the application of a suitable nonlinear optimal (H-infinity) control input it is proven that the follower finance system can replicate the chaotic dynamics of the lead finance system. By applying Lyapunov analysis it is proven that asymptotically the follower finance system gets synchronized with the lead system and that the tracking error between the state variables of the two systems vanishes.

Synthetic Space Vector Modulation

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

especially batteries without fancy controls. Inherently, DC machine commutation is environmentally sensitive and maintenance intensive at well as...reliable DC power supplies especially batteries without fancy controls. Inherently, DC machine commutation is environmentally sensitive and maintenance...Drives and Energy Systems, New Delhi, India , 20-23 December, 2010. [12] PIC18F2331/2431/4331/4431 datasheet DS39616B, Microchip Technology Inc

Some infra-red applications in combustion technology. Interim report 1 March-31 August 78

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

Swithenbank, J.; Turan, A.; Taylor, D.S.

1978-01-01

Infrared technology finds many applications in the field of combustion ranging from pollution monitoring, through military systems, to the control of industrial furnaces and boilers. This review of some selected concepts highlights the interaction between the diagnostic role of infrared measurements and the current status of mathematical modelling of combustion systems. The link between measurement and and computing has also evolved to the point where a digital processor is becoming an inherent part of many new instruments. This point is illustrated by reference to the diffraction particle size meter, fire detection and alarm systems, and furnace control. In the future,more » as fuels become scarce and expensive, and micro-electronics become more available and inexpensive, it is certain that infrared devices will find increasing application in smaller industries and the home. (Author)« less

Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schrader, C. M.; Rickman, D. L.; McLemore, C. A.; Fikes, J. C.

2010-01-01

Based on primary characteristics, currently or recently available lunar regolith simulants are discussed from the perspective of potential experimental uses. The characteristics used are inherent properties of the material rather than their responses to behavioral (geomechanical, physiochemical, etc.) tests. We define these inherent or primary properties to be particle composition, particle size distribution, particle shape distribution, and bulk density. Comparable information about lunar materials is also provided. It is strongly emphasized that anyone considering either choosing or using a simulant should contact one of the members of the simulant program listed at the end of this document.

A Hybrid Authentication and Authorization Process for Control System Networks

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

Manz, David O.; Edgar, Thomas W.; Fink, Glenn A.

2010-08-25

Convergence of control system and IT networks require that security, privacy, and trust be addressed. Trust management continues to plague traditional IT managers and is even more complex when extended into control system networks, with potentially millions of entities, a mission that requires 100% availability. Yet these very networks necessitate a trusted secure environment where controllers and managers can be assured that the systems are secure and functioning properly. We propose a hybrid authentication management protocol that addresses the unique issues inherent within control system networks, while leveraging the considerable research and momentum in existing IT authentication schemes. Our hybridmore » authentication protocol for control systems provides end device to end device authentication within a remote station and between remote stations and control centers. Additionally, the hybrid protocol is failsafe and will not interrupt communication or control of vital systems in a network partition or device failure. Finally, the hybrid protocol is resilient to transitory link loss and can operate in an island mode until connectivity is reestablished.« less

A battery-run pulsed motor with inherent dynamic electronic switch control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tripathi, K. C.; Lal, P.; Sarma, P. R.; Sharma, A. K.; Prakash, V.

1980-02-01

A new type of battery-run brushless ferrite-magnet dc motor system is described. Its rotor part consists of a few permanent ceramic (ferrite) magnets uniformly spread on the rim of a disk (wheel) and the stator part consists of electromagnets placed in such a way that when energized, they always form a repulsive couple to rotate the disk. A sensor coil is placed to give an induced pulse signal, which acts as an inherent dynamic switching time control for the automatic electronic control system. Control of speed, brake system, and safety measures are also discussed. Experimental values for the present system are given. Some possible applications are suggested.

Effect of boric acid mass transfer on the accumulation thereof in a fuel core under emergency modes at NPPs with WMR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morozov, A. V.; Sorokin, A. P.; Ragulin, S. V.; Pityk, A. V.; Sahipgareev, A. R.; Soshkina, A. S.; Shlepkin, A. S.

2017-07-01

Boric acid mass transfer processes in the reactor facilities with WMR are considered for the case of an emergency with breaking of the main circulation pipeline (MCP) and the operation of the passive safety systems, such as first-, second-, and third-stage accumulator tank systems, and a passive heat removal system (PHRS). Calculation results are presented for a change in the boric acid concentration in the fuel core (FC) of a water-moderated reactor (WMR) in the case of an emergency process. The calculations have been performed for different values of drop entrainment of boric acid from the reactor (0, 0.2, 2%). A substantial excess of the maximum concentration of boric acid has been found to occur 24 hours after an emergency event with a break of MCP. It is shown that increasing the droplet entrainment of boric acid causes the crystallization and accumulation thereof in the FC to become slower. The mass of boric acid deposits on the elements of internals is determined depending on the values of drop entrainment. These results allow one to draw a conclusion concerning the possibility of accumulation and crystallization of boric acid in the FC, because the latter event could lead to a blocking of the flow cross section and disturbance in the heat removal from fuel elements. A review of available literature data concerning the thermal properties of boric acid solution (density, viscosity, thermal conductivity) is presented. It is found that the available data are of quite a general character, but it does not cover the entire range of parameters (temperature, pressure, acid concentrations) inherent in a possible emergency situation at nuclear power plants with WMR. It is demonstrated that experimental study of boric acid drop entrainment at the parameters inherent in the emergency mode of WMR operation, as well as the studies of boric acid thermal properties in a wide range of concentrations, are required.

Safety assessment in plant layout design using indexing approach: implementing inherent safety perspective. Part 1 - guideword applicability and method description.

PubMed

Tugnoli, Alessandro; Khan, Faisal; Amyotte, Paul; Cozzani, Valerio

2008-12-15

Layout planning plays a key role in the inherent safety performance of process plants since this design feature controls the possibility of accidental chain-events and the magnitude of possible consequences. A lack of suitable methods to promote the effective implementation of inherent safety in layout design calls for the development of new techniques and methods. In the present paper, a safety assessment approach suitable for layout design in the critical early phase is proposed. The concept of inherent safety is implemented within this safety assessment; the approach is based on an integrated assessment of inherent safety guideword applicability within the constraints typically present in layout design. Application of these guidewords is evaluated along with unit hazards and control devices to quantitatively map the safety performance of different layout options. Moreover, the economic aspects related to safety and inherent safety are evaluated by the method. Specific sub-indices are developed within the integrated safety assessment system to analyze and quantify the hazard related to domino effects. The proposed approach is quick in application, auditable and shares a common framework applicable in other phases of the design lifecycle (e.g. process design). The present work is divided in two parts: Part 1 (current paper) presents the application of inherent safety guidelines in layout design and the index method for safety assessment; Part 2 (accompanying paper) describes the domino hazard sub-index and demonstrates the proposed approach with a case study, thus evidencing the introduction of inherent safety features in layout design.

Legal Issues inherent in space shuttle operations. [reviewed by NASA Deputy General Counsel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

The legal issues inherent in NASA's proceeding into the day-to-day operations of the space shuttle and other elements of the Space Transportation System are considered in light of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. Based on this review, it was concluded that there is no immediate need for substantive amendments to that legislation.

Interim Status Report for Risk Management for SFRs

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

Jankovsky, Zachary Kyle; Denman, Matthew R.; Groth, Katrina

2015-10-01

Accident management is an important component to maintaining risk at acceptable levels for all complex systems, such as nuclear power plants. With the introduction of passive, or inherently safe, reactor designs the focus has shifted from management by operators to allowing the system's design to take advantage of natural phenomena to manage the accident. Inherently and passively safe designs are laudable, but nonetheless extreme boundary conditions can interfere with the design attributes which facilitate inherent safety, thus resulting in unanticipated and undesirable end states. This report examines an inherently safe and small sodium fast reactor experiencing a variety of beyondmore » design basis events with the intent of exploring the utility of a Dynamic Bayesian Network to infer the state of the reactor to inform the operator's corrective actions. These inferences also serve to identify the instruments most critical to informing an operator's actions as candidates for hardening against radiation and other extreme environmental conditions that may exist in an accident. This reduction in uncertainty serves to inform ongoing discussions of how small sodium reactors would be licensed and may serve to reduce regulatory risk and cost for such reactors.« less

Looped back fiber mode for reduction of false alarm in leak detection using distributed optical fiber sensor.

PubMed

Chelliah, Pandian; Murgesan, Kasinathan; Samvel, Sosamma; Chelamchala, Babu Rao; Tammana, Jayakumar; Nagarajan, Murali; Raj, Baldev

2010-07-10

Optical-fiber-based sensors have inherent advantages, such as immunity to electromagnetic interference, compared to the conventional sensors. Distributed optical fiber sensor (DOFS) systems, such as Raman and Brillouin distributed temperature sensors are used for leak detection. The inherent noise of fiber-based systems leads to occasional false alarms. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to overcome this. This uses a looped back fiber mode in DOFS and voting logic is employed to considerably reduce the false alarm rate.

Effects of toxic chemicals on the reproductive system. Council on Scientific Affairs.

PubMed

1985-06-21

In an effort to make physicians more aware of the hazards of the workplace to pregnant workers, the Council on Scientific Affairs' Advisory Panel on Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace prepared this third and final report reviewing the effects of chemical exposure. A total of 120 chemicals were considered for reviews based on an estimation of their imminent hazard, ie, widespread use and/or inherent toxicity. Following a brief introduction, which sets out general principles, clinical applications, and aids to the recognition of a human teratogen, the report presents reviews and opinions for three representative chemicals. Information concerning the remaining 117 compounds is available upon request.

Design Considerations of a Solid State Thermal Energy Storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janbozorgi, Mohammad; Houssainy, Sammy; Thacker, Ariana; Ip, Peggy; Ismail, Walid; Kavehpour, Pirouz

2016-11-01

With the growing governmental restrictions on carbon emission, renewable energies are becoming more prevalent. A reliable use of a renewable source however requires a built-in storage to overcome the inherent intermittent nature of the available energy. Thermal design of a solid state energy storage has been investigated for optimal performance. The impact of flow regime, laminar vs. turbulent, on the design and sizing of the system is also studied. The implications of low thermal conductivity of the storage material are discussed and a design that maximizes the round trip efficiency is presented. This study was supported by Award No. EPC-14-027 Granted by California Energy Commission (CEC).

Clinical Note Creation, Binning, and Artificial Intelligence

PubMed Central

Deliberato, Rodrigo Octávio; Stone, David J

2017-01-01

The creation of medical notes in software applications poses an intrinsic problem in workflow as the technology inherently intervenes in the processes of collecting and assembling information, as well as the production of a data-driven note that meets both individual and healthcare system requirements. In addition, the note writing applications in currently available electronic health records (EHRs) do not function to support decision making to any substantial degree. We suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) could be utilized to facilitate the workflows of the data collection and assembly processes, as well as to support the development of personalized, yet data-driven assessments and plans. PMID:28778845

Evaluating Informal Support.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Litwin, Howard; Auslander, Gail K.

1990-01-01

Dilemmas inherent in the attempt to measure and evaluate informal supports available to individuals in need of social care are illustrated through a study of 400 elderly persons in Jerusalem. Practical guidelines for evaluation are presented. (SLD)

Modeling water resources as a constraint in electricity capacity expansion models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newmark, R. L.; Macknick, J.; Cohen, S.; Tidwell, V. C.; Woldeyesus, T.; Martinez, A.

2013-12-01

In the United States, the electric power sector is the largest withdrawer of freshwater in the nation. The primary demand for water from the electricity sector is for thermoelectric power plant cooling. Areas likely to see the largest near-term growth in population and energy usage, the Southwest and the Southeast, are also facing freshwater scarcity and have experienced water-related power reliability issues in the past decade. Lack of water may become a barrier for new conventionally-cooled power plants, and alternative cooling systems will impact technology cost and performance. Although water is integral to electricity generation, it has long been neglected as a constraint in future electricity system projections. Assessing the impact of water resource scarcity on energy infrastructure development is critical, both for conventional and renewable energy technologies. Efficiently utilizing all water types, including wastewater and brackish sources, or utilizing dry-cooling technologies, will be essential for transitioning to a low-carbon electricity system. This work provides the first demonstration of a national electric system capacity expansion model that incorporates water resources as a constraint on the current and future U.S. electricity system. The Regional Electricity Deployment System (ReEDS) model was enhanced to represent multiple cooling technology types and limited water resource availability in its optimization of electricity sector capacity expansion to 2050. The ReEDS model has high geographic and temporal resolution, making it a suitable model for incorporating water resources, which are inherently seasonal and watershed-specific. Cooling system technologies were assigned varying costs (capital, operations and maintenance), and performance parameters, reflecting inherent tradeoffs in water impacts and operating characteristics. Water rights supply curves were developed for each of the power balancing regions in ReEDS. Supply curves include costs and availability of freshwater (surface and groundwater) and alternative water resources (municipal wastewater and brackish groundwater). In each region, a new power plant must secure sufficient water rights for operation before being built. Water rights constraints thus influence the type of power plant, cooling system, or location of new generating capacity. Results indicate that the aggregate national generating capacity by fuel type and associated carbon dioxide emissions change marginally with the inclusion of water rights. Water resource withdrawals and consumption, however, can vary considerably. Regional water resource dynamics indicate substantial differences in the location where power plant-cooling system technology combinations are built. These localized impacts highlight the importance of considering water resources as a constraint in the electricity sector when evaluating costs, transmission infrastructure needs, and externalities. Further scenario evaluations include assessments of how climate change could affect the availability of water resources, and thus the development of the electricity sector.

From data to evidence: evaluative methods in evidence-based medicine.

PubMed

Landry, M D; Sibbald, W J

2001-11-01

The amount of published information is increasing exponentially, and recent technologic advances have created systems whereby mass distribution of this information can occur at an infinite rate. This is particularly true in the broad field of medicine, as the absolute volume of data available to the practicing clinician is creating new challenges in the management of relevant information flow. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an information management and learning strategy that seeks to integrate clinical expertise with the best evidence available in order to make effective clinical decisions that will ultimately improve patient care. The systematic approach underlying EBM encourages the clinician to formulate specific and relevant questions, which are answered in an iterative manner through accessing the best available published evidence. The arguments against EBM stem from the idea that there are inherent weaknesses in research methodologies and that emphasis placed on published research may ignore clinical skills and individual patient needs. Despite these arguments, EBM is gaining momentum and is consistently used as a method of learning and improving health care delivery. However, if EBM is to be effective, the clinician needs to have a critical understanding of research methodology in order to judge the value and level of a particular data source. Without critical analysis of research methodology, there is an inherent risk of drawing incorrect conclusions that may affect clinical decision-making. Currently, there is a trend toward using secondary pre-appraised data rather than primary sources as best evidence. We review the qualitative and quantitative methodology commonly used in EBM and argue that it is necessary for the clinician to preferentially use primary rather than secondary sources in making clinically relevant decisions.

Space Transportation System Availability Requirement and Its Influencing Attributes Relationships

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhodes, Russell E.; Adams, Timothy C.; McCleskey, Carey M.

2008-01-01

It is important that engineering and management accept the need for an availability requirement that is derived with its influencing attributes. It is the intent of this paper to provide the visibility of relationships of these major attribute drivers (variables) to each other and the resultant system inherent availability. Also important to provide bounds of the variables providing engineering the insight required to control the system's engineering solution, e.g., these influencing attributes become design requirements also. These variables will drive the need to provide integration of similar discipline functions or technology selection to allow control of the total parts count. The relationship of selecting a reliability requirement will place a constraint on parts count to achieve a given availability requirement or if allowed to increase the parts count will drive the system reliability requirement higher. They also provide the understanding for the relationship of mean repair time (or mean down time) to maintainability, e.g., accessibility for repair, and both the mean time between failure, e.g., reliability of hardware and availability. The concerns and importance of achieving a strong availability requirement is driven by the need for affordability, the choice of using the two launch solution for the single space application, or the need to control the spare parts count needed to support the long stay in either orbit or on the surface of the moon. Understanding the requirements before starting the architectural design concept will avoid considerable time and money required to iterate the design to meet the redesign and assessment process required to achieve the results required of the customer's space transportation system. In fact the impact to the schedule to being able to deliver the system that meets the customer's needs, goals, and objectives may cause the customer to compromise his desired operational goal and objectives resulting in considerable increased life cycle cost of the fielded space transportation system.

Space Transportation System Availability Requirements and Its Influencing Attributes Relationships

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhodes, Russell E.; Adams, Timothy C.; McCleskey, Carey M.

2008-01-01

It is important that engineering and management accept the need for an availability requirement that is derived with its influencing attributes. It is the intent of this paper to provide the visibility of relationships of these major attribute drivers (variables) to each other and the resultant system inherent availability. Also important to provide bounds of the variables providing engineering the insight required to control the system's engineering solution, e.g., these influencing attributes become design requirements also. These variables will drive the need to provide integration of similar discipline functions or technology selection to allow control of the total parts count. The relationship of selecting a reliability requirement will place a constraint on parts count to achieve a given availability requirement or if allowed to increase the parts count will drive the system reliability requirement higher. They also provide the understanding for the relationship of mean repair time (or mean down time) to maintainability, e.g., accessibility for repair, and both the mean time between failure, e.g., reliability of hardware and availability. The concerns and importance of achieving a strong availability requirement is driven by the need for affordability, the choice of using the two launch solution for the single space application, or the need to control the spare parts count needed to support the long stay in either orbit or on the surface of the moon. Understanding the requirements before starting the architectural design concept will avoid considerable time and money required to iterate the design to meet the redesign and assessment process required to achieve the results required of the customer's space transportation system. In fact the impact to the schedule to being able to deliver the system that meets the customer's needs, goals, and objectives may cause the customer to compromise his desired operational goal and objectives resulting in considerable increased life cycle cost of the fielded space transportation system.

Comparative Assessment of Physical and Social Determinants of Water Quantity and Water Quality Concerns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunda, T.; Hornberger, G. M.

2017-12-01

Concerns over water resources have evolved over time, from physical availability to economic access and recently, to a more comprehensive study of "water security," which is inherently interdisciplinary because a secure water system is influenced by and affects both physical and social components. The concept of water security carries connotations of both an adequate supply of water as well as water that meets certain quality standards. Although the term "water security" has many interpretations in the literature, the research field has not yet developed a synthetic analysis of water security as both a quantity (availability) and quality (contamination) issue. Using qualitative comparative and multi-regression analyses, we evaluate the primary physical and social factors influencing U.S. states' water security from a quantity perspective and from a quality perspective. Water system characteristics are collated from academic and government sources and include access/use, governance, and sociodemographic, and ecosystem metrics. Our analysis indicates differences in variables driving availability and contamination concerns; for example, climate is a more significant determinant in water quantity-based security analyses than in water quality-based security analyses. We will also discuss coevolution of system traits and the merits of constructing a robust water security index based on the relative importance of metrics from our analyses. These insights will improve understanding of the complex interactions between quantity and quality aspects and thus, overall security of water systems.

Analysis of Feedback in after Action Reviews

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

CONNTSM Page INTRODUCTIUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Perspective on Feedback. . ....... • • ..... • 1 Overviev of %,•urrent Research...part of their training program . The AAR is in marked contrast to the critique method of feedback which is often used in military training. The AAR...feedback is task-inherent feedback. Task-inherent feedback refers to human-machine interacting systems, e.g., computers , where in a visual tracking task

An integrated information retrieval and document management system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coles, L. Stephen; Alvarez, J. Fernando; Chen, James; Chen, William; Cheung, Lai-Mei; Clancy, Susan; Wong, Alexis

1993-01-01

This paper describes the requirements and prototype development for an intelligent document management and information retrieval system that will be capable of handling millions of pages of text or other data. Technologies for scanning, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), magneto-optical storage, and multiplatform retrieval using a Standard Query Language (SQL) will be discussed. The semantic ambiguity inherent in the English language is somewhat compensated-for through the use of coefficients or weighting factors for partial synonyms. Such coefficients are used both for defining structured query trees for routine queries and for establishing long-term interest profiles that can be used on a regular basis to alert individual users to the presence of relevant documents that may have just arrived from an external source, such as a news wire service. Although this attempt at evidential reasoning is limited in comparison with the latest developments in AI Expert Systems technology, it has the advantage of being commercially available.

Mandibular implant-supported overdentures: attachment systems, and number and locations of implants--Part I.

PubMed

Warreth, Abdulhadi; Alkadhimi, Aslam Fadel; Sultan, Ahmed; Byrne, Caroline; Woods, Edel

2015-01-01

The use of dental implants in replacing missing teeth is an integral part of restorative dental treatment. Use of conventional complete dentures is associated with several problems such as lack of denture stability, support and retention. However, when mandibular complete dentures were used with two or more implants, an improvement in the patients' psychological and social well-being could be seen. There is general consensus that removable implant-supported overdentures (RISOs) with two implants should be considered as the first-choice standard of care for an edentulous mandible. This treatment option necessitates the use of attachment systems that connect the complete denture to the implant. Nevertheless, each attachment system has its inherent advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered when choosing a system. The first part of this article provides an overview on options available to restore the mandibular edentulous arch with dental implants. Different types of attachment systems, their features and drawbacks are also reviewed.

Management systems, patient quality improvement, resource availability, and substance abuse treatment quality.

PubMed

Fields, Dail; Roman, Paul M; Blum, Terry C

2012-06-01

To examine the relationships among general management systems, patient-focused quality management/continuous process improvement (TQM/CPI) processes, resource availability, and multiple dimensions of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Data are from a nationally representative sample of 221 SUD treatment centers through the National Treatment Center Study (NTCS). The design was a cross-sectional field study using latent variable structural equation models. The key variables are management practices, TQM/continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, resource availability, and treatment center performance. Interviews and questionnaires provided data from treatment center administrative directors and clinical directors in 2007-2008. Patient-focused TQM/CQI practices fully mediated the relationship between internal management practices and performance. The effects of TQM/CQI on performance are significantly larger for treatment centers with higher levels of staff per patient. Internal management practices may create a setting that supports implementation of specific patient-focused practices and protocols inherent to TQM/CQI processes. However, the positive effects of internal management practices on treatment center performance occur through use of specific patient-focused TQM/CPI practices and have more impact when greater amounts of supporting resources are present. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Management Systems, Patient Quality Improvement, Resource Availability, and Substance Abuse Treatment Quality

PubMed Central

Fields, Dail; Roman, Paul M; Blum, Terry C

2012-01-01

Objective To examine the relationships among general management systems, patient-focused quality management/continuous process improvement (TQM/CPI) processes, resource availability, and multiple dimensions of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Data Sources/Study Setting Data are from a nationally representative sample of 221 SUD treatment centers through the National Treatment Center Study (NTCS). Study Design The design was a cross-sectional field study using latent variable structural equation models. The key variables are management practices, TQM/continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, resource availability, and treatment center performance. Data Collection Interviews and questionnaires provided data from treatment center administrative directors and clinical directors in 2007–2008. Principal Findings Patient-focused TQM/CQI practices fully mediated the relationship between internal management practices and performance. The effects of TQM/CQI on performance are significantly larger for treatment centers with higher levels of staff per patient. Conclusions Internal management practices may create a setting that supports implementation of specific patient-focused practices and protocols inherent to TQM/CQI processes. However, the positive effects of internal management practices on treatment center performance occur through use of specific patient-focused TQM/CPI practices and have more impact when greater amounts of supporting resources are present. PMID:22098342

REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF HETEROGENEOUS SOILS

EPA Science Inventory

Standard sampling and analysis methods for hazardous substances in contaminated soils currently are available and routinely employed. Standard methods inherently assume a homogeneous soil matrix and contaminant distribution; therefore only small sample quantities typically are p...

Using the Power of Media to Communicate Science: A Question of Style?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Imhof, Heidi

1991-01-01

Discusses educational effects of the style, content, and quality inherent in several multimedia and desktop-publishing products available to science teachers, including books, interactive software, videos, and computer simulations. (JJK)

Spectrally-balanced chromatic approach-lighting system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chase, W. D.

1977-01-01

Approach lighting system employing combinations of red and blue lights reduces problem of color-based optical illusions. System exploits inherent chromatic aberration of eye to create three-dimensional effect, giving pilot visual clues of position.

Sensors and actuators inherent in biological species

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taya, Minoru; Stahlberg, Rainer; Li, Fanghong; Zhao, Ying Joyce

2007-04-01

This paper addresses examples of sensing and active mechanisms inherent in some biological species where both plants and animals cases are discussed: mechanosensors and actuators in Venus Fly Trap and cucumber tendrils, chemosensors in insects, two cases of interactions between different kingdoms, (i) cotton plant smart defense system and (ii) bird-of-paradise flower and hamming bird interaction. All these cases lead us to recognize how energy-efficient and flexible the biological sensors and actuators are. This review reveals the importance of integration of sensing and actuation functions into an autonomous system if we make biomimetic design of a set of new autonomous systems which can sense and actuate under a number of different stimuli and threats.

Effects Of Environmental And Operational Stresses On RF MEMS Switch Technologies For Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jah, Muzar; Simon, Eric; Sharma, Ashok

2003-01-01

Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) have been heralded for their ability to provide tremendous advantages in electronic systems through increased electrical performance, reduced power consumption, and higher levels of device integration with a reduction of board real estate. RF MEMS switch technology offers advantages such as low insertion loss (0.1- 0.5 dB), wide bandwidth (1 GHz-100 GHz), and compatibility with many different process technologies (quartz, high resistivity Si, GaAs) which can replace the use of traditional electronic switches, such as GaAs FETS and PIN Diodes, in microwave systems for low signal power (x < 500 mW) applications. Although the electrical characteristics of RF MEMS switches far surpass any existing technologies, the unknown reliability, due to the lack of information concerning failure modes and mechanisms inherent to MEMS devices, create an obstacle to insertion of MEMS technology into high reliability applications. All MEMS devices are sensitive to moisture and contaminants, issues easily resolved by hermetic or near-hermetic packaging. Two well-known failure modes of RF MEMS switches are charging in the dielectric layer of capacitive membrane switches and contact interface stiction of metal-metal switches. Determining the integrity of MEMS devices when subjected to the shock, vibration, temperature extremes, and radiation of the space environment is necessary to facilitate integration into space systems. This paper will explore the effects of different environmental stresses, operational life cycling, temperature, mechanical shock, and vibration on the first commercially available RF MEMS switches to identify relevant failure modes and mechanisms inherent to these device and packaging schemes for space applications. This paper will also describe RF MEMS Switch technology under development at NASA GSFC.

Polar exponential sensor arrays unify iconic and Hough space representation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weiman, Carl F. R.

1990-01-01

The log-polar coordinate system, inherent in both polar exponential sensor arrays and log-polar remapped video imagery, is identical to the coordinate system of its corresponding Hough transform parameter space. The resulting unification of iconic and Hough domains simplifies computation for line recognition and eliminates the slope quantization problems inherent in the classical Cartesian Hough transform. The geometric organization of the algorithm is more amenable to massively parallel architectures than that of the Cartesian version. The neural architecture of the human visual cortex meets the geometric requirements to execute 'in-place' log-Hough algorithms of the kind described here.

Ultra-high field NMR and MRI - the role of magnet technology to increase sensitivity and specificity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moser, Ewald; Laistler, Elmar; Schmitt, Franz; Kontaxis, Georg

2017-08-01

"History, of course, is difficult to write, if for no other reason, than that it has so many players and so many authors." - P. J. Keating (former Australian Prime Minister) Starting with post-war developments in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) a race for stronger and stronger magnetic fields has begun in the 1950s to overcome the inherently low sensitivity of this promising method. Further challenges were larger magnet bores to accommodate small animals and eventually humans. Initially, resistive electromagnets with small pole distances, or sample volumes, and field strengths up to 2.35 T (or 100 MHz 1H frequency) were used in applications in physics, chemistry, and material science. This was followed by stronger and more stable (NbTi based) superconducting magnet technology typically implemented first for small-bore systems in analytical chemistry, biochemistry and structural biology, and eventually allowing larger horizontal-bore magnets with diameters large enough to fit small laboratory animals. By the end of the 1970s, first low-field resistive magnets big enough to accommodate humans were developed and superconducting whole-body systems followed. Currently, cutting-edge analytical NMR systems are available at proton frequencies up to 1 GHz (23.5 T) based on Nb3Sn at 1.9 K. A new 1.2 GHz system (28 T) at 1.9 K, operating in persistent mode but using a combination of low and high temperature multi-filament superconductors is to be released. Preclinical instruments range from small-bore animal systems with typically 600 - 800 MHz (14.1 - 18.8 T) up to 900 MHz (21 T) at 1.9 K. Human whole-body MRI systems currently operate up to 10.5 T. Hybrid combined superconducting and resistive electromagnets with even higher field strength of 45 T dc and 100 T pulsed, are available for material research, of course with smaller free bore diameters. This rather costly development towards higher and higher field strength is a consequence of the inherently low and, thus, urgently needed sensitivity in all NMR experiments. This review particularly describes and compares the developments in superconducting magnet technology and, thus, sensitivity in three fields of research: analytical NMR, biomedical and preclinical research, and human MRI and MRS, highlighting important steps and

Enhancing clinical teaching with information technologies: what can we do right now?

PubMed

Sandroni, S

1997-09-01

Effective small-group clinical teaching requires recognizing the challenges posed by clinical settings, mastering certain teaching skills, and responding to the needs of what is often a diverse group of learners. Information technologies can enhance clinical teaching by increasing the amount of relevant clinical information available to learners, allowing for the rapid integration of needed information into the teaching encounter, facilitating information processing within small groups, and helping to compensate for the many discontinuities inherent in today's clinical teaching environment. However, as many clinical teachers look toward future implementations of advanced, totally integrated medical information systems, they often overlook information technologies they have at hand right now--e.g., CD-ROM textbooks--that can measurably enhance their teaching. The author describes the "real-world" use of several available technologies (for example, "bookmarking" MEDLINE access points) and offers suggestions for how they might be used by faculty in clinical settings.

Organization of biogeochemical nitrogen pathways with switch-like adjustment in fluctuating soil redox conditions

PubMed Central

Lamba, Sanjay; Bera, Soumen; Rashid, Mubasher; Medvinsky, Alexander B.; Acquisti, Claudia; Li, Bai-Lian

2017-01-01

Nitrogen is cycled throughout ecosystems by a suite of biogeochemical processes. The high complexity of the nitrogen cycle resides in an intricate interplay between reversible biochemical pathways alternatively and specifically activated in response to diverse environmental cues. Despite aggressive research, how the fundamental nitrogen biochemical processes are assembled and maintained in fluctuating soil redox conditions remains elusive. Here, we address this question using a kinetic modelling approach coupled with dynamical systems theory and microbial genomics. We show that alternative biochemical pathways play a key role in keeping nitrogen conversion and conservation properties invariant in fluctuating environments. Our results indicate that the biochemical network holds inherent adaptive capacity to stabilize ammonium and nitrate availability, and that the bistability in the formation of ammonium is linked to the transient upregulation of the amo-hao mediated nitrification pathway. The bistability is maintained by a pair of complementary subsystems acting as either source or sink type systems in response to soil redox fluctuations. It is further shown how elevated anthropogenic pressure has the potential to break down the stability of the system, altering substantially ammonium and nitrate availability in the soil, with dramatic effects on biodiversity. PMID:28280580

Clique Relaxations in Biological and Social Network Analysis Foundations and Algorithms

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-26

study of clique relaxation models arising in biological and social networks. This project examines the elementary clique-defining properties... elementary clique-defining properties inherently exploited in the available clique relaxation models and pro- poses a taxonomic framework that not...analyzes the elementary clique-defining properties implicitly exploited in the available clique relaxation models and proposes a taxonomic framework that

Benchmark Simulations of the Thermal-Hydraulic Responses during EBR-II Inherent Safety Tests using SAM

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

Hu, Rui; Sumner, Tyler S.

2016-04-17

An advanced system analysis tool SAM is being developed for fast-running, improved-fidelity, and whole-plant transient analyses at Argonne National Laboratory under DOE-NE’s Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program. As an important part of code development, companion validation activities are being conducted to ensure the performance and validity of the SAM code. This paper presents the benchmark simulations of two EBR-II tests, SHRT-45R and BOP-302R, whose data are available through the support of DOE-NE’s Advanced Reactor Technology (ART) program. The code predictions of major primary coolant system parameter are compared with the test results. Additionally, the SAS4A/SASSYS-1 code simulationmore » results are also included for a code-to-code comparison.« less

Predicting remaining life by fusing the physics of failure modeling with diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kacprzynski, G. J.; Sarlashkar, A.; Roemer, M. J.; Hess, A.; Hardman, B.

2004-03-01

Technology that enables failure prediction of critical machine components (prognostics) has the potential to significantly reduce maintenance costs and increase availability and safety. This article summarizes a research effort funded through the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Naval Air System Command aimed at enhancing prognostic accuracy through more advanced physics-of-failure modeling and intelligent utilization of relevant diagnostic information. H-60 helicopter gear is used as a case study to introduce both stochastic sub-zone crack initiation and three-dimensional fracture mechanics lifing models along with adaptive model updating techniques for tuning key failure mode variables at a local material/damage site based on fused vibration features. The overall prognostic scheme is aimed at minimizing inherent modeling and operational uncertainties via sensed system measurements that evolve as damage progresses.

48 CFR 34.202 - Integrated Baseline Reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Integrated Baseline... SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF CONTRACTING MAJOR SYSTEM ACQUISITION Earned Value Management System 34.202... inherent risks in offerors'/contractors' performance plans and the underlying management control systems...

48 CFR 34.202 - Integrated Baseline Reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Integrated Baseline... SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF CONTRACTING MAJOR SYSTEM ACQUISITION Earned Value Management System 34.202... inherent risks in offerors'/contractors' performance plans and the underlying management control systems...

48 CFR 34.202 - Integrated Baseline Reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Integrated Baseline... SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF CONTRACTING MAJOR SYSTEM ACQUISITION Earned Value Management System 34.202... inherent risks in offerors'/contractors' performance plans and the underlying management control systems...

COMP Superscalar, an interoperable programming framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badia, Rosa M.; Conejero, Javier; Diaz, Carlos; Ejarque, Jorge; Lezzi, Daniele; Lordan, Francesc; Ramon-Cortes, Cristian; Sirvent, Raul

2015-12-01

COMPSs is a programming framework that aims to facilitate the parallelization of existing applications written in Java, C/C++ and Python scripts. For that purpose, it offers a simple programming model based on sequential development in which the user is mainly responsible for (i) identifying the functions to be executed as asynchronous parallel tasks and (ii) annotating them with annotations or standard Python decorators. A runtime system is in charge of exploiting the inherent concurrency of the code, automatically detecting and enforcing the data dependencies between tasks and spawning these tasks to the available resources, which can be nodes in a cluster, clouds or grids. In cloud environments, COMPSs provides scalability and elasticity features allowing the dynamic provision of resources.

Application of a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to laser marking.

PubMed

Parry, Jonathan P; Beck, Rainer J; Shephard, Jonathan D; Hand, Duncan P

2011-04-20

Laser marking is demonstrated using a nanosecond (ns) pulse duration laser in combination with a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to generate two-dimensional patterns directly onto thin films and bulk metal surfaces. Previous demonstrations of laser marking with such devices have been limited to low average power lasers. Application in the ns regime enables more complex, larger scale marks to be generated with more widely available and industrially proven laser systems. The dynamic nature of the device is utilized to improve mark quality by reducing the impact of the inherently speckled intensity distribution across the generated image and reduce thermal effects in the marked surface. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Adaptive control of a millimeter-scale flapping-wing robot.

PubMed

Chirarattananon, Pakpong; Ma, Kevin Y; Wood, Robert J

2014-06-01

Challenges for the controlled flight of a robotic insect are due to the inherent instability of the system, complex fluid-structure interactions, and the general lack of a complete system model. In this paper, we propose theoretical models of the system based on the limited information available from previous work and a comprehensive flight controller. The modular flight controller is derived from Lyapunov function candidates with proven stability over a large region of attraction. Moreover, it comprises adaptive components that are capable of coping with uncertainties in the system that arise from manufacturing imperfections. We have demonstrated that the proposed methods enable the robot to achieve sustained hovering flights with relatively small errors compared to a non-adaptive approach. Simple lateral maneuvers and vertical takeoff and landing flights are also shown to illustrate the fidelity of the flight controller. The analysis suggests that the adaptive scheme is crucial in order to achieve millimeter-scale precision in flight control as observed in natural insect flight.

Training Medical Novices in Spinal Microsurgery: Does the Modality Matter? A Pilot Study Comparing Traditional Microscopic Surgery and a Novel Robotic Optoelectronic Visualization Tool

PubMed Central

Tubbs, R. Shane; Page, Jeni; Chapman, Alexandra; Burgess, Brittni; Laws, Tyler; Warren, Haylie; Oskouian, Rod J

2016-01-01

The operative microscope has been a staple instrument in the neurosurgical operating room over the last 50 years. With advances in optoelectronics, options such as robotically controlled high magnification have become available. Such robotically controlled optoelectronic systems may offer new opportunities in surgical technique and teaching. However, traditionally trained surgeons may find it hard to accept newer technologies due to an inherent bias emerging from their previous background. We, therefore, studied how a medically naïve population in a pilot study would meet set microsurgical goals in a cadaver experiment using either a conventional operative microscope or BrightMatter™ Servo system, ​a robotically controlled optoelectronic system (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). We found that the relative ease in teaching medical novices with a robotically controlled optoelectronic system was more valuable when compared to using a modern-day surgical microscope. PMID:26973804

Microgravity isolation system design: A modern control analysis framework

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hampton, R. D.; Knospe, C. R.; Allaire, P. E.; Grodsinsky, C. M.

1994-01-01

Many acceleration-sensitive, microgravity science experiments will require active vibration isolation from the manned orbiters on which they will be mounted. The isolation problem, especially in the case of a tethered payload, is a complex three-dimensional one that is best suited to modern-control design methods. These methods, although more powerful than their classical counterparts, can nonetheless go only so far in meeting the design requirements for practical systems. Once a tentative controller design is available, it must still be evaluated to determine whether or not it is fully acceptable, and to compare it with other possible design candidates. Realistically, such evaluation will be an inherent part of a necessary iterative design process. In this paper, an approach is presented for applying complex mu-analysis methods to a closed-loop vibration isolation system (experiment plus controller). An analysis framework is presented for evaluating nominal stability, nominal performance, robust stability, and robust performance of active microgravity isolation systems, with emphasis on the effective use of mu-analysis methods.

An efficient and secure dynamic ID-based authentication scheme for telecare medical information systems.

PubMed

Chen, Hung-Ming; Lo, Jung-Wen; Yeh, Chang-Kuo

2012-12-01

The rapidly increased availability of always-on broadband telecommunication environments and lower-cost vital signs monitoring devices bring the advantages of telemedicine directly into the patient's home. Hence, the control of access to remote medical servers' resources has become a crucial challenge. A secure authentication scheme between the medical server and remote users is therefore needed to safeguard data integrity, confidentiality and to ensure availability. Recently, many authentication schemes that use low-cost mobile devices have been proposed to meet these requirements. In contrast to previous schemes, Khan et al. proposed a dynamic ID-based remote user authentication scheme that reduces computational complexity and includes features such as a provision for the revocation of lost or stolen smart cards and a time expiry check for the authentication process. However, Khan et al.'s scheme has some security drawbacks. To remedy theses, this study proposes an enhanced authentication scheme that overcomes the weaknesses inherent in Khan et al.'s scheme and demonstrated this scheme is more secure and robust for use in a telecare medical information system.

A Scalable, Out-of-Band Diagnostics Architecture for International Space Station Systems Support

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fletcher, Daryl P.; Alena, Rick; Clancy, Daniel (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The computational infrastructure of the International Space Station (ISS) is a dynamic system that supports multiple vehicle subsystems such as Caution and Warning, Electrical Power Systems and Command and Data Handling (C&DH), as well as scientific payloads of varying size and complexity. The dynamic nature of the ISS configuration coupled with the increased demand for payload support places a significant burden on the inherently resource constrained computational infrastructure of the ISS. Onboard system diagnostics applications are hosted on computers that are elements of the avionics network while ground-based diagnostic applications receive only a subset of available telemetry, down-linked via S-band communications. In this paper we propose a scalable, out-of-band diagnostics architecture for ISS systems support that uses a read-only connection for C&DH data acquisition, which provides a lower cost of deployment and maintenance (versus a higher criticality readwrite connection). The diagnostics processing burden is off-loaded from the avionics network to elements of the on-board LAN that have a lower overall cost of operation and increased computational capacity. A superset of diagnostic data, richer in content than the configured telemetry, is made available to Advanced Diagnostic System (ADS) clients running on wireless handheld devices, affording the crew greater mobility for troubleshooting and providing improved insight into vehicle state. The superset of diagnostic data is made available to the ground in near real-time via an out-of band downlink, providing a high level of fidelity between vehicle state and test, training and operational facilities on the ground.

Posttest analysis of the FFTF inherent safety tests

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

Padilla, A. Jr.; Claybrook, S.W.

Inherent safety tests were performed during 1986 in the 400-MW (thermal) Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) reactor to demonstrate the effectiveness of an inherent shutdown device called the gas expansion module (GEM). The GEM device provided a strong negative reactivity feedback during loss-of-flow conditions by increasing the neutron leakage as a result of an expanding gas bubble. The best-estimate pretest calculations for these tests were performed using the IANUS plant analysis code (Westinghouse Electric Corporation proprietary code) and the MELT/SIEX3 core analysis code. These two codes were also used to perform the required operational safety analyses for the FFTF reactormore » and plant. Although it was intended to also use the SASSYS systems (core and plant) analysis code, the calibration of the SASSYS code for FFTF core and plant analysis was not completed in time to perform pretest analyses. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the posttest analysis of the 1986 FFTF inherent safety tests using the SASSYS code.« less

Theoretical Issues of Validity in the Measurement of Aided Speech Reception Threshold in Noise for Comparing Nonlinear Hearing Aid Systems.

PubMed

Naylor, Graham

2016-07-01

Adaptive Speech Reception Threshold in noise (SRTn) measurements are often used to make comparisons between alternative hearing aid (HA) systems. Such measurements usually do not constrain the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at which testing takes place. Meanwhile, HA systems increasingly include nonlinear features that operate differently in different SNRs, and listeners differ in their inherent SNR requirements. To show that SRTn measurements, as commonly used in comparisons of alternative HA systems, suffer from threats to their validity, to illustrate these threats with examples of potentially invalid conclusions in the research literature, and to propose ways to tackle these threats. An examination of the nature of SRTn measurements in the context of test theory, modern nonlinear HAs, and listener diversity. Examples from the audiological research literature were used to estimate typical interparticipant variation in SRTn and to illustrate cases where validity may have been compromised. There can be no doubt that SRTn measurements, when used to compare nonlinear HA systems, in principle, suffer from threats to their internal and external/ecological validity. Interactions between HA nonlinearities and SNR, and interparticipant differences in inherent SNR requirements, can act to generate misleading results. In addition, SRTn may lie at an SNR outside the range for which the HA system is designed or expected to operate in. Although the extent of invalid conclusions in the literature is difficult to evaluate, examples of studies were nevertheless identified where the risk of each form of invalidity is significant. Reliable data on ecological SNRs is becoming available, so that ecological validity can be assessed. Methodological developments that can reduce the risk of invalid conclusions include variations on the SRTn measurement procedure itself, manipulations of stimulus or scoring conditions to place SRTn in an ecologically relevant range, and design and analysis approaches that take account of interparticipant differences. American Academy of Audiology.

Review of methodology and technology available for the detection of extrasolar planetary systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tarter, J. C.; Black, D. C.; Billingham, J.

1986-01-01

Anyone undertaking an interstellar voyage might wish to be assured of the existence of a safe planetary harbor at the other end! Aside from the obvious interest of the participants in this Symposium, astronomers and astrophysicists are also eager to detect and study other planetary systems in order to better understand the formation of our own Solar System. Scientists involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence argue that planets suitable for the evolution of life may abound elsewhere within our own Milky Way Galaxy. On theoretical grounds, they are probably correct, but they lack any observational support. For in spite of decades of claimed astrometric detections of planetary companions and the recent exciting and tantalizing observations from the IRAS satellite and the IR speckle observations of Van Biesbroeck 8 and other cool stars, there is no unambiguous proof for the existence of another planetary system beyond our own. In this paper we review the various methods for detecting extrasolar planets and briefly describe the Earth and space based technology currently available and discuss the near-term plans to implement these different search techniques. In each case an attempt is made to identify the limiting source of systematic error inherent to the methodology and to assess the potential for technological improvements.

Active Control of pH in the Bioculture System Through Carbon Dioxide Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Monhollon, Luke; Pletcher, David; Hauss, Jessica

2016-01-01

For successful cell research, the growth culture environment must be tightly controlled. Deviance from the optimal conditions will mask the desired variable being analyzed or lead to inconstancies in the results. In standard laboratories, technology and procedures are readily available for the reliable control of variables such as temperature, pH, nutrient loading, and dissolved gases. Due to the nature of spaceflight, and the inherent constraints to engineering designs, these same elements become a challenge to maintain at stable values by both automated and manual approaches. Launch mass, volume, and power usage create significant constraints to cell culture systems; nonetheless, innovative solutions for active environmental controls are available. The acidity of the growth media cannot be measured through standard probes due to the degradation of electrodes and reliance on indicators for chromatography. Alternatively, carbon dioxide sensors are capable of monitoring the pH by leveraging the relationship between the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and carbonic acid in solution across a membrane. In microgravity cell growth systems, the gas delivery system can be used to actively maintain the media at the proper acidity by maintaining a suitable gas mixture around permeable tubing. Through this method, launch mass and volume are significantly reduced through the efficient use of the limited gas supply in orbit.

Review of methodology and technology available for the detection of extrasolar planetary systems.

PubMed

Tarter, J C; Black, D C; Billingham, J

1986-01-01

Anyone undertaking an interstellar voyage might wish to be assured of the existence of a safe planetary harbor at the other end! Aside from the obvious interest of the participants in this Symposium, astronomers and astrophysicists are also eager to detect and study other planetary systems in order to better understand the formation of our own Solar System. Scientists involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence argue that planets suitable for the evolution of life may abound elsewhere within our own Milky Way Galaxy. On theoretical grounds, they are probably correct, but they lack any observational support. For in spite of decades of claimed astrometric detections of planetary companions and the recent exciting and tantalizing observations from the IRAS satellite and the IR speckle observations of Van Biesbroeck 8 and other cool stars, there is no unambiguous proof for the existence of another planetary system beyond our own. In this paper we review the various methods for detecting extrasolar planets and briefly describe the Earth and space based technology currently available and discuss the near-term plans to implement these different search techniques. In each case an attempt is made to identify the limiting source of systematic error inherent to the methodology and to assess the potential for technological improvements.

Contrasting Inherent Optical Properties and Carbon Metabolism Between Five Northeastern (USA) Estuary-plume Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vandemark, Doug; Salisbury, Joe; Hunt, Chris; McGillis, Wade R.

2004-01-01

We have recently developed the ability to rapidly assess Surface inherent optical properties (IOP), oxygen concentration and pCO2 in estuarine-plume systems using flow-through instrumentation. During the summer of 2004, several estuarine-plume systems were surveyed which include the Pleasant (ME), Penobscot (ME), Kennebec-Androscoggin (ME), Merrimack (NH-MA) and Hudson (NY). Continuous measurements of surface chlorophyll and colored dissolved organic carbon (CDOM) fluorescence, beam attenuation, temperature, salinity, oxygen and pC02 were taken at each system along a salinity gradient from fresh water to near oceanic endmembers. CTD and IOP profiles were also taken at predetermined surface salinity intervals. These were accompanied by discrete determinations of chlorophyll (HPLC and fluorometric), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and alkalinity. IOP data were calibrated using chlorophyll, DOC and TSS data to enable the retrieval of these constituents from IOP data. Considerable differences in the data sets were observed between systems. These ranged from the DOC-enriched, strongly heterotrophic Pleasant River System to the high-chlorophyll autotrophic Merrimack River System. Using pCO2 and oxygen saturation measurements as proxies for water column metabolism, distinct relationships were found between trophic status and inherent optical properties. The nature of these relationships varies between systems and is likely a function of watershed and estuarine attributes including carbon and nutrient loading, in-situ production and related autochthonous inputs of DOC and alkalinity. Our results suggest that IOP data may contain significant information about the trophic status of estuarine and plume systems.

Wide-angle imaging system with fiberoptic components providing angle-dependent virtual material stops

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaughan, Arthur H. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A strip imaging wide angle optical system is provided. The optical system is provided with a 'virtual' material stop to avoid aberrational effects inherent in wide angle optical systems. The optical system includes a spherical mirror section for receiving light from a 180 deg strip or arc of a target image. Light received by the spherical mirror section is reflected to a frustoconical mirror section for subsequent rereflection to a row of optical fibers. Each optical fiber transmits a portion of the received light to a detector. The optical system exploits the narrow cone of acceptance associated with optical fibers to substantially eliminate vignetting effects inherent in wide angle systems. Further, the optical system exploits the narrow cone of acceptance of the optical fibers to substantially limit spherical aberration. The optical system is ideally suited for any application wherein a 180 deg strip image need be detected, and is particularly well adapted for use in hostile environments such as in planetary exploration.

Wide field strip-imaging optical system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaughan, Arthur H. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

A strip imaging wide angle optical system is provided. The optical system is provided with a 'virtual' material stop to avoid aberrational effects inherent in wide angle optical systems. The optical system includes a spherical mirror section for receiving light from a 180-degree strip or arc of a target image. Light received by the spherical mirror section is reflected to a frusto-conical mirror section for subsequent rereflection to a row of optical fibers. Each optical fiber transmits a portion of the received light to a detector. The optical system exploits the narrow cone of acceptance associated with optical fibers to substantially eliminate vignetting effects inherent in wide-angle systems. Further, the optical system exploits the narrow cone of acceptance of the optical fibers to substantially limit spherical aberration. The optical system is ideally suited for any application wherein a 180-degree strip image need be detected, and is particularly well adapted for use in hostile environments such as in planetary exploration.

Experimental Test Concept for a Cargo Data Interchange System (CARDIS) : Volume 1. Text.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-05-01

This report includes the recommended CARDIS experimental test system functional capabilities. It identifies the CARDIS functions that are inherent to an information exchange capability and optional systems which are required by the transportation rel...

Experimental Test Concept for a Cargo Data Interchange System (CARDIS) : Volume 2. Appendixes.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-05-01

This report includes the recommended CARDIS experimental test system functional capabilities. It identifies the CARDIS functions that are inherent to an information exchange capability and optional systems which are required by the transportation rel...

Uncertainty evaluation of a regional real-time system for rain-induced landslides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirschbaum, Dalia; Stanley, Thomas; Yatheendradas, Soni

2015-04-01

A new prototype regional model and evaluation framework has been developed over Central America and the Caribbean region using satellite-based information including precipitation estimates, modeled soil moisture, topography, soils, as well as regionally available datasets such as road networks and distance to fault zones. The algorithm framework incorporates three static variables: a susceptibility map; a 24-hr rainfall triggering threshold; and an antecedent soil moisture variable threshold, which have been calibrated using historic landslide events. The thresholds are regionally heterogeneous and are based on the percentile distribution of the rainfall or antecedent moisture time series. A simple decision tree algorithm framework integrates all three variables with the rainfall and soil moisture time series and generates a landslide nowcast in real-time based on the previous 24 hours over this region. This system has been evaluated using several available landslide inventories over the Central America and Caribbean region. Spatiotemporal uncertainty and evaluation metrics of the model are presented here based on available landslides reports. This work also presents a probabilistic representation of potential landslide activity over the region which can be used to further refine and improve the real-time landslide hazard assessment system as well as better identify and characterize the uncertainties inherent in this type of regional approach. The landslide algorithm provides a flexible framework to improve hazard estimation and reduce uncertainty at any spatial and temporal scale.

Single-Discipline Schooling.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brady, Marion

1993-01-01

Traditional academic disciplines are not best available tools for teaching about reality. The concept of human survival provides an overarching aim for a general education curriculum. Survival information includes knowledge about our physical environment; inherent human characteristics and capabilities; the ideas, beliefs, and values underlying…

Merits of flywheels for spacecraft energy storage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gross, S.

1984-01-01

Flywheel energy storage systems which have a very good potential for use in spacecraft are discussed. This system can be superior to alkaline secondary batteries and regenerable fuel cells in most of the areas that are important in spacecraft applications. Of special importance, relative to batteries, are lighter weight, longer cycle and operating life, and high efficiency which minimizes solar array size and the amount of orbital makeup fuel required. Flywheel systems have a long shelf life, give a precise state of charge indication, have modest thermal control needs, are capable of multiple discharges per orbit, have simple ground handling needs, and have characteristics which would be useful for military applications. The major disadvantages of flywheel energy storage systems are that: power is not available during the launch phase without special provisions; and in flight failure of units may force shutdown of good counter rotating units, amplifying the effects of failure and limiting power distribution system options; no inherent emergency power capability unless specifically designed for, and a high level of complexity compared with batteries. The potential advantages of the flywheel energy storage system far outweigh the disadvantages.

A system for the management, display and integration of pre-hospital healthcare activity in the deployed environment.

PubMed

Grant, Simon; Wheatley, R J

2014-12-01

To create and implement a system through which pre-hospital healthcare activity across an entire operational theatre could be made available in real-time to support healthcare delivery, governance and assurance activity. An IT-based system was created that could display, manage and integrate the pre-hospital healthcare activity on Op HERRICK 18. The system was based on the Defence Medical Services Common Assurance Framework and run through Microsoft Office SharePoint. Pre-hospital healthcare activity was made available and visible across an operational theatre. This supported delivery, assurance and governance at any time. Activity from each medical facility could be integrated and display automatically improving theatre wide situational awareness. The availability of information resulted in a shift towards a more continuous process of assurance and governance rather than reliance on inherently threatening and increasingly intermittent inspection regimes. The ability to review healthcare activity remotely at anytime significantly improves the validity of assurance possible for a deployed force. Governance activity can be more responsive and less reliant on the fixed timescale and datasets of reports from outlying medical facilities. However, assurance and governance authorities must not allow such a wealth of information to impact local leadership and innovation through a perception of, or actual, micro-management. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Integrating cockpit display and video recorder systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bailey, David C.; Jones, Romie; Testerman, David

1995-06-01

A pair of flight data recording and playback systems are described for the F-22 and F-15. These systems employ multiplexing techniques to expand the amount of data recorded and inherent benefit therefrom. Variations between the system accommodate the different avionics architecture of each aircraft.

Designing a fuzzy scheduler for hard real-time systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yen, John; Lee, Jonathan; Pfluger, Nathan; Natarajan, Swami

1992-01-01

In hard real-time systems, tasks have to be performed not only correctly, but also in a timely fashion. If timing constraints are not met, there might be severe consequences. Task scheduling is the most important problem in designing a hard real-time system, because the scheduling algorithm ensures that tasks meet their deadlines. However, the inherent nature of uncertainty in dynamic hard real-time systems increases the problems inherent in scheduling. In an effort to alleviate these problems, we have developed a fuzzy scheduler to facilitate searching for a feasible schedule. A set of fuzzy rules are proposed to guide the search. The situation we are trying to address is the performance of the system when no feasible solution can be found, and therefore, certain tasks will not be executed. We wish to limit the number of important tasks that are not scheduled.

The Effect of Ship Inherent Controllability on Piloted Performance: The Simulator Experiment

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-10-01

planned analysis that would look for a dependence of the piloted maneuvers on the inherent controllability of the ships, the transit ccnditions and pilot...instructions were planned to sample the maneuvers needed in a narrow channel. Each run was initialized with the ship to the right of the channel...to Navigation Systems Design Manual for Restricted Waterways," (Smith et al., 1985). As of this writing this revision is planned for calendar year 1991

Characterization of Errors Inherent in System EMP Vulnerability Assessment Programs,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-01

Patriot system. * B-i aircraft. * E-3A airborne warning and control system aircraft. * PRC-77 radio. * Lance missile system. * Safeguard ABM system...carefully or the offset will create large frequency domain error. Frequency-tying, too, can improve f-domain data. Of the various recording sytems studied

Weather variability and adaptive management for rangeland restoration

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Inherent weather variability in upland rangeland systems requires relatively long-term goal setting, and contingency planning for partial success or failure in any given year. Rangeland plant communities are dynamic systems and successional planning is essential for achieving and maintaining system...

Nail disorders in older people, and aspects of their pharmaceutical treatment.

PubMed

Murdan, Sudaxshina

2016-10-30

The aim of this paper was to explore how aging influences the nail unit, its disorders and its response to treatment, and to identify some of the age-related gaps in the ungual drug delivery literature. Aging causes obvious changes to the nail, some of which are inherently due to old age, while others are due to diseases/conditions which become more prevalent as we age. Alterations in the nail plate's colour, contour, thickness, fragility, surface features, cell size, chemical composition and growth rate are some of the changes, with toenails and fingernails showing different effects. With respect to disease, the incidence of onychomycosis - the most common nail disorder - is considerably higher in older people. Similarly, brittle nails become more common as we age. In contrast, the literature about aging and the incidence of nail psoriasis is inconclusive, although, it is clear that as one gets older, the negative impact of nail psoriasis on one's quality of life decreases. Pharmaceutical treatment of the diseases comprises local and systemic therapies, sometimes in combination. Systemic therapies have the inherent disadvantages of adverse systemic effects, drug interactions and the need for monitoring, disadvantages which are especially problematic for older people who are more likely to suffer from co-morbidities and be on other medications. Topical therapy avoids such disadvantages. However, the success rates of commercially available preparations are low, and older people may need help with their application. It is also proposed that regular inspection and grooming of nails should become part of routine care of older people, as these would provide opportunities to identify and treat any problems at an earlier stage. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanomedicine in the development of anti-HIV microbicides.

PubMed

das Neves, José; Nunes, Rute; Rodrigues, Francisca; Sarmento, Bruno

2016-08-01

Prevention plays an invaluable role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The use of microbicides is considered an interesting potential approach for topical pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV sexual transmission. The prospects of having an effective product available are expected to be fulfilled in the near future as driven by recent and forthcoming results of clinical trials. Different dosage forms and delivery strategies have been proposed and tested for multiple microbicide drug candidates presently at different stages of the development pipeline. One particularly interesting approach comprises the application of nanomedicine principles to the development of novel anti-HIV microbicides, but its implications to efficacy and safety are not yet fully understood. Nanotechnology-based systems, either presenting inherent anti-HIV activity or acting as drug nanocarriers, may significantly influence features such as drug solubility, stability of active payloads, drug release, interactions between active moieties and virus/cells, intracellular drug delivery, drug targeting, safety, antiviral activity, mucoadhesive behavior, drug distribution and tissue penetration, and pharmacokinetics. The present manuscript provides a comprehensive and holistic overview of these topics as relevant to the development of vaginal and rectal microbicides. In particular, recent advances pertaining inherently active microbicide nanosystems and microbicide drug nanocarriers are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geochemical constraints on chemolithoautotrophic reactions in hydrothermal systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shock, Everett L.; McCollom, Thomas; Schulte, Mitchell D.

1995-06-01

Thermodynamic calculations provide the means to quantify the chemical disequilibrium inherent in the mixing of redeuced hydrothermal fluids with seawater. The chemical energy available for metabolic processes in these environments can be evaluated by taking into account the pressure and temperature dependence of the apparent standard Gibbs free energies of reactions in the S-H2-H2O system together with geochemical constraints on pH, activities of aqueous sulfur species and fugacities of H2 and/or O2. Using present-day mixing of hydrothermal fluids and seawater as a starting point, it is shown that each mole of H2S entering seawater from hydrothermal fluids represents about 200,000 calories of chemical energy for metabolic systems able to catalyze H2S oxidation. Extrapolating to the early Earth, which was likely to have had an atmosphere more reduced than at present, shows that this chemical energy may have been a factor of two or so less. Nevertheless, mixing of hydrothermal fluids with seawater would have been an abundant source of chemical energy, and an inevitable consequence of the presence of an ocean on an initially hot Earth. The amount of energy available was more than enough for organic synthesis from CO2 or CO, and/or polymer formation, indicating that the vicinity of hydrothermal systems at the sea floor was an ideal location for the emergence of the first chemolithoautotrophic metabolic systems.

Geochemical constraints on chemolithoautotrophic reactions in hydrothermal systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shock, Everett L.; Mccollom, Thomas; Schulte, Mithell D.

1995-01-01

Thermodynamic calculations provide the means to quantify the chemical disequilibrium inherent in the mixing of reduced hydrothermal fluids with seawater. The chemical energy available for metabolic processes in these environments can be evaluated by taking into account the pressure and temperature dependence of the apparent standard Gibbs free energies of reactions in the S-H2-H2O system together with geochemical constraints on pH, activities of aqueous sulfur species and fugacities of H2 and/or O2. Using present-day mixing of hydrothermal fluids and seawater as a starting point, it is shown that each mole of H2S entering seawater from hydrothermal fluids represents about 200,000 calories of chemical energy for metabolic systems able to catalyze H2S oxidation. Extrapolating to the early Earth, which was likely to have had an atmosphere more reduced than at present, shows that this chemical energy may have been a factor of two or so less. Nevertheless, mixing of hydrothermal fluids with seawater would have been an abundant source of chemical energy, and an inevitable consequence of the presence of an ocean on an initially hot Earth. The amount of energy available was more than enough for organic synthesis from CO2 or CO, and/or polymer formation, indicating that the vicinity of hydrothermal systems at the sea floor was an ideal location for the emergence of the first chemolithoautotrophic metabolic systems.

Food Composition Database Format and Structure: A User Focused Approach

PubMed Central

Clancy, Annabel K.; Woods, Kaitlyn; McMahon, Anne; Probst, Yasmine

2015-01-01

This study aimed to investigate the needs of Australian food composition database user’s regarding database format and relate this to the format of databases available globally. Three semi structured synchronous online focus groups (M = 3, F = 11) and n = 6 female key informant interviews were recorded. Beliefs surrounding the use, training, understanding, benefits and limitations of food composition data and databases were explored. Verbatim transcriptions underwent preliminary coding followed by thematic analysis with NVivo qualitative analysis software to extract the final themes. Schematic analysis was applied to the final themes related to database format. Desktop analysis also examined the format of six key globally available databases. 24 dominant themes were established, of which five related to format; database use, food classification, framework, accessibility and availability, and data derivation. Desktop analysis revealed that food classification systems varied considerably between databases. Microsoft Excel was a common file format used in all databases, and available software varied between countries. User’s also recognised that food composition databases format should ideally be designed specifically for the intended use, have a user-friendly food classification system, incorporate accurate data with clear explanation of data derivation and feature user input. However, such databases are limited by data availability and resources. Further exploration of data sharing options should be considered. Furthermore, user’s understanding of food composition data and databases limitations is inherent to the correct application of non-specific databases. Therefore, further exploration of user FCDB training should also be considered. PMID:26554836

Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Future trends in population growth, energy use, climate change, and globalization will challenge agriculturists to develop innovative production systems that are highly productive and environmentally sound. Furthermore, future agricultural production systems must possess an inherent capacity to adap...

High-efficient entanglement distillation from photon loss and decoherence.

PubMed

Wang, Tie-Jun; Wang, Chuan

2015-11-30

We illustrate an entanglement distillation protocol (EDP) for a mixed photon-ensemble which composed of four kinds of entangled states and vacuum states. Exploiting the linear optics and local entanglement resource (four-qubit entangled GHZ state), we design the nondemolition parity-checking and qubit amplifying (PCQA) setup for photonic polarization degree of freedom which are the key device of our scheme. With the PCQA setup, a high-fidelity entangled photon-pair system can be achieved against the transmission losses and the decoherence in noisy channels. And in the available purification range for our EDP, the fidelity of this ensemble can be improved to the maximal value through iterated operations. Compared to the conventional entanglement purification schemes, our scheme largely reduces the initialization requirement of the distilled mixed quantum system, and overcomes the difficulties posed by inherent channel losses during photon transmission. All these advantages make this scheme more useful in the practical applications of long-distance quantum communication.

Direct optical detection of protein-ligand interactions.

PubMed

Gesellchen, Frank; Zimmermann, Bastian; Herberg, Friedrich W

2005-01-01

Direct optical detection provides an excellent means to investigate interactions of molecules in biological systems. The dynamic equilibria inherent to these systems can be described in greater detail by recording the kinetics of a biomolecular interaction. Optical biosensors allow direct detection of interaction patterns without the need for labeling. An overview covering several commercially available biosensors is given, with a focus on instruments based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIFS). Potential assay formats and experimental design, appropriate controls, and calibration procedures, especially when handling low molecular weight substances, are discussed. The single steps of an interaction analysis combined with practical tips for evaluation, data processing, and interpretation of kinetic data are described in detail. In a practical example, a step-by-step procedure for the analysis of a low molecular weight compound interaction with serum protein, determined on a commercial SPR sensor, is presented.

A commentary on transdermal drug delivery systems in clinical trials.

PubMed

Watkinson, Adam C

2013-09-01

The number of drugs available as marketed transdermal products is limited to those that exhibit the correct physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties that enable their effective delivery across the skin. In this respect, there are less than 20 drugs that are currently marketed in the US and EU as products that deliver systemic levels of their active ingredients. An analysis of clinical trials conducted in the transdermal sector shows a similar picture with only nine drugs accounting for approximately 80% of all transdermal clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. Those drugs for which there are very few transdermal trials listed consist mostly of molecules that are inherently unsuitable for transdermal delivery and serve as a clear warning to drug developers that the science that governs transdermal drug delivery is well reflected by the successes and failures of drugs in development as well as those that make it to the market. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Maternal circadian rhythms and the programming of adult health and disease.

PubMed

Varcoe, Tamara J; Gatford, Kathryn L; Kennaway, David J

2018-02-01

The in utero environment is inherently rhythmic, with the fetus subjected to circadian changes in temperature, substrates, and various maternal hormones. Meanwhile, the fetus is developing an endogenous circadian timing system, preparing for life in an external environment where light, food availability, and other environmental factors change predictably and repeatedly every 24 h. In humans, there are many situations that can disrupt circadian rhythms, including shift work, international travel, insomnias, and circadian rhythm disorders (e.g., advanced/delayed sleep phase disorder), with a growing consensus that this chronodisruption can have deleterious consequences for an individual's health and well-being. However, the impact of chronodisruption during pregnancy on the health of both the mother and fetus is not well understood. In this review, we outline circadian timing system ontogeny in mammals and examine emerging research from animal models demonstrating long-term negative implications for progeny health following maternal chronodisruption during pregnancy.

FSW of Aluminum Tailor Welded Blanks across Machine Platforms

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

Hovanski, Yuri; Upadhyay, Piyush; Carlson, Blair

2015-02-16

Development and characterization of friction stir welded aluminum tailor welded blanks was successfully carried out on three separate machine platforms. Each was a commercially available, gantry style, multi-axis machine designed specifically for friction stir welding. Weld parameters were developed to support high volume production of dissimilar thickness aluminum tailor welded blanks at speeds of 3 m/min and greater. Parameters originally developed on an ultra-high stiffness servo driven machine where first transferred to a high stiffness servo-hydraulic friction stir welding machine, and subsequently transferred to a purpose built machine designed to accommodate thin sheet aluminum welding. The inherent beam stiffness, bearingmore » compliance, and control system for each machine were distinctly unique, which posed specific challenges in transferring welding parameters across machine platforms. This work documents the challenges imposed by successfully transferring weld parameters from machine to machine, produced from different manufacturers and with unique control systems and interfaces.« less

A Subband Coding Method for HDTV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, Wilson; Kossentini, Faouzi; Smith, Mark J. T.

1995-01-01

This paper introduces a new HDTV coder based on motion compensation, subband coding, and high order conditional entropy coding. The proposed coder exploits the temporal and spatial statistical dependencies inherent in the HDTV signal by using intra- and inter-subband conditioning for coding both the motion coordinates and the residual signal. The new framework provides an easy way to control the system complexity and performance, and inherently supports multiresolution transmission. Experimental results show that the coder outperforms MPEG-2, while still maintaining relatively low complexity.

The Role of Bridging Organizations in Enhancing Ecosystem Services and Facilitating Adaptive Management of Social-Ecological Systems

EPA Science Inventory

Adaptive management is an approach for monitoring the response of ecological systems to different policies and practices and attempts to reduce the inherent uncertainty in ecological systems via system monitoring and iterative decision making and experimentation (Holling 1978). M...

Physical activity and its effects on reproduction.

PubMed

Redman, Leanne M

2006-05-01

The reproductive system is tightly coupled with energy balance, and thereby changes in the status of energy balance through changes in physical activity can impact on the reproductive system. In light of the new physical activity for health recommendations, it is therefore important to understand the inherent effects, both positive and negative, of physical activity on the reproductive system. At both extremes of the energy spectrum, disorders of chronic energy excess and energy deficiency are characterized by a wide range of reproductive disorders, including menstrual irregularity, anovulation, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and infertility in women, and erectile dysfunction and altered spermatogenesis in men. Although laboratory research indicates that individuals may be able to prevent or reverse reproductive disruptions, either by increasing energy expenditure in cases of energy excess or by dietary reform in cases of energy deficits, there is an acute need for applied research to confirm this idea and to identify mechanisms by which the availability of energy per se regulates reproductive function in humans.

Performance modeling for large database systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaar, Stephen; Hum, Frank; Romano, Joe

1997-02-01

One of the unique approaches Science Applications International Corporation took to meet performance requirements was to start the modeling effort during the proposal phase of the Interstate Identification Index/Federal Bureau of Investigations (III/FBI) project. The III/FBI Performance Model uses analytical modeling techniques to represent the III/FBI system. Inputs to the model include workloads for each transaction type, record size for each record type, number of records for each file, hardware envelope characteristics, engineering margins and estimates for software instructions, memory, and I/O for each transaction type. The model uses queuing theory to calculate the average transaction queue length. The model calculates a response time and the resources needed for each transaction type. Outputs of the model include the total resources needed for the system, a hardware configuration, and projected inherent and operational availability. The III/FBI Performance Model is used to evaluate what-if scenarios and allows a rapid response to engineering change proposals and technical enhancements.

Assays for root hydrotropism and response to water stress.

PubMed

Eapen, Delfeena; Martínez, Jesús J; Cassab, Gladys I

2015-01-01

Roots of most terrestrial plants show hydrotropic curvature when exposed to a moisture gradient. Though this root response is difficult to visualize in the soil habitat, there are reports of hydrotropism as an inherent response of primary roots of different plant species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Pisum sativum, and Zea mays L., from in vitro system studies. Many plant species use hydrotropism as a mechanism of avoidance to water stress. The actively growing root tip has the ability to change its direction towards greater water availability by differential growth in the elongation zone. The study of this tropic response has been challenged by the interaction of gravitropism, thigmotropism and possibly phototropism. It is hard to visualize hydrotropic curvature in vitro unless all other stimuli are neutralized by the presence of a moisture gradient. In this chapter, we describe methods for preparation of two assay systems used to visualize hydrotropic curvature in the primary roots of Arabidopsis and one moisture gradient system used for maize root seedlings.

Data communication requirements for the advanced NAS network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levin, Eugene; Eaton, C. K.; Young, Bruce

1986-01-01

The goal of the Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation (NAS) Program is to provide a powerful computational environment for advanced research and development in aeronautics and related disciplines. The present NAS system consists of a Cray 2 supercomputer connected by a data network to a large mass storage system, to sophisticated local graphics workstations, and by remote communications to researchers throughout the United States. The program plan is to continue acquiring the most powerful supercomputers as they become available. In the 1987/1988 time period it is anticipated that a computer with 4 times the processing speed of a Cray 2 will be obtained and by 1990 an additional supercomputer with 16 times the speed of the Cray 2. The implications of this 20-fold increase in processing power on the data communications requirements are described. The analysis was based on models of the projected workload and system architecture. The results are presented together with the estimates of their sensitivity to assumptions inherent in the models.

Censorship: Pressure Groups and Boycotts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silverman, Fred

1978-01-01

Records ABC President Fred Silverman's 1977 speech to the American Association of Advertising Agencies emphasizing the potential harm inherent in pressure groups and boycott's increasing power over broadcasters and advertisers. Available from: Vital Speeches of the Day, City News Publishing Company, Box 606, Southold, New York 11971. (MH)

Understanding the Association Between School Climate and Future Orientation.

PubMed

Lindstrom Johnson, Sarah; Pas, Elise; Bradshaw, Catherine P

2016-08-01

Promoting students' future orientation is inherently a goal of the educational system. Recently, it has received more explicit attention given the increased focus on career readiness. This study aimed to examine the association between school climate and adolescents' report of future orientation using data from youth (N = 27,698; 49.4 % female) across 58 high schools. Three-level hierarchical linear models indicated that perceptions of available emotional and service supports, rules and consequences, and parent engagement were positively related to adolescents' future orientation. Additionally, the school-level average future orientation was significantly related to individuals' future orientation, indicating a potential influence of contextual effects on this construct. Taken together, these findings suggest that interventions targeting school climate may hold promise for promoting future orientation.

High-speed engine/component performance assessment using exergy and thrust-based methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riggins, D. W.

1996-01-01

This investigation summarizes a comparative study of two high-speed engine performance assessment techniques based on energy (available work) and thrust-potential (thrust availability). Simple flow-fields utilizing Rayleigh heat addition and one-dimensional flow with friction are used to demonstrate the fundamental inability of conventional energy techniques to predict engine component performance, aid in component design, or accurately assess flow losses. The use of the thrust-based method on these same examples demonstrates its ability to yield useful information in all these categories. Energy and thrust are related and discussed from the stand-point of their fundamental thermodynamic and fluid dynamic definitions in order to explain the differences in information obtained using the two methods. The conventional definition of energy is shown to include work which is inherently unavailable to an aerospace Brayton engine. An engine-based energy is then developed which accurately accounts for this inherently unavailable work; performance parameters based on this quantity are then shown to yield design and loss information equivalent to the thrust-based method.

Markov chain algorithms: a template for building future robust low-power systems

PubMed Central

Deka, Biplab; Birklykke, Alex A.; Duwe, Henry; Mansinghka, Vikash K.; Kumar, Rakesh

2014-01-01

Although computational systems are looking towards post CMOS devices in the pursuit of lower power, the expected inherent unreliability of such devices makes it difficult to design robust systems without additional power overheads for guaranteeing robustness. As such, algorithmic structures with inherent ability to tolerate computational errors are of significant interest. We propose to cast applications as stochastic algorithms based on Markov chains (MCs) as such algorithms are both sufficiently general and tolerant to transition errors. We show with four example applications—Boolean satisfiability, sorting, low-density parity-check decoding and clustering—how applications can be cast as MC algorithms. Using algorithmic fault injection techniques, we demonstrate the robustness of these implementations to transition errors with high error rates. Based on these results, we make a case for using MCs as an algorithmic template for future robust low-power systems. PMID:24842030

The inherence heuristic: an intuitive means of making sense of the world, and a potential precursor to psychological essentialism.

PubMed

Cimpian, Andrei; Salomon, Erika

2014-10-01

We propose that human reasoning relies on an inherence heuristic, an implicit cognitive process that leads people to explain observed patterns (e.g., girls wear pink) predominantly in terms of the inherent features of their constituents (e.g., pink is a delicate color). We then demonstrate how this proposed heuristic can provide a unified account for a broad set of findings spanning areas of research that might at first appear unrelated (e.g., system justification, nominal realism, is-ought errors in moral reasoning). By revealing the deep commonalities among the diverse phenomena that fall under its scope, our account is able to generate new insights into these phenomena, as well as new empirical predictions. A second main goal of this article, aside from introducing the inherence heuristic, is to articulate the proposal that the heuristic serves as a foundation for the development of psychological essentialism. More specifically, we propose that essentialism - which is the common belief that natural and social categories are underlain by hidden, causally powerful essences - emerges over the first few years of life as an elaboration of the earlier, and more open-ended, intuitions supplied by the inherence heuristic. In the final part of the report, we distinguish our proposal from competing accounts (e.g., Strevens's K-laws) and clarify the relationship between the inherence heuristic and related cognitive tendencies (e.g., the correspondence bias). In sum, this article illuminates a basic cognitive process that emerges early in life and is likely to have profound effects on many aspects of human psychology.

Perfect and broadband acoustic absorption by critically coupled sub-wavelength resonators.

PubMed

Romero-García, V; Theocharis, G; Richoux, O; Merkel, A; Tournat, V; Pagneux, V

2016-01-19

Perfect absorption is an interdisciplinary topic with a large number of applications, the challenge of which consists of broadening its inherently narrow frequency-band performance. We experimentally and analytically report perfect and broadband absorption for audible sound, by the mechanism of critical coupling, with a sub-wavelength multi-resonant scatterer (SMRS) made of a plate-resonator/closed waveguide structure. In order to introduce the role of the key parameters, we first present the case of a single resonant scatterer (SRS) made of a Helmholtz resonator/closed waveguide structure. In both cases the controlled balance between the energy leakage of the several resonances and the inherent losses of the system leads to perfect absorption peaks. In the case of the SMRS we show that systems with large inherent losses can be critically coupled using resonances with large leakage. In particular, we show that in the SMRS system, with a thickness of λ/12 and diameter of λ/7, several perfect absorption peaks overlap to produce absorption bigger than 93% for frequencies that extend over a factor of 2 in audible frequencies. The reported concepts and methodology provide guidelines for the design of broadband perfect absorbers which could contribute to solve the major issue of noise reduction.

Perfect and broadband acoustic absorption by critically coupled sub-wavelength resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romero-García, V.; Theocharis, G.; Richoux, O.; Merkel, A.; Tournat, V.; Pagneux, V.

2016-01-01

Perfect absorption is an interdisciplinary topic with a large number of applications, the challenge of which consists of broadening its inherently narrow frequency-band performance. We experimentally and analytically report perfect and broadband absorption for audible sound, by the mechanism of critical coupling, with a sub-wavelength multi-resonant scatterer (SMRS) made of a plate-resonator/closed waveguide structure. In order to introduce the role of the key parameters, we first present the case of a single resonant scatterer (SRS) made of a Helmholtz resonator/closed waveguide structure. In both cases the controlled balance between the energy leakage of the several resonances and the inherent losses of the system leads to perfect absorption peaks. In the case of the SMRS we show that systems with large inherent losses can be critically coupled using resonances with large leakage. In particular, we show that in the SMRS system, with a thickness of λ/12 and diameter of λ/7, several perfect absorption peaks overlap to produce absorption bigger than 93% for frequencies that extend over a factor of 2 in audible frequencies. The reported concepts and methodology provide guidelines for the design of broadband perfect absorbers which could contribute to solve the major issue of noise reduction.

Perfect and broadband acoustic absorption by critically coupled sub-wavelength resonators

PubMed Central

Romero-García, V.; Theocharis, G.; Richoux, O.; Merkel, A.; Tournat, V.; Pagneux, V.

2016-01-01

Perfect absorption is an interdisciplinary topic with a large number of applications, the challenge of which consists of broadening its inherently narrow frequency-band performance. We experimentally and analytically report perfect and broadband absorption for audible sound, by the mechanism of critical coupling, with a sub-wavelength multi-resonant scatterer (SMRS) made of a plate-resonator/closed waveguide structure. In order to introduce the role of the key parameters, we first present the case of a single resonant scatterer (SRS) made of a Helmholtz resonator/closed waveguide structure. In both cases the controlled balance between the energy leakage of the several resonances and the inherent losses of the system leads to perfect absorption peaks. In the case of the SMRS we show that systems with large inherent losses can be critically coupled using resonances with large leakage. In particular, we show that in the SMRS system, with a thickness of λ/12 and diameter of λ/7, several perfect absorption peaks overlap to produce absorption bigger than 93% for frequencies that extend over a factor of 2 in audible frequencies. The reported concepts and methodology provide guidelines for the design of broadband perfect absorbers which could contribute to solve the major issue of noise reduction. PMID:26781863

A cavitation transition in the energy landscape of simple cohesive liquids and glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altabet, Y. Elia; Stillinger, Frank H.; Debenedetti, Pablo G.

2016-12-01

In particle systems with cohesive interactions, the pressure-density relationship of the mechanically stable inherent structures sampled along a liquid isotherm (i.e., the equation of state of an energy landscape) will display a minimum at the Sastry density ρS. The tensile limit at ρS is due to cavitation that occurs upon energy minimization, and previous characterizations of this behavior suggested that ρS is a spinodal-like limit that separates all homogeneous and fractured inherent structures. Here, we revisit the phenomenology of Sastry behavior and find that it is subject to considerable finite-size effects, and the development of the inherent structure equation of state with system size is consistent with the finite-size rounding of an athermal phase transition. What appears to be a continuous spinodal-like point at finite system sizes becomes discontinuous in the thermodynamic limit, indicating behavior akin to a phase transition. We also study cavitation in glassy packings subjected to athermal expansion. Many individual expansion trajectories averaged together produce a smooth equation of state, which we find also exhibits features of finite-size rounding, and the examples studied in this work give rise to a larger limiting tension than for the corresponding landscape equation of state.

Understanding the Psycho-Physiological Implications of Interaction With a Virtual Reality-Based System in Adolescents With Autism: A Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Kuriakose, Selvia; Lahiri, Uttama

2015-07-01

Individuals with Autism are characterized by deficits in socialization and communication. In recent years several assistive technologies, e.g., Virtual Reality (VR), have been investigated to address the socialization deficits in these individuals. Presently available VR-based systems address various aspects of social communication in an isolated manner and without monitoring one's affective state such as, anxiety. However, in conventional observation-based therapy, a therapist adjusts the intervention paradigm by monitoring one's anxiety level. But, often these individuals have an inherent inability to explicitly express their anxiety thereby inducing limitations on conventional techniques. Physiological signals being continuously available and not directly impacted by these communication difficulties can be alternatively used as markers of one's anxiety level. In our research we aim at designing a Virtual-reality bAsed Social-communication Task (VAST) system that can address the various aspects of social communication, e.g., social context, subtle social cues, emotional expression, etc., in a cumulative and structured way. In addition, we augment this with a capability to use one's physiological signals as markers of one's anxiety level. In our preliminary feasibility study we investigate the potential of VAST to cause variations in one's performance and anxiety level that can be mapped from one's physiological indices.

Stable, polymer-directed and SPION-nucleated magnetic amphiphilic block copolymer nanoprecipitates with readily reversible assembly in magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giardiello, Marco; Hatton, Fiona L.; Slater, Rebecca A.; Chambon, Pierre; North, Jocelyn; Peacock, Anita K.; He, Tao; McDonald, Tom O.; Owen, Andrew; Rannard, Steve P.

2016-03-01

The formation of inorganic-organic magnetic nanocomposites using reactive chemistry often leads to a loss of super-paramagnetisim when conducted in the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles. We present here a low energy and chemically-mild process of co-nanoprecipitation using SPIONs and homopolymers or amphiphilic block copolymers, of varying architecture and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, which efficiently generates near monodisperse SPION-containing polymer nanoparticles with complete retention of magnetism, and highly reversible aggregation and redispersion behaviour. When linear and branched block copolymers with inherent water-solubility are used, a SPION-directed nanoprecipitation mechanism appears to dominate the nanoparticle formation presenting new opportunities for tailoring and scaling highly functional systems for a range of applications.The formation of inorganic-organic magnetic nanocomposites using reactive chemistry often leads to a loss of super-paramagnetisim when conducted in the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles. We present here a low energy and chemically-mild process of co-nanoprecipitation using SPIONs and homopolymers or amphiphilic block copolymers, of varying architecture and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, which efficiently generates near monodisperse SPION-containing polymer nanoparticles with complete retention of magnetism, and highly reversible aggregation and redispersion behaviour. When linear and branched block copolymers with inherent water-solubility are used, a SPION-directed nanoprecipitation mechanism appears to dominate the nanoparticle formation presenting new opportunities for tailoring and scaling highly functional systems for a range of applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Additional experimental details, NMR spectra, GPC chromatograms, kinetics experiments, graphs of nanopreciptate aggregation and cycling studies and SPION characterisation. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00788k

Site-specific variable rate irrigation a means to enhance water use efficiency

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The majority of irrigated cropland in the US is watered with sprinkler irrigation systems. These systems are inherently more efficient in distributing water than furrow or flood irrigation. Appropriate system design of sprinkler irrigation equipment, application methods, and farming practices (e.g. ...

Site-specific variable rate irrigation as a means to enhance water use efficiency

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The majority of irrigated cropland in the US is watered with sprinkler irrigation systems. These systems are inherently more efficient in distributing water than furrow or flood irrigation. Appropriate system design of sprinkler irrigation equipment, application methods, and farming practices (e.g. ...

Robust Pricing of Transportation Networks Under Uncertainty

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-01

Both public and private entities are concerned with the impacts of future toll revenue, and the effects of tolled facilities on system congestion. Due to the inherent complexity of transportation systems, it is impossible to predict travel demand and...

48 CFR 2807.503 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Policy. 2807.503 Section 2807.503 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMPETITION AND ACQUISITION PLANNING ACQUISITION PLANNING Inherently Governmental Functions 2807.503 Policy. The requirements official...

48 CFR 2807.503 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Policy. 2807.503 Section 2807.503 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMPETITION AND ACQUISITION PLANNING ACQUISITION PLANNING Inherently Governmental Functions 2807.503 Policy. The requirements official...

Supply Support of Air Force 463L Equipment: An Analysis of the 463L equipment Spare Parts Pipeline

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-09-01

service; and 4) the order processing system created inherent delays in the pipeline because of outdated and indirect information systems and technology. Keywords: Materials handling equipment, Theses. (AW)

Perfect absorption of low-frequency sound waves by critically coupled subwavelength resonant system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, Houyou; Cheng, Ying; Tao, Jiancheng; Liu, Xiaojun

2017-01-01

The perfect absorption (PA) for low-frequency audible sound waves has been achieved by critically coupling the inherent loss factor to the inherent leakage factor of a system, which is constructed by attaching a deep-subwavelength lossy resonant plate (LRP) to a backed rigid wall closely. We have certified it by using the graphical method in the complex frequency plane. By coupling the LRP to an air cavity in front of the rigid wall, the high efficient (>80%) low-frequency broadband absorption is obtained from 99.1 Hz to 294.8 Hz. Here, the thickness of LRP is only 1/13.5 of the relevant wavelength at 294.8 Hz. The impedance analyses further demonstrate that the impedances are perfectly matched between the system and the surrounding background medium at PA.

The Use of Electronic Book Theft Detection Systems in Libraries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Witt, Thomas B.

1996-01-01

Although electronic book theft detection systems can be a deterrent to library material theft, no electronic system is foolproof, and a total security program is necessary to ensure collection security. Describes how book theft detection systems work, their effectiveness, and the problems inherent in technology. A total security program considers…

Controllable phase transitions and novel selection rules in Josephson junctions with inherent orthogonality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Qiang; Zhang, Kunhua; Ma, Hongyang

2018-03-01

We propose a new type of Josephson junction consisting of topologically nontrivial superconductors with inherent orthogonality and a ferromagnetic interface. It is found this type of junction can host rich ground states: 0 phase, π phase, 0 + π phase, φ0 phase and φ0 ± φ phase. Phase transitions can be controlled by changing the direction of the interfacial magnetization. Phase diagrams are presented in the orientation space. Novel selection rules for the lowest order current, sin ⁡ ϕ or cos ⁡ ϕ, of this kind of junction are derived. General conditions for the formation of various ground states are established, which possess guiding significance to the experimental design of required ground states for practical applications. We construct the succinct form of a Ginzburg-Landau type of free energy from the viewpoint of the interplay between topological superconductivity and ferromagnetism, which can immediately lead to the selection rules. The constructed terms are universally available to the topological Josephson junctions with or without inherent orthogonality reported recently. The spin supercurrent, its selection rules and their relations to the constructed energy are also investigated.

Robustness trade-offs and host–microbial symbiosis in the immune system

PubMed Central

Kitano, Hiroaki; Oda, Kanae

2006-01-01

The immune system provides organisms with robustness against pathogen threats, yet it also often adversely affects the organism as in autoimmune diseases. Recently, the molecular interactions involved in the immune system have been uncovered. At the same time, the role of the bacterial flora and its interactions with the host immune system have been identified. In this article, we try to reconcile these findings to draw a consistent picture of the host defense system. Specifically, we first argue that the network of molecular interactions involved in immune functions has a bow-tie architecture that entails inherent trade-offs among robustness, fragility, resource limitation, and performance. Second, we discuss the possibility that commensal bacteria and the host immune system constitute an integrated defense system. This symbiotic association has evolved to optimize its robustness against pathogen attacks and nutrient perturbations by harboring a broad range of microorganisms. Owing to the inherent propensity of a host immune system toward hyperactivity, maintenance of bacterial flora homeostasis might be particularly important in the development of preventive strategies against immune disorders such as autoimmune diseases. PMID:16738567

Sperry Low Temperature Geothermal Conversion System, Phase 1 and Phase 2. Volume 3: Systems description

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matthews, H. B.

The major fraction of hydrothermal resources with the prospect of economic usefulness for the generation of electricity are in the 300(0)F to 425(0)F temperature range. Cost effective conversion of the geothermal energy to electricity requires new ideas to improve conversion efficiency, enhance brine flow, reduce plant costs, increase plant availability, and shorten the time between investment and return. The problems addressed are those inherent in the geothermal environment, in the binary fluid cycle, in the difficulty of efficiently converting the energy of a low temperature resource, and in geothermal economics some of these problems are explained. The energy expended by the down hole pump; the difficulty in designing reliable down hole equipment; fouling of heat exchanger surfaces by geothermal fluids; the unavailability of condenser cooling water at most geothermal sites; the large portion of the available energy used by the feed pump in a binary system; the pinch effect, a loss in available energy in transferring heat from water to an organic fluid; flow losses in fluids that carry only a small amount of useful energy to begin with; high heat exchanger costs, the lower the temperature interval of the cycle, the higher the heat exchanger costs in $/kW; the complexity and cost of the many auxiliary elements of proposed geothermal plants; and the unfortunate cash flow vs. investment curve caused by the many years of investment required to bring a field into production before any income is realized.

Estimation of Inherent Safety Margins in Loaded Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel Casks

DOE PAGES

Banerjee, Kaushik; Robb, Kevin R.; Radulescu, Georgeta; ...

2016-06-15

We completed a novel assessment to determine the unquantified and uncredited safety margins (i.e., the difference between the licensing basis and as-loaded calculations) available in as-loaded spent nuclear fuel (SNF) casks. This assessment was performed as part of a broader effort to assess issues and uncertainties related to the continued safety of casks during extended storage and transportability following extended storage periods. Detailed analyses crediting the actual as-loaded cask inventory were performed for each of the casks at three decommissioned pressurized water reactor (PWR) sites to determine their characteristics relative to regulatory safety criteria for criticality, thermal, and shielding performance.more » These detailed analyses were performed in an automated fashion by employing a comprehensive and integrated data and analysis tool—Used Nuclear Fuel-Storage, Transportation & Disposal Analysis Resource and Data System (UNF-ST&DARDS). Calculated uncredited criticality margins from 0.07 to almost 0.30 Δk eff were observed; calculated decay heat margins ranged from 4 to almost 22 kW (as of 2014); and significant uncredited transportation dose rate margins were also observed. The results demonstrate that, at least for the casks analyzed here, significant uncredited safety margins are available that could potentially be used to compensate for SNF assembly and canister structural performance related uncertainties associated with long-term storage and subsequent transportation. The results also suggest that these inherent margins associated with how casks are loaded could support future changes in cask licensing to directly or indirectly credit the margins. Work continues to quantify the uncredited safety margins in the SNF casks loaded at other nuclear reactor sites.« less

Design definition study of a life/cruise fan technology V/STOL aircraft. Volume 2, addendum 2: Program risk assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

The results are presented of a risk assessment study conducted on two technology aircraft. The aircraft system components were reviewed and assessed for risk based on: (1) complexity relative to state-of-the-art, (2) manufacturing and qualification testing, (3) availability and delays, and (4) cost/schedule impact. These assessments were based on five risk nomenclatures: low, minor, moderate, high, and extreme. Each aircraft system was assigned an overall risk rating depending upon its contribution to the capability of the aircraft to achieve the performance goals. The slightly lower Sabreliner performance margin is due to the restricted flight envelope, the fixed landing gear, and internal fuel capacity. The Sabreliner with retractable gear and allowed to fly at its best speed and altitude would reflect performance margins similar to the New Airframe. These significant margins, inherent with the MCAIR three gas generator/three fan propulsion system, are major modifiers to risk assessment of both aircraft. The estimated risk and the associated key system and performance areas are tabulated.

Particle swarm optimization algorithm for optimizing assignment of blood in blood banking system.

PubMed

Olusanya, Micheal O; Arasomwan, Martins A; Adewumi, Aderemi O

2015-01-01

This paper reports the performance of particle swarm optimization (PSO) for the assignment of blood to meet patients' blood transfusion requests for blood transfusion. While the drive for blood donation lingers, there is need for effective and efficient management of available blood in blood banking systems. Moreover, inherent danger of transfusing wrong blood types to patients, unnecessary importation of blood units from external sources, and wastage of blood products due to nonusage necessitate the development of mathematical models and techniques for effective handling of blood distribution among available blood types in order to minimize wastages and importation from external sources. This gives rise to the blood assignment problem (BAP) introduced recently in literature. We propose a queue and multiple knapsack models with PSO-based solution to address this challenge. Simulation is based on sets of randomly generated data that mimic real-world population distribution of blood types. Results obtained show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm for BAP with no blood units wasted and very low importation, where necessary, from outside the blood bank. The result therefore can serve as a benchmark and basis for decision support tools for real-life deployment.

Development of a knowledge-based system for the design of composite automotive components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moynihan, Gary P.; Stephens, J. Paul

1997-01-01

Composite materials are comprised of two or more constituents possessing significantly different physical properties. Due to their high strength and light weight, there is an emerging trend to utilize composites in the automotive industry. There is an inherent link between component design and the manufacturing processes necessary for fabrication. To many designers, this situation may be intimidating, since there is frequently little available understanding of composites and their processes. A direct results is high rates of product scrap and rework. Thus, there is a need to implement a systematic approach to composite material design. One such approach is quality function deployment (QFD). By translating customer requirements into design parameters, through the use of heuristics, QFD supports the improvement of product quality during the planning stages prior to actual production. The purpose of this research is to automate the use of knowledge pertaining to the design and application of composite materials within the automobile industry. This is being accomplished through the development of a prototype expert system incorporating a QFD approach. It will provide industry designers with access to knowledge of composite materials that might not be otherwise available.

Modelling results for the thermal management sub-system of a combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system (FCS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colella, Whitney G.

Although the fuel cells research and development community has traditionally focused the majority of its efforts on improving the fuel cell stack's voltage (electrical efficiency), combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system (FCSs) may achieve a competitive advantage over conventional generators only if the research and development community refocuses its efforts on cultivating other inherent technical qualities of such systems. Based on an analysis of their use within energy markets, these inherent qualities include (1) an ability to vary their electrical load rapidly, (2) an ability to vary their heat to power ratio during operation, and (3) an ability to deliver their waste heat to a useful thermal sink. This article focuses on the last of three design objectives: effectively capturing heat from a CHP FCS. This article (1) delineates the design specifications for a 6 kWe CHP FCS, (2) analyses four possible cooling loop configurations for this system, and (3) concludes which one of these provides the optimal heat recovery performance.

In orbit adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration for bolometric and microcalorimetric detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hepburn, I. D.; Ade, P. A. R.; Davenport, I.; Smith, A.; Sumner, T. J.

1992-12-01

The new generation of photon detectors for satellite based mm/submm and X-ray astronomical observations require cooling to temperatures in the range 60 to 300 mK. At present Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigeration (ADR) is the best proposed technique for producing these temperatures in orbit due to its inherent simplicity and gravity independent operation. For the efficient utilization of an ADR it is important to realize long operational times at base temperature with short recycle times. These criteria are dependent on several parameters; the required operating temperature, the cryogen bath temperature, the amount of heat leakage to the paramagnetic salt, the volume and type of salt and the maximum obtainable magnetic field. For space application these parameters are restricted by the limitations imposed on the physical size, the mass, the available electrical power and the cooling power available. The design considerations required in order to match these parameters are described and test data from a working laboratory system is presented.

Visual Factors in Reading

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singleton, Chris; Henderson, Lisa-Marie

2006-01-01

This article reviews current knowledge about how the visual system recognizes letters and words, and the impact on reading when parts of the visual system malfunction. The physiology of eye and brain places important constraints on how we process text, and the efficient organization of the neurocognitive systems involved is not inherent but…

Mechatronics as a Technological Basis for an Innovative Learning Environment in Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garner, Gavin Thomas

2009-01-01

Mechatronic systems that couple mechanical and electrical systems with the help of computer control are forcing a paradigm shift in the design, manufacture, and implementation of mechanical devices. The inherently interdisciplinary nature of these systems generates exciting new opportunities for developing a hands-on, inventive, and…

A framework for modelling gene regulation which accommodates non-equilibrium mechanisms.

PubMed

Ahsendorf, Tobias; Wong, Felix; Eils, Roland; Gunawardena, Jeremy

2014-12-05

Gene regulation has, for the most part, been quantitatively analysed by assuming that regulatory mechanisms operate at thermodynamic equilibrium. This formalism was originally developed to analyse the binding and unbinding of transcription factors from naked DNA in eubacteria. Although widely used, it has made it difficult to understand the role of energy-dissipating, epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, nucleosome remodelling and post-translational modification of histones and co-regulators, which act together with transcription factors to regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. Here, we introduce a graph-based framework that can accommodate non-equilibrium mechanisms. A gene-regulatory system is described as a graph, which specifies the DNA microstates (vertices), the transitions between microstates (edges) and the transition rates (edge labels). The graph yields a stochastic master equation for how microstate probabilities change over time. We show that this framework has broad scope by providing new insights into three very different ad hoc models, of steroid-hormone responsive genes, of inherently bounded chromatin domains and of the yeast PHO5 gene. We find, moreover, surprising complexity in the regulation of PHO5, which has not yet been experimentally explored, and we show that this complexity is an inherent feature of being away from equilibrium. At equilibrium, microstate probabilities do not depend on how a microstate is reached but, away from equilibrium, each path to a microstate can contribute to its steady-state probability. Systems that are far from equilibrium thereby become dependent on history and the resulting complexity is a fundamental challenge. To begin addressing this, we introduce a graph-based concept of independence, which can be applied to sub-systems that are far from equilibrium, and prove that history-dependent complexity can be circumvented when sub-systems operate independently. As epigenomic data become increasingly available, we anticipate that gene function will come to be represented by graphs, as gene structure has been represented by sequences, and that the methods introduced here will provide a broader foundation for understanding how genes work.

Moral Pluralism in Business Ethics Education: It Is about Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burton, Brian K.; Dunn, Craig P.; Goldsby, Michael

2006-01-01

The teaching of business ethics is almost inherently pluralistic, but little evidence of explicitly pluralistic approaches exists in teaching materials besides the available decision-making frameworks. In this article, it is argued that the field needs to acknowledge and adopt pluralism as the standard pedagogical approach, whether the individual…

Cognition-Enhancing Drugs

PubMed Central

Mehlman, Maxwell J

2004-01-01

New drugs that enhance cognition in cognitively healthy individuals present difficult public policy challenges. While their use is not inherently unethical, steps must be taken to ensure that they are safe, that they are widely available to promote equality of opportunity, and that individuals are free to decide whether or not to use them. PMID:15330974

Pathways of Youth Development in a Rural Trailer Park

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacTavish, Katherine A.; Salamon, Sonya

2006-01-01

Limited empirical documentation exists for the developmental pathways available to "rural" youth growing up in low-resource community settings. Drawing on ethnographic data, this article examines the developmental pathways experienced by youth in a rural trailer park. Findings reveal how various factors, some inherent to working poor class status…

Under the Shadow of New Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsia, H. J.

Because of the drastic reduction in prices and the availability of versatile, inexpensive software, the home computer today is enjoying an exponential growth and may be effecting a fundamental change in mass communication and processes. Existing media suffer from many inherent limitations and offer unspecified audiences very low or no referability…

46 CFR 385.51 - Criteria: Projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... work is expected to make to the MarAd assistance mission; (2) The economic, environmental, and societal...-Federal support of the undertaking; (v) The degree of risk of loss of the investment inherent in the research, and the availability of risk capital to the non-Federal entities which might otherwise engage in...

Molecular Modeling for Screening Environmental Chemicals for Estrogenicity: Use of the Toxicant-Target Approach

EPA Science Inventory

There is a paucity of relevant experimental information available for the evaluation of the potential health and environmental effects of many man made chemicals. Knowledge of the potential pathways for activity provides a rational basis for the extrapolations inherent in the pre...

Internet Policy Handbook for Libraries. Neal-Schuman NetGuide Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Mark

This book is intended to guide library administrators--directors and departmental managers in public, school, and academic libraries--through the many complex decisions inherent in managing public Internet access. The handbook systematically deals with each possible element of an Internet policy. It identifies the options available at each…

Strategic Lesson Planning in Online Courses: Suggestions for Counselor Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cicco, Gina

2013-01-01

This article presents instructors with a myriad of strategies for lesson planning in online courses. There are many inherent differences between the traditional classroom and the virtual classroom. Factors such as student experience with online courses, instructor availability, and the compatibility between instructor teaching style and student…

Effective Parenting in Contemporary America: Some Cautions and Some Prescriptions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamb, Michael E.

This paper summarizes the components of effective parenting for which substantial empirical support is available and discusses the problems inherent in attempts to determine the characteristics of effective parents in order to amend the process of socialization through the modification of parent styles. The aspects of effective parenting discussed…

48 CFR 34.202 - Integrated Baseline Reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... inherent risks in offerors'/contractors' performance plans and the underlying management control systems...) The degree to which the management process provides effective and integrated technical/schedule/cost... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Integrated Baseline...

Simple systems that exhibit self-directed replication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reggia, James A.; Armentrout, Steven L.; Chou, Hui-Hsien; Peng, Yun

1993-01-01

Biological experience and intuition suggest that self-replication is an inherently complex phenomenon, and early cellular automata models support that conception. More recently, simpler computational models of self-directed replication called sheathed loops have been developed. It is shown here that 'unsheathing' these structures and altering certain assumptions about the symmetry of their components leads to a family of nontrivial self-replicating structures some substantially smaller and simpler than those previously reported. The dependence of replication time and transition function complexity on initial structure size, cell state symmetry, and neighborhood are examined. These results support the view that self-replication is not an inherently complex phenomenon but rather an emergent property arising from local interactions in systems that can be much simpler than is generally believed.

Redundant binary number representation for an inherently parallel arithmetic on optical computers.

PubMed

De Biase, G A; Massini, A

1993-02-10

A simple redundant binary number representation suitable for digital-optical computers is presented. By means of this representation it is possible to build an arithmetic with carry-free parallel algebraic sums carried out in constant time and parallel multiplication in log N time. This redundant number representation naturally fits the 2's complement binary number system and permits the construction of inherently parallel arithmetic units that are used in various optical technologies. Some properties of this number representation and several examples of computation are presented.

Using the computer to optimize human performance in health care delivery. The pathologist as medical information specialist.

PubMed

Korpman, R A

1987-07-01

The demands for information retrieval, processing, and synthesis placed on all providers of health care have increased dramatically in the last several decades. Although systems have been developed to capture charge-related data in support of cost reimbursement, there has been a conspicuous lack of attention paid to information tools to directly enhance the delivery of patient care. The termination of cost reimbursement, together with an increasing recognition of the problems inherent in current manual record-keeping systems, is creating a significant new focus on medical information. This change in focus requires a shift in systems orientation away from financial and departmentally centered systems and toward patient-centered approaches. There is thus increasing recognition of the need for a physician-level medical information specialist to serve as an institution's chief information officer, assuming responsibility for the collection, manipulation, and availability of all patient care-related data. By virtue of training, typical experience, hospital presence, and a noncompetitive position with the hospital's medical staff, the pathologist is uniquely suited for this position. To effectively perform this role, a variety of new specialized data management tools are becoming available. Integrated information systems, patient care management by exception, decision support tools, and, in the future, "artificial intelligence" assists can all be expected to become staples of pathology practice, especially impacting those pathologists who choose to be responsive to the new practice milieu of medical information science.

Adaptive route choice modeling in uncertain traffic networks with real-time information.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-03-01

The objective of the research is to study travelers' route choice behavior in uncertain traffic networks : with real-time information. The research is motivated by two observations of the traffic system: 1) : the system is inherently uncertain with r...

Inherent Safety Characteristics of Advanced Fast Reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bochkarev, A. S.; Korsun, A. S.; Kharitonov, V. S.; Alekseev, P. N.

2017-01-01

The study presents SFR transient performance for ULOF events initiated by pump trip and pump seizure with simultaneous failure of all shutdown systems in both cases. The most severe cases leading to the pin cladding rupture and possible sodium boiling are demonstrated. The impact of various features on SFR inherent safety performance for ULOF events was analysed. The decrease in hydraulic resistance of primary loop and increase in primary pump coast down time were investigated. Performing analysis resulted in a set of recommendations to varying parameters for the purpose of enhancing the inherent safety performance of SFR. In order to prevent the safety barrier rupture for ULOF events the set of thermal hydraulic criteria defining the ULOF transient processes dynamics and requirements to these criteria were recommended based on achieved results: primary sodium flow dip under the natural circulation asymptotic level and natural circulation rise time.

Searching for Models Exhibiting High Circularly Polarized Luminescence: the Electroactive Inherently Chiral Oligothiophenes.

PubMed

Benincori, Tiziana; Appoloni, Giulio; Mussini, Patrizia Romana; Arnaboldi, Serena; Cirilli, Roberto; Quartapelle Procopio, Elsa; Panigati, Monica; Abbate, Sergio; Mazzeo, Giuseppe; Longhi, Giovanna

2018-05-02

Two new inherently chiral oligothiophenes characterized by the atropisomeric 3,3'-bithianaphtene scaffold functionalized with fused ring bithiophene derivatives, namely 4H-cyclopenta [2,1-b3:4b']dithiophene (CPDT) and dithieno[3,3-b:2',3'-d]pyrrole (DTP), were synthesized. The racemates were fully characterized and resolved into antipodes by enantioselective HPLC. The enantiomers were analyzed through different chiroptical techniques: electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) were employed to attribute the absolute configuration (AC). Comparison of experimental and calculated VCD spectra confirmed the DFT calculated conformational characteristics. The compound functionalized with two CPDT units was oxidized with FeCl3 and ECD and CPL of the resulting material were measured. Circularly Polarized Luminescence (CPL) was measured in order to verify if inherently chiral oligothiophenes could be promising systems for chiral photonics applications. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Monte Carlo method for computing density of states and quench probability of potential energy and enthalpy landscapes.

PubMed

Mauro, John C; Loucks, Roger J; Balakrishnan, Jitendra; Raghavan, Srikanth

2007-05-21

The thermodynamics and kinetics of a many-body system can be described in terms of a potential energy landscape in multidimensional configuration space. The partition function of such a landscape can be written in terms of a density of states, which can be computed using a variety of Monte Carlo techniques. In this paper, a new self-consistent Monte Carlo method for computing density of states is described that uses importance sampling and a multiplicative update factor to achieve rapid convergence. The technique is then applied to compute the equilibrium quench probability of the various inherent structures (minima) in the landscape. The quench probability depends on both the potential energy of the inherent structure and the volume of its corresponding basin in configuration space. Finally, the methodology is extended to the isothermal-isobaric ensemble in order to compute inherent structure quench probabilities in an enthalpy landscape.

The inherent metastasis of leukaemia and its exploitation by sonodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Trendowski, Matthew

2015-05-01

Nearly all cancers are linked by the inexorable phenotype of metastasis as malignant growths have the capability to spread from their place of origin to distant sites throughout the body. While different cancers may have various propensities to migrate towards specific locations, they are all linked by this unifying principal. Unlike most neoplasms, leukaemia has inherent cell motility as leukocytes are required to move throughout the vascular system, suggesting that no mutations are required for anchorage independent growth. As such, it seems likely that leukaemias are inherently metastatic, endowed with the deadliest phenotype of cancer simply due to cell of origin. This article presents the biology of metastasis development and how leukaemia cells are inherently provided these phenotypic characteristics. It is then proposed how clinicians may be able to exploit the motility of leukaemia and metastatic emboli of other cancer types through an approach known as sonodynamic therapy (SDT), a treatment modality that combines chemotherapeutic agents with ultrasound to preferentially damage malignant cells. As experimental evidence has indicated, SDT is a promising therapeutic approach in need of clinical testing for further validation. Copyright © 2014 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Upregulated Glucose Metabolism Correlates Inversely with CD8+ T-cell Infiltration and Survival in Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

PubMed

Ottensmeier, Christian H; Perry, Kate L; Harden, Elena L; Stasakova, Jana; Jenei, Veronika; Fleming, Jason; Wood, Oliver; Woo, Jeongmin; Woelk, Christopher H; Thomas, Gareth J; Thirdborough, Stephen M

2016-07-15

Antibodies that block T-cell-regulatory checkpoints have recently emerged as a transformative approach to cancer treatment. However, the clinical efficacy of checkpoint blockade depends upon inherent tumor immunogenicity, with variation in infiltrating T cells contributing to differences in objective response rates. Here, we sought to understand the molecular correlates of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), using a systems biologic approach to integrate publicly available omics datasets with histopathologic features. We provide evidence that links TIL abundance and therapeutic outcome to the regulation of tumor glycolysis by EGFR and HIF, both of which are attractive molecular targets for use in combination with immunotherapeutics. Cancer Res; 76(14); 4136-48. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

In-situ Resources In Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curreri, Peter A.

2005-01-01

This tutorial is a primer on the motivational and materials science basis for utilizing space resources to lower the cost and increase the safety and reliability of human systems beyond Earth's orbit. Past research in materials processing in orbit will be briefly reviewed to emphasize the challenges and advantages inherent in processing materials in space. Data on resource availability from human Lunar and robotic/sensor missions beyond the Moon will be overviewed for resource relevance to human exploration and development of space. Specific scenarios such as propellant production on the Moon and Mars, and lunar photovoltaic power production from in-situ materials will be discussed in relation to exploration and commercialization of space. A conclusion will cover some of the visionary proposals for the use of space resources to extend human society and prosperity beyond Earth.

Lattice enumeration for inverse molecular design using the signature descriptor.

PubMed

Martin, Shawn

2012-07-23

We describe an inverse quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) framework developed for the design of molecular structures with desired properties. This framework uses chemical fragments encoded with a molecular descriptor known as a signature. It solves a system of linear constrained Diophantine equations to reorganize the fragments into novel molecular structures. The method has been previously applied to problems in drug and materials design but has inherent computational limitations due to the necessity of solving the Diophantine constraints. We propose a new approach to overcome these limitations using the Fincke-Pohst algorithm for lattice enumeration. We benchmark the new approach against previous results on LFA-1/ICAM-1 inhibitory peptides, linear homopolymers, and hydrofluoroether foam blowing agents. Software implementing the new approach is available at www.cs.otago.ac.nz/homepages/smartin.

Understanding MRI: basic MR physics for physicians.

PubMed

Currie, Stuart; Hoggard, Nigel; Craven, Ian J; Hadjivassiliou, Marios; Wilkinson, Iain D

2013-04-01

More frequently hospital clinicians are reviewing images from MR studies of their patients before seeking formal radiological opinion. This practice is driven by a multitude of factors, including an increased demand placed on hospital services, the wide availability of the picture archiving and communication system, time pressures for patient treatment (eg, in the management of acute stroke) and an inherent desire for the clinician to learn. Knowledge of the basic physical principles behind MRI is essential for correct image interpretation. This article, written for the general hospital physician, describes the basic physics of MRI taking into account the machinery, contrast weighting, spin- and gradient-echo techniques and pertinent safety issues. Examples provided are primarily referenced to neuroradiology reflecting the subspecialty for which MR currently has the greatest clinical application.

Clinical Note Creation, Binning, and Artificial Intelligence.

PubMed

Deliberato, Rodrigo Octávio; Celi, Leo Anthony; Stone, David J

2017-08-03

The creation of medical notes in software applications poses an intrinsic problem in workflow as the technology inherently intervenes in the processes of collecting and assembling information, as well as the production of a data-driven note that meets both individual and healthcare system requirements. In addition, the note writing applications in currently available electronic health records (EHRs) do not function to support decision making to any substantial degree. We suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) could be utilized to facilitate the workflows of the data collection and assembly processes, as well as to support the development of personalized, yet data-driven assessments and plans. ©Rodrigo Octávio Deliberato, Leo Anthony Celi, David J Stone. Originally published in JMIR Medical Informatics (http://medinform.jmir.org), 03.08.2017.

Prediction of ball and roller bearing thermal and kinematic performance by computer analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pirvics, J.; Kleckner, R. J.

1983-01-01

Characteristics of good computerized analysis software are suggested. These general remarks and an overview of representative software precede a more detailed discussion of load support system analysis program structure. Particular attention is directed at a recent cylindrical roller bearing analysis as an example of the available design tools. Selected software modules are then examined to reveal the detail inherent in contemporary analysis. This leads to a brief section on current design computation which seeks to suggest when and why computerized analysis is warranted. An example concludes the argument offered for such design methodology. Finally, remarks are made concerning needs for model development to address effects which are now considered to be secondary but are anticipated to emerge to primary status in the near future.

Blending forest fire smoke forecasts with observed data can improve their utility for public health applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuchi, Weiran; Yao, Jiayun; McLean, Kathleen E.; Stull, Roland; Pavlovic, Radenko; Davignon, Didier; Moran, Michael D.; Henderson, Sarah B.

2016-11-01

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) generated by forest fires has been associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including exacerbation of respiratory diseases and increased risk of mortality. Due to the unpredictable nature of forest fires, it is challenging for public health authorities to reliably evaluate the magnitude and duration of potential exposures before they occur. Smoke forecasting tools are a promising development from the public health perspective, but their widespread adoption is limited by their inherent uncertainties. Observed measurements from air quality monitoring networks and remote sensing platforms are more reliable, but they are inherently retrospective. It would be ideal to reduce the uncertainty in smoke forecasts by integrating any available observations. This study takes spatially resolved PM2.5 estimates from an empirical model that integrates air quality measurements with satellite data, and averages them with PM2.5 predictions from two smoke forecasting systems. Two different indicators of population respiratory health are then used to evaluate whether the blending improved the utility of the smoke forecasts. Among a total of six models, including two single forecasts and four blended forecasts, the blended estimates always performed better than the forecast values alone. Integrating measured observations into smoke forecasts could improve public health preparedness for smoke events, which are becoming more frequent and intense as the climate changes.

Virtual Cerebral Ventricular System: An MR-Based Three-Dimensional Computer Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Christina M.; Wilson, Timothy D.

2011-01-01

The inherent spatial complexity of the human cerebral ventricular system, coupled with its deep position within the brain, poses a problem for conceptualizing its anatomy. Cadaveric dissection, while considered the gold standard of anatomical learning, may be inadequate for learning the anatomy of the cerebral ventricular system; even with…

Environmental Forces - Some Esthetic Components.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Severino, D. Alexander

Although our system of mass culture has raised our civilization to an extremely high level of material success and affluence, the fact remains that this system has the inherent flaw of not fully recognizing the esthetic needs of man. To overcome this weakness we need to re-introduce into the system a sizable component of first-hand experience…

Exploring Adaptability through Learning Layers and Learning Loops

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lof, Annette

2010-01-01

Adaptability in social-ecological systems results from individual and collective action, and multi-level interactions. It can be understood in a dual sense as a system's ability to adapt to disturbance and change, and to navigate system transformation. Inherent in this conception, as found in resilience thinking, are the concepts of learning and…

On the Validity of Educational Evaluation and Its Construction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Xiaoping; Hu, Zhongfeng

2015-01-01

The main problem of the educational evaluation validity is that it just copies the conceptual framework system of validity from educational measurement to its own conceptual system. The validity conceptual system that fits the need of theory and practice of educational evaluation has not been established yet. According to the inherent attributive…

Multiscale Reactive Molecular Dynamics

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-15

biology cannot be described without considering electronic and nuclear-level dynamics and their coupling to slower, cooperative motions of the system ...coupling to slower, cooperative motions of the system . These inherently multiscale problems require computationally efficient and accurate methods to...condensed phase systems with computational efficiency orders of magnitudes greater than currently possible with ab initio simulation methods, thus

On discrete control of nonlinear systems with applications to robotics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eslami, Mansour

1989-01-01

Much progress has been reported in the areas of modeling and control of nonlinear dynamic systems in a continuous-time framework. From implementation point of view, however, it is essential to study these nonlinear systems directly in a discrete setting that is amenable for interfacing with digital computers. But to develop discrete models and discrete controllers for a nonlinear system such as robot is a nontrivial task. Robot is also inherently a variable-inertia dynamic system involving additional complications. Not only the computer-oriented models of these systems must satisfy the usual requirements for such models, but these must also be compatible with the inherent capabilities of computers and must preserve the fundamental physical characteristics of continuous-time systems such as the conservation of energy and/or momentum. Preliminary issues regarding discrete systems in general and discrete models of a typical industrial robot that is developed with full consideration of the principle of conservation of energy are presented. Some research on the pertinent tactile information processing is reviewed. Finally, system control methods and how to integrate these issues in order to complete the task of discrete control of a robot manipulator are also reviewed.

Field oriented control of induction motors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burrows, Linda M.; Zinger, Don S.; Roth, Mary Ellen

1990-01-01

Induction motors have always been known for their simple rugged construction, but until lately were not suitable for variable speed or servo drives due to the inherent complexity of the controls. With the advent of field oriented control (FOC), however, the induction motor has become an attractive option for these types of drive systems. An FOC system which utilizes the pulse population modulation method to synthesize the motor drive frequencies is examined. This system allows for a variable voltage to frequency ratio and enables the user to have independent control of both the speed and torque of an induction motor. A second generation of the control boards were developed and tested with the next point of focus being the minimization of the size and complexity of these controls. Many options were considered with the best approach being the use of a digital signal processor (DSP) due to its inherent ability to quickly evaluate control algorithms. The present test results of the system and the status of the optimization process using a DSP are discussed.

Morality, Culture and the Dialogic Self: Taking Cultural Pluralism Seriously

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haste, Helen; Abrahams, Salie

2008-01-01

This paper explores moral reasoning within the framework of contemporary cultural theory, in which moral functioning is action mediated by tools (such as socially available discourses) within a social and cultural context. This cultural model of a "dialogic moral self" challenges many of the assumptions inherent in the individualistic Kantian…

The importance of seasonal temperature and moisture patterns on growth of Douglas-fir in western Oregon, USA

EPA Science Inventory

Douglas-fir growth in the Pacific Northwest is thought to be water limited. However, discerning the relative influence of air temperature and plant available soil water (W) on growth is difficult because they interact with each other, with other climate factors and with the inher...

Educational Malpractice: Can the Judiciary Remedy the Growing Problem of Functional Illiteracy?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klein, Alice J.

1979-01-01

Investigates the viability of a negligence action for inadequate public school education. Explores the problems inherent in proving each element of negligence, the available defense, and the potential consequences for plaintiffs, defendants, and educational policy-making that would flow from judicial recognition of a cause of action. Journal…

Leadership in Australian Rural Schools: Bush Track, Fast Track

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, Lorraine; Paterson, David; Miller, Judith

2008-01-01

Due to the difficulties inherent in staffing rural schools it is increasingly common for beginning teachers to fill school leadership roles early in their careers. The accelerated progression of some teachers impacts on the overall nature of leadership in rural schools and creates unique pathways, generally different from those available to…

Commentary on "Validating the Interpretations and Uses of Test Scores"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brennan, Robert L.

2013-01-01

Kane's paper "Validating the Interpretations and Uses of Test Scores" is the most complete and clearest discussion yet available of the argument-based approach to validation. At its most basic level, validation as formulated by Kane is fundamentally a simply-stated two-step enterprise: (1) specify the claims inherent in a particular interpretation…

A comprehensive equivalent circuit model of all-vanadium redox flow battery for power system analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yu; Zhao, Jiyun; Wang, Peng; Skyllas-Kazacos, Maria; Xiong, Binyu; Badrinarayanan, Rajagopalan

2015-09-01

Electrical equivalent circuit models demonstrate excellent adaptability and simplicity in predicting the electrical dynamic response of the all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) system. However, only a few publications that focus on this topic are available. The paper presents a comprehensive equivalent circuit model of VRB for system level analysis. The least square method is used to identify both steady-state and dynamic characteristics of VRB. The inherent features of the flow battery such as shunt current, ion diffusion and pumping energy consumption are also considered. The proposed model consists of an open-circuit voltage source, two parasitic shunt bypass circuits, a 1st order resistor-capacitor network and a hydraulic circuit model. Validated with experimental data, the proposed model demonstrates excellent accuracy. The mean-error of terminal voltage and pump consumption are 0.09 V and 0.49 W respectively. Based on the proposed model, self-discharge and system efficiency are studied. An optimal flow rate which maximizes the system efficiency is identified. Finally, the dynamic responses of the proposed VRB model under step current profiles are presented. Variables such as SOC and stack terminal voltage can be provided.

Hydrogen storage in a combined M.sub.xAlH.sub.6/M'.sub.y(NH.sub.2).sub.z system and methods of making and using the same

DOEpatents

Lu, Jun [Salt Lake City, UT; Fang, Zhigang Zak [Salt Lake City, UT; Sohn, Hong Yong [Salt Lake City, UT

2012-04-03

As a promising clean fuel for vehicles, hydrogen can be used for propulsion, either directly or in fuel cells. Hydrogen storage compositions having high storage capacity, good dehydrogenation kinetics, and hydrogen release and uptake reactions which are reversible are disclosed and described. Generally a hydrogen storage composition of a metal aluminum hexahydride and a metal amide can be used. A combined system (Li.sub.3AIH.sub.6/3LiNH.sub.2) with a very high inherent hydrogen capacity (7.3 wt %) can be carried out at moderate temperatures, and with approximately 95% of that inherent hydrogen storage capacity (7.0%) is reversible over repeated cycling of release and uptake.

Nutritional status as an indicator of impending food stress*.

PubMed

Galvin, K A

1988-06-01

Famine early warning systems benefit from a variety of indicators which together signal the initial stages of food stress for particular population groups. Anthropometry has been used as an indicator in early warning systems, but there are inherent problems in its use which should be understood. Using data from Turkana pastoralists of northwest Kenya, this paper discusses the problems of: time lag between food shortages and changes in body size and composition; use of reference points; accurate age assessment; and establishment of baseline data. Diet composition data are suggested to be an additional nutrition-oriented indicator of impending food stress and one in which problems associated with anthropometry are not inherent. Both measures may be useful in monitoring a population, but their strengths and weaknesses should be appreciated.

Study report on guidelines and test procedures for investigating stability of nonlinear cardiovascular control system models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fitzjerrell, D. G.

1974-01-01

A general study of the stability of nonlinear as compared to linear control systems is presented. The analysis is general and, therefore, applies to other types of nonlinear biological control systems as well as the cardiovascular control system models. Both inherent and numerical stability are discussed for corresponding analytical and graphic methods and numerical methods.

12 CFR 612.2260 - Standards of conduct for agents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... agents. (a) Agents of System institutions shall maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and... business practices, to avoid or control situations that have inherent potential for sensitivity, either...

12 CFR 612.2260 - Standards of conduct for agents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... agents. (a) Agents of System institutions shall maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and... business practices, to avoid or control situations that have inherent potential for sensitivity, either...

12 CFR 612.2260 - Standards of conduct for agents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... agents. (a) Agents of System institutions shall maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and... business practices, to avoid or control situations that have inherent potential for sensitivity, either...

Why Wheels Work.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stepp, Richard D.

1982-01-01

Discusses how the wheel works. The inherent mechanical advantage of wheel-and-axle system is that it reduced the distance the load-bearing surfaces have to slip relative to one another when the whole apparatus advances some given distance reducing (with leverage) the force needed to propel the system. (Author/JN)

Automatic Selective Documentation Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

George, Ray L.

User needs studies often present figures indicating that documentation services systems which rely on the mails are inherently incapable of effectively supporting more than half of all research and development tasks. In addition to investigating faster ways of transmitting information, DDC has also been developing and testing systems based on…

Electronic Banking and the Death of Privacy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McLuhan, Marshall; Powers, Bruce

1981-01-01

Describes some of the problems for the individual inherent in the rapidly expanding computerized field of credit and banking. Proposes that electronic fund transfer systems could virtually replace the use of cash. Warns that while such systems offer wide advantages to business, they threaten the individual's privacy. (JMF)

RNAi control of aflatoxins in peanut plants, a multifactorial system

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

RNA-interference (RNAi)-mediated control of aflatoxin contamination in peanut plants is a multifactorial and hyper variable system. The use of RNAi biotechnology to silence single genes in plants has inherently high-variability among transgenic events. Also the level of expression of small interfe...

Design of Inhouse Automated Library Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cortez, Edwin M.

1984-01-01

Examines six steps inherent to development of in-house automated library system: (1) problem definition, (2) requirement specifications, (3) analysis of alternatives and solutions, (4, 5) design and implementation of hardware and software, and (6) evaluation. Practical method for comparing and weighting options is illustrated and explained. A…

Microbial Communities Are Well Adapted to Disturbances in Energy Input

PubMed Central

Vallino, Joseph J.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Although microbial systems are well suited for studying concepts in ecological theory, little is known about how microbial communities respond to long-term periodic perturbations beyond diel oscillations. Taking advantage of an ongoing microcosm experiment, we studied how methanotrophic microbial communities adapted to disturbances in energy input over a 20-day cycle period. Sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes together with quantification of microbial abundance and ecosystem function were used to explore the long-term dynamics (510 days) of methanotrophic communities under continuous versus cyclic chemical energy supply. We observed that microbial communities appeared inherently well adapted to disturbances in energy input and that changes in community structure in both treatments were more dependent on internal dynamics than on external forcing. The results also showed that the rare biosphere was critical to seeding the internal community dynamics, perhaps due to cross-feeding or other strategies. We conclude that in our experimental system, internal feedbacks were more important than external drivers in shaping the community dynamics over time, suggesting that ecosystems can maintain their function despite inherently unstable community dynamics. IMPORTANCE Within the broader ecological context, biological communities are often viewed as stable and as only experiencing succession or replacement when subject to external perturbations, such as changes in food availability or the introduction of exotic species. Our findings indicate that microbial communities can exhibit strong internal dynamics that may be more important in shaping community succession than external drivers. Dynamic “unstable” communities may be important for ecosystem functional stability, with rare organisms playing an important role in community restructuring. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for internal community dynamics will certainly be required for understanding and manipulating microbiomes in both host-associated and natural ecosystems. PMID:27822558

Experimentally determined stiffness and damping of an inherently compensated air squeeze-film damper

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cunningham, R. E.

1975-01-01

Values of damping and stiffness were determined experimentally for an externally pressurized, inherently compensated, compressible squeeze-film damper up to excitation frequencies of 36,000 cycles per minute. Experimental damping values were higher than theory predicted at low squeeze numbers and less than predicted at high squeeze numbers. Experimental values of air film stiffness were less than theory predicted at low squeeze numbers and much greater at higher squeeze numbers. Results also indicate sufficient damping to attenuate amplitudes and forces at the critical speed when using three dampers in the flexible support system of a small, lightweight turborotor.

Strategies to overcome polymerization shrinkage--materials and techniques. A review.

PubMed

Malhotra, Neeraj; Kundabala, M; Shashirashmi, Acharya

2010-03-01

Stress generation at tissue/resin composite interfaces is one of the important reasons for failure of resin-based composite (RBC) restorations owing to the inherent property of polymerization shrinkage. Unrelieved stresses can weaken the bond between the tooth structure and the restoration, eventually producing a gap at the restoration margins. This can lead to postoperative sensitivity, secondary caries, fracture of the restorations, marginal deterioration and discoloration. As polymerization shrinkage cannot be eliminated completely, various techniques and protocols have been suggested in the manipulation of, and restorative procedures for, RBCs to minimize the shrinkage and associated stresses. Introduction of various newer monomer systems (siloranes) may also overcome this problem of shrinkage stress. This review emphasizes the various material science advances and techniques advocated that are currently available or under trial/testing phase to deal with polymerization shrinkage in a clinical environment. Minimizing the shrinkage stresses in RBC restorations may lead to improvement in the success rate and survival of restorations. Thus, it is important for dental practitioners to be aware of various techniques and materials available to reduce these shrinkage stresses and be updated with the current knowledge available to deal with this issue.

Stationkeeping of Lissajous Trajectories in the Earth-Moon System with Applications to ARTEMIS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Folta, D. C.; Pavlak, T. A.; Howell, K. C.; Woodard, M. A.; Woodfork, D. W.

2010-01-01

In the last few decades, several missions have successfully exploited trajectories near the.Sun-Earth L1 and L2 libration points. Recently, the collinear libration points in the Earth-Moon system have emerged as locations with immediate application. Most libration point orbits, in any system, are inherently unstable. and must be controlled. To this end, several stationkeeping strategies are considered for application to ARTEMIS. Two approaches are examined to investigate the stationkeeping problem in this regime and the specific options. available for ARTEMIS given the mission and vehicle constraints. (I) A baseline orbit-targeting approach controls the vehicle to remain near a nominal trajectory; a related global optimum search method searches all possible maneuver angles to determine an optimal angle and magnitude; and (2) an orbit continuation method, with various formulations determines maneuver locations and minimizes costs. Initial results indicate that consistent stationkeeping costs can be achieved with both approaches and the costs are reasonable. These methods are then applied to Lissajous trajectories representing a baseline ARTEMIS libration orbit trajectory.

Brucellosis in West and Central Africa: A review of the current situation in a changing landscape of dairy cattle systems.

PubMed

Craighead, L; Meyer, A; Chengat, B; Musallam, I; Akakpo, J; Kone, P; Guitian, J; Häsler, B

2018-03-01

Brucellosis is a neglected endemic zoonosis in West and Central Africa. In this narrative review, evidence of livestock and human infection is presented along with details of past and current control strategies in 14 selected countries. Data from available literature is combined with expert opinion elicited during a regional workshop on brucellosis diagnostics. Demographic changes that affect both the epidemiology of brucellosis and the success of control or surveillance are also considered. The evidence suggests that brucellosis prevalence in emerging peri-urban dairy cattle systems may be higher than that found in traditional transhumant extensive systems. Accurate microbiological and epidemiological evidence across the region is lacking but it appears there is inherent interest in controlling the disease. There are many data gaps which require collaborative future research to evaluate fully the social and economic impact of the disease in an evolving livestock sector heavily influenced by high rates of urbanisation and regional population growth. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

COREBA (cognition-oriented emergent behavior architecture)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwak, S. David

2000-06-01

Currently, many behavior implementation technologies are available for modeling human behaviors in Department of Defense (DOD) computerized systems. However, it is commonly known that any single currently adopted behavior implementation technology is not so capable of fully representing complex and dynamic human decision-making and cognition behaviors. The author views that the current situation can be greatly improved if multiple technologies are integrated within a well designed overarching architecture that amplifies the merits of each of the participating technologies while suppressing the limitations that are inherent with each of the technologies. COREBA uses an overarching behavior integration architecture that makes the multiple implementation technologies cooperate in a homogeneous environment while collectively transcending the limitations associated with the individual implementation technologies. Specifically, COREBA synergistically integrates Artificial Intelligence and Complex Adaptive System under Rational Behavior Model multi-level multi- paradigm behavior architecture. This paper will describe applicability of COREBA in DOD domain, behavioral capabilities and characteristics of COREBA and how the COREBA architectural integrates various behavior implementation technologies.

Querying Safety Cases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denney, Ewen W.; Naylor, Dwight; Pai, Ganesh

2014-01-01

Querying a safety case to show how the various stakeholders' concerns about system safety are addressed has been put forth as one of the benefits of argument-based assurance (in a recent study by the Health Foundation, UK, which reviewed the use of safety cases in safety-critical industries). However, neither the literature nor current practice offer much guidance on querying mechanisms appropriate for, or available within, a safety case paradigm. This paper presents a preliminary approach that uses a formal basis for querying safety cases, specifically Goal Structuring Notation (GSN) argument structures. Our approach semantically enriches GSN arguments with domain-specific metadata that the query language leverages, along with its inherent structure, to produce views. We have implemented the approach in our toolset AdvoCATE, and illustrate it by application to a fragment of the safety argument for an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) being developed at NASA Ames. We also discuss the potential practical utility of our query mechanism within the context of the existing framework for UAS safety assurance.

Towards non-classical walks with bright laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sephton, B.; Dudley, A.; Forbes, A.

2017-08-01

In the avid search for means to increase computational power in comparison to that which is currently available, quantum walks (QWs) have become a promising option with derived quantum algorithms providing an associated speed up compared to what is currently used for implementation in classical computers. It has additionally been shown that the physical implementation of QWs will provide a successful computational basis for a quantum computer. It follows that considerable drive for finding such means has been occurring over the 20+ years since its introduction with phenomena such as electrons and photons being employed. Principal problems encountered with such quantum systems involve the vulnerability to environmental influence as well as scalability of the systems. Here we outline how to perform the QW due to interference characteristics inherent in the phenomenon, to mitigate these challenges. We utilize the properties of vector beams to physically implement such a walk in orbital angular momentum space by manipulating polarization and exploiting the non-separability of such beams.

Immune response and immunopathology during toxoplasmosis1

PubMed Central

Dupont, Christopher D.; Christian, David A.; Hunter, Christopher A.

2012-01-01

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary significance that is able to infect any warm-blooded vertebrate host. In addition to its importance to public health, several inherent features of the biology of T. gondii have made it an important model organism to study host-pathogen interactions. One factor is the genetic tractability of the parasite, which allows studies on the microbial factors that affect virulence and allows the development of tools that facilitate immune studies. Additionally, mice are natural hosts for T. gondii, and the availability of numerous reagents to study the murine immune system makes this an ideal experimental system to understand the functions of cytokines and effector mechanisms involved in immunity to intracellular microorganisms. In this article, we will review current knowledge of the innate and adaptive immune responses required for resistance to toxoplasmosis, the events that lead to the development of immunopathology, and the natural regulatory mechanisms that limit excessive inflammation during this infection. PMID:22955326

Craniux: A LabVIEW-Based Modular Software Framework for Brain-Machine Interface Research

PubMed Central

Degenhart, Alan D.; Kelly, John W.; Ashmore, Robin C.; Collinger, Jennifer L.; Tyler-Kabara, Elizabeth C.; Weber, Douglas J.; Wang, Wei

2011-01-01

This paper presents “Craniux,” an open-access, open-source software framework for brain-machine interface (BMI) research. Developed in LabVIEW, a high-level graphical programming environment, Craniux offers both out-of-the-box functionality and a modular BMI software framework that is easily extendable. Specifically, it allows researchers to take advantage of multiple features inherent to the LabVIEW environment for on-the-fly data visualization, parallel processing, multithreading, and data saving. This paper introduces the basic features and system architecture of Craniux and describes the validation of the system under real-time BMI operation using simulated and real electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. Our results indicate that Craniux is able to operate consistently in real time, enabling a seamless work flow to achieve brain control of cursor movement. The Craniux software framework is made available to the scientific research community to provide a LabVIEW-based BMI software platform for future BMI research and development. PMID:21687575

Craniux: a LabVIEW-based modular software framework for brain-machine interface research.

PubMed

Degenhart, Alan D; Kelly, John W; Ashmore, Robin C; Collinger, Jennifer L; Tyler-Kabara, Elizabeth C; Weber, Douglas J; Wang, Wei

2011-01-01

This paper presents "Craniux," an open-access, open-source software framework for brain-machine interface (BMI) research. Developed in LabVIEW, a high-level graphical programming environment, Craniux offers both out-of-the-box functionality and a modular BMI software framework that is easily extendable. Specifically, it allows researchers to take advantage of multiple features inherent to the LabVIEW environment for on-the-fly data visualization, parallel processing, multithreading, and data saving. This paper introduces the basic features and system architecture of Craniux and describes the validation of the system under real-time BMI operation using simulated and real electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. Our results indicate that Craniux is able to operate consistently in real time, enabling a seamless work flow to achieve brain control of cursor movement. The Craniux software framework is made available to the scientific research community to provide a LabVIEW-based BMI software platform for future BMI research and development.

Data acquisition techniques for exploiting the uniqueness of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer: Application to sampling pulsed gas systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lincoln, K. A.

1980-01-01

Mass spectra are produced in most mass spectrometers by sweeping some parameter within the instrument as the sampled gases flow into the ion source. It is evident that any fluctuation in the gas during the sweep (mass scan) of the instrument causes the output spectrum to be skewed in its mass peak intensities. The time of flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) with its fast, repetitive mode of operation produces spectra without skewing or varying instrument parameters and because all ion species are ejected from the ion source simultaneously, the spectra are inherently not skewed despite rapidly changing gas pressure or composition in the source. Methods of exploiting this feature by utilizing fast digital data acquisition systems, such as transient recorders and signal averagers which are commercially available are described. Applications of this technique are presented including TOFMS sampling of vapors produced by both pulsed and continuous laser heating of materials.

Hospital reimbursement incentives: is there a more effective option?--Part II.

PubMed

Weil, Thomas P

2013-01-01

As discussed in Part I of this article, hospital executives in Canada, Germany, and the United States manage their facilities' resources to maximize the incentives inherent in their respective reimbursement system and thereby increase their bottom line. It was also discussed that an additional supply of available hospitals, physicians, and other services will generate increased utilization. Part II discusses how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 will eventually fail since it neither controls prices nor utilization (e.g., imaging, procedures, ambulatory surgery, discretionary spending). This article concludes with the discussion of the German multipayer approach with universal access and global budgets that might well be a model for U.S. healthcare in the future. Although the German healthcare system has a number of shortfalls, its paradigm could offer the most appropriate compromise when selecting the economic incentives to reduce the percentage of the U.S. gross domestic product expenditure for healthcare from 17.4% to roughly 12.0%.

Source-Adaptation-Based Wireless Video Transport: A Cross-Layer Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qu, Qi; Pei, Yong; Modestino, James W.; Tian, Xusheng

2006-12-01

Real-time packet video transmission over wireless networks is expected to experience bursty packet losses that can cause substantial degradation to the transmitted video quality. In wireless networks, channel state information is hard to obtain in a reliable and timely manner due to the rapid change of wireless environments. However, the source motion information is always available and can be obtained easily and accurately from video sequences. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer framework that exploits only the motion information inherent in video sequences and efficiently combines a packetization scheme, a cross-layer forward error correction (FEC)-based unequal error protection (UEP) scheme, an intracoding rate selection scheme as well as a novel intraframe interleaving scheme. Our objective and subjective results demonstrate that the proposed approach is very effective in dealing with the bursty packet losses occurring on wireless networks without incurring any additional implementation complexity or delay. Thus, the simplicity of our proposed system has important implications for the implementation of a practical real-time video transmission system.

Gait Partitioning Methods: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Taborri, Juri; Palermo, Eduardo; Rossi, Stefano; Cappa, Paolo

2016-01-01

In the last years, gait phase partitioning has come to be a challenging research topic due to its impact on several applications related to gait technologies. A variety of sensors can be used to feed algorithms for gait phase partitioning, mainly classifiable as wearable or non-wearable. Among wearable sensors, footswitches or foot pressure insoles are generally considered as the gold standard; however, to overcome some inherent limitations of the former, inertial measurement units have become popular in recent decades. Valuable results have been achieved also though electromyography, electroneurography, and ultrasonic sensors. Non-wearable sensors, such as opto-electronic systems along with force platforms, remain the most accurate system to perform gait analysis in an indoor environment. In the present paper we identify, select, and categorize the available methodologies for gait phase detection, analyzing advantages and disadvantages of each solution. Finally, we comparatively examine the obtainable gait phase granularities, the usable computational methodologies and the optimal sensor placements on the targeted body segments. PMID:26751449

Gait Partitioning Methods: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Taborri, Juri; Palermo, Eduardo; Rossi, Stefano; Cappa, Paolo

2016-01-06

In the last years, gait phase partitioning has come to be a challenging research topic due to its impact on several applications related to gait technologies. A variety of sensors can be used to feed algorithms for gait phase partitioning, mainly classifiable as wearable or non-wearable. Among wearable sensors, footswitches or foot pressure insoles are generally considered as the gold standard; however, to overcome some inherent limitations of the former, inertial measurement units have become popular in recent decades. Valuable results have been achieved also though electromyography, electroneurography, and ultrasonic sensors. Non-wearable sensors, such as opto-electronic systems along with force platforms, remain the most accurate system to perform gait analysis in an indoor environment. In the present paper we identify, select, and categorize the available methodologies for gait phase detection, analyzing advantages and disadvantages of each solution. Finally, we comparatively examine the obtainable gait phase granularities, the usable computational methodologies and the optimal sensor placements on the targeted body segments.

Workflow computing. Improving management and efficiency of pathology diagnostic services.

PubMed

Buffone, G J; Moreau, D; Beck, J R

1996-04-01

Traditionally, information technology in health care has helped practitioners to collect, store, and present information and also to add a degree of automation to simple tasks (instrument interfaces supporting result entry, for example). Thus commercially available information systems do little to support the need to model, execute, monitor, coordinate, and revise the various complex clinical processes required to support health-care delivery. Workflow computing, which is already implemented and improving the efficiency of operations in several nonmedical industries, can address the need to manage complex clinical processes. Workflow computing not only provides a means to define and manage the events, roles, and information integral to health-care delivery but also supports the explicit implementation of policy or rules appropriate to the process. This article explains how workflow computing may be applied to health-care and the inherent advantages of the technology, and it defines workflow system requirements for use in health-care delivery with special reference to diagnostic pathology.

Optical system design of a speckle-free ultrafast Red-Green-Blue (RGB) source based on angularly multiplexed second harmonic generation from a TZDW source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yuhong; Knox, Wayne H.

2015-03-01

We report the optical system design of a novel speckle-free ultrafast Red-Green-Blue (RGB) source based on angularly multiplexed simultaneous second harmonic generation from the efficiently generated Stokes and anti-Stokes pulses from a commercially available photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with two zero dispersion wavelengths (TZDW). We describe the optimized configuration of the TZDW fiber source which supports excitations of dual narrow-band pulses with peak wavelengths at 850 nm, 1260 nm and spectral bandwidths of 23 nm, 26 nm, respectively within 12 cm of commercially available TZDW PCF. The conversion efficiencies are as high as 44% and 33% from the pump source (a custom-built Yb:fiber master-oscillator-power-amplifier). As a result of the nonlinear dynamics of propagation, the dual pulses preserve their ultrashort pulse width (with measured autocorrelation traces of 200 fs and 227 fs,) which eliminates the need for dispersion compensation before harmonic generation. With proper optical design of the free-space harmonic generation system, we achieve milli-Watt power level red, green and blue pulses at 630 nm, 517 nm and 425 nm. Having much broader spectral bandwidths compared to picosecond RGB laser sources, the source is inherently speckle-free due to the ultra-short coherence length (<37 μm) while still maintaining an excellent color rendering capability with >99.4% excitation purities of the three primaries, leading to the coverage of 192% NTSC color gamut (CIE 1976). The reported RGB source features a very simple system geometry, its potential for power scaling is discussed with currently available technologies.

In Search of Consensus: Role Versus Belief Systems in Bureaucratic Bargaining. An American Foreign Policy Simulation (AFPS).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hobbs, Heidi H.; Moreno, Dario V.

Reported are results from two runs of the simulation "Bureaucratic Bargaining," developed to help students understand the inherent tension between roles and belief systems in American foreign policy decision making. To determine their belief systems, 165 students enrolled in an introductory international relations course were tested with…

Free Choice of Learning Management Systems: Do Student Habits Override Inherent System Quality?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porter, Gavin W.

2013-01-01

Purpose: Although multiple studies examine institutional transitions of learning management systems (LMS) or compare their merits, studies examining students' free choice of access on parallel LMSs for the same course are absent from the literature. In order to investigate usage in a free-choice situation, identical content was posted at the same…

Risk management in fly-by-wire systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knoll, Karyn T.

1993-01-01

A general description of various types of fly-by-wire systems is provided. The risks inherent in digital flight control systems, like those used in the Space Shuttle, are identified. The results of a literature survey examining risk management methods in use throughout the aerospace industry are presented. The applicability of these methods to the Space Shuttle program is discussed.

Natural language processing and advanced information management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoard, James E.

1989-01-01

Integrating diverse information sources and application software in a principled and general manner will require a very capable advanced information management (AIM) system. In particular, such a system will need a comprehensive addressing scheme to locate the material in its docuverse. It will also need a natural language processing (NLP) system of great sophistication. It seems that the NLP system must serve three functions. First, it provides an natural language interface (NLI) for the users. Second, it serves as the core component that understands and makes use of the real-world interpretations (RWIs) contained in the docuverse. Third, it enables the reasoning specialists (RSs) to arrive at conclusions that can be transformed into procedures that will satisfy the users' requests. The best candidate for an intelligent agent that can satisfactorily make use of RSs and transform documents (TDs) appears to be an object oriented data base (OODB). OODBs have, apparently, an inherent capacity to use the large numbers of RSs and TDs that will be required by an AIM system and an inherent capacity to use them in an effective way.

True orbit simulation of piecewise linear and linear fractional maps of arbitrary dimension using algebraic numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Asaki; Yasutomi, Shin-ichi; Tamura, Jun-ichi; Ito, Shunji

2015-06-01

We introduce a true orbit generation method enabling exact simulations of dynamical systems defined by arbitrary-dimensional piecewise linear fractional maps, including piecewise linear maps, with rational coefficients. This method can generate sufficiently long true orbits which reproduce typical behaviors (inherent behaviors) of these systems, by properly selecting algebraic numbers in accordance with the dimension of the target system, and involving only integer arithmetic. By applying our method to three dynamical systems—that is, the baker's transformation, the map associated with a modified Jacobi-Perron algorithm, and an open flow system—we demonstrate that it can reproduce their typical behaviors that have been very difficult to reproduce with conventional simulation methods. In particular, for the first two maps, we show that we can generate true orbits displaying the same statistical properties as typical orbits, by estimating the marginal densities of their invariant measures. For the open flow system, we show that an obtained true orbit correctly converges to the stable period-1 orbit, which is inherently possessed by the system.

Switched Broadband Services For The Home

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sawyer, Don M.

1990-01-01

In considering the deployment of fiber optics to the residence, two critical questions arise: what are the leading services that could be offered to justify the required investment; and what is the nature of the business that would offer these services to the consumer ? This talk will address these two questions together with the related issue of how the "financial engine" of today's television distribution infrastructure - TV advertising - would be affected by an open access system based on fiber optics coupled with broadband switching. On the business side, the talk concludes that the potential for open ended capacity expansion, fair competition between service providers, and new interactive services inherent in an open access, switched broadband system are the critical items in differentiating it from existing video and TV distribution systems. On the question of broadband services, the talk will highlight several new opportunities together with some findings from recent market research conducted by BNR. The talk will show that there are variations on existing services plus many new services that could be offered and which have real consumer appeal. The postulated open access system discussed here is visualized as having ultimately 1,000 to 2,000 video channels available to the consumer. Although this may appear to hopelessly fragment the TV audience and destroy the current TV advertising infrastructure, the technology of open access, switched broadband will present many new advertising techniques, which have the potential to be far more effective than those available today. Some of these techniques will be described in this talk.

Top-level modeling of an als system utilizing object-oriented techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez, L. F.; Kang, S.; Ting, K. C.

The possible configuration of an Advanced Life Support (ALS) System capable of supporting human life for long-term space missions continues to evolve as researchers investigate potential technologies and configurations. To facilitate the decision process the development of acceptable, flexible, and dynamic mathematical computer modeling tools capable of system level analysis is desirable. Object-oriented techniques have been adopted to develop a dynamic top-level model of an ALS system.This approach has several advantages; among these, object-oriented abstractions of systems are inherently modular in architecture. Thus, models can initially be somewhat simplistic, while allowing for adjustments and improvements. In addition, by coding the model in Java, the model can be implemented via the World Wide Web, greatly encouraging the utilization of the model. Systems analysis is further enabled with the utilization of a readily available backend database containing information supporting the model. The subsystem models of the ALS system model include Crew, Biomass Production, Waste Processing and Resource Recovery, Food Processing and Nutrition, and the Interconnecting Space. Each subsystem model and an overall model have been developed. Presented here is the procedure utilized to develop the modeling tool, the vision of the modeling tool, and the current focus for each of the subsystem models.

Monitored Natural Attenuation and Enhanced Attenuation for Chlorinated Solvent Plumes - It’s All About Balance

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

VANGELAS, KAREN

2005-05-19

Nature's inherent ability to cleanse itself is at the heart of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA). The complexity comes when one attempts to measure and calculate this inherent ability, called the Natural Attenuation Capacity (NAC), and determine if it is sufficient to cleanse the system to agreed upon criteria. An approach that is simple in concept for determining whether the NAC is sufficient for MNA to work is the concept of a mass balance. Mass balance is a robust framework upon which all decisions can be made. The inflows to and outflows from the system are balanced against the NAC ofmore » the subsurface system. For MNA to be acceptable, the NAC is balanced against the contaminant loading to the subsurface system with the resulting outflow from the system being in a range that is acceptable to the regulating and decision-making parties. When the system is such that the resulting outflow is not within an acceptable range, the idea of taking actions that are sustainable and that will bring the system within the acceptable range of outflows is evaluated. These sustainable enhancements are being developed under the Enhanced Attenuation (EA) concept.« less

Monitored natural attenuation and enhanced attenuation for chlorinated solvent plumes - It's all about balance

USGS Publications Warehouse

Adams, K.A.; Vangelas, K.M.; Looney, B.B.; Chapelle, F.; Early, T.; Gilmore, T.; Sink, C.H.

2005-01-01

Nature's inherent ability to cleanse itself is at the heart of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA). The complexity comes when one attempts to measure and calculate this inherent ability, called the Natural Attenuation Capacity (NAC), and determine if it is sufficient to cleanse the system to agreed upon criteria. An approach that is simple in concept for determining whether the NAC is sufficient for MNA to work is the concept of a mass balance. Mass balance is a robust framework upon which all decisions can be made. The inflows to and outflows from the system are balanced against the NAC of the subsurface system. For MNA to be acceptable, the NAC is balanced against the contaminant loading to the subsurface system with the resulting outflow from the system being in a range that is acceptable to the regulating and decision-making parties. When the system is such that the resulting outflow is not within an acceptable range, the idea of taking actions that are sustainable and that will bring the system within the acceptable range of outflows is evaluated. These sustainable enhancements are being developed under the Enhanced Attenuation (EA) concept. Copyright ASCE 2005.

Open Ephys electroencephalography (Open Ephys  +  EEG): a modular, low-cost, open-source solution to human neural recording

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Black, Christopher; Voigts, Jakob; Agrawal, Uday; Ladow, Max; Santoyo, Juan; Moore, Christopher; Jones, Stephanie

2017-06-01

Objective. Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a unique opportunity to study human neural activity non-invasively with millisecond resolution using minimal equipment in or outside of a lab setting. EEG can be combined with a number of techniques for closed-loop experiments, where external devices are driven by specific neural signals. However, reliable, commercially available EEG systems are expensive, often making them impractical for individual use and research development. Moreover, by design, a majority of these systems cannot be easily altered to the specification needed by the end user. We focused on mitigating these issues by implementing open-source tools to develop a new EEG platform to drive down research costs and promote collaboration and innovation. Approach. Here, we present methods to expand the open-source electrophysiology system, Open Ephys (www.openephys.org), to include human EEG recordings. We describe the equipment and protocol necessary to interface various EEG caps with the Open Ephys acquisition board, and detail methods for processing data. We present applications of Open Ephys  +  EEG as a research tool and discuss how this innovative EEG technology lays a framework for improved closed-loop paradigms and novel brain-computer interface experiments. Main results. The Open Ephys  +  EEG system can record reliable human EEG data, as well as human EMG data. A side-by-side comparison of eyes closed 8-14 Hz activity between the Open Ephys  +  EEG system and the Brainvision ActiCHamp EEG system showed similar average power and signal to noise. Significance. Open Ephys  +  EEG enables users to acquire high-quality human EEG data comparable to that of commercially available systems, while maintaining the price point and extensibility inherent to open-source systems.

Open Ephys electroencephalography (Open Ephys  +  EEG): a modular, low-cost, open-source solution to human neural recording.

PubMed

Black, Christopher; Voigts, Jakob; Agrawal, Uday; Ladow, Max; Santoyo, Juan; Moore, Christopher; Jones, Stephanie

2017-06-01

Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a unique opportunity to study human neural activity non-invasively with millisecond resolution using minimal equipment in or outside of a lab setting. EEG can be combined with a number of techniques for closed-loop experiments, where external devices are driven by specific neural signals. However, reliable, commercially available EEG systems are expensive, often making them impractical for individual use and research development. Moreover, by design, a majority of these systems cannot be easily altered to the specification needed by the end user. We focused on mitigating these issues by implementing open-source tools to develop a new EEG platform to drive down research costs and promote collaboration and innovation. Here, we present methods to expand the open-source electrophysiology system, Open Ephys (www.openephys.org), to include human EEG recordings. We describe the equipment and protocol necessary to interface various EEG caps with the Open Ephys acquisition board, and detail methods for processing data. We present applications of Open Ephys  +  EEG as a research tool and discuss how this innovative EEG technology lays a framework for improved closed-loop paradigms and novel brain-computer interface experiments. The Open Ephys  +  EEG system can record reliable human EEG data, as well as human EMG data. A side-by-side comparison of eyes closed 8-14 Hz activity between the Open Ephys  +  EEG system and the Brainvision ActiCHamp EEG system showed similar average power and signal to noise. Open Ephys  +  EEG enables users to acquire high-quality human EEG data comparable to that of commercially available systems, while maintaining the price point and extensibility inherent to open-source systems.

Does differential growth affect the distribution and recovery of Listeria spp. in pasture-raised broiler farm soils?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Listeria spp. represent an important foodborne pathogen, but relatively little is known about its environmental prevalence on poultry farms. Considering the environmental exposure inherent with pasture-raised production systems, these types of alternative poultry management systems represent an idea...

IS THE DISTRIBUTION OF LISTERIA SPP. ISOLATED FROM ALL-NATURAL, MIXED SPECIES, PASTURED-RAISED BROILER FARMS RELATED TO DIFFERENTIAL GROWTH?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: Listeria spp. represent an important foodborne pathogen, but relatively little is known about its environmental prevalence on poultry farms. Considering the environmental exposure inherent with pasture-raised production systems, these types of alternative poultry management systems repr...

A Structural Approach to Unresolved Mourning in Single Parent Family Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fulmer, Richard H.

1983-01-01

Considers the mother's depression as a special problem in therapy of single-parent families, resulting from unresolved mourning maintained by the family system. Offers reasons why the single-parent family's structure seems inherently vulnerable to unresolved mourning. Suggests techniques of Structural Family Therapy to facilitate mourning in such…

Maintaining soil health after remediated agroecostems are returned to traditional cropping systems

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Intensively tilled cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) monoculture systems, although profitable and well-adapted to the semiarid climate of the Texas High Plains in the U.S., have contributed to the degradation of inherently low soil organic matter (SOM). We conducted a two-phase study (2003-2010) focus...

Actualizing panarchy within environmental policy: mechanisms for tweaking institutional hierarchies to mimic the social-ecological systems they manage

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental law plays a key role in shaping approaches to sustainability. In particular, the role of legal instruments, institutions, and the relationship of law to the inherent variability in social-ecological systems is critical. Sustainability likely must occur via the insti...

Teaching Information Systems Development via Process Variants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Wee-Kek; Tan, Chuan-Hoo

2010-01-01

Acquiring the knowledge to assemble an integrated Information System (IS) development process that is tailored to the specific needs of a project has become increasingly important. It is therefore necessary for educators to impart to students this crucial skill. However, Situational Method Engineering (SME) is an inherently complex process that…

How a "Top-Performing" Asian School System Formulates and Implements Policy: The Case of Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Cheng Yong; Dimmock, Clive

2014-01-01

This article analyses the paradox inherent in the "top-performing" yet tightly controlled Singapore education system. As government controls have increased in complexity, existing policymaking conceptual heuristics in accounting for centre-periphery relationships appear inadequate. It argues that more direct government control is being…

Enhancing the Internet of Things Architecture with Flow Semantics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeSerranno, Allen Ronald

2017-01-01

Internet of Things ("IoT") systems are complex, asynchronous solutions often comprised of various software and hardware components developed in isolation of each other. These components function with different degrees of reliability and performance over an inherently unreliable network, the Internet. Many IoT systems are developed within…

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflakes as inherently electroactive labels for DNA hybridization detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loo, Adeline Huiling; Bonanni, Alessandra; Ambrosi, Adriano; Pumera, Martin

2014-09-01

The detection of specific DNA sequences plays a critical role in the areas of medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, drug discovery and food safety. This has therefore become a strong driving force behind the ever-increasing demand for simple, cost-effective, highly sensitive and selective DNA biosensors. In this study, we report for the first time, a novel approach for the utilization of molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes, a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides family, in the detection of DNA hybridization. Herein, molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes serve as inherently electroactive labels, with the inherent oxidation peak exploited as the analytical signal. The principle of detection is based on the differential affinity of molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes towards single-stranded DNA and double-stranded DNA. The employment of transition metal dichalcogenide nanomaterials for sensing and biosensing purposes represents an upcoming research area which holds great promise. Hence, our findings are anticipated to have significant contributions towards the fabrication of future DNA biosensors.The detection of specific DNA sequences plays a critical role in the areas of medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, drug discovery and food safety. This has therefore become a strong driving force behind the ever-increasing demand for simple, cost-effective, highly sensitive and selective DNA biosensors. In this study, we report for the first time, a novel approach for the utilization of molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes, a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides family, in the detection of DNA hybridization. Herein, molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes serve as inherently electroactive labels, with the inherent oxidation peak exploited as the analytical signal. The principle of detection is based on the differential affinity of molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes towards single-stranded DNA and double-stranded DNA. The employment of transition metal dichalcogenide nanomaterials for sensing and biosensing purposes represents an upcoming research area which holds great promise. Hence, our findings are anticipated to have significant contributions towards the fabrication of future DNA biosensors. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03795b

Solar power satellite system definition study. Volume 1, phase 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

A systems definition study of the solar satellite system (SPS) is presented. The technical feasibility of solar power satellites based on forecasts of technical capability in the various applicable technologies is assessed. The performance, cost, operational characteristics, reliability, and the suitability of SPS's as power generators for typical commercial electricity grids are discussed. The uncertainties inherent in the system characteristics forecasts are assessed.

Risk Management for Sodium Fast Reactors.

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

Denman, Matthew R.; Groth, Katrina; Cardoni, Jeffrey N.

2015-01-01

Accident management is an important component to maintaining risk at acceptable levels for all complex systems, such as nuclear power plants. With the introduction of self - correcting, or inherently safe, reactor designs the focus has shifted from management by operators to allowing the syste m's design to manage the accident. While inherently and passively safe designs are laudable, extreme boundary conditions can interfere with the design attributes which facilitate inherent safety , thus resulting in unanticipated and undesirable end states. This report examines an inherently safe and small sodium fast reactor experiencing a beyond design basis seismic event withmore » the intend of exploring two issues : (1) can human intervention either improve or worsen the potential end states and (2) can a Bayes ian Network be constructed to infer the state of the reactor to inform (1). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author s would like to acknowledge the U.S. Department of E nergy's Office of Nuclear Energy for funding this research through Work Package SR - 14SN100303 under the Advanced Reactor Concepts program. The authors also acknowledge the PRA teams at A rgonne N ational L aborator y , O ak R idge N ational L aborator y , and I daho N ational L aborator y for their continue d contributions to the advanced reactor PRA mission area.« less

Improved Resolution Optical Time Stretch Imaging Based on High Efficiency In-Fiber Diffraction.

PubMed

Wang, Guoqing; Yan, Zhijun; Yang, Lei; Zhang, Lin; Wang, Chao

2018-01-12

Most overlooked challenges in ultrafast optical time stretch imaging (OTSI) are sacrificed spatial resolution and higher optical loss. These challenges are originated from optical diffraction devices used in OTSI, which encode image into spectra of ultrashort optical pulses. Conventional free-space diffraction gratings, as widely used in existing OTSI systems, suffer from several inherent drawbacks: limited diffraction efficiency in a non-Littrow configuration due to inherent zeroth-order reflection, high coupling loss between free-space gratings and optical fibers, bulky footprint, and more importantly, sacrificed imaging resolution due to non-full-aperture illumination for individual wavelengths. Here we report resolution-improved and diffraction-efficient OTSI using in-fiber diffraction for the first time to our knowledge. The key to overcome the existing challenges is a 45° tilted fiber grating (TFG), which serves as a compact in-fiber diffraction device offering improved diffraction efficiency (up to 97%), inherent compatibility with optical fibers, and improved imaging resolution owning to almost full-aperture illumination for all illumination wavelengths. 50 million frames per second imaging of fast moving object at 46 m/s with improved imaging resolution has been demonstrated. This conceptually new in-fiber diffraction design opens the way towards cost-effective, compact and high-resolution OTSI systems for image-based high-throughput detection and measurement.

The development of low-molecular weight hydrogels for applications in cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Ran; Chen, Jin; Niu, Runfang

2014-03-01

To improve the anti-cancer efficacy and to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy, a variety of drug delivery systems have been invented in past decades, but few of these systems have succeeded in clinical trials due to their respective inherent shortcomings. Recently, low-molecular weight hydrogels of peptides that self-assemble via non-covalent interactions have attracted considerable attention due to their good biocompatibility, low toxicity, inherent biodegradability as well as their convenience of design. Low-molecular weight hydrogels have already shown promise in biomedical applications as diverse as 3D-cell culture, enzyme immobilization, controllable MSC differentiation, wound healing, drug delivery etc. Here we review the recent development in the use of low-molecular weight hydrogels for cancer therapy, which may be helpful in the design of soft materials for drug delivery.

JobCenter: an open source, cross-platform, and distributed job queue management system optimized for scalability and versatility.

PubMed

Jaschob, Daniel; Riffle, Michael

2012-07-30

Laboratories engaged in computational biology or bioinformatics frequently need to run lengthy, multistep, and user-driven computational jobs. Each job can tie up a computer for a few minutes to several days, and many laboratories lack the expertise or resources to build and maintain a dedicated computer cluster. JobCenter is a client-server application and framework for job management and distributed job execution. The client and server components are both written in Java and are cross-platform and relatively easy to install. All communication with the server is client-driven, which allows worker nodes to run anywhere (even behind external firewalls or "in the cloud") and provides inherent load balancing. Adding a worker node to the worker pool is as simple as dropping the JobCenter client files onto any computer and performing basic configuration, which provides tremendous ease-of-use, flexibility, and limitless horizontal scalability. Each worker installation may be independently configured, including the types of jobs it is able to run. Executed jobs may be written in any language and may include multistep workflows. JobCenter is a versatile and scalable distributed job management system that allows laboratories to very efficiently distribute all computational work among available resources. JobCenter is freely available at http://code.google.com/p/jobcenter/.

The inherent weaknesses in industrial control systems devices; hacking and defending SCADA systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianco, Louis J.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is about to enforce their NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Version Five and Six requirements on July 1st 2016. The NERC CIP requirements are a set of cyber security standards designed to protect cyber assets essential the reliable operation of the electric grid. The new Version Five and Six requirements are a major revision to the Version Three (currently enforced) requirements. The new requirements also bring substations into scope alongside Energy Control Centers. When the Version Five requirements were originally drafted they were vague, causing in depth discussions throughout the industry. The ramifications of these requirements has made owners look at their systems in depth, questioning how much money it will take to meet these requirements. Some owners saw backing down from routable networks to non-routable as a means to save money as they would be held to less requirements within the standards. Some owners saw removing routable connections as a proper security move. The purpose of this research was to uncover the inherent weaknesses in Industrial Control Systems (ICS) devices; to show how ICS devices can be hacked and figure out potential protections for these Critical Infrastructure devices. In addition, this research also aimed to validate the decision to move from External Routable connectivity to Non-Routable connectivity, as a security measure and not as a means of savings. The results reveal in order to ultimately protect Industrial Control Systems they must be removed from the Internet and all bi-directional external routable connections must be removed. Furthermore; non-routable serial connections should be utilized, and these non-routable serial connections should be encrypted on different layers of the OSI model. The research concluded that most weaknesses in SCADA systems are due to the inherent weaknesses in ICS devices and because of these weaknesses, human intervention is the biggest threat to SCADA systems.

Sensor-based fine telemanipulation for space robotics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andrenucci, M.; Bergamasco, M.; Dario, P.

1989-01-01

The control of a multifingered hand slave in order to accurately exert arbitrary forces and impart small movements to a grasped object is, at present, a knotty problem in teleoperation. Although a number of articulated robotic hands have been proposed in the recent past for dexterous manipulation in autonomous robots, the possible use of such hands as slaves in teleoperated manipulation is hindered by the present lack of sensors in those hands, and (even if those sensors were available) by the inherent difficulty of transmitting to the master operator the complex sensations elicited by such sensors at the slave level. An analysis of different problems related to sensor-based telemanipulation is presented. The general sensory systems requirements for dexterous slave manipulators are pointed out and the description of a practical sensory system set-up for the developed robotic system is presented. The problem of feeding back to the human master operator stimuli that can be interpreted by his central nervous system as originated during real dexterous manipulation is then considered. Finally, some preliminary work aimed at developing an instrumented glove designed purposely for commanding the master operation and incorporating Kevlar tendons and tension sensors, is discussed.

The microcomputer in the dental office: a new diagnostic aid.

PubMed

van der Stelt, P F

1985-06-01

The first computer applications in the dental office were based upon standard accountancy procedures. Recently, more and more computer applications have become available to meet the specific requirements of dental practice. This implies not only business procedures, but also facilities to store patient records in the system and retrieve them easily. Another development concerns the automatic calculation of diagnostic data such as those provided in cephalometric analysis. Furthermore, growth and surgical results in the craniofacial area can be predicted by computerized extrapolation. Computers have been useful in obtaining the patient's anamnestic data objectively and for the making of decisions based on such data. Computer-aided instruction systems have been developed for undergraduate students to bridge the gap between textbook and patient interaction without the risks inherent in the latter. Radiology will undergo substantial changes as a result of the application of electronic imaging devices instead of the conventional radiographic films. Computer-assisted electronic imaging will enable image processing, image enhancement, pattern recognition and data transmission for consultation and storage purposes. Image processing techniques will increase image quality whilst still allowing low-dose systems. Standardization of software and system configuration and the development of 'user friendly' programs is the major concern for the near future.

Integrated data analysis for genome-wide research.

PubMed

Steinfath, Matthias; Repsilber, Dirk; Scholz, Matthias; Walther, Dirk; Selbig, Joachim

2007-01-01

Integrated data analysis is introduced as the intermediate level of a systems biology approach to analyse different 'omics' datasets, i.e., genome-wide measurements of transcripts, protein levels or protein-protein interactions, and metabolite levels aiming at generating a coherent understanding of biological function. In this chapter we focus on different methods of correlation analyses ranging from simple pairwise correlation to kernel canonical correlation which were recently applied in molecular biology. Several examples are presented to illustrate their application. The input data for this analysis frequently originate from different experimental platforms. Therefore, preprocessing steps such as data normalisation and missing value estimation are inherent to this approach. The corresponding procedures, potential pitfalls and biases, and available software solutions are reviewed. The multiplicity of observations obtained in omics-profiling experiments necessitates the application of multiple testing correction techniques.

Orchestrating Bulk Data Movement in Grid Environments

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

Vazhkudai, SS

2005-01-25

Data Grids provide a convenient environment for researchers to manage and access massively distributed bulk data by addressing several system and transfer challenges inherent to these environments. This work addresses issues involved in the efficient selection and access of replicated data in Grid environments in the context of the Globus Toolkit{trademark}, building middleware that (1) selects datasets in highly replicated environments, enabling efficient scheduling of data transfer requests; (2) predicts transfer times of bulk wide-area data transfers using extensive statistical analysis; and (3) co-allocates bulk data transfer requests, enabling parallel downloads from mirrored sites. These efforts have demonstrated a decentralizedmore » data scheduling architecture, a set of forecasting tools that predict bandwidth availability within 15% error and co-allocation architecture, and heuristics that expedites data downloads by up to 2 times.« less

Why a simulation system doesn`t match the plant

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

Sowell, R.

1998-03-01

Process simulations, or mathematical models, are widely used by plant engineers and planners to obtain a better understanding of a particular process. These simulations are used to answer questions such as how can feed rate be increased, how can yields be improved, how can energy consumption be decreased, or how should the available independent variables be set to maximize profit? Although current process simulations are greatly improved over those of the `70s and `80s, there are many reasons why a process simulation doesn`t match the plant. Understanding these reasons can assist in using simulations to maximum advantage. The reasons simulationsmore » do not match the plant may be placed in three main categories: simulation effects or inherent error, sampling and analysis effects of measurement error, and misapplication effects or set-up error.« less

Neutron-gamma discrimination via PSD plastic scintillator and SiPMs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taggart, M. P.; Payne, C.; Sellin, P. J.

2016-10-01

The reduction in availability and inevitable increase in cost of traditional neutron detectors based on the 3He neutron capture reaction has resulted in a concerted effort to seek out new techniques and detection media to meet the needs of national nuclear security. Traditionally, the alternative has been provided through pulse shape discrimination (PSD) using liquid scintillators. However, these are not without their own inherent issues, primarily concerning user safety and ongoing maintenance. A potential system devised to separate neutron and gamma ray pulses utilising the PSD technique takes advantage of recent improvements in silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technology and the development of plastic scintillators exhibiting the PSD phenomena. In this paper we present the current iteration of this ongoing work having achieved a Figure of Merit (FoM) of 1.39 at 1.5 MeVee.

A pluggable framework for parallel pairwise sequence search.

PubMed

Archuleta, Jeremy; Feng, Wu-chun; Tilevich, Eli

2007-01-01

The current and near future of the computing industry is one of multi-core and multi-processor technology. Most existing sequence-search tools have been designed with a focus on single-core, single-processor systems. This discrepancy between software design and hardware architecture substantially hinders sequence-search performance by not allowing full utilization of the hardware. This paper presents a novel framework that will aid the conversion of serial sequence-search tools into a parallel version that can take full advantage of the available hardware. The framework, which is based on a software architecture called mixin layers with refined roles, enables modules to be plugged into the framework with minimal effort. The inherent modular design improves maintenance and extensibility, thus opening up a plethora of opportunities for advanced algorithmic features to be developed and incorporated while routine maintenance of the codebase persists.

Modeling rises and falls in money addicted social hierarchies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dybiec, Bartłomiej; Mitarai, Namiko; Sneppen, Kim

2014-08-01

The emergence of large communities is inherently associated with the creation of social structures. Connections between individuals are indispensable for cooperative action of agents building social groups. Moreover, social groups usually evolve and their structure changes over time. Consequently, an underlying network connecting individuals is not static, reflecting an ongoing adaptation to new conditions. The evolution of social connections is influenced by the relative position (hierarchy) of individuals building the system as well as by the availability of resources. We explore this aspect of human ambition by modeling the interplay of social networking and an uneven distribution of external resources. The model naturally generates social hierarchies. Remarkably, this social structure exhibits a rise-and-fall behavior. A well pronounced quasi-periodic dynamics, which is closely associated with the dissipation of resources that are needed to sustain the social links, is revealed.

IBM Demonstrates a General-Purpose, High-Performance, High-Availability Cloud-Hosted Data Distribution System With Live GOES-16 Weather Satellite Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snyder, P. L.; Brown, V. W.

2017-12-01

IBM has created a general purpose, data-agnostic solution that provides high performance, low data latency, high availability, scalability, and persistent access to the captured data, regardless of source or type. This capability is hosted on commercially available cloud environments and uses much faster, more efficient, reliable, and secure data transfer protocols than the more typically used FTP. The design incorporates completely redundant data paths at every level, including at the cloud data center level, in order to provide the highest assurance of data availability to the data consumers. IBM has been successful in building and testing a Proof of Concept instance on our IBM Cloud platform to receive and disseminate actual GOES-16 data as it is being downlinked. This solution leverages the inherent benefits of a cloud infrastructure configured and tuned for continuous, stable, high-speed data dissemination to data consumers worldwide at the downlink rate. It also is designed to ingest data from multiple simultaneous sources and disseminate data to multiple consumers. Nearly linear scalability is achieved by adding servers and storage.The IBM Proof of Concept system has been tested with our partners to achieve in excess of 5 Gigabits/second over public internet infrastructure. In tests with live GOES-16 data, the system routinely achieved 2.5 Gigabits/second pass-through to The Weather Company from the University of Wisconsin-Madison SSEC. Simulated data was also transferred from the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites — North Carolina to The Weather Company, as well. The storage node allocated to our Proof of Concept system as tested was sized at 480 Terabytes of RAID protected disk as a worst case sizing to accommodate the data from four GOES-16 class satellites for 30 days in a circular buffer. This shows that an abundance of performance and capacity headroom exists in the IBM design that can be applied to additional missions.

Integrated plan to augment surge capacity.

PubMed

Dayton, Christopher; Ibrahim, Jamil; Augenbraun, Michael; Brooks, Steven; Mody, Kiaran; Holford, Donald; Roblin, Patricia; Arquilla, Bonnie

2008-01-01

Surge capacity is defined as a healthcare system's ability to rapidly expand beyond normal services to meet the increased demand for appropriate space, qualified personnel, medical care, and public health in the event ofbioterrorism, disaster, or other large-scale, public health emergencies. There are many individuals and agencies, including policy makers, planners, administrators, and staff at the federal, state, and local level, involved in the process of planning for and executing policy in respect to a surge in the medical requirements of a population. They are responsible to ensure there is sufficient surge capacity within their own jurisdiction. The [US] federal government has required New York State to create a system of hospital bed surge capacity that provides for 500 adult and pediatric patients per 1 million population, which has been estimated to be an increase of 15-20% in bed availability. In response, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOH) has requested that area hospitals take an inventory of available beds and set a goal to provide for a 20% surge capacity to be available during a mass-casualty event or other conditions calling for increased inpatient bed availability. In 2003, under the auspices of the NYC DOH, the New York Institute of All Hazard Preparedness (NYIHP) was formed from four unaffiliated, healthcare facilities in Central Brooklyn to address this and other goals. The NYIHP hospitals have developed a surge capacity plan to provide necessary space and utilities. As these plans have been applied, a bed surge capacity of approximately 25% was identified and created for Central Brooklyn to provide for the increased demand on the medical care system that may accompany a disaster. Through the process of developing an integrated plan that would engage a public health incident, the facilities of NYIHP demonstrate that a model of cooperation may be applied to an inherently fractioned medical system.

ICS logging solution for network-based attacks using Gumistix technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otis, Jeremy R.; Berman, Dustin; Butts, Jonathan; Lopez, Juan

2013-05-01

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) monitor and control operations associated with the national critical infrastructure (e.g., electric power grid, oil and gas pipelines and water treatment facilities). These systems rely on technologies and architectures that were designed for system reliability and availability. Security associated with ICS was never an inherent concern, primarily due to the protections afforded by network isolation. However, a trend in ICS operations is to migrate to commercial networks via TCP/IP in order to leverage commodity benefits and cost savings. As a result, system vulnerabilities are now exposed to the online community. Indeed, recent research has demonstrated that many exposed ICS devices are being discovered using readily available applications (e.g., ShodanHQ search engine and Google-esque queries). Due to the lack of security and logging capabilities for ICS, most knowledge about attacks are derived from real world incidents after an attack has already been carried out and the damage has been done. This research provides a method for introducing sensors into the ICS environment that collect information about network-based attacks. The sensors are developed using an inexpensive Gumstix platform that can be deployed and incorporated with production systems. Data obtained from the sensors provide insight into attack tactics (e.g., port scans, Nessus scans, Metasploit modules, and zero-day exploits) and characteristics (e.g., attack origin, frequency, and level of persistence). Findings enable security professionals to draw an accurate, real-time awareness of the threats against ICS devices and help shift the security posture from reactionary to preventative.

Recent social and biogeophysical changes in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna, Mekong, and Amazon deltas as inputs into evolutionary policy-making.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Araujo Barbosa, C. C.; Hossain, S.; Szabo, S.; Matthews, Z.; Heard, S.; Dearing, J.

2014-12-01

Policy-making in social-ecological systems increasingly looks to iterative, evolutionary approaches that can address the inherent complexity of interactions between human wellbeing, agricultural and aquacultural production, and ecosystem services. Here we show how an analysis of available time-series in delta regions over past decades can provide important insight into the social-ecological system dynamics that result from the complexity. The presentation summarises the recent changes for major elements of each social-ecological system, for example demography, economy, health, climate, food, and water. Time-series data from official statistics, monitoring programmes and sequential satellite imagery are analysed to define the range of trends, the presence of change points, slow and fast variables, and the significant drivers of change. For example, in the Bangladesh delta zone, increasing gross domestic product and per capita income levels since the 1980s mirror rising levels of food and inland fish production. In contrast, non-food ecosystem services such as water availability, water quality and land stability have deteriorated. As a result, poverty alleviation is associated with environmental degradation. Trends in indicators of human wellbeing and ecosystem services point to widespread non-stationary dynamics governed by slowly changing variables with increased probability of systemic threshold changes/tipping points in the near future. We conclude by examining how the findings could feed into new management tools, such as system dynamic models and assessments of safe operating spaces. Such tools have the potential to help create policies that deliver alternative and sustainable paths for land management while accommodating social and environmental change.

Plant-based assessment of inherent soil productivity and contributions to China's cereal crop yield increase since 1980.

PubMed

Fan, Mingsheng; Lal, Rattan; Cao, Jian; Qiao, Lei; Su, Yansen; Jiang, Rongfeng; Zhang, Fusuo

2013-01-01

China's food production has increased 6-fold during the past half-century, thanks to increased yields resulting from the management intensification, accomplished through greater inputs of fertilizer, water, new crop strains, and other Green Revolution's technologies. Yet, changes in underlying quality of soils and their effects on yield increase remain to be determined. Here, we provide a first attempt to quantify historical changes in inherent soil productivity and their contributions to the increase in yield. The assessment was conducted based on data-set derived from 7410 on-farm trials, 8 long-term experiments and an inventory of soil organic matter concentrations of arable land. Results show that even without organic and inorganic fertilizer addition crop yield from on-farm trials conducted in the 2000s was significantly higher compared with those in the 1980s - the increase ranged from 0.73 to 1.76 Mg/ha for China's major irrigated cereal-based cropping systems. The increase in on-farm yield in control plot since 1980s was due primarily to the enhancement of soil-related factors, and reflected inherent soil productivity improvement. The latter led to higher and stable yield with adoption of improved management practices, and contributed 43% to the increase in yield for wheat and 22% for maize in the north China, and, 31%, 35% and 22% for early and late rice in south China and for single rice crop in the Yangtze River Basin since 1980. Thus, without an improvement in inherent soil productivity, the 'Agricultural Miracle in China' would not have happened. A comprehensive strategy of inherent soil productivity improvement in China, accomplished through combining engineering-based measures with biological-approaches, may be an important lesson for the developing world. We propose that advancing food security in 21st century for both China and other parts of world will depend on continuously improving inherent soil productivity.

Plant-Based Assessment of Inherent Soil Productivity and Contributions to China’s Cereal Crop Yield Increase since 1980

PubMed Central

Fan, Mingsheng; Lal, Rattan; Cao, Jian; Qiao, Lei; Su, Yansen; Jiang, Rongfeng; Zhang, Fusuo

2013-01-01

Objective China’s food production has increased 6-fold during the past half-century, thanks to increased yields resulting from the management intensification, accomplished through greater inputs of fertilizer, water, new crop strains, and other Green Revolution’s technologies. Yet, changes in underlying quality of soils and their effects on yield increase remain to be determined. Here, we provide a first attempt to quantify historical changes in inherent soil productivity and their contributions to the increase in yield. Methods The assessment was conducted based on data-set derived from 7410 on-farm trials, 8 long-term experiments and an inventory of soil organic matter concentrations of arable land. Results Results show that even without organic and inorganic fertilizer addition crop yield from on-farm trials conducted in the 2000s was significantly higher compared with those in the 1980s — the increase ranged from 0.73 to 1.76 Mg/ha for China’s major irrigated cereal-based cropping systems. The increase in on-farm yield in control plot since 1980s was due primarily to the enhancement of soil-related factors, and reflected inherent soil productivity improvement. The latter led to higher and stable yield with adoption of improved management practices, and contributed 43% to the increase in yield for wheat and 22% for maize in the north China, and, 31%, 35% and 22% for early and late rice in south China and for single rice crop in the Yangtze River Basin since 1980. Conclusions Thus, without an improvement in inherent soil productivity, the ‘Agricultural Miracle in China’ would not have happened. A comprehensive strategy of inherent soil productivity improvement in China, accomplished through combining engineering-based measures with biological-approaches, may be an important lesson for the developing world. We propose that advancing food security in 21st century for both China and other parts of world will depend on continuously improving inherent soil productivity. PMID:24058605

The Trouble with the Curve: An Argument for the Abolishment of Norm-Referenced Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raymond, Gregory

2013-01-01

The norm-referenced evaluation system has been used to grade students, from elementary to post-secondary, for decades. However, the system itself is inherently flawed. Looking at the history of the norm-referenced system and its most famous tool, the Bell Curve, and taking examples from the author's own teaching experience, this paper examines the…

An advanced telerobotic system for shuttle payload changeout room processing applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sklar, M.; Wegerif, D.

1989-01-01

To potentially alleviate the inherent difficulties in the ground processing of the Space Shuttle and its associated payloads, a teleoperated, semi-autonomous robotic processing system for the Payload Changeout Room (PCR) is now in the conceptual stages. The complete PCR robotic system as currently conceived is described and critical design issues and the required technologies are discussed.

Recognising Behaviour that Increases Learning: The Possible Role of Incentives in the Teaching Profession. Research Article

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mabogoane, Thabo; Patel, Firoz

2006-01-01

This article argues that incentives can help increase teacher performance and retention. Incentives send out a clear signal of what an education system expects from its teachers; at the same time teachers do respond to incentives inherent in the education system. Many education systems have weak incentives and therefore fail to signal to teachers…

Human organ markets and inherent human dignity.

PubMed

MacKellar, Calum

2014-01-01

It has been suggested that human organs should be bought and sold on a regulated market as any other material property belongingto an individual. This would have the advantage of both addressing the grave shortage of organs available for transplantation and respecting the freedom of individuals to choose to do whatever they want with their body parts. The old arguments against such a market in human organs are, therefore, being brought back into question. The article examines the different arguments both in favour and against the sale of human organs. It concludes that the body and any of its elements is a full expression of the whole person. As such, they cannot have a price if the individual is to retain his or her full inherent dignity and if society is to retain and protect this very important concept.

High performance railgun barrels for laboratory use

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, David P.; Newman, Duane C.

1993-01-01

High performance low-cost, laboratory railgun barrels are now available, comprised of an inherently stiff containment structure which surrounds the bore components machined from 'off the-shelf' materials. The shape of the containment structure was selected to make the barrel inherently stiff. The structure consists of stainless steel laminations which do not compromise the electrical efficiency of the railgun. The modular design enhances the utility of the barrel, as it is easy to service between shots, and can be 're-cored' to produce different configurations and sizes using the same structure. We have produced barrels ranging from 15 mm to 90 mm square bore, a 30 mm round bore, and in lengths varying from 0.25 meters to 10 meters long. Successful tests with both plasma and solid metal armatures have demonstrated the versatility and performance of this design.

Cognitive Architectures and Autonomy: A Comparative Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thórisson, Kristinn; Helgasson, Helgi

2012-05-01

One of the original goals of artificial intelligence (AI) research was to create machines with very general cognitive capabilities and a relatively high level of autonomy. It has taken the field longer than many had expected to achieve even a fraction of this goal; the community has focused on building specific, targeted cognitive processes in isolation, and as of yet no system exists that integrates a broad range of capabilities or presents a general solution to autonomous acquisition of a large set of skills. Among the reasons for this are the highly limited machine learning and adaptation techniques available, and the inherent complexity of integrating numerous cognitive and learning capabilities in a coherent architecture. In this paper we review selected systems and architectures built expressly to address integrated skills. We highlight principles and features of these systems that seem promising for creating generally intelligent systems with some level of autonomy, and discuss them in the context of the development of future cognitive architectures. Autonomy is a key property for any system to be considered generally intelligent, in our view; we use this concept as an organizing principle for comparing the reviewed systems. Features that remain largely unaddressed in present research, but seem nevertheless necessary for such efforts to succeed, are also discussed.

Dimensional analysis of acoustically propagated signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hansen, Scott D.; Thomson, Dennis W.

1993-01-01

Traditionally, long term measurements of atmospherically propagated sound signals have consisted of time series of multiminute averages. Only recently have continuous measurements with temporal resolution corresponding to turbulent time scales been available. With modern digital data acquisition systems we now have the capability to simultaneously record both acoustical and meteorological parameters with sufficient temporal resolution to allow us to examine in detail relationships between fluctuating sound and the meteorological variables, particularly wind and temperature, which locally determine the acoustic refractive index. The atmospheric acoustic propagation medium can be treated as a nonlinear dynamical system, a kind of signal processor whose innards depend on thermodynamic and turbulent processes in the atmosphere. The atmosphere is an inherently nonlinear dynamical system. In fact one simple model of atmospheric convection, the Lorenz system, may well be the most widely studied of all dynamical systems. In this paper we report some results of our having applied methods used to characterize nonlinear dynamical systems to study the characteristics of acoustical signals propagated through the atmosphere. For example, we investigate whether or not it is possible to parameterize signal fluctuations in terms of fractal dimensions. For time series one such parameter is the limit capacity dimension. Nicolis and Nicolis were among the first to use the kind of methods we have to study the properties of low dimension global attractors.

Target Detection Routine (TADER). User’s Guide.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-01

o System range capability subset (one record - omitted for standoff SLAR and penetrating system) o System inherent detection probability subset ( IELT ...records, i.e., one per element type) * System capability modifier subset/A=1, E=1 ( IELT records) o System capability modifier subset/A=1, E=2 ( IELT ...records) s System capability modifier subset/A=2, E=1 ( IELT records) o System capability modifier subset/A=2, E=2 ( IELT records) Unit Data Set (one set

Mitigating Provider Uncertainty in Service Provision Contracts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Chris; van Moorsel, Aad

Uncertainty is an inherent property of open, distributed and multiparty systems. The viability of the mutually beneficial relationships which motivate these systems relies on rational decision-making by each constituent party under uncertainty. Service provision in distributed systems is one such relationship. Uncertainty is experienced by the service provider in his ability to deliver a service with selected quality level guarantees due to inherent non-determinism, such as load fluctuations and hardware failures. Statistical estimators utilized to model this non-determinism introduce additional uncertainty through sampling error. Inability of the provider to accurately model and analyze uncertainty in the quality level guarantees can result in the formation of sub-optimal service provision contracts. Emblematic consequences include loss of revenue, inefficient resource utilization and erosion of reputation and consumer trust. We propose a utility model for contract-based service provision to provide a systematic approach to optimal service provision contract formation under uncertainty. Performance prediction methods to enable the derivation of statistical estimators for quality level are introduced, with analysis of their resultant accuracy and cost.

Optical fiber sensors for the non-destructive evaluation of materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1986-01-01

The operation of the modal domain vibration sensor was demonstrated in several simple vibrational systems. Two apparent advantages are the sensors bandwidth and sensitivity. An inherent drawback of standard vibration detection devices is their rapid cost increase with high frequency bandwidth. This sensor showed consistent response in the freqency range of 1.5 to 400 Hz. By imparting very small but measurable excitations in the structures, the sensors ability to respond to very low order vibration induced strain was established. Dynamic ranges on the order of 18 to 22 dB for the CF beam and string systems respectively were observed. The sensor itself represents a very simple system: a coherent source, a single fiber and a low bandwidth detector. The inherent advantages of ruggedness and immunity to external radiation can also be added. Finally, the sensor minimally impairs structural motion through loading, an advantage in monitoring small vibrations or lightweight structures. Some drawbacks of the sensor are also noted.

Design, demonstration and testing of low F-number LWIR panoramic imaging relay optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furxhi, Orges; Frascati, Joe; Driggers, Ronald

2018-04-01

Panoramic imaging is inherently wide field of view. High sensitivity uncooled Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) imaging requires low F-number optics. These two requirements result in short back working distance designs that, in addition to being costly, are challenging to integrate with commercially available uncooled LWIR cameras and cores. Common challenges include the relocation of the shutter flag, custom calibration of the camera dynamic range and NUC tables, focusing, and athermalization. Solutions to these challenges add to the system cost and make panoramic uncooled LWIR cameras commercially unattractive. In this paper, we present the design of Panoramic Imaging Relay Optics (PIRO) and show imagery and test results with one of the first prototypes. PIRO designs use several reflective surfaces (generally two) to relay a panoramic scene onto a real, donut-shaped image. The PIRO donut is imaged on the focal plane of the camera using a commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS) low F-number lens. This approach results in low component cost and effortless integration with pre-calibrated commercially available cameras and lenses.

Final report : commercial fleet management project

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-01-01

Interest in the effects on businesses that have implemented Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies has been growing. And, as the federal and state governments have begun to realize. without proof of the advantages inherent in these tech...

Integrating the Principles of Toxicology into a Chemistry Curriculum

EPA Science Inventory

Designing safer products, processes and materials requires a commitment to engaging a transdisciplinary, systems approach utilizing the principles of chemistry, toxicology, environmental sciences and other allied disciplines. Chemistry and toxicology are inherently complementary ...

Traffic flow theory and chaotic behavior

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-03-01

Many commonly occurring natural systems are modeled with mathematical experessions and exhibit a certain stability. The inherent stability of these equations allows them to serve as the basis for engineering predictions. More complex models, such as ...

Homeostatic Systems--Mechanisms for Survival. Science IV.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pfeiffer, Carl H.

The two student notebooks in this set provide the basic outline and assignments for the fourth and last year of a senior high school unified science program which builds on the technical third year course, Science IIIA (see SE 012 149). An introductory section considers the problems of survival inherent in living systems, matter-energy…

Fertigation - Injecting soluble fertilizers into the irrigation system

Treesearch

Thomas D. Landis; Jeremy R. Pinto; Anthony S. Davis

2009-01-01

Fertigation (fertilization + irrigation) is the newest way for nursery managers to apply fertilizer, and has become a standard practice in container nurseries. Because of the inherent inefficient water distribution patterns in field irrigation systems, fertigation has not been widely used in bareroot nurseries. However, a bareroot nursery with a center-pivot irrigation...

The Inherent Dynamics of the Group University.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaltefleiter, Werner

1979-01-01

The reorganization of the German universities between the end of the 1960s and the early 1970s into "Group Universities" is discussed. It is suggested that this new organizational system, modeled along the lines of a corporate state, has destroyed the communication system of the university and introduced discontinuity into the academic…

Experimental Air Pressure Tank Systems for Process Control Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Long, Christopher E.; Holland, Charles E.; Gatzke, Edward P.

2006-01-01

In process control education, particularly in the field of chemical engineering, there is an inherent need for industrially relevant hands-on apparatuses that enable one to bridge the gap between the theoretical content of coursework and real-world applications. At the University of South Carolina, two experimental air-pressure tank systems have…

A phenomenological approach to modeling chemical dynamics in nonlinear and two-dimensional spectroscopy.

PubMed

Ramasesha, Krupa; De Marco, Luigi; Horning, Andrew D; Mandal, Aritra; Tokmakoff, Andrei

2012-04-07

We present an approach for calculating nonlinear spectroscopic observables, which overcomes the approximations inherent to current phenomenological models without requiring the computational cost of performing molecular dynamics simulations. The trajectory mapping method uses the semi-classical approximation to linear and nonlinear response functions, and calculates spectra from trajectories of the system's transition frequencies and transition dipole moments. It rests on identifying dynamical variables important to the problem, treating the dynamics of these variables stochastically, and then generating correlated trajectories of spectroscopic quantities by mapping from the dynamical variables. This approach allows one to describe non-Gaussian dynamics, correlated dynamics between variables of the system, and nonlinear relationships between spectroscopic variables of the system and the bath such as non-Condon effects. We illustrate the approach by applying it to three examples that are often not adequately treated by existing analytical models--the non-Condon effect in the nonlinear infrared spectra of water, non-Gaussian dynamics inherent to strongly hydrogen bonded systems, and chemical exchange processes in barrier crossing reactions. The methods described are generally applicable to nonlinear spectroscopy throughout the optical, infrared and terahertz regions.

Frequency-locked pulse sequencer for high-frame-rate monochromatic tissue motion imaging.

PubMed

Azar, Reza Zahiri; Baghani, Ali; Salcudean, Septimiu E; Rohling, Robert

2011-04-01

To overcome the inherent low frame rate of conventional ultrasound, we have previously presented a system that can be implemented on conventional ultrasound scanners for high-frame-rate imaging of monochromatic tissue motion. The system employs a sector subdivision technique in the sequencer to increase the acquisition rate. To eliminate the delays introduced during data acquisition, a motion phase correction algorithm has also been introduced to create in-phase displacement images. Previous experimental results from tissue- mimicking phantoms showed that the system can achieve effective frame rates of up to a few kilohertz on conventional ultrasound systems. In this short communication, we present a new pulse sequencing strategy that facilitates high-frame-rate imaging of monochromatic motion such that the acquired echo signals are inherently in-phase. The sequencer uses the knowledge of the excitation frequency to synchronize the acquisition of the entire imaging plane to that of an external exciter. This sequencing approach eliminates any need for synchronization or phase correction and has applications in tissue elastography, which we demonstrate with tissue-mimicking phantoms. © 2011 IEEE

MHD compressor---expander conversion system integrated with GCR inside a deployable reflector

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

Tuninetti, G.; Botta, E.; Criscuolo, C.

1989-04-20

This work originates from the proposal MHD Compressor-Expander Conversion System Integrated with a GCR Inside a Deployable Reflector''. The proposal concerned an innovative concept of nuclear, closed-cycle MHD converter for power generation on space-based systems in the multi-megawatt range. The basic element of this converter is the Power Conversion Unit (PCU) consisting of a gas core reactor directly coupled to an MHD expansion channel. Integrated with the PCU, a deployable reflector provides reactivity control. The working fluid could be either uranium hexafluoride or a mixture of uranium hexafluoride and helium, added to enhance the heat transfer properties. The original Statementmore » of Work, which concerned the whole conversion system, was subsequently redirected and focused on the basic mechanisms of neutronics, reactivity control, ionization and electrical conductivity in the PCU. Furthermore, the study was required to be inherently generic such that the study was required to be inherently generic such that the analysis an results can be applied to various nuclear reactor and/or MHD channel designs''.« less

Optics to rectify CORONA panoramic photographs for map making

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hilbert, Robert S.

2006-08-01

In the 1960's, accurate maps of the United States were available to all, from the U.S. Government, but maps of the Soviet Union were not, and in fact were classified. Maps of the Soviet Union were needed by the U.S. Government, including for U.S. targeting of Soviet ICBM sites, and for negotiating the SALT ICBM disarmament treaty. Although mapping cameras were historically frame cameras with low distortion, the CORONA panoramic film coverage was used to identify any ICBM sites. If distortion-free photographs could be produced from this inherently distorted panoramic material, accurate maps could be produced that would be valuable. Use of the stereo photographs from CORONA, for developing accurate topographical maps, was the mission of Itek's Gamma Rectifier. Bob Shannon's department at Itek was responsible for designing the optics for the Gamma Rectifier. He assigned the design to the author. The optical requirements of this system are described along with the optical design solution, which allowed the inherent panoramic distortion of the original photographs to be "rectified" to a very high level of accuracy, in enlarged photographs. These rectifiers were used three shifts a day, for over a decade, and produced the most accurate maps of the earth's surface, that existed at that time. The results facilitated the success of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) Treaty signed by the US and the Soviet Union in 1972, which were verified by "national means of verification" (i.e. space reconnaissance).

Complexity Science Framework for Big Data: Data-enabled Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surjalal Sharma, A.

2016-07-01

The ubiquity of Big Data has stimulated the development of analytic tools to harness the potential for timely and improved modeling and prediction. While much of the data is available near-real time and can be compiled to specify the current state of the system, the capability to make predictions is lacking. The main reason is the basic nature of Big Data - the traditional techniques are challenged in their ability to cope with its velocity, volume and variability to make optimum use of the available information. Another aspect is the absence of an effective description of the time evolution or dynamics of the specific system, derived from the data. Once such dynamical models are developed predictions can be made readily. This approach of " letting the data speak for itself " is distinct from the first-principles models based on the understanding of the fundamentals of the system. The predictive capability comes from the data-derived dynamical model, with no modeling assumptions, and can address many issues such as causality and correlation. This approach provides a framework for addressing the challenges in Big Data, especially in the case of spatio-temporal time series data. The reconstruction of dynamics from time series data is based on recognition that in most systems the different variables or degrees of freedom are coupled nonlinearly and in the presence of dissipation the state space contracts, effectively reducing the number of variables, thus enabling a description of its dynamical evolution and consequently prediction of future states. The predictability is analysed from the intrinsic characteristics of the distribution functions, such as Hurst exponents and Hill estimators. In most systems the distributions have heavy tails, which imply higher likelihood for extreme events. The characterization of the probabilities of extreme events are critical in many cases e. g., natural hazards, for proper assessment of risk and mitigation strategies. Big Data with such new analytics can yield improved risk estimates. The challenges of scientific inference from complex and massive data are addressed by data-enabled science, also referred as the Fourth paradigm, after experiment, theory and simulation. An example of this approach is the modelling of dynamical and statistical features of natural systems, without assumptions of specific processes. An effective use of the techniques of complexity science to yield the inherent features of a system from extensive data from observations and large scale numerical simulations is evident in the case of Earth's magnetosphere. The multiscale nature of the magnetosphere makes the numerical simulations a challenge, requiring very large computing resources. The reconstruction of dynamics from observational data can however yield the inherent characteristics using typical desktop computers. Such studies for other systems are in progress. Data-enabled approach using the framework of complexity science provides new techniques for modelling and prediction using Big Data. The studies of Earth's magnetosphere, provide an example of the potential for a new approach to the development of quantitative analytic tools.

Obstetrics Hospitalists: Risk Management Implications.

PubMed

Veltman, Larry

2015-09-01

The concept of having an in-house obstetrician (serving as an obstetrics [OB] hospitalist) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week provides a safety net for OB events that many need immediate intervention for a successful outcome. A key precept of risk management, that of loss prevention, fits perfectly with the addition of an OB hospitalist role in the perinatal department. Inherent in the role of OB hospitalists are the patient safety and risk management principles of improved communication, enhanced readiness, and immediate availability. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Inherent Variation Among Slash Pine Progenies at the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation

Treesearch

John C. Barber

1964-01-01

Reported here in detail is information obtained from two open-pollinated progeny tests of slash pine at the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, Pine Mountain, Georgia. Because of the small amount of similar data available to tree improvement workers, it was decided to include as much information as possible, even though some of it is too limited for statistical analyses...

Approaches to evaluating climate change impacts on species: A guide to initiating the adaptation planning process

Treesearch

Erika L. Rowland; Jennifer E. Davison; Lisa J. Graumlich

2011-01-01

Assessing the impact of climate change on species and associated management objectives is a critical initial step for engaging in the adaptation planning process. Multiple approaches are available. While all possess limitations to their application associated with the uncertainties inherent in the data and models that inform their results, conducting and incorporating...

The Pattern Across the Continental United States of Evapotranspiration Variability Associated with Water Availability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koster, Randal D.; Salvucci, Guido D.; Rigden, Angela J.; Jung, Martin; Collatz, G. James; Schubert, Siegfried D.

2015-01-01

The spatial pattern across the continental United States of the interannual variance of warm season water-dependent evapotranspiration, a pattern of relevance to land-atmosphere feedback, cannot be measured directly. Alternative and indirect approaches to estimating the pattern, however, do exist, and given the uncertainty of each, we use several such approaches here. We first quantify the water dependent evapotranspiration variance pattern inherent in two derived evapotranspiration datasets available from the literature. We then search for the pattern in proxy geophysical variables (air temperature, stream flow, and NDVI) known to have strong ties to evapotranspiration. The variances inherent in all of the different (and mostly independent) data sources show some differences but are generally strongly consistent they all show a large variance signal down the center of the U.S., with lower variances toward the east and (for the most part) toward the west. The robustness of the pattern across the datasets suggests that it indeed represents the pattern operating in nature. Using Budykos hydroclimatic framework, we show that the pattern can largely be explained by the relative strength of water and energy controls on evapotranspiration across the continent.

Energy Requirements by the Water Sector in the Southwestern US: Past, Present, and Future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Averyt, K.; Yates, D. N.; Meldrum, J.

2014-12-01

Climate, energy, and water are fundamentally linked such that shifts in one sector have cascading impacts on the others. Consideration of the integrated system is necessary to fully understand the individual risk profile of each sector. In defining vulnerabilities and potential adaptations, the policy and regulatory environment must be considered alongside the biological and physical systems. Take, for example, the Southwestern U.S., a naturally arid system, where water availability is declining as a consequence of climate change and population growth. Adaptations by the water sector to convey, store, and develop new water sources (e.g. desalination, groundwater pumping, water-reuse) are strategies designed to enhance sustainability of the sector. But, the energy requirements embedded in these management techniques pose challenges to electric utilities. West wide, approximately 20% of total electricity generation goes toward supplying and heating water. If future investments made by the water sector to deal with changing supply and demand regimes continue to follow current trends, the dependence of water on energy availability will grow, meaning that the water supply will be increasingly reliant on the electricity system. Here, we use the example of long-term aridity and the recent drought in the Western US to illustrate the tradeoffs and challenges inherent at the nexus between energy and water. We present long-term trends in the energy intensity of water supplies in the Southwestern US, with a specific focus on groundwater systems. Projected energy requirements for proposed and future conveyance systems are discussed. The potential impacts of reduced flows on the Colorado River on the energy demands for groundwater pumping in the Lower Colorado River Basin are highlighted.

Protection of Advanced Electrical Power Systems from Atmospheric Electromagnetic Hazards.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-12-01

WORDS (Continue on reverse aide if neceeary and Identify by block number) Aircraft Induced Voltages Filters Composite Structures Lightning Transients...transients on the electrical systems of aircraft with metal or composite structures. These transients will be higher than the equipment inherent hardness... composite material in skin and structure. In addition, the advanced electrical power systems used in these aircraft will contain solid state components

Demonstration of a Corner-cube-interferometer LWIR Hyperspectral Imager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renhorn, Ingmar G. E.; Svensson, Thomas; Cronström, Staffan; Hallberg, Tomas; Persson, Rolf; Lindell, Roland; Boreman, Glenn D.

2010-01-01

An interferometric long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) hyperspectral imager is demonstrated, based on a Michelson corner-cube interferometer. This class of system is inherently mechanically robust, and should have advantages over Sagnac-interferometer systems in terms of relaxed beamsplitter-coating specifications, and wider unvignetted field of view. Preliminary performance data from the laboratory prototype system are provided regarding imaging, spectral resolution, and fidelity of acquired spectra.

Panarchy and environmental policy

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental law plays a key role in shaping policy for sustainability. In particular, the types of legal instruments, institutions, and the response of law to the inherent variability in socio-ecological systems is critical. Sustainability likely must occur via the institutions...

Resilience and environmental management

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental law plays a key role in shaping policy for sustainability. In particular, the types of legal instruments, institutions, and the response of law to the inherent variability in socio-ecological systems is critical. Sustainability likely must occur via the institutions...

Special Education: A Microcosm of Bureaucracy. Part Two: The Elements of the System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Ann D.

1971-01-01

Delineates a case study of special education that provides a unique microcosm of the emergence of an educational subsystem with inherent and forceful bureaucratic controls that were present from its inception. (Author)

Six networks on a universal neuromorphic computing substrate.

PubMed

Pfeil, Thomas; Grübl, Andreas; Jeltsch, Sebastian; Müller, Eric; Müller, Paul; Petrovici, Mihai A; Schmuker, Michael; Brüderle, Daniel; Schemmel, Johannes; Meier, Karlheinz

2013-01-01

In this study, we present a highly configurable neuromorphic computing substrate and use it for emulating several types of neural networks. At the heart of this system lies a mixed-signal chip, with analog implementations of neurons and synapses and digital transmission of action potentials. Major advantages of this emulation device, which has been explicitly designed as a universal neural network emulator, are its inherent parallelism and high acceleration factor compared to conventional computers. Its configurability allows the realization of almost arbitrary network topologies and the use of widely varied neuronal and synaptic parameters. Fixed-pattern noise inherent to analog circuitry is reduced by calibration routines. An integrated development environment allows neuroscientists to operate the device without any prior knowledge of neuromorphic circuit design. As a showcase for the capabilities of the system, we describe the successful emulation of six different neural networks which cover a broad spectrum of both structure and functionality.

A Reconfigurable Readout Integrated Circuit for Heterogeneous Display-Based Multi-Sensor Systems

PubMed Central

Park, Kyeonghwan; Kim, Seung Mok; Eom, Won-Jin; Kim, Jae Joon

2017-01-01

This paper presents a reconfigurable multi-sensor interface and its readout integrated circuit (ROIC) for display-based multi-sensor systems, which builds up multi-sensor functions by utilizing touch screen panels. In addition to inherent touch detection, physiological and environmental sensor interfaces are incorporated. The reconfigurable feature is effectively implemented by proposing two basis readout topologies of amplifier-based and oscillator-based circuits. For noise-immune design against various noises from inherent human-touch operations, an alternate-sampling error-correction scheme is proposed and integrated inside the ROIC, achieving a 12-bit resolution of successive approximation register (SAR) of analog-to-digital conversion without additional calibrations. A ROIC prototype that includes the whole proposed functions and data converters was fabricated in a 0.18 μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process, and its feasibility was experimentally verified to support multiple heterogeneous sensing functions of touch, electrocardiogram, body impedance, and environmental sensors. PMID:28368355

Depth-tunable three-dimensional display with interactive light field control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Songlin; Wang, Peng; Sang, Xinzhu; Li, Chenyu; Dou, Wenhua; Xiao, Liquan

2016-07-01

A software-defined depth-tunable three-dimensional (3D) display with interactive 3D depth control is presented. With the proposed post-processing system, the disparity of the multi-view media can be freely adjusted. Benefiting from a wealth of information inherently contains in dense multi-view images captured with parallel arrangement camera array, the 3D light field is built and the light field structure is controlled to adjust the disparity without additional acquired depth information since the light field structure itself contains depth information. A statistical analysis based on the least square is carried out to extract the depth information inherently exists in the light field structure and the accurate depth information can be used to re-parameterize light fields for the autostereoscopic display, and a smooth motion parallax can be guaranteed. Experimental results show that the system is convenient and effective to adjust the 3D scene performance in the 3D display.

A Reconfigurable Readout Integrated Circuit for Heterogeneous Display-Based Multi-Sensor Systems.

PubMed

Park, Kyeonghwan; Kim, Seung Mok; Eom, Won-Jin; Kim, Jae Joon

2017-04-03

This paper presents a reconfigurable multi-sensor interface and its readout integrated circuit (ROIC) for display-based multi-sensor systems, which builds up multi-sensor functions by utilizing touch screen panels. In addition to inherent touch detection, physiological and environmental sensor interfaces are incorporated. The reconfigurable feature is effectively implemented by proposing two basis readout topologies of amplifier-based and oscillator-based circuits. For noise-immune design against various noises from inherent human-touch operations, an alternate-sampling error-correction scheme is proposed and integrated inside the ROIC, achieving a 12-bit resolution of successive approximation register (SAR) of analog-to-digital conversion without additional calibrations. A ROIC prototype that includes the whole proposed functions and data converters was fabricated in a 0.18 μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process, and its feasibility was experimentally verified to support multiple heterogeneous sensing functions of touch, electrocardiogram, body impedance, and environmental sensors.

Six Networks on a Universal Neuromorphic Computing Substrate

PubMed Central

Pfeil, Thomas; Grübl, Andreas; Jeltsch, Sebastian; Müller, Eric; Müller, Paul; Petrovici, Mihai A.; Schmuker, Michael; Brüderle, Daniel; Schemmel, Johannes; Meier, Karlheinz

2013-01-01

In this study, we present a highly configurable neuromorphic computing substrate and use it for emulating several types of neural networks. At the heart of this system lies a mixed-signal chip, with analog implementations of neurons and synapses and digital transmission of action potentials. Major advantages of this emulation device, which has been explicitly designed as a universal neural network emulator, are its inherent parallelism and high acceleration factor compared to conventional computers. Its configurability allows the realization of almost arbitrary network topologies and the use of widely varied neuronal and synaptic parameters. Fixed-pattern noise inherent to analog circuitry is reduced by calibration routines. An integrated development environment allows neuroscientists to operate the device without any prior knowledge of neuromorphic circuit design. As a showcase for the capabilities of the system, we describe the successful emulation of six different neural networks which cover a broad spectrum of both structure and functionality. PMID:23423583

Effects of Moist Convection on Hurricane Predictability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhang, Fuqing; Sippel, Jason A.

2008-01-01

This study exemplifies inherent uncertainties in deterministic prediction of hurricane formation and intensity. Such uncertainties could ultimately limit the predictability of hurricanes at all time scales. In particular, this study highlights the predictability limit due to the effects on moist convection of initial-condition errors with amplitudes far smaller than those of any observation or analysis system. Not only can small and arguably unobservable differences in the initial conditions result in different routes to tropical cyclogenesis, but they can also determine whether or not a tropical disturbance will significantly develop. The details of how the initial vortex is built can depend on chaotic interactions of mesoscale features, such as cold pools from moist convection, whose timing and placement may significantly vary with minute initial differences. Inherent uncertainties in hurricane forecasts illustrate the need for developing advanced ensemble prediction systems to provide event-dependent probabilistic forecasts and risk assessment.

Genetic selection of cattle for improved immunity and health.

PubMed

Mallard, Bonnie A; Emam, Mehdi; Paibomesai, Marlene; Thompson-Crispi, Kathleen; Wagter-Lesperance, Lauraine

2015-02-01

The immune system is a sensing structure composed of tissues and molecules that are well integrated with the neuroendocrine system. This integrate system ensures non-self from self-discrimination. In this capacity the immune system provides detection and protection from a wide range of pathogens. In mammals, the immune system is regulated by several thousand genes (8-9% of the genome) which indicate its high genetic priority as a critical fitness trait providing survival of the species. Identifying and selectively breeding livestock with the inherent ability to make superior immune responses can reduce disease occurrence, improve milk quality and increase farm profitability. Healthier animals also may be expected to demonstrate improvements in other traits, including reproductive fitness. Using the University of Guelph's patented High Immune Response technology it is possible to classify animals as high, average, or low responders based on their genetic estimated breeding value for immune responsiveness. High responders have the inherent ability to produce more balanced and robust immune responses compared with average or low responders. High responders dairy cattle essentially have about one-half the disease occurrence of low responders, and can pass their superior immune response genes on to future generations thereby accumulating health benefits within the dairy herd.

Reliability Evaluation of Machine Center Components Based on Cascading Failure Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ying-Zhi; Liu, Jin-Tong; Shen, Gui-Xiang; Long, Zhe; Sun, Shu-Guang

2017-07-01

In order to rectify the problems that the component reliability model exhibits deviation, and the evaluation result is low due to the overlook of failure propagation in traditional reliability evaluation of machine center components, a new reliability evaluation method based on cascading failure analysis and the failure influenced degree assessment is proposed. A direct graph model of cascading failure among components is established according to cascading failure mechanism analysis and graph theory. The failure influenced degrees of the system components are assessed by the adjacency matrix and its transposition, combined with the Pagerank algorithm. Based on the comprehensive failure probability function and total probability formula, the inherent failure probability function is determined to realize the reliability evaluation of the system components. Finally, the method is applied to a machine center, it shows the following: 1) The reliability evaluation values of the proposed method are at least 2.5% higher than those of the traditional method; 2) The difference between the comprehensive and inherent reliability of the system component presents a positive correlation with the failure influenced degree of the system component, which provides a theoretical basis for reliability allocation of machine center system.

A new approach for the laboratory culture of the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas.

PubMed

Gordon, Denise A; Smith, Mark E; Wratschko, Melissa; Agard, David; Holden, Lisa; Wilcox, Steve; Lazorchak, James M

2014-01-01

Fathead minnows are routinely cultured for use in aquatic toxicology studies. A new mass culture system described in the present study consisted of 6 stainless steel tanks, each containing 68 fish and 20 spawning substrates. Spawning results are compared with a previous system of 22 individual glass aquaria, which contained 16 fish and 4 spawning substrates per tank. During a 19-mo period, the new system produced an average of 4105 eggs/d, compared with an average of 2465 eggs/d with the previous system. Labor and maintenance were reduced with the new system. The stainless steel tanks eliminated aquaria glass breakage, and daily water use was reduced by 45%. Analysis of reference toxicant data from fish cultured using both systems indicated no change in the sensitivity of the test animals. Analyses of 2009 egg production data determined that a 6:1 to 7:1 female to male ratio had a significantly positive impact on egg production levels and that 6-mo-old breeding stock should be introduced to the spawning tanks in mid-spring for optimal egg production during the rest of the year. Implementing a stainless steel mass culture system significantly increased efficiency of egg production; reduced turnaround delay of mature animal availability for toxicity and molecular testing; and reduced labor time, costs, and inherent safety hazards, compared with glass aquaria systems. © 2013 SETAC.

Optical field encryption for secure transmission of data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraser, Colin B.; Harvey, Andrew R.

2004-12-01

The growing awareness of the vulnerability of information transmitted on communication systems within the government, military and commercial sectors, has stimulated a number of areas of research within the optical community to design optical hardware encryption systems providing inherent immunity to espionage techniques. This paper describes a hardware optical encryption technique that utilises off the shelf telecommunication equipment and negates the necessity for an independent key distribution system with respect to the data transmission system, as is common with alternative encryption system implementations. This method also lends itself easily to fiber optic or free space communication and is applicable within any optical waveband. The encryption-decryption of the optical signal is achieved through low coherence optical interferometry. This requires the instantaneous processing and analysis of the signal, optically, to retrieve the relevant optical phase information hidden in the transmitted optical noise. This technology allows an authorised user to transmit encrypted information at a high data rate securely, while maintaining opaqueness to an unauthorised observer that data transmission is occurring. As the instantaneous optical field properties of the signals present in the system are essential to the optical encryption - decryption process, the system is inherently protected against electronic recording and advances in computational decryption algorithms. For organisations wishing to protect sensitive data and levels of communication activity these are highly desirable features.

The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna (LISA-T) Big Power for Small Spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Les; Carr, John A.; Boyd, Darren

2017-01-01

NASA is developing a space power system using lightweight, flexible photovoltaic devices originally developed for use here on Earth to provide low cost power for spacecraft. The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna (LISA-T) is a launch stowed, orbit deployed array on which thin-film photovoltaic and antenna elements are embedded. The LISA-T system is deployable, building upon NASA's expertise in developing thin-film deployable solar sails such the one being developed for the Near Earth Asteroid Scout project which will fly in 2018. One of the biggest challenges for the NEA Scout, and most other spacecraft, is power. There simply isn't enough of it available, thus limiting the range of operation of the spacecraft from the Sun (due to the small surface area available for using solar cells), the range of operation from the Earth (low available power with inherently small antenna sizes tightly constrain the bandwidth for communication), and the science (you can only power so many instruments with limited power). The LISA-T has the potential to mitigate each of these limitations, especially for small spacecraft. Inherently, small satellites are limited in surface area, volume, and mass allocation; driving competition between their need for power and robust communications with the requirements of the science or engineering payload they are developed to fly. LISA-T is addressing this issue, deploying large-area arrays from a reduced volume and mass envelope - greatly enhancing power generation and communications capabilities of small spacecraft and CubeSats. The problem is that these CubeSats can usually only generate between 7W and 50W of power. The power that can be generated by the LISA-T ranges from tens of watts to several hundred watts, at a much higher mass and stowage efficiency. A matrix of options are in development, including planar (pointed) and omnidirectional (non-pointed) arrays. The former is seeking the highest performance possible while the latter is seeking GN&C simplicity. Options for leveraging both high performance, 'typical cost' triple junction thin-film solar cells as well as moderate performance, low cost cells are being developed. Alongside, UHF (ultrahigh frequency), S-band, and X-band antennas are being integrated into the array to move their space claim away from the spacecraft and open the door for more capable multi-element antenna designs such as those needed for spherical coverage and electronically steered phase arrays.

The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna (LISA-T) - Big Power for Small Spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Les; Carr, John; Boyd, Darren

2017-01-01

NASA is developing a space power system using lightweight, flexible photovoltaic devices originally developed for use here on Earth to provide low cost power for spacecraft. The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna (LISA-T) is a launch-stowed, orbit-deployed array on which thin-film photovoltaic and antenna elements are embedded. The LISA-T system is deployable, building upon NASA's expertise in developing thin-film deployable solar sails such the one being developed for the Near Earth Asteroid Scout project which will fly in 2018. One of the biggest challenges for the NEA Scout, and most other spacecraft, is power. There simply isn't enough of it available, thus limiting the range of operation of the spacecraft from the Sun (due to the small surface area available for using solar cells), the range of operation from the Earth (low available power with inherently small antenna sizes tightly constrain the bandwidth for communication), and the science (you can only power so many instruments with limited power). The LISA-T has the potential to mitigate each of these limitations. Inherently, small satellites are limited in surface area, volume, and mass allocation; driving competition between their need for power and robust communications with the requirements of the science or engineering payload they are developed to fly. LISA-T is addressing this issue, deploying large-area arrays from a reduced volume and mass envelope - greatly enhancing power generation and communications capabilities of small spacecraft and CubeSats. The problem is that these CubeSats can usually only generate between 7 watts and 50 watts of power. The power that can be generated by the LISA-T ranges from tens of watts to several hundred watts. A matrix of options are in development, including planar (pointed) and omnidirectional (non-pointed) arrays. The former is seeking the highest performance possible while the latter is seeking GN&C (Guidance, Navigation and Control) simplicity. In both cases, power generation ranges from tens of watts to several hundred with an expected specific power greater than 250 watts per kilogram and a stowed power density greater than 200 kilowatts per cubic meter. Options for leveraging both high performance, 'typical cost' triple junction thin-film solar cells as well as moderate performance, low cost cells are being developed. Alongside, both UHF (ultra high frequency) and S-band antennas are being integrated into the array to move their space claim away from the spacecraft and open the door for omnidirectional communications and electronically steered phase arrays.

Adding Data Management Services to Parallel File Systems

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

Brandt, Scott

2015-03-04

The objective of this project, called DAMASC for “Data Management in Scientific Computing”, is to coalesce data management with parallel file system management to present a declarative interface to scientists for managing, querying, and analyzing extremely large data sets efficiently and predictably. Managing extremely large data sets is a key challenge of exascale computing. The overhead, energy, and cost of moving massive volumes of data demand designs where computation is close to storage. In current architectures, compute/analysis clusters access data in a physically separate parallel file system and largely leave it scientist to reduce data movement. Over the past decadesmore » the high-end computing community has adopted middleware with multiple layers of abstractions and specialized file formats such as NetCDF-4 and HDF5. These abstractions provide a limited set of high-level data processing functions, but have inherent functionality and performance limitations: middleware that provides access to the highly structured contents of scientific data files stored in the (unstructured) file systems can only optimize to the extent that file system interfaces permit; the highly structured formats of these files often impedes native file system performance optimizations. We are developing Damasc, an enhanced high-performance file system with native rich data management services. Damasc will enable efficient queries and updates over files stored in their native byte-stream format while retaining the inherent performance of file system data storage via declarative queries and updates over views of underlying files. Damasc has four key benefits for the development of data-intensive scientific code: (1) applications can use important data-management services, such as declarative queries, views, and provenance tracking, that are currently available only within database systems; (2) the use of these services becomes easier, as they are provided within a familiar file-based ecosystem; (3) common optimizations, e.g., indexing and caching, are readily supported across several file formats, avoiding effort duplication; and (4) performance improves significantly, as data processing is integrated more tightly with data storage. Our key contributions are: SciHadoop which explores changes to MapReduce assumption by taking advantage of semantics of structured data while preserving MapReduce’s failure and resource management; DataMods which extends common abstractions of parallel file systems so they become programmable such that they can be extended to natively support a variety of data models and can be hooked into emerging distributed runtimes such as Stanford’s Legion; and Miso which combines Hadoop and relational data warehousing to minimize time to insight, taking into account the overhead of ingesting data into data warehousing.« less

Intrinsic noise analyzer: a software package for the exploration of stochastic biochemical kinetics using the system size expansion.

PubMed

Thomas, Philipp; Matuschek, Hannes; Grima, Ramon

2012-01-01

The accepted stochastic descriptions of biochemical dynamics under well-mixed conditions are given by the Chemical Master Equation and the Stochastic Simulation Algorithm, which are equivalent. The latter is a Monte-Carlo method, which, despite enjoying broad availability in a large number of existing software packages, is computationally expensive due to the huge amounts of ensemble averaging required for obtaining accurate statistical information. The former is a set of coupled differential-difference equations for the probability of the system being in any one of the possible mesoscopic states; these equations are typically computationally intractable because of the inherently large state space. Here we introduce the software package intrinsic Noise Analyzer (iNA), which allows for systematic analysis of stochastic biochemical kinetics by means of van Kampen's system size expansion of the Chemical Master Equation. iNA is platform independent and supports the popular SBML format natively. The present implementation is the first to adopt a complementary approach that combines state-of-the-art analysis tools using the computer algebra system Ginac with traditional methods of stochastic simulation. iNA integrates two approximation methods based on the system size expansion, the Linear Noise Approximation and effective mesoscopic rate equations, which to-date have not been available to non-expert users, into an easy-to-use graphical user interface. In particular, the present methods allow for quick approximate analysis of time-dependent mean concentrations, variances, covariances and correlations coefficients, which typically outperforms stochastic simulations. These analytical tools are complemented by automated multi-core stochastic simulations with direct statistical evaluation and visualization. We showcase iNA's performance by using it to explore the stochastic properties of cooperative and non-cooperative enzyme kinetics and a gene network associated with circadian rhythms. The software iNA is freely available as executable binaries for Linux, MacOSX and Microsoft Windows, as well as the full source code under an open source license.

Intrinsic Noise Analyzer: A Software Package for the Exploration of Stochastic Biochemical Kinetics Using the System Size Expansion

PubMed Central

Grima, Ramon

2012-01-01

The accepted stochastic descriptions of biochemical dynamics under well-mixed conditions are given by the Chemical Master Equation and the Stochastic Simulation Algorithm, which are equivalent. The latter is a Monte-Carlo method, which, despite enjoying broad availability in a large number of existing software packages, is computationally expensive due to the huge amounts of ensemble averaging required for obtaining accurate statistical information. The former is a set of coupled differential-difference equations for the probability of the system being in any one of the possible mesoscopic states; these equations are typically computationally intractable because of the inherently large state space. Here we introduce the software package intrinsic Noise Analyzer (iNA), which allows for systematic analysis of stochastic biochemical kinetics by means of van Kampen’s system size expansion of the Chemical Master Equation. iNA is platform independent and supports the popular SBML format natively. The present implementation is the first to adopt a complementary approach that combines state-of-the-art analysis tools using the computer algebra system Ginac with traditional methods of stochastic simulation. iNA integrates two approximation methods based on the system size expansion, the Linear Noise Approximation and effective mesoscopic rate equations, which to-date have not been available to non-expert users, into an easy-to-use graphical user interface. In particular, the present methods allow for quick approximate analysis of time-dependent mean concentrations, variances, covariances and correlations coefficients, which typically outperforms stochastic simulations. These analytical tools are complemented by automated multi-core stochastic simulations with direct statistical evaluation and visualization. We showcase iNA’s performance by using it to explore the stochastic properties of cooperative and non-cooperative enzyme kinetics and a gene network associated with circadian rhythms. The software iNA is freely available as executable binaries for Linux, MacOSX and Microsoft Windows, as well as the full source code under an open source license. PMID:22723865

Communication System Architecture for Planetary Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braham, Stephen P.; Alena, Richard; Gilbaugh, Bruce; Glass, Brian; Norvig, Peter (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Future human missions to Mars will require effective communications supporting exploration activities and scientific field data collection. Constraints on cost, size, weight and power consumption for all communications equipment make optimization of these systems very important. These information and communication systems connect people and systems together into coherent teams performing the difficult and hazardous tasks inherent in planetary exploration. The communication network supporting vehicle telemetry data, mission operations, and scientific collaboration must have excellent reliability, and flexibility.

A Trade Study of Two Membrane-Aerated Biological Water Processors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allada, Ram; Lange, Kevin; Vega. Leticia; Roberts, Michael S.; Jackson, Andrew; Anderson, Molly; Pickering, Karen

2011-01-01

Biologically based systems are under evaluation as primary water processors for next generation life support systems due to their low power requirements and their inherent regenerative nature. This paper will summarize the results of two recent studies involving membrane aerated biological water processors and present results of a trade study comparing the two systems with regards to waste stream composition, nutrient loading and system design. Results of optimal configurations will be presented.

The JCMT Observatory Control System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rees, Nick; Economou, Frossie; Jenness, Tim; Kackley, Russell; Walther, Craig; Dent, Bill; Folger, Martin; Gao, Xiaofeng; Kelly, Dennis; Lightfoot, John; Pain, Ian; Hovey, Gary; Willis, Tony; Redman, Russell

The JCMT, the world's largest sub-mm telescope, has had essentially the same VAX/VMS based control system since it was commissioned. For the next generation of instrumentation we are implementing a new Unix/VxWorks based system, based on the successful ORAC system that was recently released on UKIRT. This paper gives a broad overview of the system architecture and includes some discussion on the choices made. The pros and cons of using XML as an inherent part of the system architecture are also discussed.

Fire potential rating for wildland fuelbeds using the Fuel Characteristic Classification System.

Treesearch

David V. Sandberg; Cynthia L. Riccardi; Mark D. Schaff

2007-01-01

The Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) is a systematic catalog of inherent physical properties of wildland fuelbeds that allows land managers, policymakers, and scientists to build and calculate fuel characteristics with complete or incomplete information. The FCCS is equipped with a set of equations to calculate the potential of any real-world or...

A digital photography and analysis system for estimation of root and shoot development in rice weed suppression studies in the field

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rice germplasm with an inherent ability to suppress weeds can potentially improve the economics and sustainability of weed control in rice. We devised a simple, rapid, and inexpensive digital imaging system to quantify several shoot and root growth characteristics in field-grown rice plants that ha...

Development of near real time performance measurements for closed-loop signal systems (CLS) using historical traffic data from existing loop detectors and signal timing data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-10-01

The overarching goal of this research project was to investigate the potential for the NCDOT Central Office Signal Timing : (COST) Section to monitor and assess the quality of field deployed closed-loop signal system plans using the data inherent in ...

75 FR 41097 - Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation; Lead System Integrators [HSAR Case 2009-003

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-15

... contract type and fee structure based on risks inherent in the work to be performed, in accordance with... competitive procedures, DHS takes appropriate steps to prevent any organizational conflicts of interest in the... specification of various types of contracts and fee structures that are appropriate for use with lead system...

Applications of artificial intelligence systems in the analysis of epidemiological data.

PubMed

Flouris, Andreas D; Duffy, Jack

2006-01-01

A brief review of the germane literature suggests that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) statistical algorithms in epidemiology has been limited. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using AI systems in large-scale sets of epidemiological data to extract inherent, formerly unidentified, and potentially valuable patterns that human-driven deductive models may miss.

Tissue culture of conifer seedlings-20 years on: Viewed through the lens of seedling quality

Treesearch

Steven C. Grossnickle

2011-01-01

Operational vegetative propagation systems provide a means of bringing new genetic material into forestry programs through the capture of a greater proportion of the genetic gain inherent within a selected tree species. Vegetative propagation systems also provide a method for multiplying superior varieties and/or families identified in tree improvement programs. Twenty...

Factors Favouring or Impeding Building a Stronger Higher Education System in the United Arab Emirates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashour, Sanaa; Fatima, Syeda Kauser

2016-01-01

The paper examines the inherent strengths and weaknesses of the higher education system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using a literature review, three elements were examined: its development and structure, quality, and research capacity. The findings reveal that the UAE's higher education sector has witnessed remarkable growth since 1997,…

Laser-plasma-based Space Radiation Reproduction in the Laboratory

PubMed Central

Hidding, B.; Karger, O.; Königstein, T.; Pretzler, G.; Manahan, G. G.; McKenna, P.; Gray, R.; Wilson, R.; Wiggins, S. M.; Welsh, G. H.; Beaton, A.; Delinikolas, P.; Jaroszynski, D. A.; Rosenzweig, J. B.; Karmakar, A.; Ferlet-Cavrois, V.; Costantino, A.; Muschitiello, M.; Daly, E.

2017-01-01

Space radiation is a great danger to electronics and astronauts onboard space vessels. The spectral flux of space electrons, protons and ions for example in the radiation belts is inherently broadband, but this is a feature hard to mimic with conventional radiation sources. Using laser-plasma-accelerators, we reproduced relativistic, broadband radiation belt flux in the laboratory, and used this man-made space radiation to test the radiation hardness of space electronics. Such close mimicking of space radiation in the lab builds on the inherent ability of laser-plasma-accelerators to directly produce broadband Maxwellian-type particle flux, akin to conditions in space. In combination with the established sources, utilisation of the growing number of ever more potent laser-plasma-accelerator facilities worldwide as complementary space radiation sources can help alleviate the shortage of available beamtime and may allow for development of advanced test procedures, paving the way towards higher reliability of space missions. PMID:28176862

Global water dynamics: issues for the 21st century.

PubMed

Simonovic, Slobodan P

2002-01-01

The WorldWater system dynamics model has been developed for modeling the global world water balance and capturing the dynamic character of the main variables affecting water availability and use in the future. Despite not being a novel approach, system dynamics offers a new way of addressing complex systems. WorldWater simulations are clearly demonstrating the strong feedback relation between water availability and different aspects of world development. Results of numerous simulations are contradictory to the assumption made by many global modelers that water is not an issue on the global scale. Two major observations can be made from early simulations: (a) the use of clean water for dilution and transport of wastewater, if not dealt with in other ways, imposes a major stress on the global world water balance; and (b) water use by different sectors is demonstrating quite different dynamics than predicted by classical forecasting tools and other water-models. Inherent linkages between water quantity and quality sectors with food, industry, persistent pollution, technology, and non-renewable resources sectors of the model create shoot and collapse behavior in water use dynamics. This paper discusses a number of different water-related scenarios and their implications on the global water balance. In particular, two extreme scenarios (business as usual - named "Chaos", and unlimited desalination - named "Ocean") are presented in the paper. Based on the conclusions derived from these two extreme cases a set of more moderate and realistic scenarios (named "Conservation") is proposed and their consequences on the global water balance are evaluated.

Unmanned Aerial System Aids Dry-season Stream Temperature Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, M.; Detweiler, C.; Higgins, J.; Ore, J. P.; Dralle, D.; Thompson, S. E.

2016-12-01

In freshwater ecosystems, temperature affects biogeochemistry and ecology, and is thus a primary physical determinant of habitat quality. Measuring temperatures in spatially heterogeneous water bodies poses a serious challenge to researchers due to constraints associated with currently available methods: in situ loggers record temporally continuous temperature measurements but are limited to discrete spatial locations, while distributed temperature and remote sensing provide fine-resolution spatial measurements that are restricted to only two-dimensions (i.e. streambed and surface, respectively). Using a commercially available quadcopter equipped with a 6m cable and temperature-pressure sensor system, we measured stream temperatures at two confluences at the South Fork Eel River, where cold water inputs from the tributary to the mainstem create thermal refugia for juvenile salmonids during the dry season. As a mobile sensing platform, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can facilitate quick and repeated sampling with minimal disturbance to the ecosystem, and their datasets can be interpolated to create a three-dimensional thermal map of a water body. The UAS-derived data was compared to data from in situ data loggers to evaluate whether the UAS is better able to capture fine-scale temperature dynamics at each confluence. The UAS has inherent limitations defined by battery life and flight times, as well as operational constraints related to maneuverability under wind and streamflow conditions. However, the platform is able to serve as an additional field tool for researchers to capture complex thermal structures in water bodies.

Logistic Risk Model for the Unique Effects of Inherent Aerobic Capacity on (+)G(sub z) Tolerance Before and After Simulated Weightlessness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ludwig, David A.; Convertino, Victor A.; Goldwater, Danielle J.; Sandler, Harold

1987-01-01

Small sample size (n less than 1O) and inappropriate analysis of multivariate data have hindered previous attempts to describe which physiologic and demographic variables are most important in determining how long humans can tolerate acceleration. Data from previous centrifuge studies conducted at NASA/Ames Research Center, utilizing a 7-14 d bed rest protocol to simulate weightlessness, were included in the current investigation. After review, data on 25 women and 22 men were available for analysis. Study variables included gender, age, weight, height, percent body fat, resting heart rate, mean arterial pressure, Vo(sub 2)max and plasma volume. Since the dependent variable was time to greyout (failure), two contemporary biostatistical modeling procedures (proportional hazard and logistic discriminant function) were used to estimate risk, given a particular subject's profile. After adjusting for pro-bed-rest tolerance time, none of the profile variables remained in the risk equation for post-bed-rest tolerance greyout. However, prior to bed rest, risk of greyout could be predicted with 91% accuracy. All of the profile variables except weight, MAP, and those related to inherent aerobic capacity (Vo(sub 2)max, percent body fat, resting heart rate) entered the risk equation for pro-bed-rest greyout. A cross-validation using 24 new subjects indicated a very stable model for risk prediction, accurate within 5% of the original equation. The result for the inherent fitness variables is significant in that a consensus as to whether an increased aerobic capacity is beneficial or detrimental has not been satisfactorily established. We conclude that tolerance to +Gz acceleration before and after simulated weightlessness is independent of inherent aerobic fitness.

Safety and Crashworthiness of Dual Mode Vehicles

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1974-01-01

Safety features and the degree of safety expected of dual-mode systems are reviewed. Some of the inherent advantages and disadvantages of dual-mode transportation are also outlined. Possible categories of vehicle safety are defined to aid in developi...

Strengthening Evaluation for Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ofir, Zenda

2013-01-01

Although some argue that distinctions between "evaluation" and "development evaluation" are increasingly superfluous, it is important to recognize that some distinctions still matter. The severe vulnerabilities and power asymmetries inherent in most developing country systems and societies make the task of evaluation…

Panarchy, adaptive management and environmental policy

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental law plays a key role in shaping policy for sustainability. In particular, the types of legal instruments, institutions, and the response of law to the inherent variability in socio-ecological systems is critical. Sustainability likely must occur via the institutions...

European vs. American Higher Education: Two Issues and a Clear Winner.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Edward M.; Ahrens, Rudiger

1989-01-01

A comparison of two aspects of European and U.S. higher education, mass education and general education, suggests that despite the frustrations inherent in it, the American system has major strengths that are often overlooked. (MSE)

Grassland-shrubland state transitions in arid rangelands: Competition matters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: State transition from grassland to shrubland is synonymous with desertification in many arid rangeland systems. Traditional desertification models emphasize abiotic feedbacks that modify the physical environment in ways that promote shrub proliferation and impede grass survival. Inherent...

Ontology design patterns to disambiguate relations between genes and gene products in GENIA

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Motivation Annotated reference corpora play an important role in biomedical information extraction. A semantic annotation of the natural language texts in these reference corpora using formal ontologies is challenging due to the inherent ambiguity of natural language. The provision of formal definitions and axioms for semantic annotations offers the means for ensuring consistency as well as enables the development of verifiable annotation guidelines. Consistent semantic annotations facilitate the automatic discovery of new information through deductive inferences. Results We provide a formal characterization of the relations used in the recent GENIA corpus annotations. For this purpose, we both select existing axiom systems based on the desired properties of the relations within the domain and develop new axioms for several relations. To apply this ontology of relations to the semantic annotation of text corpora, we implement two ontology design patterns. In addition, we provide a software application to convert annotated GENIA abstracts into OWL ontologies by combining both the ontology of relations and the design patterns. As a result, the GENIA abstracts become available as OWL ontologies and are amenable for automated verification, deductive inferences and other knowledge-based applications. Availability Documentation, implementation and examples are available from http://www-tsujii.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/GENIA/. PMID:22166341

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

Szluha, A.; Morrison, A.; Heckman, C.

Physico-chemical criteria were established and subjected to the chemical compounds listed in CHRIS to select those chemicals which are immiscible and float on water. This information was compiled in a menu-driven data base for easy access. As the result of this work, 294 CHRIS chemicals were found to be floaters. A literature review was conducted also to review available spill containment and recovery equipment and techniques for the application toward floating hazardous chemical spills. No single technology or equipment was found to effectively apply for the containment and recovery of spilled floating chemicals. Specific deficiencies and problems inherent in existingmore » technologies were identified. A hazard and toxicity ranking system was developed and applied to the floating chemicals for groupings by degrees of flammability and toxicity hazards. These groupings include highly flammable through noncombustible and highly toxic through non-toxic and the combination of degrees of hazards.« less

A question of balance: nutrition, health and gastronomy.

PubMed

Coveney, J; Santich, B

1997-06-01

Given the higher proportion of manufactured foods now available which meet current dietary recommendations, the food supply in developed countries like Australia could be said to be "healthier". Yet the "health" of the diet is often achieved at the expense of the "health" of the environment since ecological problems created a current food production and distribution methods remain unaddressed. Further, nutritional modifications which produce foods that are low in fat, sugar, salt and high in fibre do not necessarily address the concerns consumers have about the food supply. An emphasis solely on the physical health of populations, through improved diet, is out of keeping with current views on health which recognise the importance of overall well-being. Through the development of the concept of "sustaining gastronomy", consumers, food manufacturers and producers, and food regulators can better address the problems inherent in the food system, including those of an environmental nature.

Noise-cancellation-based nonuniformity correction algorithm for infrared focal-plane arrays.

PubMed

Godoy, Sebastián E; Pezoa, Jorge E; Torres, Sergio N

2008-10-10

The spatial fixed-pattern noise (FPN) inherently generated in infrared (IR) imaging systems compromises severely the quality of the acquired imagery, even making such images inappropriate for some applications. The FPN refers to the inability of the photodetectors in the focal-plane array to render a uniform output image when a uniform-intensity scene is being imaged. We present a noise-cancellation-based algorithm that compensates for the additive component of the FPN. The proposed method relies on the assumption that a source of noise correlated to the additive FPN is available to the IR camera. An important feature of the algorithm is that all the calculations are reduced to a simple equation, which allows for the bias compensation of the raw imagery. The algorithm performance is tested using real IR image sequences and is compared to some classical methodologies. (c) 2008 Optical Society of America

Soil Carbon Change and Net Energy Associated with Biofuel Production on Marginal Lands: A Regional Modeling Perspective

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

Bandaru, Varaprasad; Izaurralde, Roberto C.; Manowitz, David H.

2013-12-01

The use of marginal lands (MLs) for biofuel production has been contemplated as a promising solution for meeting biofuel demands. However, there have been concerns with spatial location of MLs, their inherent biofuel potential, and possible environmental consequences with the cultivation of energy crops. Here, we developed a new quantitative approach that integrates high-resolution land cover and land productivity maps and uses conditional probability density functions for analyzing land use patterns as a function of land productivity to classify the agricultural lands. We subsequently applied this method to determine available productive croplands (P-CLs) and non-crop marginal lands (NC-MLs) in amore » nine-county Southern Michigan. Furthermore, Spatially Explicit Integrated Modeling Framework (SEIMF) using EPIC (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate) was used to understand the net energy (NE) and soil organic carbon (SOC) implications of cultivating different annual and perennial production systems.« less

On the Uncertain Future of the Volumetric 3D Display Paradigm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blundell, Barry G.

2017-06-01

Volumetric displays permit electronically processed images to be depicted within a transparent physical volume and enable a range of cues to depth to be inherently associated with image content. Further, images can be viewed directly by multiple simultaneous observers who are able to change vantage positions in a natural way. On the basis of research to date, we assume that the technologies needed to implement useful volumetric displays able to support translucent image formation are available. Consequently, in this paper we review aspects of the volumetric paradigm and identify important issues which have, to date, precluded their successful commercialization. Potentially advantageous characteristics are outlined and demonstrate that significant research is still needed in order to overcome barriers which continue to hamper the effective exploitation of this display modality. Given the recent resurgence of interest in developing commercially viable general purpose volumetric systems, this discussion is of particular relevance.

Probabilistic performance-assessment modeling of the mixed waste landfill at Sandia National Laboratories.

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

Peace, Gerald; Goering, Timothy James; Miller, Mark Laverne

2007-01-01

A probabilistic performance assessment has been conducted to evaluate the fate and transport of radionuclides (americium-241, cesium-137, cobalt-60, plutonium-238, plutonium-239, radium-226, radon-222, strontium-90, thorium-232, tritium, uranium-238), heavy metals (lead and cadmium), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the Mixed Waste Landfill (MWL). Probabilistic analyses were performed to quantify uncertainties inherent in the system and models for a 1,000-year period, and sensitivity analyses were performed to identify parameters and processes that were most important to the simulated performance metrics. Comparisons between simulated results and measured values at the MWL were made to gain confidence in the models and perform calibrations whenmore » data were available. In addition, long-term monitoring requirements and triggers were recommended based on the results of the quantified uncertainty and sensitivity analyses.« less

Architecture of web services in the enhancement of real-time 3D video virtualization in cloud environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bada, Adedayo; Wang, Qi; Alcaraz-Calero, Jose M.; Grecos, Christos

2016-04-01

This paper proposes a new approach to improving the application of 3D video rendering and streaming by jointly exploring and optimizing both cloud-based virtualization and web-based delivery. The proposed web service architecture firstly establishes a software virtualization layer based on QEMU (Quick Emulator), an open-source virtualization software that has been able to virtualize system components except for 3D rendering, which is still in its infancy. The architecture then explores the cloud environment to boost the speed of the rendering at the QEMU software virtualization layer. The capabilities and inherent limitations of Virgil 3D, which is one of the most advanced 3D virtual Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) available, are analyzed through benchmarking experiments and integrated into the architecture to further speed up the rendering. Experimental results are reported and analyzed to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed approach.

On-board B-ISDN fast packet switching architectures. Phase 2: Development. Proof-of-concept architecture definition report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shyy, Dong-Jye; Redman, Wayne

1993-01-01

For the next-generation packet switched communications satellite system with onboard processing and spot-beam operation, a reliable onboard fast packet switch is essential to route packets from different uplink beams to different downlink beams. The rapid emergence of point-to-point services such as video distribution, and the large demand for video conference, distributed data processing, and network management makes the multicast function essential to a fast packet switch (FPS). The satellite's inherent broadcast features gives the satellite network an advantage over the terrestrial network in providing multicast services. This report evaluates alternate multicast FPS architectures for onboard baseband switching applications and selects a candidate for subsequent breadboard development. Architecture evaluation and selection will be based on the study performed in phase 1, 'Onboard B-ISDN Fast Packet Switching Architectures', and other switch architectures which have become commercially available as large scale integration (LSI) devices.

Shape and energy consistent pseudopotentials for correlated electron systems

PubMed Central

Needs, R. J.

2017-01-01

A method is developed for generating pseudopotentials for use in correlated-electron calculations. The paradigms of shape and energy consistency are combined and defined in terms of correlated-electron wave-functions. The resulting energy consistent correlated electron pseudopotentials (eCEPPs) are constructed for H, Li–F, Sc–Fe, and Cu. Their accuracy is quantified by comparing the relaxed molecular geometries and dissociation energies which they provide with all electron results, with all quantities evaluated using coupled cluster singles, doubles, and triples calculations. Errors inherent in the pseudopotentials are also compared with those arising from a number of approximations commonly used with pseudopotentials. The eCEPPs provide a significant improvement in optimised geometries and dissociation energies for small molecules, with errors for the latter being an order-of-magnitude smaller than for Hartree-Fock-based pseudopotentials available in the literature. Gaussian basis sets are optimised for use with these pseudopotentials. PMID:28571391

Development of a Suite of Analytical Tools for Energy and Water Infrastructure Knowledge Discovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morton, A.; Piburn, J.; Stewart, R.; Chandola, V.

2017-12-01

Energy and water generation and delivery systems are inherently interconnected. With demand for energy growing, the energy sector is experiencing increasing competition for water. With increasing population and changing environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic scenarios, new technology and investment decisions must be made for optimized and sustainable energy-water resource management. This also requires novel scientific insights into the complex interdependencies of energy-water infrastructures across multiple space and time scales. To address this need, we've developed a suite of analytical tools to support an integrated data driven modeling, analysis, and visualization capability for understanding, designing, and developing efficient local and regional practices related to the energy-water nexus. This work reviews the analytical capabilities available along with a series of case studies designed to demonstrate the potential of these tools for illuminating energy-water nexus solutions and supporting strategic (federal) policy decisions.

Optimum concentric circular array antenna with high gain and side lobe reduction at 5.8 GHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaid, Mohammed; Rafiqul Islam, Md; Habaebi, Mohamed H.; Zahirul Alam, AHM; Abdullah, Khaizuran

2017-11-01

The significance of high gain directional antennas stems from the need to cope up with the everyday progressing wireless communication systems. Due to low gain of the widely used microstrip antenna, combining multiple antennas in proper geometry increases the gain with good directive property. Over other array forms, this paper uses concentric circular array configuration for its compact structure and inherent symmetry in azimuth. This proposed array is composed of 9 elements on FR-4 substrate, which is designed for WLAN applications at 5.8GHz. Antenna Magus software is used for synthesis, while CST software is used for optimization. The proposed array is designed with optimum inter-element spacing and number of elements achieving a high directional gain of 15.7 dB compared to 14.2 dB of available literature, with a high reduction in side lobe level of -17.6 dB.

Change detection using vegetation indices and multiplatform satellite imagery at multiple temporal and spatial scales

USGS Publications Warehouse

Glenn, Edward P.; Nagler, Pamela L.; Huete, Alfredo R.; Weng, Qihao

2014-01-01

This chapter describes emerging methods for using satellite imagery across temporal and spatial scales using a case study approach to illustrate some of the opportunities now available for combining observations across scales. It explores the use of multiplatform sensor systems to characterize ecological change, as exemplified by efforts to scale the effects of a biocontrol insect (the leaf beetle Diorhabda carinulata) on the phenology and water use of Tamarix shrubs (Tamarix ramosissima and related species and hybrids) targeted for removal on western U.S. rivers, from the level of individual leaves to the regional level of measurement. Finally, the chapter summarizes the lessons learned and emphasize the need for ground data to calibrate and validate remote sensing data and the types of errors inherent in scaling point data over wide areas, illustrated with research on evapotranspiration (ET) of Tamarix using a wide range of ground measurement and remote sensing methods.

Surface Acoustic Wave Monitor for Deposition and Analysis of Ultra-Thin Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hines, Jacqueline H. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A surface acoustic wave (SAW) based thin film deposition monitor device and system for monitoring the deposition of ultra-thin films and nanomaterials and the analysis thereof is characterized by acoustic wave device embodiments that include differential delay line device designs, and which can optionally have integral reference devices fabricated on the same substrate as the sensing device, or on a separate device in thermal contact with the film monitoring/analysis device, in order to provide inherently temperature compensated measurements. These deposition monitor and analysis devices can include inherent temperature compensation, higher sensitivity to surface interactions than quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) devices, and the ability to operate at extreme temperatures.

Magnetic nuclear core restraint and control

DOEpatents

Cooper, Martin H.

1979-01-01

A lateral restraint and control system for a nuclear reactor core adaptable to provide an inherent decrease of core reactivity in response to abnormally high reactor coolant fluid temperatures. An electromagnet is associated with structure for radially compressing the core during normal reactor conditions. A portion of the structures forming a magnetic circuit are composed of ferromagnetic material having a curie temperature corresponding to a selected coolant fluid temperature. Upon a selected signal, or inherently upon a preselected rise in coolant temperature, the magnetic force is decreased a given amount sufficient to relieve the compression force so as to allow core radial expansion. The expanded core configuration provides a decreased reactivity, tending to shut down the nuclear reaction.

Magnetic nuclear core restraint and control

DOEpatents

Cooper, Martin H.

1978-01-01

A lateral restraint and control system for a nuclear reactor core adaptable to provide an inherent decrease of core reactivity in response to abnormally high reactor coolant fluid temperatures. An electromagnet is associated with structure for radially compressing the core during normal reactor conditions. A portion of the structures forming a magnetic circuit are composed of ferromagnetic material having a curie temperature corresponding to a selected coolant fluid temperature. Upon a selected signal, or inherently upon a preselected rise in coolant temperature, the magnetic force is decreased a given amount sufficient to relieve the compression force so as to allow core radial expansion. The expanded core configuration provides a decreased reactivity, tending to shut down the nuclear reaction.

The inherent limits of predicting school violence.

PubMed

Mulvey, E P; Cauffman, E

2001-10-01

The recent media hype over school shootings has led to demands for methods of identifying school shooters before they act. Despite the fact that schools remain one of the safest places for youths to be, schools are beginning to adopt identification systems to determine which students could be future killers. The methods used to accomplish this not only are unproven but are inherently limited in usefulness and often do more harm than good for both the children and the school setting. The authors' goals in the present article are to place school shootings in perspective relative to other risks of violence that children face and to provide a reasonable and scientifically defensible approach to improving the safety of schools.

Roadmap for Agriculture Biomass Feedstock Supply in the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-11-01

the high-priority areas for biomass supply forecasts and analysis . Top research needs in sustainability and plant sciences areas are listed in the...petroleum. Lignocellulosic biomass is the nonstarch, fibrous part of plant material that is inherently moist and lightweight. The sugar platform...include: •“Biotechnology, genetics and plant physiology for improved feedstocks, • Optimize agronomic practices, including land use availability and soil

How Do Children Ascribe Gender to Nouns? A Study of Spanish-Speaking Children with and without Specific Language Impairment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Raquel T.; Lockowitz, Alison

2009-01-01

The purpose of this investigation was to identify how Spanish-speaking preschool children with and without specific language impairment (SLI) use the various cues available for ascribing a noun's inherent gender in the language. Via an invented word task, four types of cues were isolated and presented to each child: (1) two types of noun-internal…

Sources and implications of bias and uncertainty in a century of US wildfire activity data

Treesearch

Karen C. Short

2015-01-01

Analyses to identify and relate trends in wildfire activity to factors such as climate, population, land use or land cover and wildland fire policy are increasingly popular in the United States. There is a wealth of US wildfire activity data available for such analyses, but users must be aware of inherent reporting biases, inconsistencies and uncertainty in the data in...

Signal Acquisition Using AXIe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narciso, Steven J.

2011-08-01

An emerging test and measurement standard called AXIe, AdvancedTCA extensions for Instrumentation, is expected to find wide acceptance within the Physics community as it offers many benefits to applications including shock, plasma, particle and nuclear physics. It is expected that many COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) signal conditioning, acquisition and processing modules will become available from a range of different suppliers. AXIe uses AdvancedTCA® as its basis, but then levers test and measurement industry standards such as PXI, IVI, and LXI to facilitate cooperation and plug-and-play interoperability between COTS instrument suppliers. AXIe's large board footprint and power allows high density in a 19" rack, enabling the development of high-performance signal conditioning, analog-to-digital conversion, and data processing, while offering channel count scalability inherent in modular systems. Synchronization between modules is flexible and provided by two triggering structures: a parallel trigger bus, and radially-distributed, time-matched point-to-point trigger lines. Inter-module communication is also provided with an adjacent module local bus allowing data transfer to 600 Gbits/s in each direction, for example between a front-end digitizer and DSP. AXIe allows embedding high performance computing and a range of COTS AdvancedTCA® computer blades are currently available that provide low cost alternatives to the development of custom signal processing modules. The availability of both LAN and PCI Express allow interconnection between modules, as well as industry-standard high-performance data paths to external host computer systems. AXIe delivers a powerful environment for custom module devel opment. As in the case of VXIbus and PXI before it, commercial development kits are expected to be available. This paper will give an overview of the architectural elements of AXIe 1.0, the compatibility model with AdvancedTCA, and signal acquisition performance of many of the AXIe structures.

Strength Enhancement and Application Development of Carbon Foam for Thermal Management Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-01-01

STRENGTH ENHANCEMENT AND APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT OF CARBON FOAM FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Mr. Christopher Duston Ceramic Composites, Inc ...inherent weakness and friability of the carbon foams. Ceramic Composites Inc . has demonstrated the ability to increase the compressive strength by 2½ times...250%.iv In Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) there are two approaches under consideration for utilizing carbon foams. Allcomp Inc.v, Materials and

Integrated Application of Active Controls (IAAC) technology to an advanced subsonic transport project: Test act system description

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

The engineering and fabrication of the test ACT system, produced in the third program element of the IAAC Project is documented. The system incorporates pitch-augmented stability and wing-load alleviation, plus full authority fly-by-wire control of the elevators. The pitch-augmented stability is designed to have reliability sufficient to allow flight with neutral or negative inherent longitudinal stability.

Effects of gap size, duration of daylight, and presence of leaf litter on forest regeneration

Treesearch

G. Andrew Bartholomay; Todd W. Bowersox

2003-01-01

Selection systems are used to manage multi-cohort forest stands by removing individual and/or groups of trees to create 0.01- to 1.0-ha openings in the canopy. Inherent in the selection system are the dual roles of tending the residual trees and regenerating a new cohort of tree seedlings. Research of silvicultural selection systems has historically focused on the...

Use of Precious Metal-Modifed Nickel-Base Superalloys for Thin Gage Applications (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-01

superalloys are being investigated for use in thin gage applications, such as thermal protection systems or heat exchangers, due to their strength and...atomic % total) in place of the platinum and iridium. 15. SUBJECT TERMS thermal protection systems, nickel, superalloy, thermomechanical processing...use in thin gage applications, such as thermal protection systems or heat exchangers, due to their strength and inherent oxidation resistance at

Specification and preliminary design of the CARTA system for satellite cartography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Machadoesilva, A. J. F. (Principal Investigator); Neto, G. C.; Serra, P. R. M.; Souza, R. C. M.; Mitsuo, Fernando Augusta, II

1984-01-01

Digital imagery acquired by satellite have inherent geometrical distortion due to sensor characteristics and to platform variations. In INPE a software system for geometric correction of LANDSAT MSS imagery is under development. Such connected imagery will be useful for map generation. Important examples are the generation of LANDSAT image-charts for the Amazon region and the possibility of integrating digital satellite imagery into a Geographic Information System.

Toward Systems Metabolic Engineering of Streptomycetes for Secondary Metabolites Production.

PubMed

Robertsen, Helene Lunde; Weber, Tilmann; Kim, Hyun Uk; Lee, Sang Yup

2018-01-01

Streptomycetes are known for their inherent ability to produce pharmaceutically relevant secondary metabolites. Discovery of medically useful, yet novel compounds has become a great challenge due to frequent rediscovery of known compounds and a consequent decline in the number of relevant clinical trials in the last decades. A paradigm shift took place when the first whole genome sequences of streptomycetes became available, from which silent or "cryptic" biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were discovered. Cryptic BGCs reveal a so far untapped potential of the microorganisms for the production of novel compounds, which has spurred new efforts in understanding the complex regulation between primary and secondary metabolism. This new trend has been accompanied with development of new computational resources (genome and compound mining tools), generation of various high-quality omics data, establishment of molecular tools, and other strain engineering strategies. They all come together to enable systems metabolic engineering of streptomycetes, allowing more systematic and efficient strain development. In this review, the authors present recent progresses within systems metabolic engineering of streptomycetes for uncovering their hidden potential to produce novel compounds and for the improved production of secondary metabolites. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Quantum tomography of near-unitary processes in high-dimensional quantum systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lysne, Nathan; Sosa Martinez, Hector; Jessen, Poul; Baldwin, Charles; Kalev, Amir; Deutsch, Ivan

2016-05-01

Quantum Tomography (QT) is often considered the ideal tool for experimental debugging of quantum devices, capable of delivering complete information about quantum states (QST) or processes (QPT). In practice, the protocols used for QT are resource intensive and scale poorly with system size. In this situation, a well behaved model system with access to large state spaces (qudits) can serve as a useful platform for examining the tradeoffs between resource cost and accuracy inherent in QT. In past years we have developed one such experimental testbed, consisting of the electron-nuclear spins in the electronic ground state of individual Cs atoms. Our available toolkit includes high fidelity state preparation, complete unitary control, arbitrary orthogonal measurements, and accurate and efficient QST in Hilbert space dimensions up to d = 16. Using these tools, we have recently completed a comprehensive study of QPT in 4, 7 and 16 dimensions. Our results show that QPT of near-unitary processes is quite feasible if one chooses optimal input states and efficient QST on the outputs. We further show that for unitary processes in high dimensional spaces, one can use informationally incomplete QPT to achieve high-fidelity process reconstruction (90% in d = 16) with greatly reduced resource requirements.

[From normative aspects to the reality of the Unified Health System: revealing barriers that curtail access to the health care network].

PubMed

Sousa, Fabiana de Oliveira Silva; de Medeiros, Kátia Rejane; Gurgel Júnior, Garibaldi Dantas; de Albuquerque, Paulette Cavalcanti

2014-04-01

This article analyzes the conditions of comprehensive access to health care in Recife in the state of Pernambuco based on the trajectory experienced by users from primary health services through to specialist care. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were combined with triangulation of methods as the research technique. Systemic Arterial Hypertension was chosen as a core condition, as it is an ailment that requires attention at various levels of the city's health network. The research revealed various barriers of access in primary health care becoming more accentuated at other levels of care resulting in delays in timely care and consequently prolonging the suffering of the population. Structural problems such as a shortage of medical professionals in primary care, insufficient access to specialized consultations and exams, together with the inherent dynamics of the health services, are real obstacles that the user faces in the quest for continuous and comprehensive care in the Unified Health System (SUS). In addition to broadening and enhancing the availability of services, especially complementary exams, it is necessary to ensure communication between the departments of the SUS, in order to consolidate an articulated network, thereby improving health care.

Noise tolerant spatiotemporal chaos computing.

PubMed

Kia, Behnam; Kia, Sarvenaz; Lindner, John F; Sinha, Sudeshna; Ditto, William L

2014-12-01

We introduce and design a noise tolerant chaos computing system based on a coupled map lattice (CML) and the noise reduction capabilities inherent in coupled dynamical systems. The resulting spatiotemporal chaos computing system is more robust to noise than a single map chaos computing system. In this CML based approach to computing, under the coupled dynamics, the local noise from different nodes of the lattice diffuses across the lattice, and it attenuates each other's effects, resulting in a system with less noise content and a more robust chaos computing architecture.

Feasibility Analysis and Evaluation of an Adaptive Tracked Vehicle Suspension and Control System

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-06-01

CONTROL SYSTEM FINAL REPORT JUNE 1975 Contract No. DAAE07-72-C-017 D D C •W 6 1976 B t> y Robert M. Salemka National Water Lift Company A...spring rate which is as soft as a hydropneumatic system. 3.3 Adaptive Control The adaptive control was achieved by switching the jounce damping relief...inherently included in this type of system. The solenoid valves are of the normally closed type so that with no electrical power , the system will

Noise tolerant spatiotemporal chaos computing

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

Kia, Behnam; Kia, Sarvenaz; Ditto, William L.

We introduce and design a noise tolerant chaos computing system based on a coupled map lattice (CML) and the noise reduction capabilities inherent in coupled dynamical systems. The resulting spatiotemporal chaos computing system is more robust to noise than a single map chaos computing system. In this CML based approach to computing, under the coupled dynamics, the local noise from different nodes of the lattice diffuses across the lattice, and it attenuates each other's effects, resulting in a system with less noise content and a more robust chaos computing architecture.

Automated identification of molecular effects of drugs (AIMED)

PubMed Central

Fathiamini, Safa; Johnson, Amber M; Zeng, Jia; Araya, Alejandro; Holla, Vijaykumar; Bailey, Ann M; Litzenburger, Beate C; Sanchez, Nora S; Khotskaya, Yekaterina; Xu, Hua; Meric-Bernstam, Funda; Bernstam, Elmer V

2016-01-01

Introduction Genomic profiling information is frequently available to oncologists, enabling targeted cancer therapy. Because clinically relevant information is rapidly emerging in the literature and elsewhere, there is a need for informatics technologies to support targeted therapies. To this end, we have developed a system for Automated Identification of Molecular Effects of Drugs, to help biomedical scientists curate this literature to facilitate decision support. Objectives To create an automated system to identify assertions in the literature concerning drugs targeting genes with therapeutic implications and characterize the challenges inherent in automating this process in rapidly evolving domains. Methods We used subject-predicate-object triples (semantic predications) and co-occurrence relations generated by applying the SemRep Natural Language Processing system to MEDLINE abstracts and ClinicalTrials.gov descriptions. We applied customized semantic queries to find drugs targeting genes of interest. The results were manually reviewed by a team of experts. Results Compared to a manually curated set of relationships, recall, precision, and F2 were 0.39, 0.21, and 0.33, respectively, which represents a 3- to 4-fold improvement over a publically available set of predications (SemMedDB) alone. Upon review of ostensibly false positive results, 26% were considered relevant additions to the reference set, and an additional 61% were considered to be relevant for review. Adding co-occurrence data improved results for drugs in early development, but not their better-established counterparts. Conclusions Precision medicine poses unique challenges for biomedical informatics systems that help domain experts find answers to their research questions. Further research is required to improve the performance of such systems, particularly for drugs in development. PMID:27107438

The potential indirect effects among plants via shared hummingbird pollinators are structured by phenotypic similarity.

PubMed

Bergamo, Pedro Joaquim; Wolowski, Marina; Maruyama, Pietro Kiyoshi; Vizentin-Bugoni, Jeferson; Carvalheiro, Luísa G; Sazima, Marlies

2017-07-01

Plant species within communities may overlap in pollinators' use and influence visitation patterns of shared pollinators, potentially engaging in indirect interactions (e.g., facilitation or competition). While several studies have explored the mechanisms regulating insect-pollination networks, there is a lack of studies on bird-pollination systems, particularly in species-rich tropical areas. Here, we evaluated if phenotypic similarity, resource availability (floral abundance), evolutionary relatedness and flowering phenology affect the potential for indirect effects via shared pollinators in hummingbird-pollinated plant species within four communities in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Among the evaluated factors, phenotypic similarity (corolla length and anther height) was the most important variable, while resource availability (floral abundance) had a secondary importance. On the other hand, evolutionary relatedness and flowering phenology were less important, which altogether highlights the relevance of convergent evolution and that the contribution of a plant to the diet of the pollinators of another plant is independent of the level of temporal overlap in flowering in this tropical system. Interestingly, our findings contrast with results from multiple insect-pollinated plant communities, mostly from temperate regions, in which floral abundance was the most important driver, followed by evolutionary relatedness and phenotypic similarity. We propose that these contrasting results are due to high level of specialization inherent to tropical hummingbird-pollination systems. Moreover, our results demonstrated that factors defining linkage rules of plant-hummingbird networks also determinate plant-plant potential indirect effects. Future studies are needed to test if these findings can be generalized to other highly specialized systems. Overall, our results have important implications for the understanding of ecological processes due resource sharing in mutualistic systems. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of America.

RF and Optical Communications: A Comparison of High Data Rate Returns From Deep Space in the 2020 Timeframe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, W. Dan; Collins, Michael; Boroson, Don M.; Lesh, James; Biswas, Abihijit; Orr, Richard; Schuchman, Leonard; Sands, O. Scott

2007-01-01

As NASA proceeds with plans for increased science data return and higher data transfer capacity for science missions, both RF and optical communications are viable candidates for significantly higher-rate communications from deep space to Earth. With the inherent advantages, smaller apertures and larger bandwidths, of optical communications, it is reasonable to expect that at some point in time and combination of increasing distance and data rate, the rapidly emerging optical capabilities would become more advantageous than the more mature and evolving RF techniques. This paper presents a comparison of the burden to a spacecraft by both RF and optical communications systems for data rates of 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps and large distances. Advanced technology for RF and optical communication systems have been considered for projecting capabilities in the 2020 timeframe. For the comparisons drawn, the optical and RF ground terminals were selected to be similar in cost. The RF system selected is composed of forty-five 12-meter antennas, whereas the selected optical system is equivalent to a 10-meter optical telescope. Potential differences in availability are disregarded since the focus of this study is on spacecraft mass and power burden for high-rate mission data, under the assumption that essential communications will be provided by low-rate, high availability RF. For both the RF and optical systems, the required EIRP, for a given data rate and a given distance, was achieved by a design that realized the lowest possible communications subsystem mass (power + aperture) consistent with achieving the lowest technology risk. A key conclusion of this paper is that optical communications has great potential for high data rates and distances of 2.67 AU and beyond, but requires R&D and flight demonstrations to prove out technologies.

Term Dependence: Truncating the Bahadur Lazarsfeld Expansion.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Losee, Robert M., Jr.

1994-01-01

Studies the performance of probabilistic information retrieval systems using differing statistical dependence assumptions when estimating the probabilities inherent in the retrieval model. Experimental results using the Bahadur Lazarsfeld expansion on the Cystic Fibrosis database are discussed that suggest that incorporating term dependence…

48 CFR 2807.503 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 true Policy. 2807.503 Section... Planning ACQUISITION PLANNING Inherently Governmental Functions 2807.503 Policy. The requirements official shall provide the contracting officer, concurrent with the transmittal of the statement of work (or...

Development of Fire Emissions Inventory Using Satellite Data

EPA Science Inventory

There are multiple satellites observing and reporting fire imagery at various spatial and temporal resolutions and each system has inherent merits and deficiencies. In our study, data are acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) aboard the Nationa...

ASSESSING THE RISKS OF NON-TARGET TERRESTRIAL PLANTS FROM HERBICIDES

EPA Science Inventory

Use of chemical herbicides to reduce weed competition is a major contributing factor to the high productivity of conventional intensive agricultural cropping systems. However, because of their inherent phytotoxicity, movement of herbicides from target crops and soils can adverse...

Aqueous two-phase system patterning of detection antibody solutions for cross-reaction-free multiplex ELISA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frampton, John P.; White, Joshua B.; Simon, Arlyne B.; Tsuei, Michael; Paczesny, Sophie; Takayama, Shuichi

2014-05-01

Accurate disease diagnosis, patient stratification and biomarker validation require the analysis of multiple biomarkers. This paper describes cross-reactivity-free multiplexing of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) to confine detection antibodies at specific locations in fully aqueous environments. Antibody cross-reactions are eliminated because the detection antibody solutions are co-localized only to corresponding surface-immobilized capture antibody spots. This multiplexing technique is validated using plasma samples from allogeneic bone marrow recipients. Patients with acute graft versus host disease (GVHD), a common and serious condition associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, display higher mean concentrations for four multiplexed biomarkers (HGF, elafin, ST2 and TNFR1) relative to healthy donors and transplant patients without GVHD. The antibody co-localization capability of this technology is particularly useful when using inherently cross-reactive reagents such as polyclonal antibodies, although monoclonal antibody cross-reactivity can also be reduced. Because ATPS-ELISA adapts readily available antibody reagents, plate materials and detection instruments, it should be easily transferable into other research and clinical settings.

Unscented Kalman filter with parameter identifiability analysis for the estimation of multiple parameters in kinetic models

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

In systems biology, experimentally measured parameters are not always available, necessitating the use of computationally based parameter estimation. In order to rely on estimated parameters, it is critical to first determine which parameters can be estimated for a given model and measurement set. This is done with parameter identifiability analysis. A kinetic model of the sucrose accumulation in the sugar cane culm tissue developed by Rohwer et al. was taken as a test case model. What differentiates this approach is the integration of an orthogonal-based local identifiability method into the unscented Kalman filter (UKF), rather than using the more common observability-based method which has inherent limitations. It also introduces a variable step size based on the system uncertainty of the UKF during the sensitivity calculation. This method identified 10 out of 12 parameters as identifiable. These ten parameters were estimated using the UKF, which was run 97 times. Throughout the repetitions the UKF proved to be more consistent than the estimation algorithms used for comparison. PMID:21989173

Use of bispectral index system (BIS) to Monitor Enteral Conscious (moderate) sedation during general dental procedures.

PubMed

Donaldson, Mark; Goodchild, Jason H

2009-12-01

Although dental board regulations for the provision of in-office enteral conscious (oral) sedation vary widely with respect to training and pharmacologic strategies, they agree on the use of drugs that are inherently safe, the use of pulse oximetry and the availability of emergency equipment, including pharmacologic antagonists. Patient safety is of greatest concern and is best addressed by appropriate selection of patients, adequate training of personnel and appropriate monitoring of patients. Readings from bispectral index system (BIS) monitors, which use electroencephalographic signals, correlate accurately with depth of sedation during nondissociative general anesthesia of adults and children in the operating room setting. The usefulness of such monitoring as an adjunct to other forms of monitoring of in-office enteral sedation in the dental setting may represent the next important application of this tool, adding a further level of safety for the patient and another level of predictability for the practitioner. This paper reviews the current evidence supporting this new technique, presenting data from 20 procedures in which BIS monitoring during in-office enteral sedation was employed in a community dental practice.

The Virtual Xenbase: transitioning an online bioinformatics resource to a private cloud

PubMed Central

Karimi, Kamran; Vize, Peter D.

2014-01-01

As a model organism database, Xenbase has been providing informatics and genomic data on Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis and Xenopus laevis frogs for more than a decade. The Xenbase database contains curated, as well as community-contributed and automatically harvested literature, gene and genomic data. A GBrowse genome browser, a BLAST+ server and stock center support are available on the site. When this resource was first built, all software services and components in Xenbase ran on a single physical server, with inherent reliability, scalability and inter-dependence issues. Recent advances in networking and virtualization techniques allowed us to move Xenbase to a virtual environment, and more specifically to a private cloud. To do so we decoupled the different software services and components, such that each would run on a different virtual machine. In the process, we also upgraded many of the components. The resulting system is faster and more reliable. System maintenance is easier, as individual virtual machines can now be updated, backed up and changed independently. We are also experiencing more effective resource allocation and utilization. Database URL: www.xenbase.org PMID:25380782

Design and setup of intermittent-flow respirometry system for aquatic organisms.

PubMed

Svendsen, M B S; Bushnell, P G; Steffensen, J F

2016-01-01

Intermittent-flow respirometry is an experimental protocol for measuring oxygen consumption in aquatic organisms that utilizes the best features of closed (stop-flow) and flow-through respirometry while eliminating (or at least reducing) some of their inherent problems. By interspersing short periods of closed-chamber oxygen consumption measurements with regular flush periods, accurate oxygen uptake rate measurements can be made without the accumulation of waste products, particularly carbon dioxide, which may confound results. Automating the procedure with easily available hardware and software further reduces error by allowing many measurements to be made over long periods thereby minimizing animal stress due to acclimation issues. This paper describes some of the fundamental principles that need to be considered when designing and carrying out automated intermittent-flow respirometry (e.g. chamber size, flush rate, flush time, chamber mixing, measurement periods and temperature control). Finally, recent advances in oxygen probe technology and open source automation software will be discussed in the context of assembling relatively low cost and reliable measurement systems. © 2015 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Aqueous two-phase system patterning of detection antibody solutions for cross-reaction-free multiplex ELISA

PubMed Central

Frampton, John P.; White, Joshua B.; Simon, Arlyne B.; Tsuei, Michael; Paczesny, Sophie; Takayama, Shuichi

2014-01-01

Accurate disease diagnosis, patient stratification and biomarker validation require the analysis of multiple biomarkers. This paper describes cross-reactivity-free multiplexing of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) to confine detection antibodies at specific locations in fully aqueous environments. Antibody cross-reactions are eliminated because the detection antibody solutions are co-localized only to corresponding surface-immobilized capture antibody spots. This multiplexing technique is validated using plasma samples from allogeneic bone marrow recipients. Patients with acute graft versus host disease (GVHD), a common and serious condition associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, display higher mean concentrations for four multiplexed biomarkers (HGF, elafin, ST2 and TNFR1) relative to healthy donors and transplant patients without GVHD. The antibody co-localization capability of this technology is particularly useful when using inherently cross-reactive reagents such as polyclonal antibodies, although monoclonal antibody cross-reactivity can also be reduced. Because ATPS-ELISA adapts readily available antibody reagents, plate materials and detection instruments, it should be easily transferable into other research and clinical settings. PMID:24786974

Entry Atmospheric Flight Control Authority Impacts on GN and C and Trajectory Performance for Orion Exploration Flight Test 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McNamara, Luke W.

2012-01-01

One of the key design objectives of NASA's Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) is to execute a guided entry trajectory demonstrating GN&C capability. The focus of this paper is the ight control authority of the vehicle throughout the atmospheric entry ight to the target landing site and its impacts on GN&C, parachute deployment, and integrated performance. The vehicle's attitude control authority is obtained from thrusting 12 Re- action Control System (RCS) engines, with four engines to control yaw, four engines to control pitch, and four engines to control roll. The static and dynamic stability derivatives of the vehicle are determined to assess the inherent aerodynamic stability. The aerodynamic moments at various locations in the entry trajectory are calculated and compared to the available torque provided by the RCS system. Interaction between the vehicle's RCS engine plumes and the aerodynamic conditions are considered to assess thruster effectiveness. This document presents an assessment of Orion's ight control authority and its effectiveness in controlling the vehicle during critical events in the atmospheric entry trajectory.

Noncontact bimolecular photoionization followed by radical-ions separation and their geminate recombination assisted by coherent HFI induced spin-conversion.

PubMed

Dodin, Dmitry V; Ivanov, Anatoly I; Burshtein, Anatoly I

2008-02-07

The Hamiltonian description of the spin-conversion induced by a hyperfine interaction (HFI) in photogenerated radical-ion pairs is substituted for the rate (incoherent) description of the same conversion provided by the widely used earlier elementary spin model. The quantum yields of the free ions as well as the singlet and triplet products of geminate recombination are calculated using distant dependent ionization and recombination rates, instead of their contact analogs. Invoking the simplest models of these rates, we demonstrate with the example of a spin-less system that the diffusional acceleration of radical-ion pair recombination at lower viscosity gives way to its diffusional deceleration (Angulo effect), accomplished with a kinetic plateau inherent with the primitive exponential model. Qualitatively the same behavior is found in real systems, assuming both ionization and recombination is carried out by the Marcus electron-transfer rates. Neglecting the Coulomb interaction between solvated ions, the efficiencies of radical-ion pair recombination to the singlet and triplet products are well fitted to the available experimental data. The magnetic field dependence of these yields is specified.

Potential of robots as next-generation technology for clinical assessment of neurological disorders and upper-limb therapy.

PubMed

Scott, Stephen H; Dukelow, Sean P

2011-01-01

Robotic technologies have profoundly affected the identification of fundamental properties of brain function. This success is attributable to robots being able to control the position of or forces applied to limbs, and their inherent ability to easily, objectively, and reliably quantify sensorimotor behavior. Our general hypothesis is that these same attributes make robotic technologies ideal for clinically assessing sensory, motor, and cognitive impairments in stroke and other neurological disorders. Further, they provide opportunities for novel therapeutic strategies. The present opinionated review describes how robotic technologies combined with virtual/augmented reality systems can support a broad range of behavioral tasks to objectively quantify brain function. This information could potentially be used to provide more accurate diagnostic and prognostic information than is available from current clinical assessment techniques. The review also highlights the potential benefits of robots to provide upper-limb therapy. Although the capital cost of these technologies is substantial, it pales in comparison with the potential cost reductions to the overall healthcare system that improved assessment and therapeutic interventions offer.

Color Transformations for the 2MASS Second Incremental Data Release

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, John M.

2001-05-01

Transformation equations are presented to convert colors and magnitudes measured in the AAO, ARNICA, CIT, DENIS, ESO, LCO (Persson standards), MSSSO, SAAO, and UKIRT photometric systems to the photometric system inherent in the 2MASS Second Incremental Data Release. The transformations have been derived by comparing 2MASS photometry with published magnitudes and colors for stars observed in these systems. Transformation equations have also been derived indirectly for the Bessell & Brett and Koornneef homogenized photometric systems.

Adiabatic quantum computation in open systems.

PubMed

Sarandy, M S; Lidar, D A

2005-12-16

We analyze the performance of adiabatic quantum computation (AQC) subject to decoherence. To this end, we introduce an inherently open-systems approach, based on a recent generalization of the adiabatic approximation. In contrast to closed systems, we show that a system may initially be in an adiabatic regime, but then undergo a transition to a regime where adiabaticity breaks down. As a consequence, the success of AQC depends sensitively on the competition between various pertinent rates, giving rise to optimality criteria.

Reflecting anastigmatic optical systems: a retrospective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rakich, Andrew

2017-11-01

Reflecting anastigmatic optical systems hold several inherent advantages over refracting equivalents; such as compactness, absence of color, high "refractive efficiency", wide bandwidth, and size-scalability to enormous apertures. Such advantages have led to these systems becoming, increasingly since their first deliberate development in 1905, the "go-to" solution for various classes of optical design problem. This paper describes in broad terms the history of the development of this class of optical system, with an emphasis on the early history.

The added value of stochastic spatial disaggregation for short-term rainfall forecasts currently available in Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gagnon, Patrick; Rousseau, Alain N.; Charron, Dominique; Fortin, Vincent; Audet, René

2017-11-01

Several businesses and industries rely on rainfall forecasts to support their day-to-day operations. To deal with the uncertainty associated with rainfall forecast, some meteorological organisations have developed products, such as ensemble forecasts. However, due to the intensive computational requirements of ensemble forecasts, the spatial resolution remains coarse. For example, Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) Global Ensemble Prediction System (GEPS) data is freely available on a 1-degree grid (about 100 km), while those of the so-called High Resolution Deterministic Prediction System (HRDPS) are available on a 2.5-km grid (about 40 times finer). Potential users are then left with the option of using either a high-resolution rainfall forecast without uncertainty estimation and/or an ensemble with a spectrum of plausible rainfall values, but at a coarser spatial scale. The objective of this study was to evaluate the added value of coupling the Gibbs Sampling Disaggregation Model (GSDM) with ECCC products to provide accurate, precise and consistent rainfall estimates at a fine spatial resolution (10-km) within a forecast framework (6-h). For 30, 6-h, rainfall events occurring within a 40,000-km2 area (Québec, Canada), results show that, using 100-km aggregated reference rainfall depths as input, statistics of the rainfall fields generated by GSDM were close to those of the 10-km reference field. However, in forecast mode, GSDM outcomes inherit of the ECCC forecast biases, resulting in a poor performance when GEPS data were used as input, mainly due to the inherent rainfall depth distribution of the latter product. Better performance was achieved when the Regional Deterministic Prediction System (RDPS), available on a 10-km grid and aggregated at 100-km, was used as input to GSDM. Nevertheless, most of the analyzed ensemble forecasts were weakly consistent. Some areas of improvement are identified herein.

The Prospect of Internet of Things and Big Data Analytics in Transportation System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noori Hussein, Waleed; Kamarudin, L. M.; Hussain, Haider N.; Zakaria, A.; Badlishah Ahmed, R.; Zahri, N. A. H.

2018-05-01

Internet of Things (IoT); the new dawn technology that describes how data, people and interconnected physical objects act based on communicated information, and big data analytics have been adopted by diverse domains for varying purposes. Manufacturing, agriculture, banks, oil and gas, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and food services are few of the sectors that have adopted and massively utilized IoT and big data analytics. The transportation industry is also an early adopter, with significant attendant effects on its processes of tracking shipment, freight monitoring, and transparent warehousing. This is recorded in countries like England, Singapore, Portugal, and Germany, while Malaysia is currently assessing the potentials and researching a purpose-driven adoption and implementation. This paper, based on review of related literature, presents a summary of the inherent prospects in adopting IoT and big data analytics in the Malaysia transportation system. Efficient and safe port environment, predictive maintenance and remote management, boundary-less software platform and connected ecosystem, among others, are the inherent benefits in the IoT and big data analytics for the Malaysia transportation system.

Overly Regulated Thinking and Autism Revisited.

PubMed

Cashin, Andrew; Yorke, James

2016-08-01

Humans exist within a socially mediated dynamical system. Frequent demands are experienced to respond to change in the environment to adapt and flourish. People with autism have impaired behavioral and thinking flexibility and experience high levels of anxiety, as change and adaptation do not come naturally. The disability inherent in autism is by definition the impaired social and occupational functioning that results from lack of adaptation. The point of the behavioral triad of restricted and repetitive interests, activities, and behaviors has received relatively little attention as compared to the other two points of the triad. A review of the literature related to restricted and repetitive interests and activities and behaviors and autism was conducted to inform this theoretical review. This paper considers the overly regulated thought and behavior inherent in autism spectrum disorders through the lens of dynamical systems, and an explanatory model is generated. The mathematical tools applied to understand dynamical systems may be a fruitful basis of further research to enable the movement from a theoretical concept of overly regulated thinking and behavior in autism to an empirically derived understanding. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

JobCenter: an open source, cross-platform, and distributed job queue management system optimized for scalability and versatility

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Laboratories engaged in computational biology or bioinformatics frequently need to run lengthy, multistep, and user-driven computational jobs. Each job can tie up a computer for a few minutes to several days, and many laboratories lack the expertise or resources to build and maintain a dedicated computer cluster. Results JobCenter is a client–server application and framework for job management and distributed job execution. The client and server components are both written in Java and are cross-platform and relatively easy to install. All communication with the server is client-driven, which allows worker nodes to run anywhere (even behind external firewalls or “in the cloud”) and provides inherent load balancing. Adding a worker node to the worker pool is as simple as dropping the JobCenter client files onto any computer and performing basic configuration, which provides tremendous ease-of-use, flexibility, and limitless horizontal scalability. Each worker installation may be independently configured, including the types of jobs it is able to run. Executed jobs may be written in any language and may include multistep workflows. Conclusions JobCenter is a versatile and scalable distributed job management system that allows laboratories to very efficiently distribute all computational work among available resources. JobCenter is freely available at http://code.google.com/p/jobcenter/. PMID:22846423

Food Security and the Justification of Productivism in New Zealand

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosin, Christopher

2013-01-01

The spike in food commodity prices in 2007-2008 is frequently represented as a crisis for the global food system. Interpreted as a failure to achieve the utopian imperative to feed the world, the crisis can potentially expose the distortions inherent to the productivist ideology framing the existing system. As a result, it can act as a shock that…

Two speed drive system. [mechanical device for changing speed on rotating vehicle wheel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burch, J. L. (Inventor)

1972-01-01

A two speed drive system for a wheel of a vehicle by which shifting from one speed to the other is accomplished by the inherent mechanism of the wheel is described. A description of the speed shifting operation is provided and diagrams of the mechanism are included. Possible application to lunar roving vehicles is proposed.

The automotive battery of the future—the role of electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kellaway, M. J.

The automotive battery is being asked to carry out more challenging duties than ever before. Many of these duties are a result of new types of electrical load. The way in which a battery is operated and managed within a vehicle can be optimized significantly through the use of battery-related electronics with embedded software. Potential benefits include extended life, early warning of deterioration and failure, greater availability and an improved match to the vehicle's requirements. The impact of electronics in other areas shows that there is considerable potential to go much further in this direction with battery systems. There are, however, important system-wide issues to be considered. The battery system must conform to a wide range of standards and practices applicable to automotive electronic systems and embedded software. The automotive industry is itself trying to come to terms with the inherent difficulties involved in developing, qualifying and upgrading complex networks of software-based controllers within the vehicle. The battery system must be compatible with the results of these initiatives. Cost will always be a major influence, but the cost model is different from that familiar to battery producers. This study outlines the main areas where the battery industry must consider a change from being a component to a system supplier, and makes some recommendations for an industry wide approach to smooth the transition.

An Investigation into the Potential Benefits of Distributed Electric Propulsion on Small UAVs at Low Reynolds Numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baris, Engin

Distributed electric propulsion systems benefit from the inherent scale independence of electric propulsion. This property allows the designer to place multiple small electric motors along the wing of an aircraft instead of using a single or several internal combustion motors with gear boxes or other power train components. Aircraft operating at low Reynolds numbers are ideal candidates for benefiting from increased local flow velocities as provided by distributed propulsion systems. In this study, a distributed electric propulsion system made up of eight motor/propellers was integrated into the leading edge of a small fixed wing-body model to investigate the expected improvements on the aerodynamics available to small UAVs operating at low Reynolds numbers. Wind tunnel tests featuring a Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology were used for aerodynamic characterization. Experiments were performed in four modes: all-propellers-on, wing-tip-propellers-alone-on, wing-alone mode, and two-inboard-propellers-on-alone mode. In addition, the all-propeller-on, wing-alone, and a single-tractor configuration were analyzed using VSPAERO, a vortex lattice code, to make comparisons between these different configurations. Results show that the distributed propulsion system has higher normal force, endurance, and range features, despite a potential weight penalty.

Noninvasive delivery systems for peptides and proteins in osteoporosis therapy: a retroperspective.

PubMed

Hoyer, Herbert; Perera, Glen; Bernkop-Schnürch, Andreas

2010-01-01

The aim of this review is to provide the reader general and inspiring prospects in various attempts to make noninvasive delivery systems of calcitonin and teriparatide feasible and as convenient as possible. Calcitonin and teriparatide play an important role in both calcium homeostasis and bone remodelling. Currently calcitonin is available as a subcutaneous injection and as a nasal spray whereas teriparatide is administered subcutaneously. In the past few years, an increasing number of articles about drug delivery systems for calcitonin and teriparatide have been published. These delivery systems have been developed to overcome the inherent barriers for the uptake across the diverse membranes on the various routes for protein and peptide delivery. Co-administration of permeation enhancers, mucoadhesive agents, viscosity modifying agents, multifunctional polymers, protease inhibitors as well as encapsulation and chemical modification are utilized in order to improve calcitonin and teriparatide absorption after oral, nasal, pulmonal, or buccal administration. The majority of research groups have been working on the development of formulations based on the encapsulation of molecules in biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles. However these observations are based on data obtained under different experimental conditions. Hence, it is difficult to compare the obtained results in order to draw general conclusions about the most promising characteristics required for oral and nasal formulations for these peptides.

eC3--a modern telecommunications matrix for cervical cancer prevention in Zambia.

PubMed

Parham, Groesbeck P; Mwanahamuntu, Mulindi H; Pfaendler, Krista S; Sahasrabuddhe, Vikrant V; Myung, Daniel; Mkumba, Gracilia; Kapambwe, Sharon; Mwanza, Bianca; Chibwesha, Carla; Hicks, Michael L; Stringer, Jeffrey S A

2010-07-01

Low physician density, undercapacitated laboratory infrastructures, and limited resources are major limitations to the development and implementation of widely accessible cervical cancer prevention programs in sub-Saharan Africa. We developed a system operated by nonphysician health providers that used widely available and affordable communication technology to create locally adaptable and sustainable public sector cervical cancer prevention program in Zambia, one of the world's poorest countries. Nurses were trained to perform visual inspection with acetic acid aided by digital cervicography using predefined criteria. Electronic digital images (cervigrams) were reviewed with patients, and distance consultation was sought as necessary. Same-visit cryotherapy or referral for further evaluation by a gynecologist was offered. The Zambian system of "electronic cervical cancer control" bypasses many of the historic barriers to the delivery of preventive health care to women in low-resource environments while facilitating monitoring, evaluation, and continued education of primary health care providers, patient education, and medical records documentation. The electronic cervical cancer control system uses appropriate technology to bridge the gap between screening and diagnosis, thereby facilitating the conduct of "screen-and-treat" programs. The inherent flexibility of the system lends itself to the integration with future infrastructures using rapid molecular human papillomavirus-based screening approaches and wireless telemedicine communications.

Description of Drinking Water Bacterial Communities Using 16S rRNA Gene Sequence Analyses

EPA Science Inventory

Descriptions of bacterial communities inhabiting water distribution systems (WDS) have mainly been accomplished using culture-based approaches. Due to the inherent selective nature of culture-based approaches, the majority of bacteria inhabiting WDS remain uncharacterized. The go...

The Integration of Social-Ecological Resilience and Law

EPA Science Inventory

Growing recognition of the inherent uncertainty associated with the dynamics of ecological systems and their often non-linear and surprising behavior, however, presents a set of problems outside the scope of classic environmental law, and has lead to a fundamental understanding a...

Recent Developments in the Application of Fisher Information to Sustainable Environmental Management

EPA Science Inventory

Assessing sustainability in human and natural systems is often hampered by complex dynamics, timescales, and inherent linkages among the observable properties. Although many indicators have been identified that help classify trends indicating movement toward and away from sustain...

Rolamite - A new mechanical design concept

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilkes, D. F.

1967-01-01

Rolamite, a mechanical suspension system, provides substantial reductions in friction in the realm of extremely low bearing pressures. In addition, rolamite devices are easily microminiaturized, are extremely tolerant of production variations and are inherently capable of virtually all functions to construct most electromechanical devices.

Panarchy, Adaptive Management and Governance: Policy Options for Building Resilience

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental law plays a key role in shaping policy for sustainability. In particular, the types of legal instruments, institutions, and the response of law to the inherent variability in socio-ecological systems is critical. Environmental protection has typically involved a com...

Telecommunications and MIDI.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beckstead, David

1996-01-01

Explores the educational possibilities inherent in combining Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) with communications technology. A MIDI system (a combination synthesizer and computer) allows students to compose, record, experiment, and correct at one site. A MIDI file can be sent via e-mail to others for comments. (MJP)

Heuristic decomposition for non-hierarchic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bloebaum, Christina L.; Hajela, P.

1991-01-01

Design and optimization is substantially more complex in multidisciplinary and large-scale engineering applications due to the existing inherently coupled interactions. The paper introduces a quasi-procedural methodology for multidisciplinary optimization that is applicable for nonhierarchic systems. The necessary decision-making support for the design process is provided by means of an embedded expert systems capability. The method employs a decomposition approach whose modularity allows for implementation of specialized methods for analysis and optimization within disciplines.

Compact Color Schlieren Optical System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buchele, Donald R.; Griffin, Devon W.

1996-01-01

Compact, rugged optical system developed for use in rainbow schlieren deflectometry. Features unobscured telescope with focal-length/aperture-width ratio of 30. Made of carefully selected but relatively inexpensive parts. All of lenses stock items. By-product of design is optical system with loose tolerances on interlens spacing. One of resulting advantages, insensitivity to errors in fabrication of optomechanical mounts. Another advantage is ability to compensate for some of unit-to-unit variations inherent in stock lenses.

Physics in Screening Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Certik, Ondrej

In the current study, we investigated atoms in screening environments like plasmas. It is common practice to extract physical data, such as temperature and electron densities, from plasma experiments. We present results that address inherent computational difficulties that arise when the screening approach is extended to include the interaction between the atomic electrons. We show that there may arise an ambiguity in the interpretation of physical properties, such as temperature and charge density, from experimental data due to the opposing effects of electron-nucleus screening and electron-electron screening. The focus of the work, however, is on the resolution of inherent computational challenges that appear in the computation of two-particle matrix elements. Those enter already at the Hartree-Fock level. Furthermore, as examples of post Hartree-Fock calculations, we show second-order Green's function results and many body perturbation theory results of second order. A self-contained derivation of all necessary equations has been included. The accuracy of the implementation of the method is established by comparing standard unscreened results for various atoms and molecules against literature for Hartree-Fock as well as Green's function and many body perturbation theory. The main results of the thesis are presented in the chapter called Screened Results, where the behavior of several atomic systems depending on electron-electron and electron-nucleus Debye screening was studied. The computer code that we have developed has been made available for anybody to use. Finally, we present and discuss results obtained for screened interactions. We also examine thoroughly the computational details of the calculations and particular implementations of the method.

TRMM .25 deg x .25 deg Gridded Precipitation Text Product

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stocker, Erich; Kelley, Owen

2009-01-01

Since the launch of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the Precipitation Measurement Missions science team has endeavored to provide TRMM precipitation retrievals in a variety of formats that are more easily usable by the broad science community than the standard Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) in which TRMM data is produced and archived. At the request of users, the Precipitation Processing System (PPS) has developed a .25 x .25 gridded product in an easily used ASCII text format. The entire TRMM mission data has been made available in this format. The paper provides the details of this new precipitation product that is designated with the TRMM designator 3G68.25. The format is packaged into daily files. It provides hourly precipitation information from the TRMM microwave imager (TMI), precipitation radar (PR), and TMI/PR combined rain retrievals. A major advantage of this approach is the inclusion only of rain data, compression when a particular grid has no rain from the PR or combined, and its direct ASCII text format. For those interested only in rain retrievals and whether rain is convection or stratiform, these products provide a huge reduction in the data volume inherent in the standard TRMM products. This paper provides examples of the 3G68 data products and their uses. It also provides information about C tools that can be used to aggregate daily files into larger time samples. In addition, it describes the possibilities inherent in the spatial sampling which allows resampling into coarser spatial sampling. The paper concludes with information about downloading the gridded text data products.

Trainees' Self-Reported Challenges in Knowledge Translation, Research and Practice.

PubMed

Lal, Shalini; Urquhart, Robin; Cornelissen, Evelyn; Newman, Kristine; Van Eerd, Dwayne; Powell, Byron J; Chan, Vivian

2015-12-01

Knowledge translation (KT) refers to the process of moving evidence into healthcare policy and practice. Understanding the experiences and perspectives of individuals who develop careers in KT is important for designing training programs and opportunities to enhance capacity in KT research and practice. To date, however, limited research has explored the challenges that trainees encounter as they develop their careers in KT. The purpose of this study is to identify the challenges that KT trainees face in their KT research or practice. An online survey was conducted with a sample of trainees associated with the Knowledge Translation Trainee Collaborative or the KT Canada Summer Institutes, with written responses thematically analyzed. A total of 35 individual responses were analyzed, resulting in the identification of six interrelated themes, listed in descending order of prevalence: limited availability of KT-specific resources (54%), difficulty inherent in investigating KT (34%), KT not recognized as a distinct field (23%), colleagues' limited knowledge and understanding of KT (20%), competing priorities and limited time (20%), and difficulties in relation to collaboration (14%). KT trainees experience specific challenges in their work: limited understanding of KT in other stakeholder groups; limited structures or infrastructure to support those who do KT; the inherently interdisciplinary and applied nature of KT; and the resultant complexities of scientific inquiry in this field, such as designing and testing multifaceted, multilevel implementation strategies and accounting for contextual factors. KT training and capacity-building efforts are needed to better position health systems to routinely adopt knowledge into healthcare policy and practice. © 2015 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Distributed multitasking ITS with PVM

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

Fan, W.C.; Halbleib, J.A. Sr.

1995-12-31

Advances in computer hardware and communication software have made it possible to perform parallel-processing computing on a collection of desktop workstations. For many applications, multitasking on a cluster of high-performance workstations has achieved performance comparable to or better than that on a traditional supercomputer. From the point of view of cost-effectiveness, it also allows users to exploit available but unused computational resources and thus achieve a higher performance-to-cost ratio. Monte Carlo calculations are inherently parallelizable because the individual particle trajectories can be generated independently with minimum need for interprocessor communication. Furthermore, the number of particle histories that can be generatedmore » in a given amount of wall-clock time is nearly proportional to the number of processors in the cluster. This is an important fact because the inherent statistical uncertainty in any Monte Carlo result decreases as the number of histories increases. For these reasons, researchers have expended considerable effort to take advantage of different parallel architectures for a variety of Monte Carlo radiation transport codes, often with excellent results. The initial interest in this work was sparked by the multitasking capability of the MCNP code on a cluster of workstations using the Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) software. On a 16-machine IBM RS/6000 cluster, it has been demonstrated that MCNP runs ten times as fast as on a single-processor CRAY YMP. In this paper, we summarize the implementation of a similar multitasking capability for the coupled electronphoton transport code system, the Integrated TIGER Series (ITS), and the evaluation of two load-balancing schemes for homogeneous and heterogeneous networks.« less

Distributed multitasking ITS with PVM

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

Fan, W.C.; Halbleib, J.A. Sr.

1995-02-01

Advances of computer hardware and communication software have made it possible to perform parallel-processing computing on a collection of desktop workstations. For many applications, multitasking on a cluster of high-performance workstations has achieved performance comparable or better than that on a traditional supercomputer. From the point of view of cost-effectiveness, it also allows users to exploit available but unused computational resources, and thus achieve a higher performance-to-cost ratio. Monte Carlo calculations are inherently parallelizable because the individual particle trajectories can be generated independently with minimum need for interprocessor communication. Furthermore, the number of particle histories that can be generated inmore » a given amount of wall-clock time is nearly proportional to the number of processors in the cluster. This is an important fact because the inherent statistical uncertainty in any Monte Carlo result decreases as the number of histories increases. For these reasons, researchers have expended considerable effort to take advantage of different parallel architectures for a variety of Monte Carlo radiation transport codes, often with excellent results. The initial interest in this work was sparked by the multitasking capability of MCNP on a cluster of workstations using the Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) software. On a 16-machine IBM RS/6000 cluster, it has been demonstrated that MCNP runs ten times as fast as on a single-processor CRAY YMP. In this paper, we summarize the implementation of a similar multitasking capability for the coupled electron/photon transport code system, the Integrated TIGER Series (ITS), and the evaluation of two load balancing schemes for homogeneous and heterogeneous networks.« less

Two-Photon Excitation, Fluorescence Microscopy, and Quantitative Measurement of Two-Photon Absorption Cross Sections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeArmond, Fredrick Michael

As optical microscopy techniques continue to improve, most notably the development of super-resolution optical microscopy which garnered the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014, renewed emphasis has been placed on the development and use of fluorescence microscopy techniques. Of particular note is a renewed interest in multiphoton excitation due to a number of inherent properties of the technique including simplified optical filtering, increased sample penetration, and inherently confocal operation. With this renewed interest in multiphoton fluorescence microscopy, comes an increased demand for robust non-linear fluorescent markers, and characterization of the associated tool set. These factors have led to an experimental setup to allow a systematized approach for identifying and characterizing properties of fluorescent probes in the hopes that the tool set will provide researchers with additional information to guide their efforts in developing novel fluorophores suitable for use in advanced optical microscopy techniques as well as identifying trends for their synthesis. Hardware was setup around a software control system previously developed. Three experimental tool sets were set up, characterized, and applied over the course of this work. These tools include scanning multiphoton fluorescence microscope with single molecule sensitivity, an interferometric autocorrelator for precise determination of the bandwidth and pulse width of the ultrafast Titanium Sapphire excitation source, and a simplified fluorescence microscope for the measurement of two-photon absorption cross sections. Resulting values for two-photon absorption cross sections and two-photon absorption action cross sections for two standardized fluorophores, four commercially available fluorophores, and ten novel fluorophores are presented as well as absorption and emission spectra.

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

Hoegg, Edward D.; Barinaga, Charles J.; Hager, George J.

ABSTRACT In order to meet a growing need for fieldable mass spectrometer systems for precise elemental and isotopic analyses, the liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LS-APGD) has a number of very promising characteristics. One key set of attributes that await validation deals with the performance characteristics relative to isotope ratio precision and accuracy. Due to its availability and prior experience with this research team, the initial evaluation of isotope ratio (IR) performance was performed on a Thermo Scientific Exactive Orbitrap instrument. While the mass accuracy and resolution performance for orbitrap analyzers are very well documented, no detailed evaluations of themore » IR performance have been published. Efforts described here involve two variables: the inherent IR precision and accuracy delivered by the LSAPGD microplasma and the inherent IR measurement qualities of orbitrap analyzers. Important to the IR performance, the various operating parameters of the orbitrap sampling interface, HCD dissociation stage, and ion injection/data acquisition have been evaluated. The IR performance for a range of other elements, including natural, depleted, and enriched uranium isotopes was determined. In all cases the precision and accuracy are degraded when measuring low abundance (<0.1% isotope fractions). In the best case, IR precision on the order of 0.1 %RSD can be achieved, with values of 1-3 %RSD observed for low-abundance species. The results suggest that the LSAPGD is a very good candidate for field deployable MS analysis and that the high resolving powers of the orbitrap may be complemented with a here-to-fore unknown capacity to deliver high-precision isotope ratios.« less

Inherent losses induced absorptive acoustic rainbow trapping with a gradient metasurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Tuo; Liang, Shanjun; Chen, Fei; Zhu, Jie

2018-03-01

Acoustic rainbow trapping represents the phenomenon of strong acoustic dispersion similar to the optical "trapped rainbow," which allows spatial-spectral modulation and broadband trapping of sound. It can be realized with metamaterials that provide the required strong dispersion absent in natural materials. However, as the group velocity cannot be reduced to exactly zero before the forward mode being coupled to the backward mode, such trapping is temporary and the local sound oscillation ultimately radiates backward. Here, we propose a gradient metasurface, a rigid surface structured with gradient perforation along the wave propagation direction, in which the inherent thermal and viscous losses inside the holes are considered. We show that the gradually diminished group velocity of the structure-induced surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) supported by the metasurface becomes anomalous at the trapping position, induced by the existence of the inherent losses, which implies that the system's absorption reaches its maximum. Together with the progressively increased attenuation of the SSAWs along the gradient direction, reflectionless spatial-spectral modulation and sound enhancement are achieved in simulation. Such phenomenon, which we call as absorptive trapped rainbow, results from the balanced interplay among the local resonance inside individual holes, the mutual coupling of adjacent unit cells, and the inherent losses due to thermal conductivity and viscosity. This study deepens the understanding of the SSAWs propagation at a lossy metasurface and may contribute to the practical design of acoustic devices for high performance sensing and filtering.

Basic Research on Seismic and Infrasonic Monitoring of the European Arctic

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

characteristics as well as the inherent variability among these signals . We have used available recordings both from the Apatity infrasound array and from...experimentally attempt to generate an infrasonic event bulletin using only the estimated azimuths and detection times of infrasound phases recorded by... detection . Our studies have shown a remarkably efficient wave propagation from events near Novaya Zemlya across the Barents Sea. Significant signal

"Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child: Making Sense of the Past," by Betsy Keefer and Jayne E. Schooler. Book Review.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnston, Patricia Irwin

2001-01-01

Characterizes the focus of Keefer and Schooler's book as being on talking to children who do not have contact with birthparents, while neglecting the issue of helping birth and adoptive families overcome differences inherent in what brought each to adoption. Presents chapter contents of the work. Notes that book is the best available to parents on…

National Search and Rescue Manual. Addendum.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-08-01

are inherent in the aerial delivery of a. Disastrous consequences can result from equipment. The degree of risk depends the dropping of equipment...presented, it isthe risk of the operation and the fact that the desirable to remove all civilians from the dis- action is undertaken at his request... Environmental data available including insight afforded. Such a study may provide sea current, wind and visibility; these data clues for improving our SAR

Is it about "pink" or about "girls"? The inherence heuristic across social and nonsocial domains.

PubMed

Kinzler, Katherine D; Sullivan, Kathleen R

2014-10-01

The inherence heuristic provides an intriguing and novel explanation for early thought in a variety of domains. Exploring similarities and differences in inherent reasoning across social and nonsocial domains can help us understand the role that inherent thinking plays in the development of human reasoning and the process by which more elaborate essentialist reasoning develops.

Development of Extended-Depth Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography for Applications in Ophthalmic Imaging of the Anterior and Posterior Eye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhalla, Al-Hafeez Zahir

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive optical imaging modality that provides micron-scale resolution of tissue micro-structure over depth ranges of several millimeters. This imaging technique has had a profound effect on the field of ophthalmology, wherein it has become the standard of care for the diagnosis of many retinal pathologies. Applications of OCT in the anterior eye, as well as for imaging of coronary arteries and the gastro-intestinal tract, have also shown promise, but have not yet achieved widespread clinical use. The usable imaging depth of OCT systems is most often limited by one of three factors: optical attenuation, inherent imaging range, or depth-of-focus. The first of these, optical attenuation, stems from the limitation that OCT only detects singly-scattered light. Thus, beyond a certain penetration depth into turbid media, essentially all of the incident light will have been multiply scattered, and can no longer be used for OCT imaging. For many applications (especially retinal imaging), optical attenuation is the most restrictive of the three imaging depth limitations. However, for some applications, especially anterior segment, cardiovascular (catheter-based) and GI (endoscopic) imaging, the usable imaging depth is often not limited by optical attenuation, but rather by the inherent imaging depth of the OCT systems. This inherent imaging depth, which is specific to only Fourier Domain OCT, arises due to two factors: sensitivity fall-off and the complex conjugate ambiguity. Finally, due to the trade-off between lateral resolution and axial depth-of-focus inherent in diffractive optical systems, additional depth limitations sometimes arises in either high lateral resolution or extended depth OCT imaging systems. The depth-of-focus limitation is most apparent in applications such as adaptive optics (AO-) OCT imaging of the retina, and extended depth imaging of the ocular anterior segment. In this dissertation, techniques for extending the imaging range of OCT systems are developed. These techniques include the use of a high spectral purity swept source laser in a full-field OCT system, as well as the use of a peculiar phenomenon known as coherence revival to resolve the complex conjugate ambiguity in swept source OCT. In addition, a technique for extending the depth of focus of OCT systems by using a polarization-encoded, dual-focus sample arm is demonstrated. Along the way, other related advances are also presented, including the development of techniques to reduce crosstalk and speckle artifacts in full-field OCT, and the use of fast optical switches to increase the imaging speed of certain low-duty cycle swept source OCT systems. Finally, the clinical utility of these techniques is demonstrated by combining them to demonstrate high-speed, high resolution, extended-depth imaging of both the anterior and posterior eye simultaneously and in vivo.

On some recent definitions and analysis frameworks for risk, vulnerability, and resilience.

PubMed

Aven, Terje

2011-04-01

Recently, considerable attention has been paid to a systems-based approach to risk, vulnerability, and resilience analysis. It is argued that risk, vulnerability, and resilience are inherently and fundamentally functions of the states of the system and its environment. Vulnerability is defined as the manifestation of the inherent states of the system that can be subjected to a natural hazard or be exploited to adversely affect that system, whereas resilience is defined as the ability of the system to withstand a major disruption within acceptable degradation parameters and to recover within an acceptable time, and composite costs, and risks. Risk, on the other hand, is probability based, defined by the probability and severity of adverse effects (i.e., the consequences). In this article, we look more closely into this approach. It is observed that the key concepts are inconsistent in the sense that the uncertainty (probability) dimension is included for the risk definition but not for vulnerability and resilience. In the article, we question the rationale for this inconsistency. The suggested approach is compared with an alternative framework that provides a logically defined structure for risk, vulnerability, and resilience, where all three concepts are incorporating the uncertainty (probability) dimension. © 2010 Society for Risk Analysis.

Designing polymers with sugar-based advantages for bioactive delivery applications.

PubMed

Zhang, Yingyue; Chan, Jennifer W; Moretti, Alysha; Uhrich, Kathryn E

2015-12-10

Sugar-based polymers have been extensively explored as a means to increase drug delivery systems' biocompatibility and biodegradation. Here,we review he use of sugar-based polymers for drug delivery applications, with a particular focus on the utility of the sugar component(s) to provide benefits for drug targeting and stimuli responsive systems. Specifically, numerous synthetic methods have been developed to reliably modify naturally-occurring polysaccharides, conjugate sugar moieties to synthetic polymer scaffolds to generate glycopolymers, and utilize sugars as a multifunctional building block to develop sugar-linked polymers. The design of sugar-based polymer systems has tremendous implications on both the physiological and biological properties imparted by the saccharide units and are unique from synthetic polymers. These features include the ability of glycopolymers to preferentially target various cell types and tissues through receptor interactions, exhibit bioadhesion for prolonged residence time, and be rapidly recognized and internalized by cancer cells. Also discussed are the distinct stimuli-sensitive properties of saccharide-modified polymers to mediate drug release under desired conditions. Saccharide-based systems with inherent pH- and temperature-sensitive properties, as well as enzyme-cleavable polysaccharides for targeted bioactive delivery, are covered. Overall, this work emphasizes inherent benefits of sugar-containing polymer systems for bioactive delivery.

Commodity-Free Calibration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

Commodity-free calibration is a reaction rate calibration technique that does not require the addition of any commodities. This technique is a specific form of the reaction rate technique, where all of the necessary reactants, other than the sample being analyzed, are either inherent in the analyzing system or specifically added or provided to the system for a reason other than calibration. After introduction, the component of interest is exposed to other reactants or flow paths already present in the system. The instrument detector records one of the following to determine the rate of reaction: the increase in the response of the reaction product, a decrease in the signal of the analyte response, or a decrease in the signal from the inherent reactant. With this data, the initial concentration of the analyte is calculated. This type of system can analyze and calibrate simultaneously, reduce the risk of false positives and exposure to toxic vapors, and improve accuracy. Moreover, having an excess of the reactant already present in the system eliminates the need to add commodities, which further reduces cost, logistic problems, and potential contamination. Also, the calculations involved can be simplified by comparison to those of the reaction rate technique. We conducted tests with hypergols as an initial investigation into the feasiblility of the technique.

Theoretical and experimental research on machine tool servo system for ultra-precision position compensation on CNC lathe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Zhichao; Hu, Leilei; Zhao, Hongwei; Wu, Boda; Peng, Zhenxing; Zhou, Xiaoqin; Zhang, Hongguo; Zhu, Shuai; Xing, Lifeng; Hu, Huang

2010-08-01

The theories and techniques for improving machining accuracy via position control of diamond tool's tip and raising resolution of cutting depth on precise CNC lathes have been extremely focused on. A new piezo-driven ultra-precision machine tool servo system is designed and tested to improve manufacturing accuracy of workpiece. The mathematical model of machine tool servo system is established and the finite element analysis is carried out on parallel plate flexure hinges. The output position of diamond tool's tip driven by the machine tool servo system is tested via a contact capacitive displacement sensor. Proportional, integral, derivative (PID) feedback is also implemented to accommodate and compensate dynamical change owing cutting forces as well as the inherent non-linearity factors of the piezoelectric stack during cutting process. By closed loop feedback controlling strategy, the tracking error is limited to 0.8 μm. Experimental results have shown the proposed machine tool servo system could provide a tool positioning resolution of 12 nm, which is much accurate than the inherent CNC resolution magnitude. The stepped shaft of aluminum specimen with a step increment of cutting depth of 1 μm is tested, and the obtained contour illustrates the displacement command output from controller is accurately and real-time reflected on the machined part.

Flexible session management in a distributed environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Zach; Bradley, Dan; Tannenbaum, Todd; Sfiligoi, Igor

2010-04-01

Many secure communication libraries used by distributed systems, such as SSL, TLS, and Kerberos, fail to make a clear distinction between the authentication, session, and communication layers. In this paper we introduce CEDAR, the secure communication library used by the Condor High Throughput Computing software, and present the advantages to a distributed computing system resulting from CEDAR's separation of these layers. Regardless of the authentication method used, CEDAR establishes a secure session key, which has the flexibility to be used for multiple capabilities. We demonstrate how a layered approach to security sessions can avoid round-trips and latency inherent in network authentication. The creation of a distinct session management layer allows for optimizations to improve scalability by way of delegating sessions to other components in the system. This session delegation creates a chain of trust that reduces the overhead of establishing secure connections and enables centralized enforcement of system-wide security policies. Additionally, secure channels based upon UDP datagrams are often overlooked by existing libraries; we show how CEDAR's structure accommodates this as well. As an example of the utility of this work, we show how the use of delegated security sessions and other techniques inherent in CEDAR's architecture enables US CMS to meet their scalability requirements in deploying Condor over large-scale, wide-area grid systems.

Performance evaluation capabilities for the design of physical systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pilkey, W. D.; Wang, B. P.

1972-01-01

The results are presented of a study aimed at developing and formulating a capability for the limiting performance of large steady state systems. The accomplishments reported include: (1) development of a theory of limiting performance of large systems subject to steady state inputs; (2) application and modification of PERFORM, the computational capability for the limiting performance of systems with transient inputs; and (3) demonstration that use of an inherently smooth control force for a limiting performance calculation improves the system identification phase of the design process for physical systems subjected to transient loading.

[The application and development of artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis systems].

PubMed

Chen, Zhencheng; Jiang, Yong; Xu, Mingyu; Wang, Hongyan; Jiang, Dazong

2002-09-01

This paper has reviewed the development of artificial intelligence in medical practice and medical diagnostic expert systems, and has summarized the application of artificial neural network. It explains that a source of difficulty in medical diagnostic system is the co-existence of multiple diseases--the potentially inter-related diseases. However, the difficulty of image expert systems is inherent in high-level vision. And it increases the complexity of expert system in medical image. At last, the prospect for the development of artificial intelligence in medical image expert systems is made.

Integrated vehicle control and guidance systems in unmanned ground vehicles for commercial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kenyon, Chase H.

1995-01-01

While there is a lot of recent development in the entire IVHS field, very few have had the opportunity to combine the many areas of development into a single integrated `intelligent' unmanned vehicle. One of our systems was developed specifically to serve a major automobile manufacturer's need for an automated vehicle chassis durability test facility. Due to the severity of the road surface human drivers could not be used. A totally automated robotic vehicle driver and guidance system was necessary. In order to deliver fixed price commercial projects now, it was apparent system and component costs were of paramount importance. Cyplex has developed a robust, cost effective single wire guidance system. This system has inherent advantages in system simplicity. Multi-signal (per vehicle lane) systems complicate path planning and layout when multiple lanes and lane changes are required, as on actual highways. The system has demonstrated high enough immunity to rain and light snow cover that normal safety reductions in speed are adequate to stay within the required system performance envelope. This system and it's antenna interface have shown the ability to guide the vehicle at slow speeds (10 MPH) with a tracking repeatability of plus or minus 1/8 of an inch. The basic guide and antenna system has been tested at speeds up to 80 mph. The system has inherently superior abilities for lane changes and precision vehicle placement. The operation of this system will be described and the impact of a system that is commercially viable now for highway and off road use will be discussed.

Assessing the Agreement Between Eo-Based Semi-Automated Landslide Maps with Fuzzy Manual Landslide Delineation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albrecht, F.; Hölbling, D.; Friedl, B.

2017-09-01

Landslide mapping benefits from the ever increasing availability of Earth Observation (EO) data resulting from programmes like the Copernicus Sentinel missions and improved infrastructure for data access. However, there arises the need for improved automated landslide information extraction processes from EO data while the dominant method is still manual delineation. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) provides the means for the fast and efficient extraction of landslide information. To prove its quality, automated results are often compared to manually delineated landslide maps. Although there is awareness of the uncertainties inherent in manual delineations, there is a lack of understanding how they affect the levels of agreement in a direct comparison of OBIA-derived landslide maps and manually derived landslide maps. In order to provide an improved reference, we present a fuzzy approach for the manual delineation of landslides on optical satellite images, thereby making the inherent uncertainties of the delineation explicit. The fuzzy manual delineation and the OBIA classification are compared by accuracy metrics accepted in the remote sensing community. We have tested this approach for high resolution (HR) satellite images of three large landslides in Austria and Italy. We were able to show that the deviation of the OBIA result from the manual delineation can mainly be attributed to the uncertainty inherent in the manual delineation process, a relevant issue for the design of validation processes for OBIA-derived landslide maps.

Optical communication system performance with tracking error induced signal fading.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tycz, M.; Fitzmaurice, M. W.; Premo, D. A.

1973-01-01

System performance is determined for an optical communication system using noncoherent detection in the presence of tracking error induced signal fading assuming (1) binary on-off modulation (OOK) with both fixed and adaptive threshold receivers, and (2) binary polarization modulation (BPM). BPM is shown to maintain its inherent 2- to 3-dB advantage over OOK when adaptive thresholding is used, and to have a substantially greater advantage when the OOK system is restricted to a fixed decision threshold.

Photovoltaic power system reliability considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lalli, V. R.

1980-01-01

An example of how modern engineering and safety techniques can be used to assure the reliable and safe operation of photovoltaic power systems is presented. This particular application is for a solar cell power system demonstration project designed to provide electric power requirements for remote villages. The techniques utilized involve a definition of the power system natural and operating environment, use of design criteria and analysis techniques, an awareness of potential problems via the inherent reliability and FMEA methods, and use of fail-safe and planned spare parts engineering philosophy.

An Investigation of Expert Systems Usage for Software Requirements Development in the Strategic Defense Initiative Environment.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-06-10

the solution of the base could be the solution of the target. If expert systems are to mimic humans , then they should inherently utilize analogy. In the...expert systems environment, the theory of frames for representing knowledge developed partly because humans usually solve problems by first seeing if...Goals," Computer, May 1975, p. 17. 8. A.I. Wasserman, "Some Principles of User Software Engineering for Information Systems ," Digest of Papers, COMPCON

Photovoltaic power system reliability considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lalli, V. R.

1980-01-01

This paper describes an example of how modern engineering and safety techniques can be used to assure the reliable and safe operation of photovoltaic power systems. This particular application was for a solar cell power system demonstration project in Tangaye, Upper Volta, Africa. The techniques involve a definition of the power system natural and operating environment, use of design criteria and analysis techniques, an awareness of potential problems via the inherent reliability and FMEA methods, and use of a fail-safe and planned spare parts engineering philosophy.

Smelling time: a neural basis for olfactory scene analysis

PubMed Central

Ache, Barry W.; Hein, Andrew M.; Bobkov, Yuriy V.; Principe, Jose C.

2016-01-01

Behavioral evidence from phylogenetically diverse animals and humans suggests that olfaction could be much more involved in interpreting space and time than heretofore imagined by extracting temporal information inherent in the olfactory signal. If this is the case, the olfactory system must have neural mechanisms capable of encoding time at intervals relevant to the turbulent odor world in which many animals live. We review evidence that animals can use populations of rhythmically active or ‘bursting’ olfactory receptor neurons (bORNs) to extract and encode temporal information inherent in natural olfactory signals. We postulate that bORNs represent an unsuspected neural mechanism through which time can be accurately measured, and that ‘smelling time’ completes the requirements for true olfactory scene analysis. PMID:27594700

Design of a mutual authentication based on NTRUsign with a perturbation and inherent multipoint control protocol frames in an Ethernet-based passive optical network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Aihan; Ding, Yisheng

2014-11-01

Identity-related security issues inherently present in passive optical networks (PON) still exist in the current (1G) and next-generation (10G) Ethernet-based passive optical network (EPON) systems. We propose a mutual authentication scheme that integrates an NTRUsign digital signature algorithm with inherent multipoint control protocol (MPCP) frames over an EPON system between the optical line terminal (OLT) and optical network unit (ONU). Here, a primitive NTRUsign algorithm is significantly modified through the use of a new perturbation so that it can be effectively used for simultaneously completing signature and authentication functions on the OLT and the ONU sides. Also, in order to transmit their individual sensitive messages, which include public key, signature, and random value and so forth, to each other, we redefine three unique frames according to MPCP format frame. These generated messages can be added into the frames and delivered to each other, allowing the OLT and the ONU to go ahead with a mutual identity authentication process to verify their legal identities. Our simulation results show that this proposed scheme performs very well in resisting security attacks and has low influence on the registration efficiency to to-be-registered ONUs. A performance comparison with traditional authentication algorithms is also presented. To the best of our knowledge, no detailed design of mutual authentication in EPON can be found in the literature up to now.

Bioengineering and Coordination of Regulatory Networks and Intracellular Complexes to Maximize Hydrogen Production by Phototrophic Microorganisms

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

Tabita, F. Robert

2013-07-30

In this study, the Principal Investigator, F.R. Tabita has teamed up with J. C. Liao from UCLA. This project's main goal is to manipulate regulatory networks in phototrophic bacteria to affect and maximize the production of large amounts of hydrogen gas under conditions where wild-type organisms are constrained by inherent regulatory mechanisms from allowing this to occur. Unrestrained production of hydrogen has been achieved and this will allow for the potential utilization of waste materials as a feed stock to support hydrogen production. By further understanding the means by which regulatory networks interact, this study will seek to maximize themore » ability of currently available “unrestrained” organisms to produce hydrogen. The organisms to be utilized in this study, phototrophic microorganisms, in particular nonsulfur purple (NSP) bacteria, catalyze many significant processes including the assimilation of carbon dioxide into organic carbon, nitrogen fixation, sulfur oxidation, aromatic acid degradation, and hydrogen oxidation/evolution. Moreover, due to their great metabolic versatility, such organisms highly regulate these processes in the cell and since virtually all such capabilities are dispensable, excellent experimental systems to study aspects of molecular control and biochemistry/physiology are available.« less

Big Data: An Opportunity for Collaboration with Computer Scientists on Data-Driven Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baru, C.

2014-12-01

Big data technologies are evolving rapidly, driven by the need to manage ever increasing amounts of historical data; process relentless streams of human and machine-generated data; and integrate data of heterogeneous structure from extremely heterogeneous sources of information. Big data is inherently an application-driven problem. Developing the right technologies requires an understanding of the applications domain. Though, an intriguing aspect of this phenomenon is that the availability of the data itself enables new applications not previously conceived of! In this talk, we will discuss how the big data phenomenon creates an imperative for collaboration among domain scientists (in this case, geoscientists) and computer scientists. Domain scientists provide the application requirements as well as insights about the data involved, while computer scientists help assess whether problems can be solved with currently available technologies or require adaptaion of existing technologies and/or development of new technologies. The synergy can create vibrant collaborations potentially leading to new science insights as well as development of new data technologies and systems. The area of interface between geosciences and computer science, also referred to as geoinformatics is, we believe, a fertile area for interdisciplinary research.

Integrated Multibeam and LIDAR Bathymetry Data Offshore of New London and Niantic, Connecticut

USGS Publications Warehouse

Poppe, L.J.; Danforth, W.W.; McMullen, K.Y.; Parker, Castle E.; Lewit, P.G.; Doran, E.F.

2010-01-01

Nearshore areas within Long Island Sound are of great interest to the Connecticut and New York research and resource management communities because of their ecological, recreational, and commercial importance. Although advances in multibeam echosounder technology permit the construction of high-resolution representations of sea-floor topography in deeper waters, limitations inherent in collecting fixed-angle multibeam data make using this technology in shallower waters (less than 10 meters deep) difficult and expensive. These limitations have often resulted in data gaps between areas for which multibeam bathymetric datasets are available and the adjacent shoreline. To address this problem, the geospatial data sets released in this report seamlessly integrate complete-coverage multibeam bathymetric data acquired off New London and Niantic Bay, Connecticut, with hydrographic Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data acquired along the nearshore. The result is a more continuous sea floor representation and a much smaller gap between the digital bathymetric data and the shoreline than previously available. These data sets are provided online and on CD-ROM in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) raster-grid and GeoTIFF formats in order to facilitate access, compatibility, and utility.

Concrete pavement mixture design and analysis (MDA) : application of a portable x-ray fluorescence technique to assess concrete mix proportions.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

Any transportation infrastructure system is inherently concerned with durability and performance issues. The proportioning and : uniformity control of concrete mixtures are critical factors that directly affect the longevity and performance of the po...

Impact of inherent meteorology uncertainty on air quality model predictions

EPA Science Inventory

It is well established that there are a number of different classifications and sources of uncertainties in environmental modeling systems. Air quality models rely on two key inputs, namely, meteorology and emissions. When using air quality models for decision making, it is impor...

48 CFR 34.202 - Integrated Baseline Reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... related performance budgets, resources, and schedules. It should provide a mutual understanding of the inherent risks in offerors'/contractors' performance plans and the underlying management control systems... objectives of the scope of work; (2) Adequacy of the time allocated for performing the defined tasks to...

Process-Based Thinking in Ecosystem Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jordan, Rebecca C.; Gray, Steven A.; Brooks, Wesley R.; Honwad, Sameer; Hmelo-Silver, Cindy E.

2013-01-01

Understanding complex systems such as ecosystems is difficult for young K-12 students, and students' representations of ecosystems are often limited to nebulously defined relationships between macro-level structural components inherent to the ecosystem in focus (rainforest, desert, pond, etc.) instead of generalizing processes across ecosystems…

48 CFR 7.302 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Policy. 7.302 Section 7... ACQUISITION PLANNING Contractor Versus Government Performance 7.302 Policy. (a) The Circular provides that it is the policy of the Government to— (1) Perform inherently governmental activities with Government...

48 CFR 7.302 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Policy. 7.302 Section 7... ACQUISITION PLANNING Contractor Versus Government Performance 7.302 Policy. (a) The Circular provides that it is the policy of the Government to— (1) Perform inherently governmental activities with Government...

Panarchy, adaptive management and governance: policy options for building resilience

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental law plays a key role in shaping policy for sus­tainability. In particular, the types of legal instruments, institutions, and the response of law to the inherent variability in socio-ecological systems are critical. Environmental protection has typically involved a c...

In Silico Augmentation of the Drug Development Pipeline: Examples from the study of Acute Inflammation.

PubMed

An, Gary; Bartels, John; Vodovotz, Yoram

2011-03-01

The clinical translation of promising basic biomedical findings, whether derived from reductionist studies in academic laboratories or as the product of extensive high-throughput and -content screens in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, has reached a period of stagnation in which ever higher research and development costs are yielding ever fewer new drugs. Systems biology and computational modeling have been touted as potential avenues by which to break through this logjam. However, few mechanistic computational approaches are utilized in a manner that is fully cognizant of the inherent clinical realities in which the drugs developed through this ostensibly rational process will be ultimately used. In this article, we present a Translational Systems Biology approach to inflammation. This approach is based on the use of mechanistic computational modeling centered on inherent clinical applicability, namely that a unified suite of models can be applied to generate in silico clinical trials, individualized computational models as tools for personalized medicine, and rational drug and device design based on disease mechanism.

Fault Detection for Nonlinear Process With Deterministic Disturbances: A Just-In-Time Learning Based Data Driven Method.

PubMed

Yin, Shen; Gao, Huijun; Qiu, Jianbin; Kaynak, Okyay

2017-11-01

Data-driven fault detection plays an important role in industrial systems due to its applicability in case of unknown physical models. In fault detection, disturbances must be taken into account as an inherent characteristic of processes. Nevertheless, fault detection for nonlinear processes with deterministic disturbances still receive little attention, especially in data-driven field. To solve this problem, a just-in-time learning-based data-driven (JITL-DD) fault detection method for nonlinear processes with deterministic disturbances is proposed in this paper. JITL-DD employs JITL scheme for process description with local model structures to cope with processes dynamics and nonlinearity. The proposed method provides a data-driven fault detection solution for nonlinear processes with deterministic disturbances, and owns inherent online adaptation and high accuracy of fault detection. Two nonlinear systems, i.e., a numerical example and a sewage treatment process benchmark, are employed to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Method for Assessing the Integrated Risk of Soil Pollution in Industrial and Mining Gathering Areas

PubMed Central

Guan, Yang; Shao, Chaofeng; Gu, Qingbao; Ju, Meiting; Zhang, Qian

2015-01-01

Industrial and mining activities are recognized as major sources of soil pollution. This study proposes an index system for evaluating the inherent risk level of polluting factories and introduces an integrated risk assessment method based on human health risk. As a case study, the health risk, polluting factories and integrated risks were analyzed in a typical industrial and mining gathering area in China, namely, Binhai New Area. The spatial distribution of the risk level was determined using a Geographic Information System. The results confirmed the following: (1) Human health risk in the study area is moderate to extreme, with heavy metals posing the greatest threat; (2) Polluting factories pose a moderate to extreme inherent risk in the study area. Such factories are concentrated in industrial and urban areas, but are irregularly distributed and also occupy agricultural land, showing a lack of proper planning and management; (3) The integrated risks of soil are moderate to high in the study area. PMID:26580644

The Chemo-Biological Outreach of Nano-Biomaterials: Implications for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.

PubMed

Kumar, Pradeep; Choonara, Yahya E; Khan, Riaz A; Pillay, Viness

2017-01-01

Nanobiomaterials can be defined as materials interacting with and influencing the biological microenvironment at a nanointerface. Recently the basic as well as applied research related to nanobiomaterials - a conjugation of nano-, material- and life-sciences - has immensely evolved for therapeutics and related biotechnology areas. The current overview focused on the potential of nanobiomaterial-based substrates towards the generation of biocompatible surfaces, tissue engineering architectures, and regenerative medicine. Emphasis was given to chemomolecular functionalization of nanobiomaterials, nanobiomaterial composites, and morphomechanically modified nanoarchetypes and their inherent chemo-biological interaction with the biological microenvironment. Additionally, recent developments in nanobiomaterial substrate design and structure, chemo-biological interface related bio-systems uses and further evolving applications in health care, therapeutics and nanomedicine were discussed herein. Furthermore, a special emphasis was placed on the nano-chemo-biological interactions inherent to various nanobiomaterial substrates in close vicinity with biological systems. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

An approach to developing user interfaces for space systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shackelford, Keith; McKinney, Karen

1993-08-01

Inherent weakness in the traditional waterfall model of software development has led to the definition of the spiral model. The spiral model software development lifecycle model, however, has not been applied to NASA projects. This paper describes its use in developing real time user interface software for an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Process Control Prototype at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

Necessary for Success: Building Mastery of World-Class Skills--A State Policymakers Guide to Competency Education. CompetencyWorks Issue Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patrick, Susan; Sturgis, Chris

2013-01-01

After two decades of major education reforms without seeing major gains for low-income students, state leadership is coming to the conclusion that there is something inherently wrong with America's K-12 system. States have called into question the time-based system built around the Carnegie unit and are now rapidly advancing an alternative. By…

What Makes an Inclusive Teacher? Can Fish Climb Trees? Mapping the European Agency Profile of Inclusive Teachers to the English System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cornwall, John

2013-01-01

This article examines whether or not teachers working in an inherently exclusive education system can in fact be "inclusive teachers". The author draws on work done over the past three years in a pan-European Teacher Education project highly committed to notions of social and educational cohesion and equity, and challenges both fixed and…

Visualization of Wind Data on Google Earth for the Three-dimensional Wind Field (3DWF) Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

ActiveX components or XPCOM extensions can be used by JavaScript to write data to the local file system. Since there is an inherent risk, it is very...important to only use these types of objects ( ActiveX or XPCOM) from a trusted source in order to minimize the exposure of a computer system to malware

Systems metabolic engineering design: Fatty acid production as an emerging case study

PubMed Central

Tee, Ting Wei; Chowdhury, Anupam; Maranas, Costas D; Shanks, Jacqueline V

2014-01-01

Increasing demand for petroleum has stimulated industry to develop sustainable production of chemicals and biofuels using microbial cell factories. Fatty acids of chain lengths from C6 to C16 are propitious intermediates for the catalytic synthesis of industrial chemicals and diesel-like biofuels. The abundance of genetic information available for Escherichia coli and specifically, fatty acid metabolism in E. coli, supports this bacterium as a promising host for engineering a biocatalyst for the microbial production of fatty acids. Recent successes rooted in different features of systems metabolic engineering in the strain design of high-yielding medium chain fatty acid producing E. coli strains provide an emerging case study of design methods for effective strain design. Classical metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches enabled different and distinct design paths towards a high-yielding strain. Here we highlight a rational strain design process in systems biology, an integrated computational and experimental approach for carboxylic acid production, as an alternative method. Additional challenges inherent in achieving an optimal strain for commercialization of medium chain-length fatty acids will likely require a collection of strategies from systems metabolic engineering. Not only will the continued advancement in systems metabolic engineering result in these highly productive strains more quickly, this knowledge will extend more rapidly the carboxylic acid platform to the microbial production of carboxylic acids with alternate chain-lengths and functionalities. PMID:24481660

Systems metabolic engineering design: fatty acid production as an emerging case study.

PubMed

Tee, Ting Wei; Chowdhury, Anupam; Maranas, Costas D; Shanks, Jacqueline V

2014-05-01

Increasing demand for petroleum has stimulated industry to develop sustainable production of chemicals and biofuels using microbial cell factories. Fatty acids of chain lengths from C6 to C16 are propitious intermediates for the catalytic synthesis of industrial chemicals and diesel-like biofuels. The abundance of genetic information available for Escherichia coli and specifically, fatty acid metabolism in E. coli, supports this bacterium as a promising host for engineering a biocatalyst for the microbial production of fatty acids. Recent successes rooted in different features of systems metabolic engineering in the strain design of high-yielding medium chain fatty acid producing E. coli strains provide an emerging case study of design methods for effective strain design. Classical metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches enabled different and distinct design paths towards a high-yielding strain. Here we highlight a rational strain design process in systems biology, an integrated computational and experimental approach for carboxylic acid production, as an alternative method. Additional challenges inherent in achieving an optimal strain for commercialization of medium chain-length fatty acids will likely require a collection of strategies from systems metabolic engineering. Not only will the continued advancement in systems metabolic engineering result in these highly productive strains more quickly, this knowledge will extend more rapidly the carboxylic acid platform to the microbial production of carboxylic acids with alternate chain-lengths and functionalities. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Near-term Forecasting of Solar Total and Direct Irradiance for Solar Energy Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, C. N.; Riihimaki, L. D.; Berg, L. K.

2012-12-01

Integration of solar renewable energy into the power grid, like wind energy, is hindered by the variable nature of the solar resource. One challenge of the integration problem for shorter time periods is the phenomenon of "ramping events" where the electrical output of the solar power system increases or decreases significantly and rapidly over periods of minutes or less. Advance warning, of even just a few minutes, allows power system operators to compensate for the ramping. However, the ability for short-term prediction on such local "point" scales is beyond the abilities of typical model-based weather forecasting. Use of surface-based solar radiation measurements has been recognized as a likely solution for providing input for near-term (5 to 30 minute) forecasts of solar energy availability and variability. However, it must be noted that while fixed-orientation photovoltaic panel systems use the total (global) downwelling solar radiation, tracking photovoltaic and solar concentrator systems use only the direct normal component of the solar radiation. Thus even accurate near-term forecasts of total solar radiation will under many circumstances include inherent inaccuracies with respect to tracking systems due to lack of information of the direct component of the solar radiation. We will present examples and statistical analyses of solar radiation partitioning showing the differences in the behavior of the total/direct radiation with respect to the near-term forecast issue. We will present an overview of the possibility of using a network of unique new commercially available total/diffuse radiometers in conjunction with a near-real-time adaptation of the Shortwave Radiative Flux Analysis methodology (Long and Ackerman, 2000; Long et al., 2006). The results are used, in conjunction with persistence and tendency forecast techniques, to provide more accurate near-term forecasts of cloudiness, and both total and direct normal solar irradiance availability and variability. This new system could be a long term economical solution for solar energy applications.xample of SW Flux Analysis global hemispheric (light blue) and direct (yellow) clear-sky shortwave (SW) along with corresponding actual global hemispheric (blue) and direct (red) SW, and the corresponding fractional sky cover (black, right Y-axis). Note in afternoon about 40-50% of the global SW is available, yet most times there is no direct SW.

SU-F-J-47: Inherent Uncertainty in the Positional Shifts Determined by a Volumetric Cone Beam Imaging System

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

Giri, U; Ganesh, T; Saini, V

2016-06-15

Purpose: To quantify inherent uncertainty associated with a volumetric imaging system in its determination of positional shifts. Methods: The study was performed on an Elekta Axesse™ linac’s XVI cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) system. A CT image data set of a Penta- Guide phantom was used as reference image by placing isocenter at the center of the phantom.The phantom was placed arbitrarily on the couch close to isocenter and CBCT images were obtained. The CBCT dataset was matched with the reference image using XVI software and the shifts were determined in 6-dimensions. Without moving the phantom, this process was repeatedmore » 20 times consecutively within 30 minutes on a single day. Mean shifts and their standard deviations in all 6-dimensions were determined for all the 20 instances of imaging. For any given day, the first set of shifts obtained was kept as reference and the deviations of the subsequent 19 sets from the reference set were scored. Mean differences and their standard deviations were determined. In this way, data were obtained for 30 consecutive working days. Results: Tabulating the mean deviations and their standard deviations observed on each day for the 30 measurement days, systematic and random errors in the determination of shifts by XVI software were calculated. The systematic errors were found to be 0.03, 0.04 and 0.03 mm while random errors were 0.05, 0.06 and 0.06 mm in lateral, craniocaudal and anterio-posterior directions respectively. For rotational shifts, the systematic errors were 0.02°, 0.03° and 0.03° and random errors were 0.06°, 0.05° and 0.05° in pitch, roll and yaw directions respectively. Conclusion: The inherent uncertainties in every image guidance system should be assessed and baseline values established at the time of its commissioning. These shall be periodically tested as part of the QA protocol.« less

Inherent robustness of discrete-time adaptive control systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ma, C. C. H.

1986-01-01

Global stability robustness with respect to unmodeled dynamics, arbitrary bounded internal noise, as well as external disturbance is shown to exist for a class of discrete-time adaptive control systems when the regressor vectors of these systems are persistently exciting. Although fast adaptation is definitely undesirable, so far as attaining the greatest amount of global stability robustness is concerned, slow adaptation is shown to be not necessarily beneficial. The entire analysis in this paper holds for systems with slowly varying return difference matrices; the plants in these systems need not be slowly varying.

Gelation in Aerosols; Non-Mean-Field Aggregation and Kinetics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sorensen, C. M.; Chakrabarti, A.

2008-01-01

Nature has many examples of systems of particles suspended in a fluid phase; colloids when in a liquid, aerosols when in a gas. These systems are inherently unstable since if the particles can come together, van der Waals forces will keep them together. In this work we studied the aggregation kinetics of particulate systems, most often aerosols. The emphasis of our work was to study dense systems and systems that gel since previous work had not considered these. Our work obtained a number of significant discoveries and results which are reported here.

From Cooperation to Competition - The Future of U.S.-Russian Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-01

U.S. and Russian systems are inherently competitive, especially regard- ing Russia’s “near abroad,” NATO, Asia, and the Arctic. A clear U.S. policy that...illumi- nates the competitive nature of the two systems is a necessary step towards regaining the strategic initiative. • U.S. policy must...Russian foreign and security policy, in order to better anticipate future behavior. The project was grounded in systems thinking and aimed at building

Identifying p53 Transactivation Domain 1-Specific Inhibitors to Alleviate the Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Therapy

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

harnessed the latest genome editing tools of the CRISPR /Cas9 (Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) system to generate...immortalized MEF reporter lines that stably express reporters under the control of the endogenous genes. The CRISPR /Cas9 system, which was recently developed...cells carrying different retroviral reporter constructs. Thus, even though using the CRISPR /Cas9 system is inherently a longer process, the use of

A System-of-Systems Engineering Approach for Australian Land Force Capability Integration

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

projects are those that, by their very scale and influence, shape many other projects and existing capabilities. Examples include Land 400 Land...challenges to the inherently single- project acquisition ethos predominant in both the defence and civil sectors. For example , see Henshaw (2012). This is...been applied are SoS- type glue projects , for example Land 19 Phase 7, Ground Based Air Missile Defence, and Land 400, the Land Combat Vehicle System

Many-objective optimization and visual analytics reveal key trade-offs for London's water supply

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matrosov, Evgenii S.; Huskova, Ivana; Kasprzyk, Joseph R.; Harou, Julien J.; Lambert, Chris; Reed, Patrick M.

2015-12-01

In this study, we link a water resource management simulator to multi-objective search to reveal the key trade-offs inherent in planning a real-world water resource system. We consider new supplies and demand management (conservation) options while seeking to elucidate the trade-offs between the best portfolios of schemes to satisfy projected water demands. Alternative system designs are evaluated using performance measures that minimize capital and operating costs and energy use while maximizing resilience, engineering and environmental metrics, subject to supply reliability constraints. Our analysis shows many-objective evolutionary optimization coupled with state-of-the art visual analytics can help planners discover more diverse water supply system designs and better understand their inherent trade-offs. The approach is used to explore future water supply options for the Thames water resource system (including London's water supply). New supply options include a new reservoir, water transfers, artificial recharge, wastewater reuse and brackish groundwater desalination. Demand management options include leakage reduction, compulsory metering and seasonal tariffs. The Thames system's Pareto approximate portfolios cluster into distinct groups of water supply options; for example implementing a pipe refurbishment program leads to higher capital costs but greater reliability. This study highlights that traditional least-cost reliability constrained design of water supply systems masks asset combinations whose benefits only become apparent when more planning objectives are considered.

Cruella: developing a scalable tissue microarray data management system.

PubMed

Cowan, James D; Rimm, David L; Tuck, David P

2006-06-01

Compared with DNA microarray technology, relatively little information is available concerning the special requirements, design influences, and implementation strategies of data systems for tissue microarray technology. These issues include the requirement to accommodate new and different data elements for each new project as well as the need to interact with pre-existing models for clinical, biological, and specimen-related data. To design and implement a flexible, scalable tissue microarray data storage and management system that could accommodate information regarding different disease types and different clinical investigators, and different clinical investigation questions, all of which could potentially contribute unforeseen data types that require dynamic integration with existing data. The unpredictability of the data elements combined with the novelty of automated analysis algorithms and controlled vocabulary standards in this area require flexible designs and practical decisions. Our design includes a custom Java-based persistence layer to mediate and facilitate interaction with an object-relational database model and a novel database schema. User interaction is provided through a Java Servlet-based Web interface. Cruella has become an indispensable resource and is used by dozens of researchers every day. The system stores millions of experimental values covering more than 300 biological markers and more than 30 disease types. The experimental data are merged with clinical data that has been aggregated from multiple sources and is available to the researchers for management, analysis, and export. Cruella addresses many of the special considerations for managing tissue microarray experimental data and the associated clinical information. A metadata-driven approach provides a practical solution to many of the unique issues inherent in tissue microarray research, and allows relatively straightforward interoperability with and accommodation of new data models.

Synthesis Methods for Robust Passification and Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelkar, Atul G.; Joshi, Suresh M. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

The research effort under this cooperative agreement has been essentially the continuation of the work from previous grants. The ongoing work has primarily focused on developing passivity-based control techniques for Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) systems. During this period, there has been a significant progress made in the area of passivity-based control of LTI systems and some preliminary results have also been obtained for nonlinear systems, as well. The prior work has addressed optimal control design for inherently passive as well as non- passive linear systems. For exploiting the robustness characteristics of passivity-based controllers the passification methodology was developed for LTI systems that are not inherently passive. Various methods of passification were first proposed in and further developed. The robustness of passification was addressed for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems for certain classes of uncertainties using frequency-domain methods. For MIMO systems, a state-space approach using Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI)-based formulation was presented, for passification of non-passive LTI systems. An LMI-based robust passification technique was presented for systems with redundant actuators and sensors. The redundancy in actuators and sensors was used effectively for robust passification using the LMI formulation. The passification was designed to be robust to an interval-type uncertainties in system parameters. The passification techniques were used to design a robust controller for Benchmark Active Control Technology wing under parametric uncertainties. The results on passive nonlinear systems, however, are very limited to date. Our recent work in this area was presented, wherein some stability results were obtained for passive nonlinear systems that are affine in control.

Symmetric linear systems - An application of algebraic systems theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hazewinkel, M.; Martin, C.

1983-01-01

Dynamical systems which contain several identical subsystems occur in a variety of applications ranging from command and control systems and discretization of partial differential equations, to the stability augmentation of pairs of helicopters lifting a large mass. Linear models for such systems display certain obvious symmetries. In this paper, we discuss how these symmetries can be incorporated into a mathematical model that utilizes the modern theory of algebraic systems. Such systems are inherently related to the representation theory of algebras over fields. We will show that any control scheme which respects the dynamical structure either implicitly or explicitly uses the underlying algebra.

The value of livestock production systems and ecosystem services

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

As humans, we are obligated to ensure that our methods to achieve and maintain a food-security infrastructure are compatible with the landscapes that we use. We are aware and reminded daily that carelessly implemented agricultural practices can permanently harm landscapes and the inherent ecosystem ...